CHAPTER ONE
<7AM≈THE RODRIGO'S APARTMENT>
Mrs Rodrigo placed the fresh toast bread on the dinning table and started preparing the tea. She's a woman in her late forties but never for once showed any sign of weakness or tiredness. She's always the smart and lively type not minding their poor state.
Mrs Rodrigo was still preparing the breakfast when Annabella her daughter walked in, in such a hurry while packing her hair into a ponytail as she approached her.
"Morning mom." She greeted briefly.
"Morning Anna, I prepared breakfast... "
"I'm so late mom, it's past eight." Annabella cut in.
"But still you can't leave without eating." Mrs Rodrigo protested.
"You know how my manager is mom, I promise to find something to eat when I get to the restaurant, see you..." And with that, Annabella kissed her mom before rushing out of the house.
They live in a small old two bedroom apartment, the house was built by her dad years back before he died and according to the story, Annabella was hardly a toddler when he died.
"Taxi!" Annabella shouted frustratingly but the taxi didn't stop. It's the fourth time already and she was getting so impatient. She was supposed to get to the restaurant where she works by 7:30am or she might loose her job.
"Gosh I'm f**king dead!" She groaned and ruffled her hair. She kept on checking the time every second until suddenly a car stopped right in front of her.
"Who's this?" Annabella muttered uninterestedly but soon the door of the car opened and a young man stepped out of the car and with a single look, no one would doubt that he stinks of total wealth ranging from his dressing to his car, everything screamed of wealth.
"Hey Pretty!" He let out a charming smile and waved at Annabella.
"Morning Sir." Annabella bowed shortly.
"Looking for a taxi? I should give you a ride." He said.
"No...I'm fine." Annabella immediately rejected the offer.
"Oh come on, I'm not a bad person and I can really see that you are in a haste to be somewhere." The man said and Annabella sighed. What choice does she have right now? She needs to make it to the restaurant right away.
"Thank you sir" She said.
"I'm Thadeus." He said opening the door for her.
"Ohh!" Annabella mouthed and bit her lips.
Thadeus also entered the car and drove off. Annabella on the other hand was super nervous as she sat beside him at the front passenger seat of the car.
'He looks like a billionaire, but young.' She thought.
"So...what's your name?" Thadeus asked
"Annabella." She replied
"That's quite long, can I call you Anna?" Thadeus asked.
"Yeah" Annabella replied shortly.
"That's great, so where are you going to?" Thadeus asked and turned to her.
"Fresh Restaurant." she replied.
••••
Minutes later, Thadeus's car stopped in front of the restaurant.
"Thank you Mr Thadeus." Annabella said gratefully.
"Of course not, it's nothing." Thadeus said.
"I'm still grateful." Anna replied.
"Pay me back then if you're so grateful." Thadeus said smiling.
"How?" Anna asked confused.
"Aren't you late? Just give me your number and we can talk later." He replied.
Annabella gave him her number and hurried out of the car. Thadeus stared at her for another second before driving off.
••••
"Tell me the manager is not here please." Annabella said as she ran to her closet friend among all the waiteresses.
"Who is that man?" Aurora asked with a grin.
"Answer my question first silly." Annabella snapped.
"The manager is not here babe, calm down." Aurora chuckled and Annabella heaved a sigh of relief.
"Gosh, thank goodness." Annabella said
"Why does that car look so familiar? Isn't that the new car the CEO of Classic four wheels just got?" One of waitresses said and everyone turned to look at her.
"You mean Thadeus?" Another one asked.
"Exactly...but where did Annabella meets that billionaire?" Another one asked.
"Oh please, it's probably not him. They are not in the same class anyways."
"What do you mean? There's nothing wrong with Anna, you're just jealous cos she's prettier than you." Aurora shouted at the one who made the bad comment.
"Aurora please!" Annabella muttered and Aurora scoffed.
Everyone set to work after that.
Annabella sighed and wore her apron, somehow she still wondered if the man is the Thadeus or just a random Thadeus.
••••
Gregor's island is probably one of the biggest one would ever see, it's all painted in pure white with no single stain on it. People refer to it as a paradise on earth cos its just extraordinary.
The whole island was decorated with beautiful flowers, ornaments and different swimming pool giving the sea blue vibes. There are lots of pools surrounding the mansion, that was why Gregor made sure his kids started swimming lectures at a very young age and now that they are six, they are perfect swimmers so there's nothing to worry about. There were lot of guards and maids in the mansion.
Billions was spent on the island and it was so obvious. In the middle of the island is a water fall looking so perfect all colored with white but tends to be more beautiful in the night.
The main mansion was built at the very far end of the island so it's a long walk from the main gate to the mansion unless one is using a car.
Inside the mansion, the old maid who is also the twins nanny and popularly called Mrs Kim was busy serving the twins while five maids stayed back watching in total silence.
"What's that?" Casey asked immediately Mrs Kim tried dropping a piece of sushi on her food.
"It's called sushi..."
"Eww! I don't want that." Casey said in her clear British accent.
"But Alex told me he would like to try it so I thought you would also want some." Mrs Kim said.
"And I said I don't want it nanny, I don't know when Alex started eating something so disgusting... I'm gonna puke." Casey said
Alex who was eating quietly dropped his fork and looked at Casey.
"Can we just eat in silence? You're distracting me." he said in his usual cool voice. Many people thinks he actually took after his dad while Casey took after their mom.
Even though the twins love each other so much and do things together, still they are totally different in some aspects. Casey is a loud type, a social bird who makes friends everywhere she goes, she's loved by everyone for her intelligence and outspokenness, never shy to speak her mind no matter who ever you are.
Meanwhile, Alex is the cool type, always reserved and thinks before talking. Sometimes he gets too shy around strangers. He's the smartest among them but would rather keep his opinion to himself, he has won numbers of awards in school for his brilliancy. They are both child models and are really popular in the modeling world especially when they are the popular Campbell kids.
"Come on Alex, why would you want to try sushi? Isn't that a Korean food?" Casey asked.
"I'm so glad you know Casey, so stop acting like it's disgusting... Mrs Kim is a Korean and I wanted to know how their food tastes, is that bad? You should know when to talk and not hurt people's feelings." Alex said and Casey looked at him angrily.
"That's enough kids. Casey don't worry if you don't want to eat it..."
"I'm eating it!" Casey snapped and Mrs Kim smiled.
"Sure, here you go." She dropped a piece on Casey's food.
Casey glared at Alex again but he only smiled at her.
"Don't smile at me." She rolled her eyes.
"I'm sorry." Alex said.
"You're not forgiven yet." She said.
Alex smiled again and continue eating.
"Good morning Mr Campbell!" The maids suddenly chorused bowing respectfully.
Gregor ignored their greetings as usual.
"Daddyyyy!" Casey and Alex both jumped from their seats and rushed to hug him.
"Sweets." He smiled as he carried Casey first.
"Good morning daddy." Casey said.
"Morning my angel, won't you give daddy a kiss?" Gregor asked and she gently pecked his lips before he dropped her.
"Hey dude!" Gregor carried Alex and he chuckled.
"Hope you slept well?" He asked him.
"Yes daddy, but can I get my room already? Casey is being too noisy these days." Alex said.
"Alex!" Casey shouted and Alex scoffed.
"You were the one who always wanted to stay with your sister remember?" Gregor said and dropped him.
"Exactly daddy, he's gonna miss me soon." Casey said.
"You're right, but try to change." Alex replied and the twins continued to bicker at each other until their father intervened.
"No talking while eating sweets." Gregor reminded them.
"Sorry daddy." The both chorused and they continued eating silently.
Gregor turned to Mrs Kim, aside his kids, she's another person who he talks to as she's the one in charge of taking care of his kids and for her old age, he respects her alot.
"Off to work." He said.
"No breakfast?" Mrs Kim asked.
"Not hungry and I have something important to do." Gregor said walking out but Mrs Kim followed behind him.
"Sir...I have something to tell you." She said and Gregor stopped.
"Can't it wait?" He asked.
"I'm afraid it can't sir." Mrs Kim said
"Fine, what is it?" He asked.
"I want to take a leave sir, it's really important. I wish I can turn it down but it's a family matter so I have to go as soon as possible." Mrs Kim explained.
"Are you leaving finally?" Gregor asked after a long silence.
"No no... it's just for a while and I will be back sir." Mrs Kim replied.
"How many weeks?" Gregor questioned further.
"I don't have any idea sir." She replied.
"What about the kids?" Gregor asked.
"I promise to find a replacement in the next three days, I need to leave in four days time so I have enough time to search." Mrs Kim said.
Gregor only nodded and walked out.
Getting outside, he met Stella his secretary waiting for him already.
"President!" She smiled as she catwalked towards him in her usual short skirts and top while her jacket hanged on her arm and her hair dropped on one of her shoulder.
"Good morning sir." She greeted as she got closer to him.
"Yeah!" Gregor muttered looking at his phone and she bites her bottom lip. That feeling when you dressed up for your crush and he ended up not sparing you a glance, she's used to it anyway but still she can't wait for him to start noticing her as a lady and not a secretary.
"Let's go Stella or is there anything else?" Gregor asked her.
"Of course not Sir." She smiled.
"Good morning Boss " The guards chorused.
"Jay!" Stella called the driver and he immediately started the car as Theo, Gregor's personal guard quickly opened the door for them and they both entered and Jay drove off.
••••
<7PM≈RODRIGO'S APARTMENT>
"I'm home!" Annabella announced as she entered only to meet Cindy, her childhood friend sitting in front of the TV looking so serious.
"What's going on? Why so serious?" Annabella asked as she sat down trying to see what was happening on the Tv but she couldn't understand a thing.
"What's that?" She asked.
"What do you mean? Don't tell me you don't know that WEB ZONE is launching their latest gadget S9 tomorrow!" Cindy screamed so loud that Annabella had to close her ear.
"Oh wow!" she muttered now getting what the news is all about.
"I can't believe this, I've not even used S1 and now S9?" Cindy faked a tear.
"WEB ZONE has taken over the world about three years ago after the first S phone was launched which was S1. Billions of citizens from all over the world turned up on this, this sounds so amazing right now. S8 actually got launched just few months ago and now we have S9! Viewers please let's welcome the CEO of WEB ZONE!
Loud screams and claps could be heard from the TV as the crowd cheered. Gregor Campbell walked in calmly looking so hot and breathtaking as usual.
"Gosh!" Cindy screamed and fell off her seat.
"How can he be so hot and breath taking at the same time? Is he an angel?" She shouted.
Annabella said nothing but only kept her eyes on the young billionaire who was now sitting looking so cool.
"Gosh! The most interesting part is that he's still single at twenty seven." Cindy said still admiring Gregor.
"Twenty seven?" Annabella asked unbelievably.
"Don't tell me you don't know Gregor Campbel... Anna why so boring?" Cindy groaned.
"I don't know... maybe it's because I'm too busy with work." Annabella said.
"Well, he's one of the richest man in the world right now, do you even know how much his networth is? Ladies are dying to have him, but sadly I heard he's not into girls." Cindy muttered.
"Wow! he looks so young like he's twenty two." Annabella said.
"Should I shock you more? He has two kids." Cindy smirked and Annabella's eyes widened.
"Really?" she muttered taking another glance at Gregor who was still getting interviewed.
"Gosh I can't wait for tomorrow." Cindy said.
Annabella finally took her eyes from him and sighed out of stress.
"Where's mom?" She asked
"Sleeping" Cindy replied and Annabella stood up.
"And by the way, I ate your food." Cindy said.
"What?" Annabella screamed.
"I came unannounced so she didn't cook mine, I'm sorry." Cindy pouted.
"So what am I supposed to eat?" Annabella snapped
"Maybe some cookies would do..." Annabella threw her a pillow before she could finish and she laughed.
"I'm sorry baby girl, I was too hungry to wait for you." She said.
Annabella rolled her eyes and walked into her room.
"I'm so tired." She muttered and started taking off her clothes, she was about going into the bathroom when a call came on her phone. It's an unknown number but she answered it anyways.
"Hello?" The voice said and immediately she recognized the voice.
It's Thadeus!
"Mr Thadeus?" She called.
"Yes Anna" His cool voice replied and somehow she smiled, he really called like he said.
"So...would you like to go out with me tonight? To make it up to me." He said and Annabella blinked her eyes twice not knowing what exactly to say.