Chapter 1: The Offer

It was a typical day for Daryl riding his Zonda HP Barchetta heading to their company. Looking at the window, perfection reflects as he see himself. The car stop when the traffic light turns to red. The time when someone realized that the time is really a gold one. He look at his wrist watch, his Patek Philippe 1518 reminds him that there's nothing to worry about because he's the boss. A few seconds, the car begins to move as the light turns to green. Holding the steering wheel, his driver pull the brake when someone tried to cross the path they're passing through.

"Oh, shit!" The driver cursed as he felt nervous holding the steering wheel tightly.

Daryl on the other hand, seem shocked and even took his shades off. He close his eyes and thinking that this incident might cause a bad luck for him this whole day. He sighed, returning his shades on and lean back on the car seat.

The car then begins to move as fast as it can, passing through a clean path makes the driver breath at ease. Minutes had passed when they reach the Jacob's Group. The security guards and even the body guards were already set-up in the entrance hall the moment they saw their CEO's car.

Daryl immediately take off in the car and walk as what he usually do.

"Good morning Mr. Jacob!" simultaneously greeted by the security guards as he entered the company. He was just straightforward without even looking at them. For him, just hearing their greetings was a sign of his responsed.

Daryl Jacob is the second son of the Founder of Jacob's Group and the CEO of their company. For him, work matters most than being in a relationship. No girlfriend since birth, girls are just flirting with him, but he doesn't.

Just walking inside the company, all the employees look-up to him. Obviously, handling him with care just like a fragile one. He went inside the lift with his body guard pressing the button of the 10th floor. He look at his watch, realizing that he's a minute late for his work. When he went outside the lift, he noticed one of his clients coming out from the meeting room. He wonders and suddenly his secretary came to his mind. His secretary was not there yet, that would have at those times been reporting to him. But he has not seen even his secretary's shadow.

"Mr. Alvarez, what brought you here?" he asked, giving his client an expression of being surprised.

"Seriously, you don't know that we have a meeting?" His client raised an eyebrow towards him and gave him a look of disappointment. "And you're late so I'm leaving." His client started to walk until he could no longer see him.

He was left dumbfounded without even saying the reason. He shook his head because of disbelief. While walking to his office, his face may seems to explode at any time. Everyone who encounters him has no choice but to bow down, because they know it will not be good if they greet him.

When the assistant secretary noticed that their CEO had already entered the office, she went in next.

"Sir, Ms. Aya told me that she will be late for today," the assistant secretary said without even looking at her boss. "There seems to be an emergency at their house, Sir." At the same time she bowed because she knew their CEO was not in a good mood.

"You may leave now." Daryl didn't show any sign of being mad. He control his emotion. It's the assistant secretary and not his secretary.

On the first floor, a woman is rushing to run. She knows what is going to happen. Today is her boss's meeting with his big client and it's too late. While she's in the lift, she's thinking that she wants to fall into hell, because that is what she will experience when she enters her boss's office.

Her heart was pounding when she entered the office. Chasing her breath, she closed the door and faced her boss who now had a sharp eyes on her.

"Sorry Sir, I'm late," the woman said catching her breath. "There was an emergency at home earlier Sir," she added.

"Emergency? Do you consider that as more important than your job? Mr. Alvarez back out and that's because of you!" Daryl's eyes are glaring towards his secretary. It's only now that his angry like this again. "You know that I have a meeting with my client, but you never call me ahead of time! Then you brag about that damn emergency!"

"It's really an emergency Sir," the secretary said softly as she was giving up. Because she knew that her boss wouldn't listen to that either.

"I don't care! You're fired!" Daryl said emphatically.

Instead of begging to her boss, anger and hatred dominated her heart and mind. "Fine! You just said it first, I supposed to quit! I'm so tired!" The secretary immediately turned around and slammed the door shut. This was the unluckiest day for her. She went out of the hospital because her parents died. Now, she has lost her job.

Daryl just got caught up in his senses. He closed his eyes to calm himself. For a moment, his phone rang. His dad is calling. He pick up the phone and answered it.

"Yes Dad," he said in a low tone.

"We have our family dinner tonight and we expect you to be here," his dad said. He was often absent from their family gatherings because he was busy with his work. Also, he live in his own house, he sometimes returned to his parents' mansion.

"Sorry Dad I'm busy, I have a lot of works to do." It's just that he doesn't like to go there so he excused himself again.

"You must have to go here my son, I have an important matters to discuss with you." Based on his father's tone, it was obviously serious.

"What? Are you going to die and will discuss about your will?" he said in a sarcastic tone.

"Well, I'd rather die if you will not go here."

"Okay I'll be there." He sighed after ending the call. He just said what his dad wants to hear just to end the conversation, but it doesn't mean that he will do it. He always skip their family dinner because of hatred. Just think of it, he's not the eldest but he has to carry the responsibility being the CEO of their company, rather than living his own life the way he wants to.

In Jacob's mansion, the food was ready and Daryl was the only one his family was waiting for. They are used to it when he's not coming, but they are still waiting. It is important for them to talk now, so they are patiently waiting for him.

Just a few minutes later, the door opened and from there, they saw Daryl. His looks made them speechless for a moment, but came back to senses when he looks at them.

"I'm glad that you're here son," his dad said while his mother greeted him with a hug.

"I miss you my son, I'm so happy that you're here."

"Hey bro," his younger brother said. His eldest brother was not there because he was in Europe. Well, living the life he wanted. He just gave a smirk to his brother and he went straight to his chair.

"I'm hungry, let's eat," he said not even greeting them.

When they finished eating, his father invited him into the living room. His mother and brother were also there.

"Son, I know that you know the Valle's Group," his dad said.

"Yes dad, the company of your best friend," he replied. "What about them?" he wondered, even though he already knew the reason. It's a marriage alliance and it's not new to him. His dad always brag about that thing not because he wants to have a grandchild but for the company's sake. And that thought made him more rebellious towards his father.

"You know son, I have thought about this long ago. You know the wealth of Jacob's and Valle's. As your father I need to secure it." His dad cannot look directly to him because he already knew what would be his answer.

"You need to secure it, but I can handle that Dad!" he justified.

"Well, uhm...," his dad stopped and looked at him. How many times this scene had happened and he always refused to his dad's proposal. But this time his dad is determined to push things to happen.

"What?" he asked when his dad cannot continue what he would like to say. He acted like he didn't know, but he already knew.

"You'll going to marry the only daughter of my best friend soon!" his dad said with authority.

"Oh, I see." He was no longer shocked to what his dad said. How many times has that happened? He's so sick of counting them.

"Yes son, you're going to meet her soon," his dad continued. Hopefully he will agree at that point.

"You will let me marry the person I don't even know and I don't even see?" he said with disbelief. His father's expression changed.

"Son, you're 28 years old and you should have your own family," his dad said. "And don't worry, you'll gonna meet her soon," his dad added.

"That is up to me dad, you don't have to worry about me having my own family." His forehead furrowed. He already knew that this would happen again but he still went there. He just wants to be with his family, to eat at the same time as before. But it doesn't look like that it will ever happen again.

"But son, your marriage is already arranged, and as soon as she finished her licensure exam there in US and will go back here, the engagement will set to happen," his dad said being determined to push things to happen.

"She's even in the US, huh. I can't believe this!" He stood because of annoyance. The thought that he's the only one who must carry the burden, but he's not the only son.

"That's not the problem son?"

"Yes that's not! The problem is you force things to happen!" Anger and hatred is what he feels right now. He was not a rebellious child. He just doesn't want his father to interfere with him in choosing a lifelong partner. "Why not David or Dylan? Why is it always me?" At that point he has already raised his voice to his dad.

His brother was shocked to what he has said. "Me?" his younger brother said pointing his own finger towards himself. "Dad I have a girlfriend and I'm too young for marriage. And I'm not even the CEO, I'm still studying!"

Daryl looks towards his younger brother. "You have a girlfriend?" He raised an eyebrow towards his brother.

"Yes I have," his brother replied.

"Then break up with her and be matured enough so you can be a CEO soon!" he said with authority. Daryl wasn't selfish, he just didn't want his brother to grow up spoiled in everything.

"Bro, I can't," his brother said being determined. "Also, you're the chosen one," he added.

"And Dylan is not here, so son just accept my offer," his dad added. At that point it seemed that his dad was begging and lowered his pride for him to accept the offer.

"You know that I will not agree to this Dad," he said in a serious tone. "Sorry, I'm not going to marry anyone," he said firmly.

He was about to leave when his father spoke again. "Accept or regret?" He was stopped in his tracks. "Son, if you ever regret because you didn't accept her, don't blame anyone here and don't come for any help because we will never give you a chance anymore."

He laughed a little at what his father said and he turned to face his family. "No worries dad, 'coz it will never happen." He even smile afterwards.

"Whether you like it or not there will be a marriage soon."

"Probably, but that's not me." And he finally left without even saying goodbye.

On his way home, he realized all this time that the way his dad treats him doesn't change. It was as if he is a thing that doesn't have a feeling. But being arrogant sometimes is a helpful excuse for him. But that doesn't change the fact that he was annoyed to his family.

Holding the steering wheel tightly, he speed up his car not minding the vehicles beside him. It was as if he is on a drug race being the top racer. He smirk because of annoyance and let the smile draw on his lips. But all of a sudden, he pulled the brake of his car harder when someone cross the street where he was passing through. He shook his head realizing that he stop on a pedestrian crossing where the girl was standing and the space between them was almost close to an accident. He sigh deeply before going out in his car.

The girl looks shocked at what happened looking at him with a sharp eye. It's because her luggage was broke being hit by the car and the things inside of it was scattered on the road.

"You're such a reckless driver! Haven't you seen me? Didn't you know that this is a pedestrian crossing?" The girl immediately put her belongings that was being scattered.

"I'm sorry, it's my fault," Daryl said then immediately help the girl putting the things inside the luggage.

"Don't touch that, it might get deform!" Daryl was shocked realizing that he was holding a piece of undergarment that was used to cover a pair of boobs. He immediately drop the thing and felt embarrassed afterwards. He just pick up the other thing except the undergarments. "I'm so unlucky this day!"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to run into you," Daryl said putting the last thing in the luggage. The girl immediately zipped it and stand being annoyed of what happened. The girl immediately cross the pedestrian lane until Daryl could no longer see her.