Chapter 1 — The Godawful Coffee
5 years later...
Ace Rhodes.
I eased into my chair, the hum of my laptop beginning to fill the office as I took a sip of my coffee, only to be met with a sinking disappointment.
It was awful.
My former secretary, who had a knack for knowing my coffee preferences, had recently resigned, leaving me struggling to find the same level of satisfaction in my morning brew.
Damn her for marrying someone who lived in another state.
With a weary exhale, I sifted through pending files, my focus shifting to emailing crucial documents to our company's sponsors. Another sip of the wretched coffee offered no improvement, and I rubbed my temples, feeling the beginnings of a headache.
Just as I delved into my tasks, my phone rang, presenting the name of someone I was decidedly unprepared to converse with.
"Good morning, Rhodes," Kevin Grace's voice echoed through the receiver, his firm Spanish accent unmistakable.
"Good morning, Mr. Grace. How can I assist you today?" I replied, attempting to maintain a professional tone, although the underlying irritation was evident.
"I specifically asked you to send me the packages provided by Sterling's Corporation, but alas, they have yet to arrive at my doorstep, Mr. Rhodes," he stated with a hint of dissatisfaction.
My eyes narrowed at his words, fighting the urge to roll them. "I apologize, Mr. Grace. I have been occupied with tours and conferences, overlooking the fact that my employees have not yet sent you the packages. I will ensure they are dispatched promptly."
"Very well, Mr. Rhodes. Have a good day," he responded curtly before abruptly ending the call, leaving me with a lingering frustration.
Filthy drug dealer.
Grace Corporation was the only company in the market that rivaled our own, and their success, achieved through dubious means, only fueled my hate for Kevin Grace. From the moment I stepped into the business world, I despised him, and his constant attempts to assert superiority over me only further intensified my hatred. And the fact that I hooked up with his sister would never make me despise my old self any less. I was certain he would’ve killed me already out of pure hatred had I not been this resourceful.
"Sup, sad fuck?" Alex barged into the office without invitation, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his unannounced entrance.
"It's 8 a.m. and you're actually in the office. Color me impressed, Alexander," I retorted, my tone laced with a hint of sarcasm.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," he responded in absentminded acknowledgment, waving off my comment as he slouched onto the sofa, engrossed in his phone.
This day was shaping up to be a mess.
"The packages, Alexander," I reminded him sternly, hoping to redirect his attention.
"What packages?" he responded, seemingly engrossed in his phone.
I sighed, trying to quell my growing frustration. "I instructed you to deliver the packages to Kevin. How could you forget?"
"Oh shit, I completely forgot. That asshole called, didn't he?" Alex finally looked up from his phone, cursing under his breath as he stood up and made his way toward me.
"Of course, he did. What else did you expect?" I shrugged, feigning disappointment as he took a seat opposite me, shaking his head lightly.
"Yeah, don't worry, I'll ask Gwen to handle it today," he assured me, and I nodded in acknowledgement.
"By the way, I still don't have a secretary," I reminded my best friend and co-owner of this company.
Alex glanced at me, then at his phone, and back at me again, cursing under his breath. After a moment of contemplation, a mischievous smile played across his face.
I knew exactly where he was going with this.
"Nope. Absolutely not," I protested, lifting my hands in a gesture of surrender.
"Aw, come on, Ace. Just this one last time, I promise," he implored, punctuating his plea with puppy-dog eyes.
"No, it's not happening. You know interviews aren't my thing, Alex," I whined, adopting the tone of a three-year-old— something I’d do in front of a few people who truly knew me.
"Just for one day, man. I swear this is the last time," he persisted, his eyes fixed on me.
Intrigued, I couldn't help but inquire, "And where might you be headed off to?" Another sip of the ghastly coffee contorted my features.
Yep. Still awful.
"It's Mom's birthday, Ace. You know she throws a huge party every year, and somehow, you manage to find a way to avoid attending. I'm flying to Texas in two hours," he replied, rolling his eyes, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Talent, bro," I responded with a smirk.
Parties had never been my thing, and over the years, nobody bothered inviting me anymore because they knew I would find a way to gracefully bow out.
"Anyway, I'm off. I texted Gwen about the parcels for Kevin. Good luck with the interviews," Alex said, offering a two-finger salute before leaving me to handle the workload on my own.
I didn't mind the workload, but interviews were a different story. Since the establishment of this company, Alex had always taken charge of conducting interviews, well aware of my aversion to human interaction.
I groaned at the thought of spending the day engaging in small talk, probing into personal interests and relationships. It was going to be a long and arduous day.