Chapter 1 The Beginning

"Alright, just hit me up when you're ready," Alexander said, adjusting his position in the chair inside the study room.

"How's the preparation for the board meeting tomorrow? You know this is a major deal for your company," Trent's voice crackled through the phone speaker.

Alexander chuckled, his voice deep and husky. "Haha... That's funny, Trent. You know I always win the heart of every stakeholder at a board meeting. This won't be any different. They're going to buy the idea."

"You didn't have to sound so cocky, you braggart. Good luck!" Trent laughed and ended the call.

Alexander dropped his phone on the desk, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips. His brow furrowed slightly in thought.

Whenever he had a major board meeting, especially one involving a new idea, he avoided staying at his personal residence. It was a ritual, a way to disconnect, to think without distraction.

He rose from his chair and walked over to the family bookshelf library, scanning the shelves. His fingers ran along the spines of the books, flipping through a few.

"I can't seem to find anything inspiring in here," he muttered, clenching his fists.

"Well, I've read everything anyway," he scoffed.

Just as he reached the final book on the shelf, something caught his eye, a dusty, concealed box case tucked behind it.

His eyes widened. "What is this? I've never seen this before..."

He reached for the box, brushing off layers of dust. It was old, rusty, and sealed with a tiny, corroded lock.

With no key in sight, he carried it back to his study. Determined, he pried it open, breaking the fragile lock.

Inside were old documents, yellowed and brittle with age. He flipped through them halfheartedly until a drab folder caught his attention.

"What is this?" he whispered, eyes narrowing.

The bold header on the cover read: "B&D COMPANY."

"B&D?" he murmured, his fingers flipping the pages faster now, his heart quickening.

His breath caught as he absorbed the contents. The documents detailed a long-hidden partnership between his parents, the Drakes and another family, the Beaumonts.

The Beaumonts, once struggling financially, had entered a business agreement with his parents. In exchange for saving their company, the Drakes received 21% equity, while the Beaumonts retained 56%. The remaining shares were held by Dr. Kiyosaki and Mr. Reynolds, names Alexander recognized as senior shareholders at the Drake Family Conglomerate.

The company, originally named "BB Company," had been rebranded as "B&D Enterprise" in honor of the new alliance.

Digging further into the box, he pulled out a faded photograph-dusty, coarse to the touch, and almost blurred from age.

He squinted.

On the left stood his parents. On the right, unmistakably, were Dr. Kiyosaki and Mr. Reynolds.

But in the middle... stood a man and a woman he didn't recognize.

"I guess that's the Beaumonts," he whispered.

His mind raced.

What happened to them?

Why had he never heard of this deal?

Why was this hidden in the first place?

His fingers ran through his hair as he exhaled sharply. A mix of confusion and suspicion clouded his thoughts. The deeper he dug, the more questions surfaced.

Gazing into space, Alexander's expression darkened, sharp, calculating. Something didn't add up, and he could smell it like blood in the water.

But then,

A sudden knock on the door snapped him back to reality. It creaked open slowly.

It was Mr. Reginald Drake, his father.