Ambition Burns

JR's POV.

"And what makes you think I would marry Victoria?" I ask my Dad who dragged me into a side room backstage as soon as we got to the venue for the Company's thirtieth anniversary.

He had insisted on coming here in such a manner that one would think a big mess had occurred. To think all this fuss was to inform me of a pending announcement to be made tonight, one which had ruined my evening completely.

"I too do not want you to rush into this whole thing but it's been a year since Daniel was discharged and you're grandpa believes he needs a mom to look after him," Dad replies while raking his hand through his semi-grey dark hair.

"I'm Twenty-eight so I don't see the point in you two meddling in my affairs! Since I decided to adopt Daniel he is my son, meaning I know what is best for him and I have the final say! Out of all people why did you have to pick her!!"

"I know this is too sudden but I don't see any problem with you marrying her. Think about it..." he takes in a deep breath. "she's the rumored illegitimate daughter of Your Uncle Blake, my close friend and you've known her for a couple of years now, so whether in relation to our business or personal relationship, she fits the bill.."

"What's that got to do with anything?" I cock up a brow.

Sensing that our conversation is going nowhere he rubs his palm on his forehead. I tap my right foot impatiently as I watch him fumble on what to say next.

"How about this, considering your past relationship I'm sure you can tolerate her." I begin to disagree but he quickly raises his palm in a stop sign before proceeding. " You don't need to say anything, I know you don't like her but..."

"But nothing, this conversation is going nowhere. Whether or not you convince me, I know you're still going to push through with this anyway. So just spare me the speech Dad and do whatever you want." I walk out furious to the max, so instead of heading back into the Hall I end up breathing hard at the Balcony upstairs.

An hour later, James rushes toward me all sweaty and out of breath. He attempts to speak but all I hear is the rush of his minted breath.

"Did someone die?" I remark sarcastically with a nonchalant expression.

"Not yet...but I definitely...will if you don't...appear before Mr...Roland Senior, young master!" he breathes out probably exhausted from searching for me,

"Is it time for the announcement?"

"Almost, I believe there are still five minutes until you and Miss Danlade are called on stage," he states looking at the stopwatch around his neck.

"What did you call her?"

"M..M...Miss Davidson." He quickly corrects.

"Good." I won't let anyone take her place not even her half-sister Victoria! While we're still on the balcony, I'm decide to tell him of my plans to leave when a gush of wind sends leaves and dirt toward me.

"What the hell!" This is definitely not my day. James begins dusting off a few tiny leaves that had landed on my suit. I smooth the imaginary wrinkles on my jacket and decide to leave the hotel.

Being new here the lobby reminds me of a fascinating maze, fascinating as well as annoying considering how suffocated I'm feeling right now.

"Who makes so many twists and turns inside of a hotel, I'm starting to feel like I'm trapped in a game of "one hundred doors" instead of a damn corridor!" I sign after failing miserable to locate the lift several times, heaven knows how I didn't notice this in the first place. Just how far did I wander off?

James snickers behind me bringing an abrupt halt to my steps.

"Do you find this funny?"

"No sir," he replies biting his lips to hide his amused smile.

"Hmm!" I Huff before continuing my journey down the maze of a loby. He's lucky we're friends and not just a typical boss and PA.

To dissolve my frustration I focus on my surroundings drinking in it's sophistication. The three huge waterfall chandeliers on the ceiling are so equisite they demand attention. Artworks are beautifully lined up on the creme white walls each corresponding to the position of those on the opposite side and the purple petunia-filled vases by the elevator are the cherry on the cake. Hold up! The elevator!!

"Finally!" I yell with outstretched arms and a stupid smile. I probably look dumb right now so I'm glad we're all alone. James steps forward and pushes the button and it's chime is music to my ears.

Unfortunately, nothing seems to be going my way today. The floor indicator tells me it's on the last floor up and considering the delay I guess it's still loading.

"How many floors down is the the hall?" I inquire tired of waiting,

"Two floors below,"

"Let's go then." I point toward the stairs answering James silent question.

"Perhaps if we...." James begins to say but is quickly silenced by my frosty look. I walk away aware of his presence behind me. We walk in silence until I stop abruptly causing him to bump into me.

"Inform the Marketing department to have their presentation ready in an hour. I'll be heading back to the company now so try to avoid Grandpa in the meantime. If you must tell him my whereabouts let him know I found the party boring and uninteresting." I see him gulp and can't help the smirk that appears on my face as we descend our last set of steps. Serves you right for taking pleasure in my irritated state.

Coincidentally, the elevator door slides open at that exact moment and What greets me is a jaw-dropping sight! A young woman walks out of the elevator surrounded by four bodyguards with two on each side and a scrawny-looking guy walks behind her Entourage.

Dressed in a form-fitting crimson red off-shoulder dress she is beyond breathtaking. Her heart-shaped lips are scarlet red and man are they tempting. The long slit on the right side of her dress reveals her long fair legs in glass-like ankle strap heels. Her shiny dark hair is in a messy updo that sings out both elegance and seduction. Her catwalk is impeccably smooth and she carries a domineering aura.

"Is everything alright young master?" James the blockhead blurts out, he is fortunate his stupidity is as great as his efficiency. I turn away from the beauty to give him a piece of my mind but the sound of heels clanking on the tiled floor leads me to a pair of grey eyes.

"Now now let's not scold the poor guy, after all, he wasn't aware you were entrapped by a goddess." The grey-eyed beauty smirks, "maybe a little more than a goddess."

"Confidence, a dish I love to savor," I reply, I make a point to send James away when I notice her guards at the further side of the room.

"I'm ravishing and I know it. What better person could there be to point that out than myself," she states.

"Oh? In that case, pardon this humble servant your Excellency but I would like to know why you have graced me with your presence." I say playfully now. Using her right hand she lifts my chin with her forefinger and I notice her sharp intake of breath when our eyes meet.

It feels like an electric shock just went through our bodies and I can't stop the gulp that follows. Withdrawing her forefinger from my chin her hand makes a journey to my silky dark hair and I feel her pull something out of it. She moves closer to my ear and her coconut scent fills my senses.

"I couldn't stand the leaf causing an imperfection on such a great site," she whispers in my ear before straightening up with a smile showing off her pearly whites. Her hands are still on my shoulders and she draws them on my skin till she gets to my hands and dropping the leaf in them she walks away.

"I see you've met Miss Alana," my Dad says as he approached me,

"Who?"

"Miss Alana, Alanna Jones the second biggest shareholder in Dragon Empire. How do you not know this, she's on the guest list the one I had asked you to review?" dad says with confusion lacing his voice.

"James?" I beckon my PA to come over.

"Yes, young master?"

"Reschedule the meeting with the marketing department, I just realized it wouldn't look good if I'm absent from our company's celebration."

Looks like I'll be staying after all!

Alanna's POV.

After a few hours in my black private jet I arrive in the bustling city of New York. I peer out the window at the seemingly tiny humans below,each deeply engrossed in their daily activities and the worries of life to be bothered to pay attention to their surroundings.

Skyscrapers stand proudly and seem to swallow up the smaller buildings. The streets are packed with both cars and people, some walking alone and others engrossed in an animated chat with friends or family. I wish we could get closer so I could analyze the expression on their faces, so I can be assured that there are some souls as miserable as I used to be down there.

I want to see the face of a sad lost kid again who wishes her parents could go back to the way they used to be before the other woman moved in with her daughter . I want to watch her drag her feet on the side walk looking forward to getting a lecture from her mom about how expensive her shoes are and how unladylike her behavior was. I want to relinquish in the thought that not only smiley faces are out there but that others are facing the exact distressing situation I had to go through.

"Miss?" Leonard's voice rings out breaking my line of thought. I stop looking out the jet's window and lay in my seat with my arms crossed. When he doesn't speak up I sit upright and observe him, hesitation is clearly written all over his chiselled handsome face. He walks over to me and takes the opposite seat to mine, facing me. Then he smooths his black T-shirt and pants and starts inspecting his armylike boots.

I observe him for a while then I take my transparent glasses off before speaking. "Since when do you stall?" I ask amused at his antics, his ears turn pink and he pushes a loss strand of his blonde hair back to it's slicked back position before looking straight up at me.

"Are you sure about this?" concern is laced in his words and I give him a small smile,

"I always am, aren't I?" I say, I take his big hands in mine and Pat them before continuing;

"I understand your concerns but I won't let them hurt me anymore. You know I can protect myself and I have you to protect me too right, besides that mistress and her daughter should be the ones scared not me." I boldly respond. Finally he gives me a smile and pats my hair like he used to when I was a lot younger and would complain about Dad favoring my half-sister over me.

"I know... I won't let them hurt you again, little Lana! I won't let anyone hurt you again." he states with dark eyes, knowing I believe him more than I believe myself.

The pilot announces we're about to land and we follow the safety procedures for landing. On getting out I scrutinized the environment Leo's chosen.

"Serene and private...I like." I smile at him approvingly as he helps me down the Jet's stairs while the house staff set out to grabbing my luggage. "Since when did our boorish Leo develope such impeccable taste?"

He scratched his head like he always does whenever he's nervous. "You didn't think I'd get a woodshed as a residence for my young mistress, now did you?" he grins boyishly.

"Good, very Good" I nod approvingly eyeing the elegance of my new home. It's appearance is as white as the house and for a split second I consider naming it that.

"Too bad I won't be here for long." I sigh.

"Welcome Young Mistress." a man in his fifties bows to me, from his attire I guess he is the butler.

"Thank you, you must be Mr Rollins the butler." he nods slightly. "I would prefer to use the outhouse now since I won't be long, it'll give you ample time to get my things settled nicely. I trust it is inhabitable?"

"Of course, I will have them send the necessary items over immediately." I nod and walk towards the simple looking outhouse that stands on the Eastside of the premises with Leo closely behind me.

************

After three hours of stepping in and out of clothes, I make my way to the jet once more with my Entourage and fifteen minutes later we land on the roof of PETUNIA sending a gush leaves and dust everywhere.

"Is everything ready, Matt?" I ask my PA over the phone,

"Yes Miss, I await your arrival on the top floor, so we can proceed to the banquet hall."

"Good." I walk into the building and immediately spot my boyish PA by the elevator. He pushes the button nervously when he sees me approaching and it opens up just in time for us to step in. Silly boy.

We ride all the way to the ground floor and as soon as the elevator opens I notice a man in a tailored coffee brown suit. With his back to me he seems well built and is probably six foot and seven inches tall.

He turns my way and I look away but the familiar black orbs looking at me intensely do not go unnoticed.

"I didn't think you'd be the first familiar face I'd see." I think to myself. Finally I get to see him up close after seven years. I walk out of the elevator with my guards and Matt. We head to the banquet hall but few steps away I halt and ask them to wait there before making my way back to my handsome friend for some fun.

Not exposing my identity I engage in a teasing conversation with him before walking away. After getting back Leo presents my invitation card.

"Sorry Mme but they'll have to wait outside. Only your PA can go in with you." The bodyguard attempts to stop me, what a joke!

"Give this to him," I say handing a business card to Matt who in turn hands it over to the security. I smirk slightly when I notice his trembling hands, he gulps and pales immediately. Not waiting for a response from him I signal one of my guards to remove the red rope in my path and he does so swiftly without receiving a single complaint.

"Let's go." I command and we move forward to occupy a front table with my name tag on it. Having an exact number of six chairs my table is filled and I notice the whispers and eyes on me. Opposite my table is the Rolands table and my seat makes my eyes meet the black orbs from earlier. I move my left leg slowly over the right pronouncing the slit in my dress and I lower my lashes before bringing my eyes to meet his one more time.

Gently lifting a glass filled with red wine I sip a little licking the drops off my lips seductively. He breathes in again sharply and downs his glass quickly.

"Welcome Ladies and Gentlemen, as you all know today marks the thirtieth anniversary of Dragon Empires so let the festivities begin!!" the host announces in a high-pitched voice.

"Time to play!"I whisper to myself. "Finally I get to have some fun!"

JR's POV.

Walking into the beautifully decorated hall for a second time, I find myself feeling giddy all over, something I haven't felt in years. I head over to our table to find my Grandpa still seated on the round table I had left him earlier. On noticing me he clears his throat briefly to get my attention but I ignore him. Irritated he opens up his mouth to scold me but is quickly interrupted by a business partner who calls out his name.

Thank God for small mercies! Who knows for how long he have continued bickered with me.

However, I never had it in me to stay mad at Grandpa, we've always been inseparable for as long as I can remember. I was certain he would never risk destroying my happiness so I'm greatly relieved to know Victoria wasn't his choice. Her mother probably emotionally blackmailed dad into this whole thing.

Two tables away a group of men laugh heartily and in their midst is the thorn in my side, Victoria. Her smile and occasional coy act reminds me of why I didn't want to be here in the first place. Before I took pity on her for not growing up with her dad a'd she looked so frail then it was difficult to not sympathize with her situation. Now, although fresh and vibrant I can't get the picture of the she devil she became out of my head.

"At least she's enjoying this!" I say with an eyeroll.

Although clear-headed thanks to my alone time earlier, I still can't bring myself to enjoy the party all thanks this woman. Forget her cunning mother, I'm almost a hundred percent certain she's also responsible for this mess. I've known her long enough to know about her obsession with power, first she left me then she destroyed my relationship with Her half-sister, Lanna, when she made me commit the biggest mistake of my life and now there's no going back.

"I just want to grab her and..." I clench my fist hard causing it to produce a crackling sound. In an attempt to rid myself of all muderous thoughts I shift my sight to the table next to ours and there sits the grey-eyed beauty, from earlier.

"Please, tell me I didn't just say that out loud," I whisper to no one in particular. After five seconds of not receiving awkward looks, I breathe out a sigh of relief. This pretty stranger will be the death of me!

She's the very reason why I had ignored my impending doom and opted to be here in the first place and now I find myself going crazy. From her familiar scent to her alluring appearance, she is a combo of heaven and hell.

She catches me watching her and she gently picks up a glass of red wine. After a sip, a smug look adorns her face and I can only pray that is the end of her seductive antics.

But while Maintaining eye contact she crosses one of her legs over the other exposing part of her rosy fair thigh. And I feel heat rush up to my face, despite my composed expression I feel a fire in me raging! Her smirk tells me she knows the effect she has on me and I can't help but wonder how she manages such confidence.

"Keep it together Jake, your a gentleman." i chant silently. Still watching her, I down an entire glass of the white wine in my glass to pacify my parched throat but nothing helps.

"Dear God, if you want me to remain pure please make a way out for you're a humble servant." my dad says as he walks up to our table and quickly downs his share of the wine. From the looks of it, he's trying to run away from my Grandpa and his cronies again.

"What i wouldn't do to be in your shoes now Dad!" I groan. FInally, the host walks up to the podium stealing my focus on her and after a brief intro, the celebration begins. Guests mingle in small groups and occasionally laughter rings out from one of them.

"Time to go on CEO mode." I sigh, not looking forward to it.After an hour of switching between business partners and making sure to keep tabs on Grandpa's alcohol intake, My Dad walks up to the host and after whispering something to him he begins the long-awaited announcement,

"Thank you all for sharing this joyous occasion with us...."

"It would be one if you weren't trying to ruin my life." i fume internally not listening to the speech that follows. Knowing my Grandpa it's probably just a lame speech of how he built the company from literally nothing.

"Now friends, I have a special announcement to make and yes it is about the future of my Son Jake Roland and grandson Daniel Roland." Here it comes, I think to myself grudgingly.

"As of today, my son is engaged to the renowned..." my brows automatically furrow and no it isn't because my life's about to turn upside down but because the lights suddenly go out and Dad's mic appears to have been turned off cutting off the announcement halfway.

The manager rushes in with an apologetic smile but before he can explain a spotlight is shining directly on Grey eyes! Making no efforts to explain herself or hurry up she sips from her wine nonchalantly and yet I'm enticed. I must be sick in the head. The host walks up to her and hands her a mic and only then does she stand up twirling her wine glass.

"I'm so sorry Dad, I was just too excited and thought of relaying the news myself." she chuckles with a spark in her eyes the cold expression now gone. She rushes into my arms causing me to go still. She sets my hands on her slim waist and caresses my face lovingly, at this point I'm beyond confused.

"I, Miss Alanna Jones am officially JR's-oops I meant Jake Roland's fiance" she declares with a soft smile while looking into my eyes. Did she just call me JR?

I glance at Victoria and one look at her pale face tells me she's thinking what I'm thinking. With trembling hands I pull her closer to me, my heartbeat quickens and my eyes automatically turn watery. How did I not notice the resemblance from earlier?

The coconut fragrance,the similar features and those eyes that sparkled ever so proudly!

"Lanna?" I mutter torn between astonishment and happiness. The Paparazzi goes wild, fortunately, her bodyguards create a blockade with their bodies shielding us from the frenzy.

"That said you all can continue enjoying yourselves while I and my family attend to other matters backstage." Grandpa declares. "You know i would never let you suffer." he smiles.

Immediately we're whisked away to a big private room while Dad sends for Victoria who I assume is fuming now in her hotel room. But couldn't be bothered by her.

The young woman claiming to be my Lanna clings to my left arm but as soon as we arrive backstage she rushes to Grandpa and all my doubts vanished into thin air.

"I missed you so much Grandpa!" she whines as she leads him to the plush sofa. He makes her sit beside him and pats her hair.

"And I have missed you too Lannie, finally you decide to return to see me after all these years. If you had come any later my stupid son would have given my grandson away to someone else," he says stamping his cane and shooting my dad a glare. my confusion quickly gives way to rage, and before I can stop myself I explode.

"Hold up, did I just hear you, right grandpa? You've been in contact with Lanna this whole time!" I yell unable to suppress my anger any longer. Her expression immediately changes from a doting one to an icy expression and my heart sinks.

"You didn't forgive me did you?"

"We already became strangers, so what's there to forgive?" she asks coldly, my fist clench automatically and my chest tightens. I can take this from anyone including grandpa but Lanna has always been my weakness, how I wished I had realized that earlier.

"What was all that out there for? Pretense?" my Dad grips my shoulder in an attempt to comfort me but I just shove it away.

"Certainly, it was Grandpa's wish so I didn't mind going along with it. Don't Tell me you believed my show of love from earlier? Am I really that Good?" she mocks. Steeling my resolve did not prepare me for those words, the joy I originally felt vanishes and I'm painfully aware of the pain in my chest.

"What show of love?" the door opens with a bang and Alanna's eyes grow colder.

"I've been expecting you!" Alanna sneers.

Alanna's POV.

"What show of affection?" comes the sweet voice of the twenty two years old I've been expecting.

"Don't let her in!" I order my guards who immediately push closed the semi-opened giant doors, keeping Victoria out.

.

"Grandpa, you and Dad can return to the party now, I'll take care of things here." I help him up from his seat and together with Jake's Dad we walk him out of the room using the side door instead. After repeatedly assuring Grandpa that I'll be alright I walk back into the room and notice JR's furrowed brows.

"He must be worried about my dearest half sister." I think to myself bitterly.He doesn't hear me walk in and neither does he see me since he has got his back to me.

"That just won't do." I smirk and put more pressure on my steps as I walk back into the room. This time the continuous heavy clank of my heels makes him aware of my approach and he visibly stiffens. A tiny ball of satisfaction rolls in me but I need more than that, I want to slowly watch him burn, burn to the point I bo return just as he destroyed me when he chose to abandon me for that illegitimate daughter of my dad. I want my presence to wreak havoc in his soul and little by little I'll make them both pay!

My eyes are ablaze as I watch the tall frame of the man who broke me, the man who played with my heart and crushed it cruelly. With every step that draws me closer to him my desire to strangle him grows. It claws on my chest begging to be fulfilled but with my fist clenched and my teeth gnashed I keep the murderous aura in check.

"I was wrong I admit, so let it go." He states looking unaffected. Let him go? What a joke!

"What a sight! Never would I have imagined having the all-powerful Ceo of Dragon Empires at my mercy. But I must say you change your switch so easily...too bad I was enjoying watching you squirm, it is such a satisfactory site." I chuckle before continuing my slow approach.

"What's the rush...I still want to take my time to savor this feeling and trust me when I say I will enjoy every..second...of it." I smirk.

"What do you want?"

"You." He looks taken aback by my words. I'm loving it! Moving forward I fill the last steps that created a gap between us and I lazily run my hands through the lines of his tie and his reaction doesn't go unnoticed.

"You will marry me just as Grandpa intended my love... or else...."

"Or else what!" He interrupts icily, awn... Still not into threats I see. I firmly grip his tie pulling him down to me,

"There's my bad boy. I was beginning to miss him. You do know I'm not very fond of "Jake the gentleman"." I whisper into his ear before pulling back. Looking through my long lashes I draw my tongue over my scarlet lips igniting a fire deep within within him.

"What do you want Miss Jones?" He asks with a straight face, how he managed that is a mystery I may never unravel considering that I'm alternating between stroking his strong chest over his white shirt with my black nails and twirling his tie.

"Leo, please play the recording for my Mr. Roland." I raises my voice. Immediately his grandpa's voice fills the entire room and finally I get a reaction out of him.

"All it'll take from you is a no and then I'll sell my thirty five percent of the shares at Dragon Empire to Mr Stephan for a good price. I wonder what will happen then?"

"you wouldn't dare!"

"Want to give it a shot?"

"But you would be betraying Grandpa's trust. Does he even know you recorded his giving of an additional 10 percent of his shares to you?"

"Oh? I didn't think of that." I fake gasps. "But what can I do if his own grandson doesn't care if he loses all his hardwork?" I smiles letting myrwords sink in.

As a sign of his approval, he grips my slim waist firmly without letting go of the frown on his face.

"Smart choice. Let her in."

Immediately, the giant oak doors begin to open, and following the very first sound of Victoria's heels is her high-pitched shriek.

"Forever the drama queen." I roll my eyes, already getting a migraine from the sight of Victoria.

"I deserve an Oscar right now, don't you agree?" I whisper playfully bent on getting him rattled in the presence of his dear one. I lean my forehead against his and nuzzle his nose giving off the impression of a couple deeply lost in the eyes of each other but we both know the darkness that lies in our stare.

As expected Victoria finally loses her cool and being the short-tempered girl I had to put up with for five years. she pulls me out of JR's arms.

"What is the meaning of this!" she yells breathing hard and flaying her arms. Her twisted expression is a stark contrast to her simple yet chic white gown. White on a snake? What is the world becoming?

"Love, my feet hurt, take...me to the sofa please" I whine like a spoiled child all of a sudden. Let's see where this goes.