Don't ever say never

"William! William! William!, William!"

Shouted his friends when he arrived.He was too flattered by so much attention and consideration towards him as soon as he entered the nightclub.

He walked towards them with a few dance steps in sync with the music turned on by the DJ.Encouraged by the shouts of his friends, he continued to dance harder. Close to them,he bent down to thank them.

"Take and drink whatever you want, I invite all of you."

Hearing his statement,they all shouted with joy and the boys stood up to lift him into the air.Sitting in the middle of four women who were already caressing him and giving him naughty looks.William felt like the king of the earth. Everyone was at his feet and his desires were orders. He could put any girl he wanted in his bed and he already knew he would go home with one of them.

The waiters brought alcoholic drinks of all kinds and the champagnes flowed freely...And they started dancing and drinking all night long. The evening ended at dawn for these young people.

Hanging out in nightclubs, partying and drinking had become his daily life because it was his only escape from thinking about the incident that happened two years earlier. And as usual,William was drunk.

Now that they were outside the club, one of Josh's friends called out to him:

"That was a great night, buddy."

"We hope to see you as usual next time." Said David,another of his friends staggering.

"Oh yeah,we never get bored with you."

Said yet another.

Flattered,he replied stuttering:

"But of course you can always rely on my presence."

Ty,his driver having seen him,moved forward with the car to take him home.

"Sir cling to me."

Because it was obvious that he couldn't stand up well.

"Leave me,I can walk on my own."

He said, removing his arm.

"Sir, you will fall down."

"That's not your problem. Where's Sandy?" He asked.

Sandy was the girl he had spotted and flirted with during the party.

"I am here."

She replied with a smooth voice,moving towards him.She could be proud to have attracted the attention of a rich and handsome man like him.Taking her by the arm, he dragged her towards the car. And they entered.

A few minutes later, the beautiful white Range Rover pulled up in a huge and beautiful residence in a chic residential area. When they got out of the car,Sandy help William to stand up so that they could go to his room ,followed by Ty to show her the way.

While they were trying to go upstairs William,tip over the metal vase that served as decoration beside the stairs.This made a shrill noise throughout the house.

"Attention sir!"

"Uh oh, she won't be happy."

He said, giggling.

"Enough with your childishness, let me carry you."

Said Ty.

Without waiting for his consent,he put him on his back and took him to his room.

"It's okay, I'll take care of him, you can leave us now."

Ordered Sandy.

Ty alias Godzilla glanced at his boss to see his reaction. Even though he was already used to the arrogance of the women that his boss hung out with.

"Didn't you hear what she said? Leave us alone."

Ty responded with a nod and left the room. He knew that his boss was no longer himself since the loss of his brother and his father. Besides,no one recognized him anymore, he had changed and become another person.

"Finally alone !"

Declared Sandy, walking towards William.

"Yes,my pretty one!"

"Do you want to take a shower with me?"

She asks in a naughty voice.

"It's as you wish, my darling."

Without waiting both of them,found themselves in the bathroom.After spending hours making love until sunrise,they finally fell asleep in each other's arms.

But in truth,William was really starting to get tired of women,of his one-night stands,but he couldn't turn back.Aside from alcohol and going to nightclubs,that was now one of his vices.He had been tormented since the death of his father and his big brother.He couldn't help but feel guilty every day.This lasted for two years now.Nights of nightmares and terrors... Despite the fact that his mother convinced him that it was not his fault,he considered himself as a murderer.

Suddenly a violent knock on his bedroom door woke the two young people with a start. William heard his mother shouting his name from behind the door.Sandy,alarmed asked who it was.She didn't have time to get an answer because the sexagenarian shouted louder:

"William open the door for me right now."

William looked up at the clock on the wall. It was 1 p.m. Why was his mother shouting? He was used to waking up at this time,or even more. He quickly put his underpants and went to open the door for his mother.

"Mom,why are you shouting this beautiful morning?"

Without giving him an answer,she looked up to see who was in her son's bed.

"Who is she ?"

She asks.

"Just a friend."

Usually he rarely brought girls at his place,often it was at the hotel,but his driver didn't have this reflex.

"Miss,I advise you to leave my house immediately or else I will call the security guard."

The tone in which she spoke made Sandy shudder.She immediately got dressed and headed for the door.The sexagenarian looked her up and down,before threatening her to never come back to her house again.

"I'll call you, okay?"

Shouted William at Sandy while she was already running away before suffering the wrath of the owner of the house.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Mom? You just shamed me."

"I'm sick and tired of your reckless behavior in my house."

And it was off to a little argument between mother and son.Claire,who until then had remained silent was observing them.

"I remind you that I'm in my home too."

"I have more right to this house than you. Just last week you were in the news because you fought with someone in a bar and we had to pay restitution to the bar owner.But when the hell are you going to change? I remind you that you are no longer a child."

"Mom, please don't start preaching again."

"From the moment you are under my roof I have the right to dictate my rules to you, either you respect them or you leave this house. And I point out to you that I'm the one who is feeding you, dressing you and ensuring all your needs while my friends children have already grandsons and theirs children are all working.Finally I acted badly, I think I spoiled you too much."

She ended up saying in a brittle voice.

"Mother, are you threatening me?"

Taking a firm posture, she replies:

"Exactly,it's a threat.I'm ashamed to keep feeding you and shelter a big 26-years -old boy. That's enough now,the water has overflowed from the mud."

William, who until then did not understand what had happened to his mother, remains speechless.

"But mom, why are you talking to me like that?"

Monica Adams had let a lot of things goes by. Now she had lost control of the situation.She no longer had control over her son and his senseless actions.He spent all his time drinking,hanging out in all the clubs at night, fought....He led an idle life. He was not the only one to suffer, she suffered too.

"William,you need to understand that you need to change,it pains me to see you like this.Your father and your brother will have been disappointed if they saw you in this condition."

She said,moving forward to caress his cheek. But he dodged.

"Very good!I thought about it for a long time. I disinherit you,I prefer to share the fortune of Adams family with people who need it more than you."

William was shocked by what his mother had just said.

"Mom, you have no right to do that. I will take you to court if you do that."

He shouted back.

"Let's see it. All I ask of you is that you take charge of yourself. You are no longer a child. Either you prove to me that you can change or I will disinherit you."

She declares in a solemn and firm tone. Even William shuddered inside.He knew that his mother is serious when she spoke like that.

"That's all I had to tell you.And I don't want to see you bring any of your sluts into my house again."

With these last words,she turned on her heel and left followed by her assistant,leaving her son dazed.

Arriving in her room,Monica Adams collapsed into her bed,pressing her hand to her chest because she felt enormous pain in this part of her anatomy.Claire rushed to her dresser to bring her, her medicine.

"Hold on, ma'am!"

Without being begging,she swallowed the tablets in one go.

"How are you madam?"

She replied a"yes" with a nod.

"Good to know.And are you sure that your plan will work?"

She asks in a low voice,in order that nobody will hear it.

"I know my son very well. He loves good life too much to leave his legacy."

"Let's cross our fingers that he really changes.You were very convincing ma'am, I didn't know that you were such a good actress."

The two started laughing.

"Believe me,it wasn't easy,especially with his puppy-dog face.And I want you to tell to the accountant to cut up his bank cards, so he'll see that I was serious."

"Immediately ma'am."

Suddenly,the main entrance door was closed loudly which made her jump.Monica Adams, already knew that it was her son who was leaving,it was his way of showing that he was furious. And as usual he would come back late at night drunk.

*

"Good luck, Linda."

Wished the caretaker of her building.An old man of 70 years old.

"Thank you so much Gaus!"

She replied to the old man,all smiling.

Without delay,she got into the taxi she had ordered. She was a little bit stressed about her first day at work.It was her second job since she was in Beverly Hills.She had been fired from her old job as a waitress in a bar because she had slapped a guy after he squeeze her buttocks.She couldn't stand this cheesy behavior,she was not their slave. She had had difficulty finding this one,in fact it was Gaus who helped her to find a place as a receptionist in one of the largest 5-star hotels in Beverly Hills,her son-in-law worked there as director of human resources.This old man was a sweetheart.He had always helped her.A few minutes later his taxi parked in front of the parking of her new workplace. After paying the driver,she got out and quickly looked in the window of the car before its owner drove off.She was wearing a straight orange dress.The saleswoman had assured her that she would make a good impression with it.From outside, she could see a billboards advertising the "Paradise Valley" in large font. With a quick gesture, she glanced at her watch,it was 7:50 a.m. She was on schedule.But it wasn't the right time to play tourist,she would have plenty of time to do it she said to herself within. Hastening her steps,she went inside the giant building,then inquired about a certain Mr. Martin Blake.The receptionist, a charming young man probably in his twenties,was quick to show her his office. Arriving in front of her office a few moments later,she knocked at the door once.A hoarse voice inside the office told her to come in.

"Google morning sir,I'm Linda,we spoke on the phone,do you remember?"

"Yes,my father-in-law informed me of your arrival today.Please sit down."

Rather pleasant Linda said to herself inwardly.

She even wondered what Gaus was looking for in a shabby building like hers when he had a son-in-law who seemed rich and well-off.

"Okay,I read your CV, even if it wasn't consistent in terms of experience,we are going to offer you a one-month trial period in our hotel.Hoping to have you among the staff."

He said,getting up to shake her hand,a sign that the deal was done.Then he called an employee to show her the locker rooms and help her in need.

Since she moved to Beverly Hills about six months ago,Linda had been accumulating successive application rejections.So by staying at home without doing anything she preferred to look for a job while waiting to get hired in a company,but she had not spoken about it to her parents for fear of making them worried.She had graduated in Tourism and Hospitality,travel and discoveries were her passion and she knew that she could not find anything in her small town,that's what which brought her to Beverly Hills.

"This is the changing room, you can go to reception when you're done."

Indicated her new colleague.

"Ok thanks.You can call me Linda."

"Okay,nice to meet you, it's Kyle."

"Okay Kyle,we'll meet at the front desk."

"Yes,see you later."

After he left,Linda entered the locker room.

There was already a suit hanging on a locker for her.Quickly she wore her white and black two-piece suit and then tied her long black hair into a bun at her nape.Hurrying her steps she went to the reception so she could start working.She had to make a good impression today.Arriving at the reception, she could already see that they were busy for a morning.There were some new customers registering because it was summer.

"Can I help?"

She asked to the beautiful blonde who seemed to be the operator.She winced when she turned towards her.

"Oh sorry,let me introduce myself. My name is Linda,I was just hired."

"Oh okay,I'm Suzanne m.As you can see we're overwhelmed,if you don't mind we'll get to know each other better afterwards." She told her smiling.

"Okay,no worries. Can I help?"

"Let me see."

Then she checked the data in the computer.

"Yes yes,you will go see Mr. Adams in room 212 and you will tell him that we were not able to validate his payment with his bank card.It's on the fourth floor. Keep the bank card terminal with you.I hope that you know how it works."

"Of course.I'll go."

"Thank you very much."

Linda had no trouble finding the way to the elevators. Less than three minutes later she was already in front of room 212. After pressing the buzzer,she waited for the occupant to open the door.

"Who is it ?"

She heard.

"That's is the reception that sent me,sir."

A few seconds later, she heard a "Come in!" Without waiting she turned the wrist of the door and entered.Had he not blocked the door?

"Yes what can I do for you?"

Asked Mr. Adams in a haughty tone.

How unpleasant he was said Linda to herself.

"Sorry to bother you but reception sent me to you.Your credit card doesn't work so we couldn't validate your payment."

"What are you talking about? I used it just yesterday."

He replied defensively. Linda frowned at his behavior, but what was wrong with him?

William had been on edge since his argument with his mother because he felt betrayed. "

"With all due respect sir, I'm just reporting a message."

Replied Linda in return without letting herself be intimidated.What annoyed William he was used to respect and submission.

"Am I dreaming or you ogled me."

"You know very well that I didn't do that sir." She replied while maintaining a firm stance.

"When I speak you shut up."

Another rich guy who thought he could do everything that pleased him.She had a horror of haughty people.

"OK sir."

"You are new here aren't you?"

"Indeed sir."

"Everything is clear now, if you knew me I think you would have changed your attitude towards me."

What did he think? That she would throw herself at his feet or perhaps giggle because he was rich?

"If I may speak, even if I knew who you were I wasn't going to..."

She said, looking him straight in the eyes, she couldn't finish her sentence because she remembered her place in this hotel.

"Go ahead,I give you permission."

"I was done talking."

"remind you that I am a VIP client,either you speak or I will report you to your superiors."

He ordered.

"Since you insist.I wasn't going to let myself be impressed or even lick your asses.You don't scare me and I hate arrogant rich people who think that the world belonged to them."

"That's enough,I've heard enough,now get out of my sight!"

"OK sir."

Then she left the room.

William's ego took a hit after what this girl had said.She will regret what she had said and done.Without hesitating he grabbed the receiver and called the hotel reception.

"Hello,it's Mr. Adams, I would like to see your director right away."

"I can't believe it,she really blocked your cards.You're really in a real mess, bro."

Said Jack, making fun of William,when they got into his car.

"It's not funny."

William had called his mother and she had confirmed that she had really cut off his bank cards until further notice.She was really serious then compared to what she had told him the day before.He had not no more cash on him, he had called his best friend to help him out.

"Sorry. And why did she do that?"

William recounted his discussion with his mother in great detail.

"And what do you plan to do now?"

"Honestly, I do not know."

"You know you can always rely on me right ?If I can help,tell me."

"I know bro."

Then the journey was made in silence. ....

*

This was the second time she found herself without a job.Soon she would no longer be able to pay her rent or perhaps survive in a big city like Beverly Hills. This Mr. Adams was a bastard as she said he had made her fired.

Flashback

"Miss MONTENEGRO,Mr. Adams complained about your behavior towards him. You insulted him as he said so well. Do you know who he is? He is one of our VIP clients and he is not just anyone."

Said Martins Blake.

"I'm sorry sir."

That will teach me how to keep my tongue in my mouth.Said Linda to herself within.

" It's not a matter of sorry,it was your first day normally you should have kept a low profile,there are complicated and difficult clients you just need to know how to keep your self-control.Sorry to tell you that but we are going to fire you."

Linda's heart leapt in her chest,was this a joke?

"Please sir this won't happen again."

"Sorry but it's sir Adams order."

Mr. Adams? He was the one who asked for her to be fired.

"I understand and thank you for the opportunity you gave me."

"It was a pleasure."

Back to the present

What was she going to do now? She had no plan B. She had already been unemployed for two weeks.She was tired of lying to her parents that everything was fine.That's all opposite.

"Activate your brain Linda."

She shouted alone in her studio.

Suddenly an idea popped into her mind.

"But yes !"

She shouted again and she got up from her bed.

"And if I apologize maybe he would forgive me and talk to Mr. Blake to get me back.You can do it Linda it doesn't cost anything."

Said Linda while pacing.

"And here I am speaking alone,am I really despaired at that point?

She said,sinking into her bed agonizing over her fate.

The next day

"Please, I'm looking for Mr. Adams."

The security guard was scaring her,he looked like a statuette,he didn't even move.

The day before she had done some research on this famous Adams,he came from a rich family,no wonder he was so arrogant and pretentious.It was on the internet that's where she found out where he lived.

"Hey oh! Can you answer me?I'm not a journalist. I have to see him,it's really important for me."

He stared at her without saying anything. Linda couldn't blame him; he was only doing his job.Suddenly another security guard came join them.

"What is she looking for?"

He asks his colleague.

"She's looking for sir."

Replied the security guard whom Linda was trying to draw out information,so he knew how to speak yet he was silent.

"Please can you help me?"

She asked the second security guard.He looked at her before answering.

"Why are you looking, sir?"

"Sorry but it's private."

"Aren't you one of his opportunists pursuing sir?"

"None of that, believe me."

"What proves that I can believe in you?"

"Look your boss got me fired from my working place,I just want to talk to him so he can talk to my boss to take me back on."

She replied despaired.

"I see, I will help you."

"Ok thanks I would appreciate your help."

"My boss don't no longer lives here,from what I have heard he lives with his friend now."

"And where does this friend live?"

"I honestly don't know. But he has a gym in town, you can go there and ask."

"Can I have the address?"

She asks,taking out a notebook and a pen from her bag.

"Yes it's Blueprint Fitness."

"Thank you very much you saved my life."

"But let this stay between us,if he finds out I will be fired."

Linda knew what it felt like to be fired,she wasn't going to spill the beans.

"Promise this will stay between us."

She was going to try her luck another time. At least she knew where to find him, she still had plenty of time to prepare her apology speech.

*

A few days later a Saturday morning was getting ready to go to the gym.She knew that most people went to a gym on the weekends and that with ninety percent he might be there too,it was obvious that a man well-built as him practiced abs and sports. Her plan was to register as a client to easily infiltrate. Arriving at her destination,Linda scanned the building,it was too chic and luxurious place for her.Then she swallowed her spit before going inside.

It was exactly as she had imagined it,the interior was very attractive and well equipped.Could she afford a session with her tight budget?It will be better for her to convince him,because she didn't have time to look for another job and the other one was well paid.

"Hello! Please I would like to sign up for a session."

She said to the receptionist who was at the front desk.

"Hello ma'am!That will make you $150 please."

Wow,she knew it.

"Ok"

"Please fill out this form."

The receptionist replied,giving her a paper and a pen.

After filling out the form she returned it to her with her credit card.

"Thank you ma'am! My colleague will show you the place and if you need anything Don't hesitate.I wish you a pleasant time in our gym."

She said with a exaggerating smile.

Linda laughed at herself inwardly,it was obvious that it was a forced smile with her failed facelift.

"Follow me please."

Said her colleague,indicating her to follow her.At least this one seemed a little bit natural.

During the visit, while the hostess gave her a guided tour,Linda had her mind elsewhere she glanced everywhere to be able to spot him,he was nowhere.Or was he not coming?She would be disappointed if that was the case.

"We are done with the visit ma'am."

Linda came back to reality and thanked her. After she left,Linda headed to the locker room to drop off her belongings.

Standing on the treadmill,she still glancing around the room to see if he was already there.

"Calm down Linda,it's only 9am."

She said to herself quietly after looking at the time on her watch.

An hour later, Linda spotted him from the bay window overlooking the parking lot.

"Well, it wasn't too soon dear Mr. Adams, you kept me waiting."

She had to stop talking to herself because people would think she was crazy,she finally told herself.

A few minutes later,he finally enter the room. The girls had already started giggling when they saw him, if only they could know that there was nothing so handsome about him. And with them around It would be difficult to see him in private.She would have to wait. Finally they ended up leaving him,Linda saw him heading towards the locker room,then he came back later and started lifting the weights.

Without wasting more time,she headed towards him,after inhaling and exhaling.

"Hello Mr. William,do you remember me?"

William had immediately recognized her. How could he forget her? She had told him what no woman had dared tell him.And he secretly admired her for that and at the same time he was angry for her indifference towards him.

"Yes what can I do for you?"

He replied with a exaggerated politeness and his eternal haughty look.Then he placed the weight on the support.

"Um can I see you in private?"

She asks shyly,there she had to play the humility card.

"Can't you see that I'm busy?"

"This will only last a minute."

"Miss, stop bothering me or I'll call the security guard."

Since he didn't seem to want to cooperate, Linda decided to talk to him there then whether he wanted or not.

"I just wanted to apologize for the last time,I shouldn't have spoken to you like this."

It was unfair that is her who is apologizing,he was wrong too.

"Um,that's understood."

What?Which kind of response is that?Rubbish,she was apologizing while she was not wrong.

"Is that all ?"

"What else did you want me to do?"

"I thought..."

Suddenly she started crying,even she didn't know when the tears came out. Even William had noticed that she was trying to control herself but it was an impossible mission. People had started to look at them.William, to attract less attention,took her hand so that they could go somewhere else out of sight.

He dragged her into his friend's office since he had double keys.At least here no one would come and disturb them.

"May I know what you're playing?"

"Sorry, I'm a little bit nervous lately."

She replied tearfully.

"Okay,I accept your apology."

"By the way,I didn't come for this alone.I was fired and I would like you to speak to my boss so that he can rehire me.I will have learned that you are the cause. And I really regret everything what I said."

"Okay if you say so I'll see what I can do for you."

"Please do something."

Was she that desperate at this point?

William wondered himself.

"I understood."

Suddenly,the owner of the place came into the office.

"Oh!I didn't know that you were with someone."

He said,surprised to see his friend in the company of a girl.Since he had started living with him he had never seen a girl again.

"Oh no she was about to leave."

He said to his friend quickly because he knew what he was thinking.

"Yes,I was going."

She said getting up.

Jack opened the door for her and she left.

"Who is that? And why do I have the feeling that she cried?"

He asked just after she left.

"Oh it's nobody,I met her at the hotel last time."

"Is she another one of your girls?"

"t's quite the opposite."

William briefed to his friend what had happened between them and the reason for her visit.

"Oh I see,great character this girl,the kind of woman who could control and tamed you."

"Very funny."

He said ironically.

"That is true,you need a woman who knows how to challenge you and tell you the truth straight in the eyes.Oh yes..."

He shouted at the end of his sentence as he stood up.

"I've found...."

He continued.

"What did you find?"

Asks William who until then didn't get his friend's attitude.

"The solution to your problems.What if you married her?"

"Eh ?"

William replied with a frown.

"I expressed myself badly, what if you faked a marriage with her in order to make your mother believe that you had changed and worthy of your inheritance.It's not just anyone who makes the decision to get married.By getting married you will appear more mature in her eyes.And knowing that the future descendant of the family will come from you,she will entrust you with all the assets of the Adams family."

"What are you talking about? I have no desire to get married and have children."

"Listen to me, it won't be a real marriage in the classic sense of the term,it's just to fool your mother for a while.I'm sure that after the wedding you will have access to all your bank cards and your inheritance.And you broke up with her amicably."

"I admit it's tempting my brother, and where am I going to find this actress?"

"No need to look any further, the girl who has just left will be perfect for this role and she is desperate,she will accept and play her role well if you offered her a nice sum at the end of the contract.And what's more she has an innocent face, your mother will love her."

"And if out of ambition she threatens to tell everything or divulge the secret to the press?"

"All that will be part of the terms of the contract,we will tell her what she has to do and don't."

"Okay I'll think about it."