Love and legacy

Chapter: one

Courtney's peaceful slumber was abruptly interrupted by the incessant buzzing of her alarm clock. Groaning, she rolled out of her cozy bed and stumbled towards her desk. The soft glow of her laptop screen welcomed her and signaling the start of another busy day.

Letting out a deep sigh, Courtney silenced the annoying alarm and prepared herself for the tasks ahead. The morning sun was already peeking through her window, a not-so-gentle reminder that there was no time to waste. She hadn't slept well for the past few nights, but work had to be done. Stretching her weary limbs, she placed her hands on the keyboard, ready to dive in.

Just as her fingers hovered over the keys, her phone rang, its cheerful tone a stark contrast to her tired mood. Courtney's gaze flicked to the screen, and she couldn't help but let out another sigh. It was Becca, her sister. Who else could it be? Of course, they were family, but their differing passions and perspectives on almost everything often made it feel like they were worlds apart.

With a reluctant tap of her finger, Courtney accepted the call. "Hey, sis," she greeted, forcing a cheerful tone. "Bright morning, huh?"

Becca wasted no time getting straight to the point. "Where are you? Don't tell me you forgot about today."

Courtney let out a chuckle, glancing down at her pajamas. Better to mention those than the computer in front of her; that would only derail the conversation. "Well, I'm still in my pajamas," she admitted. "And what's happening today?"

Becca's exasperation was palpable, even over the phone. "Oh, Christ, not again. Today is April 14th!"

"April 14th!" Courtney echoed, her mind racing as she tried to recall what they had planned for this day. As far as she could remember, there were no appointments or scheduled events on April 14th.

"Courtney, are you working right now?" Becca demanded.

"Working? No, totally not working," Courtney replied, grinning at her little white lie. At least Becca couldn't see her work-filled computer screen.

"Just get your ass up here, like right now!" Becca ordered.

"Becca, I'm serious," Courtney protested. "What's happening on April 14th?"

"Courtney, it's your birthday, for goodness' sake! I can't even talk to you right now. You're impossible!" With that, Becca ended the call, leaving Courtney in stunned silence.

Oops, was Becca mad? Courtney cringed. Her sister was totally right; it was her birthday – her twenty-seventh, in fact – and here she was, still lounging around in her pajamas in her second-floor apartment in New York's Chelsea neighborhood.

This meant all her meticulously planned tasks for the day would have to be pushed aside. How on earth could she have forgotten her own birthday? Well, lately, birthdays had become less of a priority. Becca often accused her of being a workaholic, too business-minded for a lady.

But Becca had a point, and just because her sister was right didn't make it any less true. Courtney had long-term ambition to achieve, and that required dedication and a lot of effort.

Unlike Becca, what else would a business-minded go-getter be up to if not strategizing and analyzing? Either way, she had to get going – and fast.

***

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Courtney found herself aboard a luxurious mid size yacht, surrounded by a surprise birthday party thrown by her family – mainly orchestrated by Becca.

She wore a stunning red sleeveless gown that Becca had picked out for her. At first, Courtney had refused to wear such a bold and revealing outfit to a small family gathering. But oh, how wrong she was.

In the midst of a grand party, not too far from the Mirana and surrounded by strangers, she couldn't help but feel out of place. Well, at least she recognized a few faces in the crowd. Still, she never imagined herself donning a flashy red gown, no matter how much Becca insisted.

You see, she wasn't your average girl living an average life. She wasn't the partying type, nor was she particularly social. Her world revolved around business and everything in between, much to Becca's constant frustration.

A random guy in a black suit approached her uninvited. "Hey, I've heard so much about you from the WEB magazines." he said with a charming smile.

"Oh, really? Nice to meet you too," Courtney replied, forcing a smile. She wished he would just disappear. Her relationship with men was complicated; she could make a solid first impression, but her views on them were somewhat stereotypical. In her experience, men often acted like they were in control. while she believed she worked twice as hard and was smarter than any man.

"Happy birthday, Courtney Williams," the man toasted, raising his glass of wine and winking at her before sauntering off.

Courtney was relieved he'd left without attempting an awkward conversation.

"And who was that handsome?" Becca asked, suddenly appearing at her side.

"I don't know," Courtney rolled her eyes. "Probably some guy you decided to invite onto this boat."

"I saw the way he looked at you," Becca whispered conspiratorially. "I think he kinda likes you."

"Shut up, Becca," Courtney snapped, cutting her off before things could get awkward. Romantic relationships weren't her thing. She had never been in one and had no intention of starting any.

Suddenly, a hologram appeared in the center of the room, capturing everyone's attention. Courtney couldn't help but grin as the image of Mr. Smith, the founder, owner, and current CEO of the WEB business network, flickered to life. To her, though, he was more than just a powerful businessman – he was her father. Neither of her parents was here in person, so this was a welcome surprise.

"Unfortunately, I may not be able to attend my daughter's birthday party tonight," Mr. Smith announced. "But I hope my spirit does." He chuckled, his love for Courtney evident even through the holographic projection.

Courtney's grin widened; she understood her dad's demanding schedule as a big-time businessman. In fact, if it weren't for Becca, she wouldn't even be celebrating her birthday at all.

As the guests watched intently, Mr. Smith continued, pride evident in his voice. "Courtney Williams, I am a proud father because of you. So, I have a little token for you – a birthday present, as some might call it. It was all Becca's idea. We are honored to gift you a private yacht. We hope you enjoy it tonight." The hologram disappeared, and the crowd burst into applause.

Courtney turned to Becca, who was beaming with excitement. "Seriously, a yacht?" Courtney asked, unimpressed yet slightly shocked. She hadn't bothered to ask whose boat they were on, only to discover it belonged to her all along. What on earth would she do with a yacht?

"Don't you like it?" Becca teased, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Oh, I do. A boat I'll never get to unboard for the rest of my life," Courtney replied, her sarcasm undeniable.

"You really are a fun spoiler, aren't you?" Becca asked, disappointment tinging her voice.

"Look, I'm just saying..." Courtney started, trying to explain.

"OMG! Look who decided to show up at your party!" Becca interrupted her, pointing towards the entrance.

Courtney turned around, her jaw dropping in shock.

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Chapter two:

The late arrival who had caught Courtney and Becca's attention was a strikingly handsome man of average height.

Dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, he exuded an air of success, resembling a powerful politician or businessman. As he moved through the crowd, the gold watch on his wrist glinted in the light.

Courtney, still reeling from the surprise party, was left wondering about why and how he was even here. "Did you invite him?" Becca whispered in her ear, sharing her curiosity.

"I was going to ask you the same thing," Courtney whispered back. They dared not discuss him any louder, as he was now making his way toward them.

If only he had minded his own business and enjoyed the party like everyone else, Courtney thought to herself. But there he was, approaching them with a wide grin on his face.

"You both look lovely tonight," He said, extending his hand in greeting. Neither woman returned the gesture, their unease palpable.

After a moment, he withdrew his hand, his grin widening.

"I see our past hasn't been entirely left behind," he observed, unfazed by their cool reception.

"What are you even doing here, Hernandez?" Courtney demanded, her tone far from welcoming.

"I couldn't possibly miss my sister's twenty-seventh birthday party, could I?" he replied, managing a smile despite their frowns.

"Spare me. Like you care," Becca retorted, her voice tinged with bitterness.

"Easy, tigress," Hernandez said, attempting to diffuse the tension. "We don't want to ruin the evening."

Becca, unwilling to engage further, excused herself. "I think I have to be anywhere but here, right now."

Courtney and Hernandez were left standing in silence, their eyes locked in a steely gaze.

"She must hate me," Hernandez finally murmured, breaking the silence.

"Hernandez, what are you doing here?" Courtney pressed, her tone grave.

He met her gaze steadily. "It's a family party."

Courtney's gaze intensified. "I'm not talking about the party. Why are you in the United States? Last I checked, you were happy in Mexico."

Hernandez's smile grew even brighter. "Oh, about that, i was a happy man back in Mexico, until I realized I could be happier with the WEB business network."

Confusion clouded Courtney's features. "What are you talking about?" She knew Hernandez wouldn't travel from Mexico just for her birthday party; there had to be more to his arrival. What was he up to? She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but she didn't like it one bit.

"Better get used to me, Courtney," Hernandez announced triumphantly. "I'm part of the team now."

Courtney's eyes widened in disbelief at the revelation. Working with Hernandez was the last thing she possibly imagine, the COO that worked with her at the subsidiary oversight and management team in WEB was out and his replacement was Hernandez?

She couldn't bring herself to ask about them just yet. Like Becca, she chose to walk away from his overwhelming presence.

Hernandez remained in place, nodding to himself with a sinister glint in his eyes. He had disrupted the party, but this was only the beginning. His plan for the night involved discreetly drugging Courtney and carrying out the rest of his twisted scheme.

Moments later, a waitress approached-the very woman he was working with, she was to deliver a glass of wine laced with the solid substance to Courtney.

The waitress gave him a subtle nod, the tainted wine perched on her tray.

Meanwhile, Courtney stood outside by herself at the edge of the watercraft, her gaze fixed on the tranquil water. Clearly craving solitude, she couldn't shake Hernandez from her thoughts.

His presence had tainted the entire day, and the fact that the board of directors had appointed him to the subsidiary oversight and management department of her father's company-their father's organization-only made matters worse.

Despite her disdain for him, Courtney couldn't deny that Hernandez was her half-brother.

Though she had valid reasons for her feelings, one of which was the role his mother played in her parents' divorce. Neither she nor Becca had fully recovered from growing up in a broken home.

True, their father was a successful and influential businessman-even a public face-but his marriage had been a catastrophe.

As Courtney stared at the calm, flowing water, her mind wandered, dredging up painful memories from the past.

Her father's family had a long line of Mexican ancestry, but their deceased grandparents had migrated to the United States and become citizens.

During one of her father's casual vacations to Mexico, he met Francisca, who was a cleaner at the time. It was after a couple years that he learned about his son with her.

Unfortunately for her, he had married another women and they had two daughters.

However, Francisca insisted that her son still had a place in their father's life. And for a moment, their dad chose to rekindle an old flame rather than save his marriage, and her mother accused him of cheating with his one time complicated one night stand.

Eventually, their mom couldn't take it any longer and permanently separated from their father.

The whole experience had been deeply painful, and Hernandez's presence only served to dredge up those hurtful memories.

As Courtney stood lost in thought, a waitress appeared, holding a silver tray with a glass of wine. "Ma'am, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Courtney replied, attempting to adjust her mood.

"Perhaps a glass of wine would do," the waitress suggested, undeterred.

"I said I'm fine!" Courtney snapped, causing the waitress to flinch and turn to leave. "Wait..." Realizing that a distraction might be just what she needed, Courtney called the waitress back.

Eager for the distraction, Courtney grabbed the glass and downed its contents in one go. She placed the empty glass back on the tray, her gaze returning to the water as the waitress disappeared into the room.

Meanwhile, Hernandez's smirk widened as the waitress returned to the room, offering him an assuring smile. Half of the job was done. Hernandez touched the Bluetooth device nestled in his left ear.

"All set. You'll have her tonight, but don't even think about it, you understand?" Hernandez updated his other accomplice.

"Understood." the man on the other end of the line confirmed.

Courtney was still lost in her thoughts about Hernandez and his dreadful mother when her vision began to blur. For a few seconds, objects seemed to multiply before her eyes, appearing double and even triple.

A shadow was cast on the wall, and the figure it belonged to was quickly approaching.

She couldn't be certain, but she could tell it was a man.

"Who... who are..." Courtney tried to speak, her words slurring as she struggled to maintain focus.

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Chapter three:

As the morning light seeped through the window, Courtney's eyes gradually opened, her vision initially blurry but slowly brightening. Her head throbbed in pain; she couldn't recall what had happened. As her gaze took in the unfamiliar room, she realized that it was illuminated by the sun's gentle rays. She yawned and stretched her arms wide before getting out of bed and scanning the unfamiliar surroundings. This was definitely not her room in Chelsea. Where on earth was she?

Her mind raced as she hastily made her way to the door and flung it open. Fear and confusion settled in-had she been kidnapped? Her memories refused to offer any clarity, and she found herself walking briskly through the corridor, casting quick glances in all directions. Moments later, she arrived at what appeared to be a Marina, her presence there adding to the mystery. On a Wednesday morning, she should have been at the office with her colleagues or at the very least working from home.

Becca! That's right-she had been at a party with Becca, sort of her party, the pieces of her memory gradually falling into place.

"Good morning, Madam," a friendly voice broke through her thoughts. An African American man greeted her with a wave, which she returned with a smile. Based on his attire, she deduced that he must be a marina staff. But where was everyone else? And where was her gifted fancy yacht?

"You're Courtney Williams, aren't you?" he asked.

She nodded, almost tempted to inquire about her peculiar situation, waking up in one of the dockside condos where the workers presumably dwelled during their shifts.

"And that must be your baby over there?" He gestured behind her.

Courtney glanced over her shoulder to find her luxurious yacht.

"Am a dock master, actually it's part of my job to oversee your boat and a few others," he explained with a smile.

Despite the man's warm demeanor, Courtney couldn't help but feel utterly confused, yet she managed to maintain her composure.

The questions swirled in her mind. Where was her phone? Where in the world was Becca? And then it hit her-Hernandez, that pest of a brother, had crashed her party. The memories came flooding back: she hadn't wanted a party in the first place, but she had done it for Becca's sake. As she stood staring at the water, the events of the night before began to crystallize in her mind. Regardless, she needed to get out of this place as soon as possible.

"Courtney!" a familiar voice called from behind.

"Becca," she replied, turning around to find her sibling.

"Oh my God!" Becca exclaimed, pulling her into a warm and tight embrace. "What the hell happened last night? You ditched me, you didn't pick up your phone... what happened to you?"

"I... I don't know," Courtney whispered, breaking the embrace. "I found myself here, sleeping in one of the rooms."

"Okay, I'll pretend to be a complete idiot-explain that again," Becca chuckled, clearly expecting a more plausible explanation.

"I'm not kidding, Becca," Courtney insisted, witnessing Becca's's skeptical reaction. "But I need to get the hell out of here." After all, this entire situation stemmed from one of Becca's ideas.

Courtney led the way, adamant about leaving the Marina and getting back to her normal routine, back to business. The disruption caused by the party and its aftermath was enough for her to want to return to the stability of her daily life.

***

As the afternoon arrived, Hernandez found himself in the company of the man he had tasked with taking Courtney for the night, furious that he had failed to follow through with his assignment to capture photos and videos of himself and Courtney together. The man claimed to have missed her and been unable to locate her.

"Look, babe," the woman who had posed as a waitress interjected, trying to defuse the tension. "You have to calm down."

Hernandez, however, was far from calm. His frustration bubbled to the surface as he realized that his plan had completely unraveled, leaving him without the leverage he sought over his sister.

"Don't tell me to calm down, Jessica." Hernandez fired back, seething with anger. He had invested significant effort into this plan, only for them to carelessly let it fall apart. His eyes remained fixed on the man who stood before him, silent and staring at the floor of the hotel room.

Hernandez had already removed his suit jacket upon their arrival, his fury intensifying as he learned that things had gone awry the previous night. Now, he rolled up his sleeves, his gaze never wavering from the man's face.

"look, I'm really sorry," the man began, attempting to defend himself. "But she was gone before I could get there, and I tried searching for her everywhere. I just couldn't find her; it's like she vanished or something."

His explanation fell on deaf ears. Hernandez's fist connected with the side of the man's cheek, sending him staggering and nearly collapsing to the ground. Jessica watched in shock as the scene unfolded, the tension in the room thick enough to cut with a knife.

"Don't you dare feed me that crap, you understand?" Hernandez spat, his voice laced with fury as the man nodded, gingerly touching his bruised cheek.

Jessica, witnessing the escalating violence, attempted to reason with Hernandez. "What more do you want? You're a part of the WEB now, isn't that enough?"

Hernandez turned to face her, his anger still simmering just beneath the surface. " is never enough!" he declared before making his way to the window, his gaze fixed on the scene outside.

In that moment, he was transported back to his childhood, to the days when he had suffered alongside his single mother as a little boy, sent home from school because she couldn't keep up with the bills. All the while, Courtney had been living a life of luxury as the golden child. The scars of those experiences still festered within him, driving his relentless pursuit for more power, more recognition, and more control.

Even after his father had acknowledged him, nothing had changed-he was still the illegitimate son, forever overshadowed by Courtney. She, on the other hand, had spent her entire life being groomed and prepared to succeed their father as CEO, carrying on the family legacy at WEB. Hernandez exhaled deeply, determination etched on his face. As long as he was alive, he would be the one to extend the family legacy, not her. This was the driving force behind his plan to blackmail her, to tarnish her reputation within the company.

"What do you really want?" Jessica's voice cut through his thoughts, her hand gently resting on his shoulder.

Hernandez turned to face her, his voice now low and calm. "I want what she has-everything."

Jessica took his cheek in her hand, offering assurance. "Whatever you have to do, am here for you."

He brushed her hand away and ran his fingers through his hair. "We need new plan," he concluded, a half-smile playing at his lips.

"What do you have in mind this time?" Jessica asked, prompting a devious smirk from Hernandez.

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