|Adelaide Knowles|

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Savvy entrepreneur, Christian Castillo sets to revive the struggling industry giant, proving himself to be a skilled operator with the latest acquisition of Luxe Couture.

The headlines on the digital billboard in New York Times Square glazed at me like a mocking trail after my third failed interview for the day. For a moment, I felt my feet rooted to the ground as I read the news over and over again. A bile rose to my throat, while my eyes fixated on the board.

I didn't know which one made me mad. The news, the failed interview at the same freaking company, or...the man on the billboard who could pass off as a Tommy Hilfiger suit model being the CEO of a conglomerate with his broad shoulders, hooded green eyes that haunted every air, and the arrogant smirk of an accomplished businessman.

Everyone knew that at twenty-two, Christian Castillo had taken over as CEO of Castillo's conglomerate after his father who had passed on, bequeathed the company to him, being the only son on the condition that his temporary position would be made permanent if he was able to get the company to turn a profit before his twenty-fifth birthday.

If only the man knew that his son was more than capable of not just turning profits but tripling the return on every investment the company had made since its existence, thereby making Christian Castillo one of the world's most promising business moguls in the history of Forbes before his twenty-fifth birthday. So yes, he was accomplished, the world was his oyster and he could do whatever he wanted except try to mess with whatever was left of my family.

My phone rang for the millionth time in less than six hours and I just knew who this could be without looking at the caller ID. It was a norm right now. Taking in a deep breath, I rolled my eyes, swiping the green tab. "You have three seconds to tell me why you called otherwise fuck off my phone."

"You bitch!" he snarled.

"Five." I counted.

"Get me my money, Adelaide, otherwise I'll be the one counting down your deathbed." It was the usual threat that followed me for the last five years since my family went bankrupt. For some reason, I had inherited my father's debt, and as heavy as that seemed, it was just an addition to fending for my mother who was barely alive, and my sister who could barely figure out how to pass an algebraic class.

Today would have been one of the days when I would have gotten a job at one of the most influential companies I detest, worked my ass off, and got paid enough to offset my debt. I had a plan. I had it all mapped out if Kendrick and a thousand others didn't stop blowing my phone up with calls, making the interviewers raise their brows at me.

"You should have thought of that when you wouldn't stop bugging my phone during my interview." I hissed back at him. I knew the only reason I could retort was because I knew Kendrick. He was all talk and no action plus, he was an idiot.

"That's your fucking business-"

"Four."

"I hope you saw the news. Your father's business is gone. What's gonna be your excuse this time? Huh?"

"It is not entirely gone, Kendrick. The acquisition isn't final. Three!"

"That's your consolation?" I could hear the grim smile in his voice. We both knew I was talking bull's crap. The company would have been good as gone no matter what, except that I was holding on to one last piece of hope hinged on the finality of what I believed was an illegal acquisition so long as my family was concerned.

Kendrick knew that. But what was the point of banking on the fact that we'll win with whatever defense we have to refuse Castillo's influence? It wasn't even going to pay half of the money we owe our debtors, I could as well be fighting with a dead horse.

"You have two seconds, Kendrick."

"Boss is giving you less than ten days to repay the amount you owe otherwise, screw you and the rest of your raggedy family!" he said harshly.

I breathed out a sigh when the line was disconnected. Less than ten days meant any day from now, I still didn't have a stable job nor any hope of one and I was tired of running from one city to another. Today was just the fourth week since I moved from Seattle to Chicago and now here, NY. It was a hassle. I was barely making ends meet with the club downtown where I worked night shifts and the tutoring I did during noon for college students in addition to the nanny jobs I took on in the mornings. I needed a permanent job. Something sustainable enough to pay mom's bills, and my younger sister's and settle our debts.

That was why I didn't mind coming here to get a job and as a result, I was greeted with more humiliation of seeing all that father ever worked for go up in flames under the acquisition of Castillo's, the golden family who never have had to ever in generations to come, worry about posterity going financially incapacitated. They were a long line of New York's old money. It didn't help to know they were capable of turning random stones into gold and could still ease through the whole process like it was a fucking alphabet.

Was this why I detested the Castillos? No. In fact, It was the only thing I admired about them. Everything else was a fucking shitshow. Having to know Christian Castillo was as good as eating with the devil and if I had known any better, I would have eaten with the said devil with a longer fork than usual.

Yet, here I was, begging the crumbs in his gigantic company that stood as arrogant as his personality.
My life was freaking amazing. I huffed aloud, crouching on my knees as I buried my face in my hands. My phone vibrated again and I cussed out in frustration, wondering when this would all end.

Managing to pull my feet up, I dragged my feet to Eva, my best friend's flora shop. I could use a little cheer and a glass of alcohol and maybe a break from my phone and everyone I didn't want to encounter or think about. The doorbells jingled as soon as I pulled it open.

"Hi, Dee!" She squealed immediately when she saw me, although the smile vanished just as she took in my exhaustive state. "You don't look too good, are you okay?"

I was about to say something when I noticed her giving a warning glare to someone I couldn't see yet, and looking back at me with a face that screamed something was totally off. "Okay, what's going on?"

She chuckled awkwardly, "C'mon, what do you-"

"Congratulations to my sweet and lovely girlfriend for nailing your interviews!" an excited baritone sang out, coming into view with a candle-lit mini cake and party hat, was my boyfriend, Jeremy Stanford.

I should have been excited that he took his dear time to bake a surprise cake for me except that I never told him I had any interviews and I definitely never told him I was stopping by Eva's nor did I tell him I nailed any freaking interview.

I didn't want to tell him about any of these because for one, Jeremy was content with fending off me and my family for as long as we've known each other and he knew I hated the company which I had mentioned in passing that I was going to apply for a job, but because he got whatever it was he could get from me, he insisted it was no big deal so long as we get to have money or rather, he gets to have money to put into another failed investment scheme.

He cocked his head at me, "You got a job, didn't you?"

"Eva?" I glowered at her.

"Sis, I know you asked me not to say anything about the interviews to him, but I couldn't help it when he wouldn't stop asking questions I had no answer to."

He set aside the cake, walking up to me, "Hey babe, I know your job success was supposed to be a surprise, but I just wanted to make it up to you for acting like a puss this past few weeks."

I breathed out a sigh, "First of all, Jer, I didn't get the job or any job at all. Second of all, is that...chocolate raisins in the cake?" I knew that because Eva had cut a piece and was spitting out the raisins.

"You didn't get any? What did you do today?" He took off his party hat.

"I don't know. Get harassed by my phone because I am in an obvious lot of debt."

"Yeah well," he pinched the bridge of his nose, "you were supposed to be killing it at the Castillo who just took over your father's company. Maybe make them see a reason why they need you in their industry and not..."

"Oh, hi! Look!" Eva interrupted in a faux high-pitched tone, gesturing at me, "There's a descendant from our newly acquired baby, we're going to use her to nurture our beloved so she can have our baby and we'll be heroes as usual," she scoffed, "Don't be an idiot, Jeremy. That's never going to happen."

"Fair enough, but you still have to contend with the illegality of their acquisition." he maintained, causing me to roll my eyes.

"Who hired their opponent?"

"That's if you were one to begin with." Eva pointed out.

"Oh." that was all Jeremy said. I was about nodding in concession to his resignation except that I've known him too well to realize when something is awfully wrong.

"You didn't borrow another money with my name, Jer? Right?"

"From spine sharks and we have just six months to make sure we clear our check with them."

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck! Everyone in the business world knew the spine sharks to be one of the most dangerous and deadliest loan sharks who gave out money to start-up companies for a limited time and huge interest. They were only resourceful to desperate individuals and companies with backup.

Desperate I was, but a backup company was something I didn't have and that was why this whole situation was fucked up. I knew without asking that Jeremy had told them of a non-existent startup and although they usually did dig into the lenders' financial situation, they were still known for giving out to people who stood no chance of repayment for a much deadlier pay.

"Oh my flipping gosh," Eva exclaimed.

It all made sense as to why his anticipation of me getting the job wasn't just about getting free from debtors. Once again, the son of a gun was throwing me into a ditch to save myself. I didn't need to ask, knowing he had used me as a guarantor, and right now, my life was in as much danger as his.

Unfortunately, more danger because the last time I ever saw Jeremy before today was his clean disappearance off the surface of the earth after borrowing a huge sum of money which reinforced my relocations. But not this time. I was done being responsible for his debts when I had my family to look out for. I wasn't running away this time.

"Nah, Jer. You borrowed that cash and you'll pay it back."

He grimaced, "That's why you would have done everything to get that job, damnit!" he ran his hand through his hair in exasperation."Listen, I know this might sound crazy but, you could ask Castillo to give you some money. You two go way back, he'll-"

"Oh shut up, Jer. You sound crazy." I snapped.

"Okay, do you have any suggestions at least?" He searched my face for a moment, noting my silence, "That's right. I thought as much."

I knew Jeremy was a fucking ass, I just didn't think I'd be a victim again. Didn't that make me a fucking moron?

I pushed back the tears threatening to fall from my eyes, keeping my voice steady as I spoke. "I'm done putting up with your shit, Jeremy. You are going to have to figure this one out by yourself." I took my bag, prepared to leave when he called out.

"I'm leaving NY tonight, babe. Maybe this one's on you." he walked up to my frozen stance, "but I promise, I'll make it up to you. I'm sorry, babe. Really."

"Dee-" Eva called out to me in a tiny voice, "I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have said anything to him."

I raised my face, puffing out a large breath. A lone smile crossed my face when I saw her pouty lips, she was as cute as my sister. Maybe that was why I could never get upset with her. Either way, I was still in a mess, and feeling sorry for myself wasn't going to get me anywhere.

"You wanna go somewhere tonight?" I asked her, she narrowed her eyes at me knowingly.

She shook her head at me, "God! I never tell what goes on in that pretty head of yours!"

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