Prologue

The Gentleman CEO© 2023 by Azure_DS

All Rights Reserved

Disclaimer: This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Perhaps it doesn't support any act of violence or activities against society. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. 

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Standing by the window, Beth watched the snowflakes dancing in the air and vanishing among their races on the earth. Everything outdoors was coated in white, appearing to be the extensively blissful panorama she had ever come across in her entire life.

However, her desperate mind and restless heartbeat were making it tough to wrap herself with bliss, as they both were bleeding in despair and thinking just about him.

'Will I ever be able to get out of this cage and be his?' questions rose within herself. 'Will I ever get a chance to meet him? Will we ever be able to be together?' Sadly, there was no one to answer her questions.

Suddenly, the ring on the phone startled her, snapping her out of deep thought. Looking over her shoulder, she stared at her phone lying on the bed and then turned back to the window. 

Not bothering to answer the call, she got back to diving into her thoughts, which was a pool filled with doubts, questions, and anxiety.

Shortly after, the door flung wide open slamming hard against the wall. Jolting as Beth looked over her shoulder, she encountered Helena hurrying inside. 

The panic smeared on her face delivered the message that she was lugging the bad news to tarnish the moment which was already messed up. Hearing the phone ringing, she came to a halt and took a glance at the phone.

Gulping hard, she then stammered, "I… I think you should take the call."

Turning her gaze back at the window, Beth replied plainly, "I better not."

Grabbing the phone, Helena marched to Beth and handed it to her before instructing, "Answer it!"

Without sparing a glance, she replied, "I don't wanna talk to him."

"It's not him!"

Narrowing her eyes, she glanced at her, thinking she was bluffing. However, when her eyes fell on the caller ID, she found Helena to be true.

Still not willing to answer the call from Luna, Beth shook her head right to left and stated, "He probably must have told her to call me. I better not talk to her either."

Placing the phone in her hand, Helena insisted, "It is not what you are thinking. Just answer it."

Scrunching her eyes in confusion, she asked, "Did… Did something happen?" 

"I…" Helena paused and bit her lower lips, wavering to speak further.

Scared, Beth shuddered, "Tell… Tell me what it is, Helena."

"I cannot!" she sounded helpless. "Answer the call and you will find out on your own."

Swallowing hard in agitation, Beth pressed the answer key before tucking the phone close to her ear. Hearing the sob on the other side of the call, she grew more anxious.

"Luna, what… What happened? Is everything alright?" she asked desperately.

The unsteady voice of Luna came from the other side of the phone, adding more to Beth's stress.

"No, it isn't. Brother…" 

Her pause beat the hardest drum that had ever beaten in Beth's heart. 

"What happened to him? Is he alright?" she couldn't help asking in her trembling voice.

"He… He met with an accident."

For a second, Beth's heart stopped beating and once it did, she was dragged back to the memories, memories in which they were happiest of all.

Shaking her head in disbelief, she stammered, "No… No, that cannot be true."

Grasping her arms, Helena informed, "It's all over the news, Beth."

Ears focusing on hearing Luna, eyes fixed on Helena, Beth found herself going numb.

"Please come back to him, please!" Luna suggested helplessly.

Clenching her fist, she spoke in a heavy tone, "You know I cannot do that."

"What do you mean, you cannot? You can…"

 Scared Luna could convince her with words, Beth hung up on her. Heavily pulling down her hand, she staggered to the bed. Then, squatting on the floor, she hugged her knees before wailing out loud.

Marching to her, Helena suggested, "Your crying will change nothing, Beth. You should go."

Beth didn't answer and kept on sobbing, burying her face in her knees. 

Crouching before her, Helena tried her best to persuade. "Sources say he is in critical condition, Beth. He needs you. If anything happens to him, then you might be left with regret for your whole life for not being with him in his last…"

Raising her wide gaze, Beth interrupted in fury, "Nothing is going to happen to him. He will be fine. So stop talking nonsense."

"Deep down you know it's not nonsense, Beth. You also know that he needs you the most at this moment. You are supposed to be by his side," Helena didn't stop convincing her.

Biting her lips, she looked sideways before saying, "I cannot go, you know that."

"Yes, you can. You just have to get up and amble straight through the front door."

"If I go, what about you, then?" She took a glance at her.

"Hey! I am not the one who needs you," she sounded disappointed. "It's him who needs you more than anything in the world. Besides, you don't have to worry about the person who can take care of themselves."

"Are… Are you sure?" she asked in a doubtful tone. "How are you going to deal with that intruder, then?"

Grasping her arms, Helena helped her to get on her feet before saying, "I am sure about this. And don't worry, I will not let down my guard in front of that intruder."

Then, pushing her to the door, she suggested, "You should go."

Reaching the door, Beth turned to Helena and embraced her before leaving the room. Walking across the silent hallway with her desperate heart, Beth stopped once she reached the stairs.

Scanning the area standing on the landing, when she didn't find anyone around, she took the chance and ran downstairs barefooted.

She had just gripped the doorknob when suddenly Kevin's yell filled every nook of the house. "Where the hell do you think you are going?"

Without bothering to answer him, she twisted the knob, but before she could pull the door, he shouted again, "This is my final warning. If you take a single step out, the door will be closed to you forever."

Still not caring, Beth pulled the door. The cold wind hit her face, trembling not only her body but her soul as well. Till then she was determined about walking out and getting on to the person who was yearning for her presence.

"Fine, if you are really leaving, then let me remind you again," Kevin tried to murder her determination by playing with his words. "The moment you step out, I will destroy him. Not just him, his whole generation will be ruined. You don't want them to suffer. Do you?"