Daniel had gazed out of the windows of his multimillion-dollar company, looking out while the cool breeze of California blew past his face. The morning was already busy in the city as his mind wandered back to the choices he had made in the past.
Daniel wasn't born into riches, nor was he born into poverty. As the only son out of six siblings of the Wright family, Daniel had always aspired to be rich. He had never wanted to end up like his father, a clerk at a thrift store, or his mother, a seamstress.
His five sisters assisted their mother in the sewing business whenever they got back from school, and he had always assisted his father, too, sometimes.
Mr. and Mrs. Wright were typical American parents who did all they could to give their children the best. They made sure all six of them went to school and never went to bed hungry. Still, as a child, Daniel was never satisfied.
He had envied kids whose parents bought them luxury things, took them to Disneyland, and sent them to school in the city. Daniel had always been an insatiable kid.
He had always daydreamed of himself in the city, driving expensive cars and living in a big mansion.
The news of Jasmine Lewis's pregnancy shattered him. That was weeks before he was supposed to write his scholarship exam. But no! He'll never let anything kill his ambition, he will never let anyone hold him down. That was his determination.
It bothered him, but he tried to brace himself up. Jasmine was a beautiful and intelligent girl, but he wasn't ready for any lifetime elopement.
He had been admitted to one of the largest universities in California under a fully sponsored scholarship. And he had come there with goals and ambitions.
It was in his third year that he met Melinda, the only daughter of the richest business tycoon in California.
It was sheer luck that their paths crossed, and Melinda had liked him at the first meeting. Daniel had taken advantage of that to get close to the family. He had helped Melinda with her schoolwork and projects, and she had fallen in love with him.
Brief calls turned into late midnight calls, casual outings turned into date nights, and luxury family dinners. Melinda had introduced Daniel to her father and he had taken a special liking to him.
Daniel tasted luxury, and he loved it. He started going to expensive restaurants, getting preferential treatment, and wearing expensive suits and footwear, and it all felt good. He would do anything to maintain that spot.
Immediately after college, Daniel and Melinda married in Paris, and Daniel was bequeathed her father's multimillion-dollar company.
He also got larger shares in the real estate and gas company. Daniel was living the life he had dreamed of. He was driving expensive cars and wearing expensive clothes, and in no time, he was a millionaire.
Marriage to Melinda wasn't easy. Melinda was a bossy, arrogant wife and cared less for plans. She had told Daniel she wasn't interested in having a baby neither was she interested in adoption.
But Daniel was ready to pay the price. Daniel was rich but empty. He dedicated all his time to his work, expanding the business and building a strong reputation in the accounting world.
One day, as he sat at his desk, he noticed the stack of resumes for the new accounting officer position, which had recently been made available. As he scanned the names, one stood out. Jasmine Lewis.
His heart skipped a bit as he stared at the photo. It was Jasmine, the daughter of Mr. Samuel and Marlene Lewis. The girl who had gotten pregnant for him eight years ago.
The face brought back memories, the eyes, the nose, her lips. He could draw them out with his eyes closed.
Daniel didn't need to scan through her qualifications, he knew Jasmine was the one for the job. She was smart, intelligent, and hardworking.
Another thing bothered Daniel. How was the child? Was it a girl or a boy? Was he or she still alive? Did she keep the baby?. He knew the only way to get answers was to bring Jasmine close.
He approved her application.
As the day of the resumption came. Daniel felt so uneasy that he had tried to imagine what their first encounter would be like after eight years.
Daniel couldn't believe the beautiful, curvy brunette who entered his office was Jasmine Lewis. This was a full blown beautiful Jamaican woman not the girl he left eight years ago.
He couldn't trust himself to speak, and then "Hi," she greeted in a husky voice. His heart skipped a bit.
"Hello, you can have your seat." He said, surprisingly calmly.
She sat.
Daniel could not help but notice her grace as she glided towards the seat.
" I reviewed your application, " that was a lie he knew. " and I saw you're the best candidate for the job, welcome to KPMG company, " he said as he extended his hands.
She shook it calmly and warmly and retracted her hands almost immediately. "Thank you, sir," she said calmly.
" Ok, Mrs. Jasper would take you to your office and show you around so you can get familiar with the building. I hope you like this place, " he said as he nodded to the receptionist standing behind Jasmine.
Jasmine nodded in agreement as she stood up and turned to leave the office.
How she managed to compose herself is what she did not know. Daniel looked like a prince, a royal prince at that. There was no doubt he was rich, like very rich. How had he become so rich in the space of eight years? What had happened within those years? Why had he cut contact with her years ago?
All this was not even as big a problem to her as how she would face Ethan and tell him that the CEO of the job he found for her was her entangled boyfriend, who abandoned her years ago with a child in her belly.