CHEM ENERGIES

Cherie sighed as she walked out of the building clutching a file.

She looked extremely sad as she brought out her phone to make a call but she spotted her father alighting from his car with everyone lined up to welcome him,the chairman of chem energies.

With a glimmer of hope she ran towards him waving at him to notice her.

He did but ignored her and focused on greeting the people before him.

Cherie took the hint and stopped,she turned around and left,sadly.

What did she expect …

THE DINER

Noah stepped out of the diner to make a call

The call lasted for a few minutes then it ended. He turned around to return to the Dinner, but stopped when he came face to face with the vice president Palmer winter, a Middle Age overly ambitious man.

“Is There a problem sire?”

Noah asked, tucking the phone into his suit pocket.

Palmer took slow steps towards Noah.

“You’re aware… aren’t you? that deceiving the president is a crime punishable with death”

He asked his hands behind his back.

Noah was confused

“It is,” he replied, hoping Palmer would elaborate.

“Very good…so don’t you think you should be convicted for deceiving the whole nation?”

There was a pause.

“Am sorry Mr Palmer….but I don’t get you “

“Do you really think no one would find out you’re nothing but an illegitimate son…we gave you a position you don’t deserve…let’s not drag this any longer…resign from your position and I’ll turn a blind eye”

Noah frowned.

“What if I say no?….I worked so hard to get This position…why should I resign just because I was born out of wedlock?”

Mr Palmer’s gaze was firm and serious

“you have a week to submit your resignation letter”

With that he left.

Feeling Indignant he headed straight for his car.

“To the mansion “

He said subtly as he got into the car with his driver.

The Sterling mansion

The car pulled over the entrance to the mansion and Noah alighted; he walked in subtly straight to his fathers study, ignoring everyone who met him on the way.

His father,Mr Charles, is surprised to see him as he had barely seen him since he’d left 12 years ago.

“Good to see you again..my son “

Charles got up but Noah walked up to him and placed his hands on the table facing him directly, frustration visible in his eyes.

“Is something wrong?”

Charles asked, taken aback by Noah's sudden action.

“All these years I never relied on anyone to achieve what I want… I worked hard all by myself and everything I have today is all the result of my hard work…but now what?…I can’t even keep what I achieved because I am an illegitimate son?”

Charles' expression turned grim.

“You can have absolutely everything and anything you want…your birth status doesn’t matter Noah…now tell me what’s going on”

Noah breathed out and straightened up.

“I want power…this illegitimacy is a stain on me…tell me what to do to be qualified.”

“Okay…I don’t know what’s going on but to acquire power you either succeed me or marry into a powerful family…nothing qualifies you more than a powerful position or a strong backing”

Charles replied.

There was silence

Noah was seemingly giving it a thought .

“I’ll marry”

He suddenly said,

Charles sighed, he’d hoped Noah would choose to succeed him

“The Ashworth family is a suitable choice…they’re on a fast track lane above any other energy company…marrying his daughter would be beneficial to you”

The Ashworth mansion

Cherie Ashworth walked in through the back door clutching her bag

Fatigue visible in her eyes.

Her mother Emily appears at the doorway and pulls Emily to a corner .

“Listen to me and listen good…you’re getting married”

Cherie threw her a look

“Don’t look at me that way…everything I do is for you, for us “

Cherie sighed

“Here we go…again”

She muttered.

Being the illegitimate daughter of Thompson Ashworth the Chairman of an energy company she’s always lived in the shadows

Emily however isn’t going to give up on any opportunity to use Cherie as a means to gain recognition and status

Cherie stared at Emily for a while before taking her gaze down.

“Did they say they want me…greycianne is the only one everyone wants”

She muttered

“That is exactly why you have to marry this man…no one would look down on you anymore,even cianne would have to respect you….so just do as I say”

Cherie sighed .

4 days later

The studio

Cherie walked into the studio dressed in a simple white wedding dress

She walked straight to where Emily stood with the photographer.

Emily,upon seeing her, dismisses the photographer.

“You look absolutely gorgeous my darling “,

she cooed, taking Cherie’s hand and leading her to the couch in a corner of the studio.

“Make do of this wedding for now…if you manage to win his heart..you’ll be able to throw a bigger wedding ceremony later on.”

“What about dad and cianne…I don’t see them anywhere “

Cherie asks looking around

Emily chuckled awkwardly,her eyes holding a hint of secrecy.

“You know how they are…always prioritizing business over anything ”

The photographer approaches them and signals to Emily.

“Okay…the hour has come for you to meet your husband…remember to put on your best smile”

Emily said, helping Cherie up as they walked up to the stage.

While Emily was arranging Cherie’s hair Noah walked in

Dazzling in his deep black suit and his gelled hair.

Cherie stared at him in awe.

He was handsome beyond her imagination.

Noah,paying no attention to her, walked up and stood beside her.

After the photo section, Emily, holding cherie walked up to Noah who was instructing his driver

He excused the driver and faced them.

“Did I interrupt something? “

She asked as they approached him.

“Not at all…may I help you?”

“No no…I just wanted to apologize for the urgency…as you already know we’re going through a company crisis and a public marriage is not a suitable choice”

She started and pushed Cherie forward. “ I hope you’ll take care of my daughter ”

“Sure..I’ll do my best “

He stretched a hand to Cherie, noticing her for the first time since he’d walked in.

“Nice to meet you”

He simply said.

Noah’s mansion

Noah and Cherie both alighted and the housekeeper helped carry Cherie’s luggage to the room prepared for her.

“Make yourself at home…if you need anything don’t hesitate to ask “

He said to her and she nodded in response while taking in the beauty and simplicity of his house.

At the Manhattan airport

Greycianne and mr Thompson accompanied by his secretary,Ann walked to the car exhausted

“I can’t believe this trip’s fake…who would dare pull such a prank on us”

Greycianne whined as they got into the limousine.

The next day

The presidential office

Noah just returned from meeting with the president as he got ready for a press conference

Walking into his office his female subordinate approached him.

“You have visitors, Mr Noah.”

He turned to her

“did they identify themselves?”

He asked curiously

“Yes sire…one mr Thompson the chairman of Chem energies “

Noah’s expression calmed.

“I’ll see him in 5..show him to my office ”

Noah straightened his suit as he walked into the office to meet his father in-law.

He got in and was surprised to see a young lady about his wife’s age beside him.

He was known for having only a daughter, maybe his niece?

He sat down opposite him after exchanging pleasantries.

“To what do I owe this honor “

Noah asked as he served them coffee.

Mr Thompson cleared his throat while Greycianne gawked at Noah. Excited she’d be marrying such a Handsome and successful man .

“ I heard you’ll be marrying my daughter so I came to set the date for the wedding…it has to be grand…our families becoming one should be made known to the whole world “

Mr Thompson said with an excited chuckle as he took a sip of the expresso.

“Oh…there won’t be any need for that…i am quite satisfied with the quiet wedding we had yesterday “

Noah replied, dropping his mug .

Mr Thompson and greycianne exchanged glances.

“Wedding?”

Mr Thompson asked cautiously and Noah nodded.

“We signed the papers With your wife present...I heard you were on a business trip…but it’s all good…is she your niece?”

Noah said and raised an eyebrow at greycianne who had a confused expression.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about….but this is my daughter right here…who did you say you got married to again?”

Things were beginning to feel off and Noah felt his stomach churn

“Cherie Ashworth…is she..not your daughter?”

Noah asked,dreading the answer before it came out.