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2024-10-29 19:42:56His grip on the rose flower he held was shaky, tears gathered in his eyes and he blinked them back and bit his lower lip.
He had been staring at his mother’s grave for the past hour or so, he hadn’t been present at the hospital when she kicked the bucket because he had been at a job interview. He didn’t end up getting the job anyway.
His phone vibrated in his pocket and he sniffled, before shoving his hand in his trousers. He brought out his phone and a glimmer of hope shone in his eyes when he saw that it was an email from a company he had recently applied to.
“Oh, finally,” He mumbled and turned away from his mother’s grave.
As he opened the email, the smile that was slowly spreading across his face dropped instantly. His eyes bulged out of their sockets as he stared at his phone screen in abject shock.
He saw the first words; Dear Keith Miller…
Then his eyes skipped to the last sentence; …we are deeply sorry, but…
“How?!” He heard himself scream and his voice reverberated through the silent cemetery.
He managed to regain his composure and looked at the message more closely. How did he get rejected again? He was sure his application was by far one of the bests, how couldn’t his first-class degree from Harvard get him a job? It’s been almost two years now and his promising future seemed to be going down the drain.
“What the hell is going on?” He wondered bitterly as he dropped the rose flower dejectedly on his mother’s grave.
His father had died on the day of his first job interview about two years ago, and his only brother passed away a few months after that. His mother’s death meant he hadn’t been there to see any of his family member’s last seconds and he felt horrible. He allowed the tears roll down his cheeks when he couldn’t contain it anymore. Why was this happening to him?
“I’m so sorry…mother…” He sniffled and turned away from the grave.
An alarm suddenly rung, making his phone buzz crazily. He frowned as he left the cemetery and then his eyes widened when he remembered what the alarm was for. He knew it! He had been forgetting something!
He checked his watch, it was almost eight PM. Today was his three year anniversary with his girlfriend, Annie. She was the only person he cared about in the entire world now. Everyone else was dead, he loved her whole heartedly and there was nothing he wouldn’t do for her…if he could.
His heart suddenly raced with excitement…and panic. Panic, because he hoped dearly that as he was going to visit her, her mother wouldn’t be present. Annie’s mom developed a fierce hatred for Keith a few months after he graduated.
She had always been nice to him until his struggles for a job started and his value before her eyes started to depreciate until absolutely nothing was left. Keith knew this and a few times, she had publicly embarrassed him for not being able to carter for Annie’s needs and wants, but Keith believed that Annie believed in him and would always stay with him. That’s why his love for her had grown without boundaries.
He rushed into a mall and headed to the counter with a small cake and a bouquet of flowers. His heart sank as a feeling of self-loathing washed over him, he hadn’t been able to get a complete bouquet of flowers to pay his last respects to his mother but he was literally spending his last penny on anniversary gifts.
Keith frowned at his thoughts, why use more money to mourn his dead mother than to celebrate his girlfriend? He wasn’t doing the wrong thing. He struggled to convince himself that as he got to the cashier.
“That would be…” The cashier said.
Keith pressed his lips together, “That would be all I have, you mean,” He mumbled to himself and passed his credit card across the counter.
He walked out of the mall with a sad look on his face, what was he going to eat the next day? He had no idea. At least he had saved up some change for a cab, which he boarded to Annie’s apartment block.
He plastered a smile on his face after he emptied his pockets to the cab man and began his walk into the building. Annie’s apartment was on the last floor, he took the stairs so he could have more time to prepare what he would say to her.
He kept reciting it in his head, “I know I do not have much, Annie, but I will give everything for you…I will work hard and…” He sighed and shook his head, “No, not good enough.”
As he got to the last floor, Keith was more confident. All he had to do was convince her to stick with him for just a few months and things will surely get better for them.
He was walking into the hallway when he suddenly heard loud, feminine moans coming from one of the apartment. He listened for a few seconds, the lady was literally screaming,
“Oh God! Fuck! Yes…right there…don’t stop!”
Keith shook his head, Annie would definitely need to move out of here when he got a job, he thought. Her apartment was at the end of the hallway and as he kept walking, the moans only grew louder and louder and his heart began to thump madly as a realization slowly set into his head.
As he arrived at her door, the moans continued and he knew that those sounds were coming from her apartment, but he didn’t want to accept it.
“Oh yes! Fuck me harder, Greg!” Her uncontrollable moans made his bones shake as a chill ran through his body.
There was no mistaking her voice anymore. That name, Greg, he remembered her getting on a phone call two days ago and mentioning his name…His girlfriend, the only person left in the entire world who he could turn to, was cheating on him?
“Annie?” He called shakily.
The bouquet fell out of his hands.
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Rise of Keith: The Zillion-dollar CEO CHAPTER 2
His body was frozen to the spot for a few seconds, listening to her moans tore apart every inch of what was left of his mental stability. He pushed the door with a shaky hand and it opened, he sighed. She was screaming now, these were sounds he had never heard before, for Annie had never allowed him to have sex with her. Her excuse had always been, “Come on, Keith, what if things go wrong and you release in me? I don’t think you’re ready for that stage of life. I can wait for you.” And he had believed her, even agreed with her. He couldn’t raise a child, by God, he could barely feed himself, but she had lied to him…about being able to wait. A voice started creating excuses for Annie as he walked into the living room. Her clothes were scattered on the sofa and on the other seat, was the man’s clothes. Keith sniffled, every step he took towards the bedroom made his heart ache, but he still saw something in Annie. Maybe the sexual pressure had gotten to her, maybe she hadn’t
Rise of Keith: The Zillion-dollar CEO CHAPTER 3
Under the foot mat in front of the door, Keith suddenly remembered that about a week ago, he had hidden some cents there when Annie and her friends had come over. At that time, it was all he had left and he knew Annie would have wanted him to use it to buy snacks or drinks for her friends, so he hid it away and that day had ended in a pretty heated confrontation between him and her. He checked under the mat and to his relief, the cents were still there. He picked them up with watery eyes, jiggled them in his palm, then shoved them into his pocket. Keith was starving and his stomach kept grumbling, but his depressed mind pushed him to get a drink instead, rather than food. He wasn’t an alcoholic or anything of that sort. In fact, he had never ordered a beer before, this was going to be his first. “At least when I’m drunk,” He said to himself as he strolled into a bar at the end of the street, “I won’t be able to feel the pain anymore…even if it’s just for tonight.” He had no p
Rise of Keith: The Zillion-dollar CEO CHAPTER 4
He heard voices around him. At first, they sounded distant, but slowly, he was able to make out what they were saying. He held his breath when he realized what was going on. He had been kidnapped! Memories came flooding into his head. Those men in black he had seen before he passed out, they must be the ones that had kidnapped him! But why? An ache ravaged through his head and he couldn’t help but groan in pain. “He’s awake,” A deep voice said, forcing Keith to slowly open his eyes out of fright and curiosity.The first thing he saw was the last thing he had seen before passing out, the same white immaculate suit. He slowly looked up, the man clad in the white suit had a full, white beard and his eyes hawk-like nose led a bridge to his deep-set, cold, green eyes. “Mr. Keith Miller,” The man said with a friendly smile.Keith gasped, the surface under him was soft. He was seated on a comfortable couch at the center of a vast, opulent living room. Not quite the ideal kidnapp
Rise of Keith: The Zillion-dollar CEO CHAPTER 5
Keith flinched. “Why would anyone want to be after me?”Will sighed, “Haven’t you been listening to anything I have been saying for the past five minutes?” He queried, “You are a very important man now, Keith and you must be protected at all times.” He rose to his feet and Keith also did. “Look, mister. I don’t want all this, I’m not cut out for it, okay?” He spoke hastily, “You said a lot of shit back there, most that didn’t even register in my mind. Why? Because it’s absurd! My father had nothing to show for all his years until he died and now you’re saying-” “That’s because at the time he found out the sort of power he held, he was already too weak!” Will snapped, annoyed by Keith’s reluctance. “Listen, Mr. Keith, the only reason your father sealed those documents with a DNA lock was because he knew you’d be the one to open it and no one else. You were born for this, Mr. Keith. Born to rule the Zillion-dollar dynasty. You’re the X-factor, without you, it cannot come back
Rise of Keith: The Zillion-dollar CEO CHAPTER 6
“This can’t be earth,” He mumbled and looked at Wills who had a proud smile plastered on his face. From where he stood, he saw the glittering street that led to a paradise of white, lighted duplexes lined up on both sides of the street. There were streetlights on both sides of the road that gave life to the street, it was a majestic place and he hadn’t even been inside yet! Wills gestured to the Rolls Royce as the forerunning cars started driving into the estate. His blood was boiling with ecstasy now and he was only too eager to find out what was in store for him inside. They drove into the estate and when the last car went through, the gates automatically sealed shut again. Keith found himself gaping at everything he saw. This was far beyond what he had ever imagined. So much wealth in one place and the old man claimed that it all belonged to him? They stopped in front of a castle-like building, painted white with its pillars a radiant golden color that shone under the ligh
Rise of Keith: The Zillion-dollar CEO CHAPTER 7
He was awakened by the sound of a bell and Keith frowned when he tore open his heavy eyelids. He saw a woman clad only red braziers and equally red panties and he squinted at her in confusion. She flashed a cheerful smile at him and Keith could only stare at the way her cleavage jiggled as she walked. “Breakfast is ready, Mr. Miller,” She announced in a sweet tone and left a trolley of a freshly prepared breakfast by his bed side. She turned around, making sure the swaying of her hips was fluid enough to captivate his attention and he found himself gazing at her butt cheeks until she walked out of the room. He sighed in fascination and as he slowly got out of bed, another lady, also dressed in the same fashion, walked in and greeted him. “Sorry, who are you?” He asked, fuddled by these sudden appearances, even though he felt a slight bulge between his legs. She smiled, “I’m here to set your bath, Mr. Miller.” She replied and added in a slower and more incentive tone, “And if you
Rise of Keith: The Zillion-dollar CEO CHAPTER 8
Wills carried on with the rest of the introductions, but Keith constantly kept glancing at the lady named Mandy Wales. Her sleek blonde hair rested on her protruding butt and the way her firm breasts bounced slightly as she walked made him look at her constantly. She had a spring in her step as she walked graciously. Mandy Wales was the only woman in years, save for Annie, who had held Keith’s attention for so long. “Keith,” Wills called as they headed back to the elevator. “We have to head back to New York now so you will get ready for tonight.” Keith frowned, “Tonight? What’s happening tonight?”“A rather opulent gathering in a senator’s house. It’s more of a meeting between the most powerful business men in the city, but it’s the senator’s birthday party.” He replied as the elevator began ascending. “You will be there, Keith, because a message has just arrived at my desk.” “What message, Wills?” He asked, adjusting his tie that had begun to cause him some discomfort.
Rise of Keith: The Zillion-dollar CEO CHAPTER 9
In a room full of so much wealth and opulence, Keith would have felt very odd if not for Wills deep voice, reminding him of who he was. He stepped in confidently and immediately, all eyes in the room turned to face the door. Keith recognized a few faces and one particular one which Wills had constantly stressed, the senator’s. He was a man in his fifties that still possessed the body of an athlete. He looked great in his tailored suit and had a plastic smile plastered on his face as he approached Keith. “Can you read that smile?” Wills whispered to him. “Yeah,” Keith replied, holding his chin high. “Rather spurious if you ask me.”The Senator offered his hand and Keith took it after a few seconds. “I am honored to have you in my humble abode, Mr. Keith Miller,” He said in a rich baritone, “The Zillion-dollar dynasty has kept its CEO incognito for a few years now. You can see the excitement to see you here.” Keith didn’t smile, he just nodded and said, “Sure. It’s a pleasu
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- Rise of Keith: The Zillion-dollar CEO
CHAPTER 25
Mandy Wales wasn’t so thrilled about her relocation to New York. She was going to be the boss’s secretary now, the main boss and not just the manager. She loved the fact that she would be working directly with the head of a dynasty. She had been surprised the first time they met that he was such a young man. He couldn’t be up to his thirties yet, she was sure about that. For days after his brief meeting, Keith had been the talk at the branch in Memphis and Mandy couldn’t help but chirp in a word or two into the gossips that travelled to her desk. For a lot of reasons, she was excited about being here. She could boast of a higher salary now. Mr. Wills had informed her of the twenty-thousand-dollar addition to her yearly income. The new boss was generous, he had said. But that salary didn’t come with the privileges the other executives had, she didn’t have a place to stay yet. But that wasn’t the reason she didn’t like her move to New York. And no, it wasn’t just about the boiste
- Rise of Keith: The Zillion-dollar CEO
CHAPTER 24
He managed to keep a straight face as Wills took up the position of making the introductions again. Mandy Wales’s green eyes gleamed like an emerald stone, piercing into Keith’s soul. Their eyes met and held for a few seconds. Keith could feel a reignited passion in his heart for those seconds, then he let go of her warm, fragile hand and moved on to the next man. He had sleek black hair with a balding spot at the center of his head and a receding hairline. Keith immediately remembered him from the pictures Wills had shown to him a few days ago. Wills had not been wrong about the manager. Wills had said he was always dressed in a black suit and red tie. This was Keith’s second time meeting him and only the design on the manager’s tie was the significant difference from his last outfit. “This is Morgan Greyjoy, Mr. Keith,” Wills announced, “all the executives have reported to the new headquarters on your orders, sir.”Keith nodded, restraining his gaze from shifting to Mandy
- Rise of Keith: The Zillion-dollar CEO
CHAPTER 23
Later that day, Keith noticed something odd. There were only eleven dossiers on his desk.Wills had exited the office and was on his way to the airport to pick up the executives who were supposed to touchdown soon. Keith frowned and counted them again. There was supposed to be twelve dossiers, Greenburgh’s inclusive. He ran through the profile of all eleven of them and saw something written on two particular files. One was a name, with a picture attached to it. Harry Mance. Age, 43. A charismatic and assertive fellow, also intelligent and a wise, strategic thinker. He owned a huge institute in the Investment Banking and Asset Management by the name Mance and Co. Financial limited. Keith went on to read further.Mance had founded the leading financial firm ten years ago and specialized in investment banking, asset management and wealth management with offices in major financial hubs continent wide. He was a huge and important figure in the sector, a giant force that others didn
- Rise of Keith: The Zillion-dollar CEO
CHAPTER 22
Very few men alive had access to the small room the eleven men were gathered in.Ten of them were seated, while the eleventh man stood at the door with both of his arms behind his back and his head dropped down as if he was standing trial before a jury. Whenever he looked up, he received the glares of ten pairs of eyes. The small room was located right in the center of New York. A beautiful skyscraper with a last floor that had an office whose wall, adjacent to the door could open up to the small, hidden room with a push of the right button. The meeting between them was yet to commence, the eleventh man wasn’t present yet. One of the men around the large mahogany desk which took up more than half of the small room cleared his throat and pointed a crooked finger at the man standing at the door, “You said you’d handle him. He is the next big problem for us and you promised your men would take care of him,” He said, his tone accusing and irritated. Greenburgh lifted his head aga
- Rise of Keith: The Zillion-dollar CEO
CHAPTER 21
Keith thought about going to the hospital to check up on Flora but then he decided against it. He didn’t want to seem too caring, didn’t want her to know that he thought about her more than he should. He made up his mind to give her a call when he was done at the office; whatever he was going to do, then meet up later if she happened to be free for the night. He kept glancing outside the window, a thought tugging at his mind. Finally, he turned and asked Wills, “What time do they arrive?”Wills arched an eyebrow at him, “Who?” Keith frowned, “The other so-called pillars of my dynasty,” He replied, avoiding eye contact with Wills because he was unsure of what his eyes would portray now that he was thinking about the Wales girl.“Well, they will be on a first-class flight by,” He glanced at his wrist-watch, “Noon. I will be at the airport with a few others to receive them. So, they should arrive at the new headquarters and report to you before the day is over.” A thought occurre
- Rise of Keith: The Zillion-dollar CEO
CHAPTER 20
The next morning, Keith sat behind the desk in his bedroom with a hot cup of coffee.His mind still dwelled on the bloody sight he had seen yesterday. Wills had killed that man with absolutely no emotion while his heart was still heavy when he thought about the man he had killed in the gallery. What if the police came after him then? But surely, he would be able to wriggle his way out. After all, he had only shot him out of self-defense…right? “Right?” He asked himself and then glanced at the door with wide eyes when he heard a knock, “Wills?”“Yes, Mr. Keith.”He sighed, his hand was already reaching for the second drawer where he kept his gun. He felt odd that his first instinct was to reach for the gun. The perks that power came with seemed to be getting to him now. “You look bright today, Keith,” Wills remarked as he sat down on the other side of the table, there was only one chair there.Keith frowned, “Sure, with the bags under my eyes, right?” Wills placed a stack o
- Rise of Keith: The Zillion-dollar CEO
CHAPTER 19
Keith was shaking from head to toe. He waited for the pain to start spreading throughout his body until it got to his brain. His hands were frozen…his legs, well his legs were numb and he couldn’t feel anything from his chest down. His eyes widened and he gasped, that was probably where he had been shot. But then, he didn’t feel the pain. Not anywhere in his body, but he could smell the gunpowder so close to him now. He felt a current in his right arm, alive and fierce. Then the cold metal of his gun, still in his hand, still pointed at his attacker, shook him back to reality. His gun was smoking, his index finger stuck to the trigger and a bullet hole right in between the eyes of the man’s mask. Slowly, the man fell backwards and landed on the floor with a heavy thud. Keith was shaken, he had pulled the trigger! He just killed a man! He was still lost in his traumatic thoughts, the cold hands he felt creeping up his spine seemed to fade away. Death…that was death calling on to
- Rise of Keith: The Zillion-dollar CEO
CHAPTER 18
She returned wearing an expensive mink coat over a dazzling, knee-length black gown which was slit up to her hips at one side. Keith couldn’t help but gaze at her beauty for a few seconds and quickly averted his eyes the moment they met hers. “Do you want a drink before you leave, Mr. Keith?” She asked, leading him back into the living room.As she asked, he suddenly felt a dryness in his throat and nodded to her. She returned with a class of a colorless liquid with a crystal-clarity appearance. Keith took a swig of it and swallowed his saliva when he stared at the glass in surprise. “This is very fine liquor,” He said, nodding slightly, “Which is it?”She smiled, “The Diva Vodka, only the finest in my cabinet,” She said and collected the not so empty glass he handed back to her, “I’m sure you have tasted liquor finer than this, Mr. Keith.” She remarked as they headed out of the house, “I was quite nervous that it wouldn’t be up to your taste.” He smiled, “I’ve tasted better
- Rise of Keith: The Zillion-dollar CEO
CHAPTER 17
Keith wasted no time in dialing Wills’ number. His heart was already racing at the uncertainty of this urgent message. Wills picked the call immediately and the first thing he asked was, “Are you with Mrs. Flora already, Mr. Keith?” “No, Wills. I’m still in the car,” He peaked out of the tainted window as the car started moving again. The gate to the beautiful duplex had been opened and the car slowly edged in, “But I’m already at her house now. The car is in the garage.” He replied as the car came to a stop. “Okay, good,” Wills’ voice became much lighter and it was only then Keith realized how thick with worry it had been, “It’s almost twenty minutes past seven, I need you to keep that dinner going until ten PM, it is a must that you do.” “Why, Wills? What’s going on?”Wills cleared his throat, “I have a few birds planted around this city and I just got intel that an attack awaits you when you leave her house. I will send reinforcements in very soon but we must still move