CHAPTER ONE
"Let's make a toast to our new company's milestone!" A matured female voice was heard, and what followed after was the sound of glass cups clanging.The woman who had just spoken was Maria Steele, and the whole family were gathered there to celeberate their new company's achievement."I can't believe we managed to generate a total profit worth $2 million dollars for this month." Another lady's voice was heard as she sipped wine from her glass cup.The woman was Amanda Donovan, a good friend and business partner of the Steele's family."At first, sales this month was kinda slow, but i am glad we managed to emerge victorious and next month we would make far more than this." Maria spoke in a joyful tone as she took another sip.Even if the Elite Company that was run by the Steeles wasn't one of the big companies in Purple Hills city, it wasn't one of the smallest either. The Steeles family are truly doing a good job in making the company flourish despite all other big companies around, and soon they would begin a partnership with Echelon Industries, the biggest company in the whole of the city.Echelon Industries hardly accept any partnership from other companies due to how successful they were already, but once in a while they sign contracts with few companies below them who they deem to have some potential."Soon, we will be dining with the Ceo of Echelon Industries, and part of our firm would be signed under their name. So, drink and merry everyone, today is a joyful night!" Maria declared, and the whole crowd erupted in a collective joyful cheer.While everyone were busy drinking and having fun, the entrance door of the place swung open and in came a middle aged man."I heard about the news, Mother, congratulation." The man who just walked in named, Owen Sinclair, spoke in an innocent tone.The whole crowd gazed at him from head to toe before breaking out in loud laughter."And who said i need a congratulation from a beggar like you, Owen?" Maria snorted, shooting Owen with disgustful glares."Why is he even here in the first place? This is no gathering for a low-life like him." Amanda roared from where she sat, taking pleasure in humilating Owen."Hey, that's enough." A soft female's voice sounded from behind, causing everyone to turn their heads, and all they saw was a striking beautiful woman."Remember Owen is still apart of this family, so he's welcomed in this gathering also." The woman known as Kate uttered with a frown.Kate was Owen's wife, and she often felt bad with the way her whole family treats her husband. But no matter how hard she tries to stop them, they just wouldn't listen just because Owen was poor."Kate, stay out of this. I still don't get why you still choose to be together with such loser when there's a wealthy man like, Chiris Mclean, seeking for your hand in marriage." Maria retorted with a frown, annoyed by her daughter's words.The Chris she spoke of was indeed a wealthy young man. He held a high position in the Echelon Industries, and Maria knew that if her daughter should get married to such a man then a contract with the Echelon Industries would be guaranteed.But no matter how hard Chris and Maria tried to seperate Kate from Owen, she still remained adamant and refused to divorce Owen."I can't get married to Chris just because of what? Money?" Kate voiced out, walking towards Owen and standing beside him before holding his arm."Do you even hear yourself? What could this poor orphan possibly offer you? Look at the trash, he doesn't have a single shame wearing those rags right now and yet you choose him over a prestigious man like Chris?" Maria roared in boiling anger."Listen to your mother, Kate." Amanda spoke up with a sneer. "This loser has nothing to offer. He is just a poor orphaned waiter who belongs in the gutter and not with you." She added, glaring at Owen in disgust."Since's he's a waiter, he should have been here early to arrange this place and also bring in the drinks and foods, and in the end we pay him a few dollars." A woman who has been sitting in silence the whole time began to tag along in Owen's humiliation.The woman was Kate's distant relative who is also staying in the same mansion as the family. Her name was Benedicta Steele.Benedicta is also among the people who makes Owen's life a living hell in the mansion. Benedicta and her husband, Tom, never misses any opportunity to make Owen feel less of a man just because he was poor.Owen clenched his fists tightly as the whole crowd collaborated in his humiliation. If not for the fact that it was pretty late in the night and had no where else to go, he would have left their sights.The only shelter Owen had right now was the Steele's mansion since his supposed Step- Mother, Tamara, ripped him off his wealth and sent him packing from his father's house.Owen was once a rich young man, even the Steele's family and other families treated him with care and respect. But his whole world turned upside down when his father died in a plane crash.His stepmother who has been pretending to love him the whole time his father was alive finally showed her true colors when Gabriel Sinclair, Owen's father died.She began to treat him like trash and she went to the extent to create a fake will and transfered all Owen's father's wealth to her name and her only son, Daniel.No matter how many times Owen took her to court for justice, Tamara still found her way to emerge victorious after bribing the judges with money. In the end, she kicked Owen out and he was forced to live with his in-laws, the Steele family.The Steele family who had always treated Owen with respect, also revealed their true colors after finding out Owen lost everything and was now as poor as a church rat."You actually spoke some sense, honey. Owen should have been present earlier to clean the place and prepare everything for this gathering." Tom spoke mokingly. "Well, it's all good, he can always take out the trash when we are done." He added, trying to add more to Owen's humiliation.Tom had always had an eye for Kate and wished to marry her. But when the news of Kate being married to Owen reached him, he became angry and hated Owen since then.Tom stood no chance against Owen in riches back then and would often stay silent when Owen was around, but now that he had nothing with him, he grew some confidence and would rather die than skip any opportunity he could get to ridicule Owen."What do you mean pick up the trash later? He can begin his job right now." Amanda then turned her cup upside down and spilled her wine on the tiled floor."Hey, trash, take off your rag-like cloth and clean this mess off." Amanda declared in a mocking tone.CHAPTER TWO"What do you mean pick up the trash later? He can begin his job right now." Amanda then turned her cup upside down and spilled her wine on the tiled floor."Hey, trash, take off your rag-like cloth and clean this mess off." Amanda declared in a mocking tone.Hearing the words of Amanda, the whole crowd chimed in with laughter, while Owen just stood there with clenched fists as they kept on ridiculing him for no reason at all."What are you doing just standing there? Take off your rag and clean the mess already." Tom roared in a mocking tone."Don't worry, loser, you wouldn't be doing it for free! Here you go!" Tom then slid his hand into his pocket and tossed a single dollar note to Owen's feet. "I am sure you haven't eaten nothing today, use that to get yourself a snack or something." Tom added."That's enough, all of you!" Kate couldn't take it anymore. "Stop speaking to my husband like this!""Stay mute, Kate. One more word and i shall send you packing to go stay with t
CHAPTER THREE "Good evening, young master." A deep male's voice sounded from behind.Hearing the words of the man a puzzled exression appeared on Owen's face as he turned around to see a man not older than fourty and clad in a striking black suit."Long time no see,Young master Owen." The man spoke further with a slight smile."Albert?" Owen blurted out after glaring at the man for few minutes and finally recognised him."Yeah, glad you still remember me after all these years." Albert remarked in a respectful tone."B-but how? Aren't you suppose to be dead?" Owen stuttered a bit as he took few steps backwards in confusion.Albert was his father's right hand man back then and he was also on the plane that crashed years ago. How then was he here?"I will explain, do not worry." Albert smiled a bit after witnessing Owen's shocked expression. "You see, not only am i alive but your father is also." Albert informed.Owen was taken aback after hearing the words of Albert, and he doubted the
CHAPTER FOUR Retrieving the Atm card from Albert, Owen made his way towards the ongoing comofion before it's gets more worse that it already was. The customer were begining to harrass Mia and almost dragging her to their room to pay for the expenses on their beds, so Owen knew he needed to act fast."Excuse me!" Owen voiced, catching the attention of everyone in the restaurant and they all turned their heads towards Owen's diection."Who the fuck this this?" The bulky customer known as Bill spoke after catching a glimpse of the man that just spoke. He had thought the words were said by the Hotel manager, but after catching a glimpse of Owen, his face became sour and anger surged through him that a trash like Owen dared interfare."May i ask what's going on here?" Owen questioned, ignoring the signals Mia tried tried to give him to back down."Who let a low-life like this into this restaurant? And he also dared to speak whete he wasn't called!" Bill retorted, gazing at Owen in anger.
CHAPTER FIVE"Alright, champ, get eating." Owen smirked, his finger pointing towards the food that was scattered around on the floor.Bill clenched his fists in anger as he regretted his decision instantly. If only he knew better, he would have just left the restaurant without making a scene.But there was no going back now..he already made the decision and all eyes was now fixated on him, even his friends and girlfriend he invited over were watching, but they made sure to stand few centimeters away from Bill so they won't get dragged along his humiliation.Bill stood there with his head bowed down in shame..what he wished for right now was for the ground to open up and swallow him."Why is this guy taking so long?""He was the one who made the deal and now he's trying to back down!""Eat the damn food already!" The crowd began to attack Bill from different angles with hateful words after he stood there like a statue for several minutes."What's the matter, bro? Weren't you the one t
CHAPTER SIXTurning around, Owen found Mia standing behind him with a questioning look, and he could already guess why she was here."Hey, what's up?" Owen questioned, trying to act normal."Don't give me that, Owen. What just happened?" Mia questioned with raised eyebrows."What do you mean?" Owen responded with a question, trying to act dumb."Come on, Owen, you know what i am talking about." Mia let out a sigh and facepalmed."Oh, you mean what happened earlier with the customer?" Owen inquired, scratching his curly black hair like he was trying to recall."Yeah, that. How were you able to pay such huge amount of money?" Mia questioned, still shocked by what happened earlier.She has known Owen for quite a while now and know most things about him. The duo has spent lots of times together, both good times and bad times and never for once has she seen Owen the way he was earlier.Owen did borrowed few dollars from her in the past to buy himself food, and all of a sudden he's here thr
CHAPTER SEVEN Owen finally finished his night shift at exactly 4:03am and he felt extremely exhausted and all he needed now was sleep. Owen headed straight to the boss's office to inform him about his leave tomorrow but sadly the man turned him down and said the leave won't be granted even though Owen worked two shifts today. Owen left the man's office sadly and went to change.Luckily for him, Kate texted him during his shift that Maria also kicked her out of the mansion temporarily making her go stay with her aunt and Owen was welcomed to come.The aunt's residence was only few streets away from the hotel so it wouldn't take so much time for him to get there. Owen changed back into his clothes and headed out of the hotel.Kate's aunt's residence was a medium sized bungalow with different modern designs and gardens. Inside the building, two ladies could be seen having a discussion."Why did your mother ask you to leave?" Aunt Jenna questioned, still surprised by the fact that Maria
CHAPTER EIGHTWalking towards the table with the food tray, Owen recognized the couple that was currently discussing and smiling.'There's no doubt..that's Kate and Chris McLean.' Owen pondered internally, clenching the tray in his hands and anger surging through him but he chose to Surprise it and act cool. After all, he wasn't sure if they were here on a date or business meeting.Kate did inform him last night on how she wishes to secure a job at Echelon Industries, and Chris was a worker there so it's possible they were only in the restaurant to make a deal or something.Those were Owen's thoughts as he approached the duo."Here's your order." Owen spoke, hoping for Kate to glance at his face and smile, instead she didn't spare him a glance as she kept giggling with Chris.Owen fumed in anger but chose to remain cool and place the meal on the table."Hey, come over here!" Chris ordered just when Owen was about to leave. "What the fuck is this?" Chris questioned, pointing towards th
CHAPTER NINEOwen clenched his fists tightly in anger as he charged towards Chris, shoving him to the floor and his body stained the red wine on the floor."Get off of me, you bastard!" Chris lamented as Owen sat on top of him and sent out a punch that connected neatly to his face.Owen's punch slammed heavily on Chris's face and caused blood to be drawn. Owen pulled his second fist backwards and punched it out towards Chris's face once more."I am going to kill you bastard!" Owen voiced out as security came in and pulled him off Chris.The security grabbed Owen's arms and pulled him meters away from Chris and he still struggled to break free to teach Chris more lessons."That's it, Owen, you are fired!" The boss walked to their location and declared. "Get your crap and get the hell out of my property!"The securities then set Owen free of their grip and he headed towards the changing room in anger."I am truly sorry about that, Mr. McLean." The boss said apologetically."Nah, it's fi