As Fred Rodriquez walked into Frebel Cooperation that morning, the clicking of his polished shoes echoed through the sleek but modest hallway. He adjusted his tie with a sigh, scanning the familiar space with mild irritation.
His secretary was already hurrying toward him, a faint smile on her face. "Good morning, sir. I think we have some good news regarding Global Investment!" she announced, trying to sound cheerful.
Then Fred raised an eyebrow and smirked. "I guess the news is that the great CEO has finally resumed his office after disappearing for a year?" His voice dripped with sarcasm as he continued toward his office door.
"Sir, it's something more exciting…" she tried again, but Fred stopped her mid-sentence with a wave of his hand.
"Get me my morning coffee first. That's more important than any deadbeat news. Or…" He paused, turning his head slightly, "…is this news about my suspended contract being signed at last?"
The secretary hesitated, then shook her head. "No, sir."
Fred hissed and continued walking. "Then it's not important," he muttered under his breath.
At that moment he pushed open the door to his office, stepping into the space that was both his pride and his frustration. He had expected Frebel Cooperation to grow bigger by now. It had been a year one whole year and still, nothing significant had happened.
He remembered that night vividly. The same evening he had discarded Mabel, the management of Global Investment had announced the suspension of all contracts to his company. At first, they gave an unofficial excuse, some vague nonsense about "internal restructuring." Weeks turned to months, and months became a year. The excuse eventually shifted claiming the CEO had decided to "take a break." Fred scoffed even now at the thought.
His eyes wandered to the large company name mounted on the wall: Frebel Cooperation. The letters glinted under the office lights. The name was Mabel's idea a combination of their names, "Fred" and "Mabel." For a fleeting second, a shiver of superstition ran down his spine. Was her spirit punishing me? he thought. But he quickly scoffed at himself. "Ridiculous," he muttered.
Turning to the opposite wall, his gaze swept over framed photographs of dignitaries, politicians, and influential business partners who had worked with the company. Every trace of Mabel had been erased from these walls long ago. He had destroyed all her photos, removed her belongings, and even redecorated the entire office. The only thing left untouched was the company name and that was purely strategic. Old clients still recognized it, and he planned to change it the moment Global Investment reinstated his contract.
Fred prided himself on leaving no loose ends. After Mabel, he had masterminded the murder of Cleopatra months later, ensuring that anyone connected to his secrets stayed silent. He even sent an anonymous assassin to eliminate the man who had helped him "finish" Mabel.
As for Maxwell and James, he had framed them for Cleopatra's murder and removed them from the board without a shred of remorse.
He had gone as far as firing every staff member who had been hired under Mabel's management. Now, every person in this building was new, people who knew little or nothing about the company's dark past. Even his current secretary was a recent hire.
At that moment in time Fred's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door opening. His secretary returned with a steaming cup of coffee, carefully setting it on his desk. "Here you go, sir," she said.
Then Fred took a slow sip, nodding. "You've finally learned how to make my coffee the way I like it," he said, almost approvingly.
She smiled faintly. "Thank you, sir."
Leaning back in his chair, Fred eyed her. "Alright then… what's the news from Global Investment?"
He expected to hear the usual, a tired excuse or some vague promise of "ongoing discussions."
Fred stirred the coffee in his cup slowly, waiting for the usual empty corporate gossip.
His secretary stood in front of his desk, her eyes bright. "Sir, a new acting CEO was announced during yesterday evening's news. She's to resume office with immediate effect, and… I think that might mean progress for our contract."
Upon hearing what his secretary just said, Fred looked up lazily. "A she?"
"Yes, sir," the secretary replied with a little smile. "A she. According to whispers from the office this morning, she's the former CEO's only daughter. Very young… and, well, very pretty."
Immediately Fred gave a short, humorless laugh. "Hmmm… these big CEOs in the capital have a way of hiding things until they want you to know." He reached for his phone, almost out of habit. "Let's see what kind of princess they've pulled out of the shadows this time."
Then the secretary stepped aside as Fred unlocked his phone. He opened his favorite social news platform, and right at the top, there it was Global Investment Welcomes New Acting CEO, Regina Martins.
Upon seeing what was in front of him, his eyes froze on the image. The breath caught in his throat.
"Mabel…" The name slipped from his lips before he could stop it.
A tight, cold knot twisted in his stomach. "No… no, this can't be."
He leaned forward, staring harder at the photo, as if the pixels might rearrange themselves into someone else's face. The resemblance was undeniable, the same eyes, the same curve of her lips, the same poised but sharp look he'd known all too well.
It's her.No! It can't be, but then his gaze dropped to the caption beneath the photo. Regina Martins.
Fred exhaled sharply, a wave of relief washing over him. This can't b Mabel. Just someone who looks like her.
Still, his brow furrowed. Wait a second… Martins. Mabel's surname had been Martins too. Could it be a coincidence? Or, his mind searched for an explanation could Mabel have had a twin from some powerful family?
He hated the thought. The last thing he needed was to dig up the past he had so carefully buried.
"Sir? Is everything alright?" the secretary asked cautiously, sensing something in his stiff posture.
Then Fred's eyes snapped up to her, his tone sharp. "Yes. Everything's fine. You can leave now."
She nodded quickly and stepped out, closing the door behind her.
The moment she was gone, Fred dropped his coffee on the desk and picked up his phone again. His fingers flew over the screen as he opened his browser. He typed quickly, Regina Martins Global Investment and hit search.