IN LOVE WITH THE RIVAL BILLIONAIRE CEO

HIS HISTORY

ZAYN BLACKWOOD'S POV

I stepped into the company's lobby and strode directly to the elevator. I paused on my tracks suddenly when someone kept trying to get my attention. I furrowed my brows as I turned around, hands in my pocket, uninterested in whoever it was and whatever they wanted to say.

There stood the company's receptionist, a stiff smile on her face like she was trying not to breathe too loud. She was dressed formally, her hair packed up in a clean bun and minimal makeup on her face. I was impressed. Usually, some of my employees wear overly tight clothes and heavy makeup, something I had always wanted to address. But she was dressed simply, as it should be.

“Good day, sir,” she greeted, bowing slightly.

I raised a brow, urging her to speak. She inhaled slightly and glanced at someone in the waiting area.

“A man has been throwing tantrums for hours now; he insists on seeing you." She reported calmly.

“I'm not interested in meeting anyone this early," I replied coldly, turning to leave.

"Yes, I know sir, I told him that," she replied. “But he says he's your uncle and…"

"Where is he?” I growled, interrupting her. My mood turned sour and my frown deepened.

I hated him showing up at my company. His presence embarrassed me greatly. I had warned him the last time he came not to ever show his face here. But he dared do so. This time, I won't take a pity on him.

She pointed to the waiting area, and I headed there without taking a second glance at her.

My uncle was slouched on the couch, snoring disgustingly.

A sense of embarrassment washed over me and I clenched my fist in anger. What would everyone think of the CEO if his gambling-addict of an uncle kept showing up at his company, pulling off such embarrassing behaviors?

I darted my eyes to two security guards wandering around. They immediately understood and walked towards me. They roughly tapped the sleeping man up.

He sat up wearily, cursing under his breath as to why he was disturbed.

“I told you to stop coming here, didn't I?" I asked grimly, anger radiating from me.

The sleep seemed to suddenly clear from his eyes, and he frowned. “Is that how you greet your uncle who raised you?"

People were beginning to stare at us, and it only embarrassed me the more.

“Take him to the back," I said and walked out of the building.

The security guards roughly grabbed the man and dragged him out, despite his struggles and screams. They took him to the back of the company's building, which was quite isolated. I was already standing there, staring into space.

They roughly dumped him to the floor despite his struggles, he sprang up in anger.

"You dare to treat me like this?!” He barked.

I slowly turned around, my expression cold and frightening. I had had enough of the drama.

"You've come here a few times to demand money, and I've always given it to you," I started, my voice low and dangerous. “You act like you work for me, like I'm supposed to pay you."

“You're supposed to….”

“I'm not done," I cut him off, raising a finger to silence him. “I’ve always endured your tantrums and disgrace, Uncle Paul. You embarrass me in front of my company and end up walking away with cash. I told you the last time not to ever show your face here again. And you dare…go against my order.”

Uncle Paul walked towards me slowly, a grim look on his face. “I raised you; you owe me every penny."

I nodded and looked away as a black SUV pulled up beside us. Four men dressed in black stepped out and stood behind my uncle.

His eyes darted to them and he laughed dryly. “So what now? You'd have them kill me or what?! I'm your uncle! You owe me your life."

I lowered my head to his, as my expression darkened. “I owe you nothing. Since you won't stop coming here, then maybe it's time you leave this city…permanently.”

Then I turned to the men. "Take him away, and make sure you do your job properly.”

They got hold of Uncle Paul as he attempted to run, pulled him into the vehicle while he struggled and cursed loudly. I stood there and watched the whole scene unfold, feeling indifferent. I waited until the vehicle sped off before going back into the building.

I had a not-so-pleasant childhood. The dreadful day was still etched on my mind, just as how my life turned out after then.

On my 10th birthday, my parents planned to take me out for a celebration, but we had an accident on the way. I survived, but my parents didn't. I was taken in by my uncle, a gambling addict who ignored and left me to take care of myself, sometimes even abusing me as well. Due to this, I swore to work my way out of such life.

Luckily, my father already made plans to make life a bit easier for me. He had investments in a few companies and shares in others under my name. He also paid my full school tuition, covering every stage and their expenses.

My uncle had tried all his possible best to access the profits of the investments but to no avail. This was because his brother, my dad, made sure that I was the only one authorized to access it, and that had to be till I was 18. This was one of the reasons for his frustration that drove him to maltreat me.

By the time I turned 18, I used the accumulated profits from these investments and built my company from scratch, while also reinvesting part of them. With years of suffering and hard work, my company became one of the richest in the country. Due to how my childhood was, I turned cold and rejected any form of affection.

Even until now…