IN LOVE WITH THE RIVAL BILLIONAIRE CEO

BASIS OF ENMITY

I got dressed for class, grabbing what I needed. As I finally stepped out of my room, I came face to face with Carla, who was staring disdainfully at me with a cup of coffee in her hand.

I knew she was here for trouble, but I wasn't in the mood for it. I was almost running late for class.

“Where are you off to?" Carla asked.

"Why do you care, Carla?” I asked as I made to walk away. But Carla stepped in front of me.

“What? Can't I care about my niece anymore?” Carla asked. "You've got such a nice face, Diane, I don't get why I've been so bad to you.”

I raised a brow. What game was she playing at right now?

I stepped away from her and made to walk out again, but Carla blocked my path again and purposely spilled her coffee on my clothes.

"s**t! Carla!!” I exclaimed in frustration as I attempted to wipe off the mess.

"Oh no," Carla said, feigning guilt. “Well, if you had just stayed still, that wouldn't have happened, would it? I only wanted to talk, but you kept avoiding me.”

She clicked her teeth and sighed. "Oh well, I've got other things to do. I can't stare at your messy self all day."

With that, she made to walk away but paused and took a picture before leaving.

I sighed dejectedly. Every single day, they gave me reasons to want to poison them to death. But that wasn't the goal now. All I can do right now is persevere. Just one day, they'll regret doing this to me. I was six months older than Carla, but Carla had no respect for me whatsoever.

I had complained severely to grandpa about how badly they treated me, but all he does is caution them. Carla was his daughter, but he was scared to really take some action towards her because of Fiona.

Grandpa Walters had lost his first wife during the childbirth of George, my dad and his only son. He had to raise him alone alongside building his business empire. And after my dad got married to my mom, grandpa remarried a year later. His new wife, Fiona, had Carla six months after I was born, which makes Carla my junior but also my aunt.

Right from the day grandpa got married to Fiona, she didn't get along too well with my dad. And after my parents died, I had to live with them. This gave Fiona the chance to bully me. And soon, her daughter, Carla, grew up to see such an act and continued with it. Fiona would bully and harass me; they both made life unbearable for me in the mansion. And daily I would wish they were never there. But those sort of wishes could never come through.

I went back into my room to change my clothes before rushing out. I stepped into my BMW 7 series, a car gifted to me by grandpa on my 23rd birthday, and zoomed off.

~

THIRD PERSON POV

Grandpa Walters walked into the company, his assistant, Leon, by his side.

Grandpa Walters founded Nexcorp three years before his wife died. It was a conglomerate corporation with more than 40 companies under it.

The Nexcorp building was a tall, sleek glass and steel skyscraper with a geometric design. The façade is made of reflective glass that mirrors the sky and surrounding city. It has clean, vertical lines, minimal ornamentation, and a bold, structured frame. At the base, there is a wide, polished entrance with revolving glass doors, landscaped greenery, and a drop-off zone for vehicles. At night the building glows softly from internal lighting, giving it a sharp high-end corporate look.

Inside, the lobby is spacious with a double-height ceiling and polished marble floors. A large reception desk sits at the center, backed by a feature wall displaying the company's logo, Nexcorp. Glass walls divide meeting rooms and offices, keeping the space open and bright. There are modern sitting areas with leather chairs, minimalist furniture, and indoor plants for a balanced aesthetic. Elevators with metallic designs run silently along one side, and upper floors contain open-plan workspaces with neatly arranged desks, computer stations, and conference rooms equipped with digital screens and smart technology. The overall feel is clean and professional.

Employees bowed slightly as Grandpa Walters walked towards the elevator.

"Mr. Walters!" Someone called, which made him halt in his steps.

It was a polished lady with heels that clicked aloud when she walked.

"I've been waiting for you,” she said with a professional smile.

"How can I help you miss…"

"Mrs. Carlton,” she introduced, giving him a firm handshake. "I was informed you're in need of a competent lawyer and that anyone was free to apply.”

"Oh yes,” Grandpa Walters said as he resumed his walk to the elevator. "It's not for me; it's for my granddaughter. She's too busy now to get a lawyer, so I decided to get one for her."

He paused, suddenly feeling lightheaded.

“Are you ok, sir?" Mrs. Carlton and Leon chorused, making an attempt to help him.

“I'm ok," he said as they got on the elevator. “Leon, please schedule an appointment with my doc." Then he turned to Mrs. Carton. “I have to settle into the office, so you'll have to wait a while. Is that ok?"

She smiled. "Absolutely, sir."

As Leon led her to his waiting lobby, Grandpa Walters strided to his office. As soon as he sat down, he swallowed a gulp of air. He rummaged through his desk drawer and pulled out a container of pills. He stretched to the fridge beside him, grabbed a bottle of water from it, and gulped two of the pills down, panting, with his hands clasped tightly together.

His vision began to blur and he began to shiver.

“Oh no," he murmured as he tried to control his symptoms and stop himself from passing out.