The CEO's House Manager

The Fall

By late morning, the convoy had reached the mountain road leading toward Riverside. The road narrowed between tall trees. On one side stood a steep rocky slope. On the other was a river running far below.

Marcus reduced his speed and said they were almost there. Hillary looked up from the documents and asked how far. Marcus said about thirty minutes. Hillary nodded. Then Marcus pressed the brake and nothing happened. His foot pressed harder and still nothing happened. His eyes widened and he said sir. Hillary looked up and asked what. Marcus said the brakes. He pressed them again and nothing happened. The car continued forward.

Hillary immediately understood and told him to use the emergency brake. Marcus tried and nothing happened. The vehicle began picking up speed. Marcus started to say Hillary but caught himself and said sir. Hillary grabbed the side handle and told him to stay calm. Marcus said he was trying.

The road curved ahead. Marcus struggled with the steering wheel. Hillary reached for his phone but there was no signal. He tried Ethan and got nothing. The car sped faster. Marcus shouted Hillary. The vehicle struck the guardrail. Metal screeched. The car swerved violently. Hillary's shoulder slammed against the door. He looked through the windshield and saw the river directly ahead. He shouted Marcus.

The car broke through the damaged barrier. For one terrifying moment, the vehicle seemed suspended in the air. Then it plunged down the slope. Branches struck the windows. The world spun. And finally, the car crashed into the river. Water rushed around the vehicle. Hillary's world went dark.

On the road above, a man lowered his binoculars and said he is down. Damien's voice came through the phone and asked if he was certain. The man said yes. Damien said good. The man asked if they should check the vehicle. Damien said no. The man hesitated and said sir. Damien said to leave. Damien ended the call. He looked out through the window of his car. For years, Hillary Black had stood between him and the Black Empire. Now that obstacle was gone. Or so he believed.

*Willow Creek*

Several kilometers away, life continued as usual. No one in the small village knew that a powerful billionaire had just disappeared. Ivy Moore certainly did not.

She was standing behind her family's little house, tying a bundle of firewood together. Her stepmother's voice rang through the yard calling Ivy. Ivy answered yes. Her stepmother told her not to come back without enough wood. Ivy sighed and said she knew. Her stepmother asked why she was still standing there. Ivy said she was leaving.

She lifted the empty basket and walked toward the forest. Ivy was twenty-three years old, but hardship had made her seem older. She had never attended university. She had never traveled outside the region. She had never owned anything expensive. Her life revolved around chores, the small village market, and surviving another day under her stepmother's harsh rules.

But despite everything, Ivy had never allowed bitterness to consume her. She believed life could still become better. She just did not know when.

That morning, she walked deeper into the forest than usual. She gathered dry branches and tied them together. Then she heard something, a faint sound. Ivy stopped. She listened. There it was again, a groan.

Her heart began beating faster. She said hello but got no answer. She cautiously followed the sound. The path led toward the river. Then she saw it. A damaged black vehicle lay partly submerged near the riverbank.

Ivy dropped the firewood and said oh my goodness. She ran closer and asked if anyone was there. She looked through the broken window. A man was inside. He was not moving. Ivy's heart raced. She checked his breathing. He was alive. Barely.

She said please and looked around desperately. She could not lift him alone. She said she needed help. Ivy ran back toward the village.

She called Papa Amos. An elderly man looked up from beneath a mango tree and asked what happened. Ivy said there had been an accident by the river. He immediately stood and asked who. Ivy said she did not know. He asked if the person was alive. Ivy said yes. Amos grabbed his walking stick and said to take him there.

Together, they hurried toward the river. When Amos saw the vehicle, his face became serious and he said good Lord. He called two nearby villagers. With their help, they carefully removed the unconscious man from the damaged vehicle. Ivy stayed beside him and said careful, watch his head.

They eventually carried him back toward the village. Ivy looked at the stranger's face. Something about him seemed familiar. Not because she had seen him before. But because even unconscious and covered in dirt, he carried himself differently. Like someone who belonged somewhere far beyond Willow Creek.

Still, none of that mattered. He needed help. And Ivy would give it.