SHATTERED ALLEGIANCE

Two Paths, One Destiny The city was alive and energertic, its streets a full of dreams and desperation. Amidst the vibrant activities, two individuals lived unaware that their paths would soon intersect in a triangle of love, loyalty, and betrayal. Alessandro "Alex" Reed, the youngest son of the powerful Reed family, stood on the rooftop of his family's mansion, gazing out at the glittering lights of the city. His eyes burned with a fierce determination, his jaw set in a resolute line. He was a man driven by a sense of duty and loyalty to his family. He had everything, yet it felt like he had nothing. He pulled out a cigarette, lit it and took a long drag of it. Alex stood on a spot, not moving with flickers of emotions running through his face. He was determined only to be focused on the family's business. Dominic Reed, his father, trusted him so much to make him the heir to the Reed's Pinnacle Global Holding (RPGH) family thereby neglecting his first son, Marco. He vowed to himself to sustain the family’s name and reputation for as long as he stays alive, yet, he couldn't help but feel neglected by himself. He needed to make himself happy once again after the demise of his ex-lover. The death of his ex girlfriend, Emily Wilson, had shattered him greatly. He had felt his whole world crumbling before him, until Vee walked into his life and gave him comfort. At the thought of Vee, a mischievous smile flashed across his face. Vee had helped him heal from the pains of loosing his beloved. He had met her on a sorrowful night at a bar where he frequented to drink out his sorrows during the period of his grief. He had drank himself to stupor and was unable to ride himself back home. Surprisingly, Vee walked over to his table, cleared his bills, held him by his hands and offered to give him a ride home. The combination of compassion, strength and courage he felt from her was so compelling that he couldn't help but give himself to the tenderness of Vee. Even in his drunken state, for the first time since Emily's passing, he felt a sense of peace. Again, a smile flickered on his face as he remembered kissing Vee on that same night. She neither resisted, nor reacted and he concluded that she did so out of pity. Since the night had gone really deep, Dominic and Sophia Reed insisted Vee passed the night at the Reed's. Alex had woken up the next morning with a slight headache. Pictures of the previous night flashed back to him and with the speed of light, he dashed downstairs to see Vee having breakfast with his family. For a moment, Alex was lost, lost in the immense beauty of the creature sitting right beside Sophia Reed. To him, she's just too beautiful to be human. Alex couldn't help but feel his pains gradually leave him as days went by with Vee constantly keeping in touch with him. Alex was certain he would want to make Vee his woman, but he constantly reminded himself that he needed to think things through. Something just didn't feel right. Alex took another long drag of the cigarette in his hands, causing the nicotine coursing through his veins. He smiled to himself as an idea ran through his mind. Across town, Vivian "Vee" Vaughn, the beautiful young woman that had stolen the heart of Alex Reed, stood in front of her mirror, her eyes flashing with a calculating intelligence. Her long black hair cascaded down her back like a river of coals and her slender figure was fitted in a designer gown that hugged her curves in all the right places. She was a woman with a plan, driven by a desire for power and revenge. As they stood there, lost in their own thoughts, fate was quietly weaving their lives together. The threads of their destinies were about to become entwined, setting off a chain reaction of events that would change their lives forever. Little did they know, their love would become the trigger for a war that would shake the very foundations of their world...