365 Days With the Billionaire

Lopez Group is one of the top ten conglomerates in America, having existed for only twenty five years. It wasn't always at the top but ever since the new CEO took over five years ago, the company grew bigger and surpassed other companies that have being in existence for close to fifty years. Alexander Lopez, the new CEO is known for being strict and cold. He devoted his all to the company since taking over and is the youngest CEO at twenty four to manage such big conglomerate all on his own. He has a step brother Thomas Lopez, who has been eyeing his position and also an uncle but their grandmother knows who is best suited for the position and had Alexander become CEO at nineteen as soon as he graduated college. Although Alexander is a demi god and is known to be popular among women, he has never been seen with a woman. Rumors about him being gay has spread among the public countless times but he doesn't seem to care about it. To him, making his grandmother and late parents proud by making Lopez Group the number one company in America was more important than any relationship. His grandmother has been pestering him to get married and give her a grandchild but he never listened to her. He listens to whatever she says except when it comes to marriage and it's not like he doesn't know how to be romantic too but his first love and only girl he dated suddenly disappeared six years ago and he has not been able to find her since then. He tried searching for her at first but decided to stop when he couldn't get anything about her. He felt she doesn't want him to find her so he decided to stop. She's also one of the reasons why he decided to work hard so that she will be able to find him anywhere in the world through his popularity. Alex had just returned from a meeting with a client when he got a call from his grandma's doctor who was supposed to check up on her that day. "Good afternoon sir Alex, I think you need to come home right away. Your grandma fainted before I arrived this morning and the result is not looking good" the doctor said. Alex didn't listen to anything else and just called his driver to prepare the car. The one thing he doesn't joke with is his grandma. He loves her a lot and always makes sure to listen to her, except the marriage part though. "Grandma, how are you feeling?" he held her hand and sat next to her as soon as he rushed inside. "How is she, James?" Alex asked the doctor. "I need to talk to you privately about that, let's leave the room" James said. "So what is it that you want to say?" Alex asked impatiently. "Madam Lopez has last stage cancer. It can't be cured by surgery no matter who the doctor is unless a miracle happens. I know she means a lot to you but she only has a year at most to live so I'll suggest you spend more time with her and try to do everything she asks" James concluded. "You are lying! I always make sure she gets her check up every three months so how can you say she has last stage cancer just because she fainted? Do you really expect me to believe that?" Alex scoffed. "If you don't believe me, you can have another doctor come over for another check up. I'm as surprised as you are but what can I do? Like I said, a miracle can happen but it's occasional so it will be better to prepare your mind from now" James said and left. "Madam Lopez is awake" a maid came to inform Alex and he ran to her room as fast as he could. "How can you do this to me grandma? I told you to make sure you live until 90 at least so that you can keep me company but you are just sixty and you have only one year to live? Why didn't you listen to me when I asked you to do your check up monthly? You can't leave me no matter what. Even if I have to go to the end of the world, I will make sure to cure you" Alex vowed. "James told me that a miracle can still happen since the cancer came all of a sudden so don't worry about a thing. All you have to do is spend more time with me during the few days I have left to spend on earth" she said weakly. "Why do you sound so weak? I want my strong grandma back, I can't bear to see you like this" Alex cried. "Now that it has come to this, I only have one wish before I die. Will you fulfill my wish?" Madam Lopez asked. "I will fulfill your wish as long as you promise to not die" Alex said. "I will try my best to fight the cancer with all my strength if you fulfill my wish" she said. "Okay, let's hear it. I will do anything as long as you don't die now" he said. "I've always wanted a great grandchild from you. If you can get married and give me one, I won't ask for any other thing" she said. "You know I can't do that grandma, ask for something else" Alex refused. "It's fine then. That's the only thing I want and since you can't give it to me, it's okay. I will die soon anyway and you can live your life after that" Madam Lopez mumbled sadly. "What are you saying? You know it's not like that. Fine, I will do as you wish" Alex sighed. "Really?" Madam Lopez asked with a bright look making Alex stare at her suspiciously and she quickly went back to being a weak, sick grandma. "I won't go back on my word, don't worry. Just fulfill your part and fight the cancer with all your might" Alex said. Alex picked up his phone immediately and called an agency to find a perfect bride for him. After ending the call, a thought crossed his mind and he called the agency back. "Find a perfect secretary that can be a perfect bride at the same time" Alex ordered. *** Arya Lawrence sighed for the umpteenth time as she went through the job vacancies available online. She had just graduated college and has been going job hunting for a few weeks. Unfortunately, she hasn't been lucky as she got rejected every time even though her result was okay. Her elder sister has been diagnosed with heart disease that requires immediate surgery and they only have each other since their parents passed away ten years ago. The surgery is very expensive and there is no way to get the money with the part time jobs they've been doing. "I told you to not stress yourself because of me. The doctor said I can still wait for eight months before getting the surgery" Layla, her elder sister said as she dropped a plate of fruit on the table. "I already went to the doctor and he told me that we need to do the surgery as soon as possible and we only have four months at most. Why did you lie to me? You are planning to live me alone in this world right? It's not enough that Mom and Dad left us, you also want to do the same thing" Arya said as tears rolled down her cheeks. "You're such a crybaby. I know I was wrong but you know I won't leave you alone, I just didn't want you to worry about me" Layla said. "Who should I worry about if I don't worry about you? You couldn't go to college because you wanted to support my studies and now that I've graduated, I can't even do anything for you" Arya cried. "You know it's not true. You're the best gift our parents gave to me and I can't imagine life without you. You've already done so much for me and I know you will get a job soon. You've always been lucky" Layla smiled. "I hope so. There are so many vacancies online but I don't know why none of them wants to hire me" Arya mumbled. "It's fine, we still have enough time. The doctor took pity on me and said I can have the surgery immediately I pay quarter of the medical bill. He said we can take our time to pay it since we don't have parents" Layla said. "I really wish I'm able to see things positively like you do. Even quarter of the money is so expensive but you're so relaxed like it's nothing" Arya said. "Don't worry. Ever since Mom and Dad died, we've always been lucky and I believe it won't be different this time too. Just close your laptop and rest for today" Layla said and was about shutting down the laptop when Arya noticed that a notification dropped. "Let me check the notification before your shut down" Arya said and quickly clicked on it. "There's a vacancy at Lopez Group. It's a job as Mr Alex's secretary and the pay is $2,000,000 monthly. You have to do something else besides working as his secretary but it wasn't disclosed. I feel this is a great opportunity for you since you and Layla seem to be struggling now" the message read. It was a message from Tristan Edward, one of Arya's college friend. He's a rich guy but he's been friends with Arya ever since she started college and has helped her and Layla a lot. "How many zeros are there?! Oh my God!" It was the last thing Arya said before she fainted. To be continued...... © Tricia