Taming The Ruthless Billionaire

Richard's POV "Hello" I said as I answered the call. It was from an unknown number. Though I don't usually answer calls such as this, I still did, because it was from overseas. I have friends abroad too, specifically from the place this caller is from. "Richard, uhm, it's me, " said the caller hesitantly. I was stunned when I heard her voice. As much as possible, I don't want to see or hear her or anything that has to do with her. "Please, listen to me. Don't hang up. I just want to talk to you. Can we meet?" "I think I made myself clear when we go our separate ways, save whatever you want to talk to me about to yourself." I said and hang up. Her call made me remember how foolish I was and so blinded by my feelings for her. She was the very reason why I was very strict about hiring an employee. I was young then and so into her that I went blind to see how she was already holding me in the palm of her hands. She was outgoing, acting cute and innocent at the same time. I never thought that she was going to be my downfall. Because she was my girlfriend whom I thought would always be with me no matter what, I trusted her with all my heart. I had just graduated from college then and my mother handed me the company because she didn't want to be sad anymore. The company reminded her of my father, who started Knox Corp. when it was just a small restaurant. My father loves cooking and that's how he captured my mother's heart. Mom likes to eat. When dad was struggling, mom was there to help him. The little amount he got from retiring early from his job was used to put up a small restaurant. Because dad was a very good cook, the restaurant became the talk of the town. Mom was not flashy nor materialistic. Every profit that the restaurant gained was spent solely on its expansion. Until it becomes sustainable. My father did not stop there. He wanted the best for mom and me. He decided to build a hotel for every Knox Restaurant, hence the Serene Hotel. My father did all his best for Knox Corp. to flourish, and I was there and saw how happy both my mom and dad were. After the Serene Hotel, dad made an expansion of it. He put on casinos and gaming corporations. It was very successful. All the wealthy people and personalities were our loyal customers. When the casino became a hit, mom started to be conscious of her appearance. Dad was always with different people. Men and women, especially beautiful women. Young and old. Dad noticed how mom had become picky about clothes and her sudden interest in cosmetics, so he decided to collaborate with mall owners. While mom was thinking about how other women got near to her dad, he was always thinking about mom. That is how they were, a relationship I thought I would have eventually because I have her. All good things never last. My dad passed away and left me and mom in anguish. Life must continue and mom managed our business well, and decided to transfer the management to me when I graduated. I brought my girlfriend along with me. And that was the biggest mistake in my life. My thoughts were interrupted by Lewis, my assistant. "Sir, your mother Mrs. Knox would like me to remind you of the new employee that will be added to the research and development team." Lewis has been bagging me about this since yesterday up to now. Apparently, my mother recruited a new employee for me when, in fact, I didn't need one. I am content with my current team right now and everyone has been satisfactory so far. If I am not mistaken, she just wants this new recruit to be in my team so that she can have eyes to report to her everything that is happening to me during office hours. "Tell her that I'm already into it and inform her to be here on time tomorrow at 8 in the morning." I told Lewis so he would stop reminding me from time to time. If mom thinks that her recruit will be hired just like that, well she thought wrong. All my employees undergo extreme screenings, tests and interviews. Knox Corp. would not be on top if I hired just anyone who needed a job. Hiring under the table is far way out of my mind, even if she is my own mother and she knows that well. "Noted Sir. This is the new recruit's portfolio." Lewis replied and handed me the portfolio of mom's recruit and went out. I scanned the file and found out that mom's recruit was a she. Eolly Higgins, not a common name. Her credentials are common though, from the countryside, an average student and has not attended any extra-curricular activities at school, no achievement. I bet she just attends school out of obligation. I don't think she would be able to pass though. I got back to my work and forgot about the call earlier, when I heard my phone buzz. It was Aldrich Reeds, my good friend since college, with two others, Nick and Ray. "What's up man?" I said as I answered the phone. "Richard, bro, I will be going to J City next week. Would you like to go out with us?" "I am busy, but I will try." "Come on bro, you know Nick is not here. If possible, I want him to be here as well, but he was so adamant about staying in S City. Ray and I can't count on him, so join us" "Whatever, I will try, but I can't promise though." "Alright, see you then. Bye!" he said and ended the call. He was the only person who didn't like me being so devoted to that girl. He always told me to be careful with her, but I did not listen. He had been tricked by his girl before, so I thought he was just thinking too much. I mean, not because it happened to him, it will happen to me too. That's where I was wrong, because it happened to me in such a cruel way. After that incident, I made a promise to myself, NEVER to hire employees under the table. Whether it was one of the director's daughters, a relative, friend or a woman. It doesn't matter. They should undergo the process of hiring. And I see to it that every question in the test will give them a hard time. As for Mom's recruit, she knew very well how I was, so she should not blame me if that recruit of hers failed. At least I gave her a chance. The time passed by and I was at home looking at the documents related to Knox Corp. and DigiTech's collaboration, and S City Medical Hospital acquisition. I want to settle the collaboration first because DigiTech was the company that I once showed my weakness because of that woman. I don't even want to say her name. I was engrossed with various things related to collaboration when Lewis called. "See to it that this is important, Lewis. I am busy." "Sir, we have been hacked" "What!!!?? When, how?" "at 7 pm. The Tech Dept. has been working on it already. They just noticed it and they could not find who and where the hacker came from." "It was 11 pm already. How much damage has it done to us already? OK, inform me about everything that happens. This can't be happening now. We are currently working on a collaboration with DigiTech. I don't want the same thing to happen again. Is that clear?" "Yes Sir, we are working on it." "OK." I put down the phone and started to think. The same thing is happening again. Who could it be? Is it because of her? She just called me in the morning. Could it be related to her? If she thinks she can hold me on my neck again, then she's wrong. I couldn't think straight anymore so I grabbed my keys and went to the company. I was about to get into my car when I received an email. 'Please listen to me, Richard, or you will lose bigtime.' She was really behind this, huh? I turned off my phone and drove.