THE HEIRESS AND THE TYCOON

The shrill sound of the alarm shattered the darkness, jerking Rome awake.

His breath came in ragged gasps, and his heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst from his chest.

Sweats clung to his body as if autumn had come early.

The dream had been so very detailed-his old home, his dad writhing in agony from poison and his mother screaming falling off a rooftop.

A darkness of the nightmare still haunted Rome even after he opened his eyes to find himself in darkness.

 He fumbled for the pills on his nightstand, finding them and swallowing them dry, their bitterness stung him.

He sat up and looked around at the bareness of his room with its minimalist décor.

The black walls and cold furniture seemed suffocatingly close.  they seemed to add to the feeling of loneliness he experienced.

His face wet with sweat, Rome glanced at the clock–4:00 AM.

His mind ran back between the remnants of a dream that still echoed inside it and the harsh reality he was living within.

 After shaking off any traces of sleep, he went out to the balcony and lit a cigarette. The smoke rose curling up with the cool morning breeze.

 This city's skyline stretched beneath him. that city that stood as testimony about what an empire he had built.

Taking in a long drag from this cigarette,

 he muttered "I swear, I will make those who caused you pain suffer beyond their worst nightmares.  

They will beg for death." The cigarette burned down to its filter as he spoke.

 Waking to the bright morning light, her father's voice breaking through her slumber.

"Kylie! Kylie! It's time to wake up!" Her messy black hair tumbled over her face as she sat up, yawning and smiling at her father, who stood by her bed with a warm smile and hands in his pockets.

"Papa you are up early," she said, stretching.

"I'm always up early,  don't you have plans today?" he asked, brows furrowed.

"Oh, I do!  she replied, hurrying to the bathroom.

An hour later, Kylie feeling refreshed made her way to the dining room.Her father was still in his pajamas and she asked,

"Papa, aren't you going to work?"

"Papa is off today," he said with a warm smile.

 Kylie's heart swelled at the sight of her father so relaxed. Since her mother's passing,

Robert the CEO of Davenge Enterprise, had worked tirelessly.

 Seeing him take a break and support her made her love him even more. "I love you Papa" Kylie said as she headed out.

 "I love you too princess, be careful"  Robert called after her. his smile genuine.

 Kylie met her best friend Dustin who is openly gay, at his spa. seeing Kylie at his spa made him so happy .

 "Oh my girl! I missed you,  I thought I was no longer important."

"Oh stop it sissy! It's just been two days," Kylie chuckled, and they laughed together.

Dustin's employees were accustomed to their playful banter, they simply smiled and went about their work.

"So where are we going  most beautiful?" Dustin asked.

"We are going shopping  and the bill's on me," Kylie said, waving her credit card.