an unbreakable bond of love

***

‘Fucking pull yourself together.’ Shane Lewis screamed at himself silently. He couldn’t believe his hands were actually shaking. As if that wasn’t enough, his palms felt sweaty, he had a queasy feeling in his stomach, and he’d started breathing hard. Was he having a panic attack or something, Shane wondered, getting really scared. He was Shane Lewis for fuck’s fake. The Shane Lewis! Just his name put the fear of God into others. He didn’t get scared…he just didn’t.

Shane Lewis was the owner of one of the most powerful and successful business empires in America - SL Group of Companies. And he was only thirty-two years of age. Shane, an engineer by profession, was always described in the media as the man with the Midas’ Touch. He was so smart and lucky that whatever business he ventured into became a success. When he was just twenty–two years old, Shane had been able to convince a bank manager to grant him a loan. With that money, he had successfully purchased, tore down, and rebuilt his first office complex. Shane had never looked back since.

He’d been a smart young man, who had been determined to make it. He’d probably wanted to make a point…even if not to anyone but himself, that he wasn’t worthless or a nobody. And as an African American, that hadn’t been a walk in the park. But with determination and hard work, Shane had achieved his goal and even more. It was therefore not surprising that his name made it to Forbes' top fifty richest men under thirty-five.

Shane was into a lot of businesses, ranging from real estate to oil. According to Forbes, his net worth was six billion dollars. Shane’s all-time principle, which guided him at all times, however, was to ensure that whatever business he ventured into, was clean. Every business must be legal. That was something he would never compromise on. Thanks to his mother, Shane never forgot the saying that ‘a good name is better than riches’. To him, a good reputation was worth more than all the money in the world.

Shane Lewis was a strikingly handsome black man. With a height of six’ one, a sexily muscular physique, a nice close-cropped haircut, and his smart and confident personality, Shane would have passed for a movie star any day. With that kind of body, it was not a surprise that Shane was very athletic. He played football, ran track, and boxed. He’d been a late bloomer…was bullied a lot too, so when he started shooting up, he’d been so thrilled he’d thrown himself into athletics…as a hobby and also as a way to stay fit. Not only did Shane never miss a day at the gym, he actually had an ultramodern gym that had all the hi-tech equipment, in his beautiful mansion. It was therefore not surprising that his hot, yummy, ripped muscles remained as it was.

Add that devilishly good looks to his humble and charming personality, and what came out was an exceptionally likable and easy to love young man. As if that wasn’t enough, his passion to achieve greatness in the business world…and success thereof, actually made him the total package. Women, who didn’t even know just how wealthy he was, fell over themselves just to gain his attention. Shane Lewis was super-hot.

Shane was somehow borderline shy about his accomplishments, yet certain and fiercely focused on his goals. One distinctive thing about Shane that surprised the business world was that he never wanted to be seen. He always made it a point to stay out of the public eye. Very few people even knew what he looked like. When he made his very first business kill, Shane had changed his name from Nicolas Shane Lewis to just Shane Lewis. Since most people hadn’t known his middle name was Shane, he had succeeded in hiding who he was not only from the public but also from those who knew him before. When his mother had asked him curiously why he’d done that, Shane had shrugged and responded in a hoarse voice,

“Much as I want to make it in life Ma, the thought of him even knowing I exist, gives me the shivers.”

“Oh, honey…” Sylvia Lewis had whispered with pain in her voice.

“It’s been years but the very thought of ever seeing him…and sometimes just the mere thought of him makes me shake with dread. I become that kid again, Ma. I hate the feeling.” Shane had whispered, reaching out to wipe the tear that shuddered on his mother’s eyelash. “It’s okay Ma. For as long as I remain…hidden, I’m fine.”