Chapter 3: The Pawn

In the opulent skyscraper that served as the headquarters of Louis Willer vast corporate empire, a whirlwind of ambition and intrigue swirled amidst the corridors of power. Louis, CEO of Hallow Enterprises, was a man of immense wealth and influence. His piercing gaze and commanding presence held sway over the boardrooms of multinational corporations, while his philanthropic ventures earned him accolades in the society. But, behind the polished exterior, was a vulnerable young man. Louis' brother, Marcus’ had been the CEO of the company until he met with an accident two years back. It was Louis’ birthday that day and of course like their usual ritual, Louis convinced Marcus to accompany him to the club. Marcus has always being the reserved one wanting nothing to do with the extravagant lifestyle. Louis walked into Marcus’ office that faithful day, he met Marcus buried deep behind his computer sorting out some company issues. “Big brother, it’s my birthday today. You should come out with me.” Louis pleaded. “I really would have loved to, Louis. But I’m very busy with work.” Marcus replied. “You are always busy with work, brother” Louis fired. “Of course, what would you rather I’d be busy with?” He asked his brother rolling his eyes. “All work and no play makes Marcus a really dull boy” “I’m sure the quote says Jack not Marcus” Marcus retorted while laughing. “You get the gist now. Please just come with me to the club today” Louis said with a pout. Louis had a point. Marcus craved a distraction, a way to forget the hollowness that had settled in his chest lately. With a sigh, he agreed. “Alright. Just because it’s your birthday” Marcus said. “Thank you, Big bro. I love you” Louis screamed like a little kid promised candy. “I’d pick you up by 10pm”. "Be prepared, bro". “All right, brother and happy birthday!” Marcus wished him. The club was a mixture of blinding lights and thumping music. Louis, clothed in a new shirt that screamed "birthday boy," dragged Marcus through the pulsating crowd. They downed shots, laughed at terrible jokes, and attempted terrible dance moves. As the night wore on, it started to rain heavily. Marcus complained that he was tired and wanted to retire for the night, stepping out to hail a cab, the slick pavement betrayed them. The world tilted, the roar of the engine a terrifying sound before a crushing silence. Louis woke to the rhythmic beep of a machine. Blurry white figures flitted in and out of his vision. A doctor's voice, laced with concern, spoke of a bad car accident, a severe head injury, and a coma. Where was Marcus? Panic clawed at him, but his body refused to respond. Days bled into weeks. The sterile room became his world, the rhythmic beep his only companion. He yearned to know about Marcus, to tell him he was sorry for being a drag that night. Regret gnawed at him, a constant reminder of the birthday that turned into a nightmare. One day, a hand familiar, squeezed his. A choked sob escaped as his Mom’s tear-streaked face swam into focus. "Louis you're awake! Don't worry, you'll be fine” “Mum” Louis managed to croak out. “Shhh, don’t try to talk” She comforted him. “Where is Marcus?” Louis managed to get out with tears blurred eyes. “Marcus is in coma” His Mom replied equally crying. Louis does not respond but just began to cry even more, regret gnawing at his heart. He should have left Marcus alone, he really should have. After few weeks, Louis got discharged from the hospital but there was still no improvement from Marcus. One of the days when Louis was recuperating, his father, the formidable Robert Willer, stood at the foot of the bed in his room, a storm brewing in his steely gaze. "Louis. You are a damn fool." His voice was a low growl. “You are very reckless, stupid and irresponsible. You caused great harm to your brother and to the company at large” He said in between grounded teeth and whitened knuckles which showed he was angry to say the least. Robert stormed out of the room immediately after, not even waiting for a reply from Louis. Over the next few days, the gravity of the situation settled on Louis. There was not a single day that he didn’t think of Marcus and the accident they had which left him in a coma, the doctors unsure of when, or even if, he'd wake up. Robert, the patriarch of the industry, was devastated about the state of the company. Robert was forced to early retirement due to health issues and this was what led to handing over the reigns to Marcus. Unfortunately, Marcus is in a coma and the board, vultures circling, demanded a leader. With a heavy heart, Robert did the unthinkable. He placed Louis in charge. Louis stepped into the void, ascending to the office his brother filled prior with a mix of determination and ruthlessness. However, his life outside the office and in the office was wayward. Louis indulged in a spree of sexual escapades, seeking solace in the arms of countless women. However, his heart always yearned for one forbidden love: Beth, his secretary and their maid's daughter. Louis harbored a secret passion for his secretary, Beth. Her intelligence, beauty, and quiet strength captivated him, but he dared not reveal his feelings, fearing it would jeopardize their professional relationship. Instead, Louis devised a cunning plan. He lavished attention on a young intern, Lauren, a brilliant young executive newly hired by the company. Her wit and ambition caught his attention, he daily showered with praises, gifts, and invitations to exclusive events. His goal was to make Beth jealous, hoping it would force her to confront her own feelings for him. However, Beth remained unmoved. She had always maintained a strictly professional demeanor with Louis, and she saw his flirtations with Lauren as nothing more than a harmless game. However, as Louis' pursuit of Lauren intensified, a flicker of doubt began to creep into her heart. Could Louis possibly have genuine feelings for this inexperienced intern? Or was he merely using her as a pawn in his elaborate scheme? As the days turned into weeks, Beth's jealousy grew. She found herself scrutinizing every interaction between Louis and Lauren, her mind racing with suspicion and insecurity. Louis, sensing Beth's growing unease, played his cards even closer to his chest. He continued to shower Lauren with attention, but he also made subtle gestures towards Beth that hinted at his true feelings. A lingering gaze, a gentle touch, a whispered compliment—each action was carefully calculated to stir Beth's emotions.