The Billionaire Darkness

Chapter One-Hundred Thirty-Three

There was nothing to me quite like the serenity of my ranch. There were hundreds of acres that belonged to me tons of space to have my horses provided with both shade and sun. Fields to take quads out, or within the cobble bricked area my actual yard where right on the edge there was a helipad.

Post my helicopter license I got helipads put on a select few properties I could see myself taking it too. The funny part at least to me was that I didn't spend a lot of time here yet I spent an absolute fortune to get this property, and have it remodeled how I wanted it.

Rolling over in my bed I sat on the edge looking out of the front window before walking to it and staring out of the glass at the front lawn where in the distance I could see where the security house was that would be taking shifts watching the cameras for anything or anyone suspicious.

I'd stay here if I could in the mountains surrounded by nature but I had about thirty years left where I would be in New York before having the freedom to do what I wanted. I also wanted to enjoy being out here so the first thing I did was shower and get dressed so that I could make coffee and go out to see how my horses were doing.

One of my neighbors had a pair of twins who loved horses and so when I was away, I let them take care of the horses needs in my absence and if that didn't happen some of my PPO's grew up around stud farms and could do it.

Walking out into the white walled kitchen with black flooring while the actual counters were grey marble. I had mixed every theme of colour I liked including the black wash wooden rafters above me exposing the plaster ceiling with quarter circle curve designs across it.

I then took my favourite cup and placed it under the machine end before pressing the button for espresso and walked over to the back doors that led out onto the patio where I sat looking through the fog that had set down over the ground.

I could feel the cold moisture of the morning on my skin, and filling my lungs with brisk air, before leaving once more out into the surroundings. I could hear the horse's hooves and the echoing whinny of them communicating to one another.

I loved it, nature was probably my favourite thing about being here. I didn't hear cars, or horns, I didn't breathe in pollutants. It was how the world should have been left. Just like this on my acreage. There were many times I wished I was born a hundred years ago but I also knew that came with a different set of challenges that would occur with the time period, and where I'd be based on family history. Either a country that got bombed, or one that was ran by one of the most malicious tyrants of the twentieth century.

When I lived in Switzerland during schooling, we had to do a research project on where our families originally came from and that heritage project ended up with me learning a lot more then I expected from the Löwsmann side. A cousin of Adele married one of the top-ranking members of the Nazi Party. I didn't include that in the project but I knew of it now, and it still made me puzzle about the dark history of my family.

No wonder the world has tried to kill all of us at one point.

A beep sounded from the kitchen and I turned and walked back into the house before shutting the doors, only to progress to picking up my cup of coffee and exiting the room towards the office where I actually had to review the plans sent to me by my design team for my house reno. I'd asked them to do that so that I could make sure it covered everything that I wanted, I also made sure to put forth a buying notice on the homes that I'd be taking because I needed to demolish them to build my compound in the middle of the Hamptons.

Ten acres, and three buildings spanning thirty thousand square feet, and with eighty-five thousand square feet of interior. Along with various amenities that I demanded be on the property.

I intended for this to be my family home and I wanted it to be like that if I could do that, I would be perfectly happy but I also wanted it to be the place where me and my friends could relax and, in many respects, use as the main house for our hangouts.

Opening my laptop, I looked over all of the designs following the digitalized drawing of everything, while taking the occasional sips of coffee. I liked it and sent it off to the team so that they could begin ordering materials so that when I gave the cue in December they could simply come in and start.

When that was finally done being sent, I turned and looked back outside to where my horses were all standing in the sunlight and grazing.

Nero should go for a run.

He didn't trust anyone else but me to be his rider so whenever I was here, I did. I also may have told the twin girls they weren't allowed to ride him, the other horses were fine, but Nero who was an extremely expensive pet and quite important to me wasn't to be touched. I did think they had ridden him once or twice but they had taken care of him and clearly had been nice but I don't think they ever would push it beyond that.

Walking out to the stable I opened the doors before removing my shoes and put on riding boots, which felt natural on my feet after the countless games of Polo that I'd played and had trained Nero to be exceptional at, even if it had taken years to get it to the point that I was nearly perfect on a polo field. That was until I'd returned to Thornbrook where I'd brought Nero every spring into the summer to play polo for the schools team.

Nero was way on the end of the stable. His hair the same colour as my own, a born racehorse that I'd trained not just for polo but for the occasional trip around the property and I knew that no matter what happened on the field this horse was going to be the fastest and most agile, just as he could be a very gentle calm being when here on the farm.

I trusted him just as he trusted me, and it was Hunter's greatest envy but he recognized that I also had Nero for more then just polo.

Walking over to him with the saddle he lowered his head so that I could stroke his head.

"Buongiorno Nero," I whisper softly while doing so and opening the gate to his stall.

I then put on all of the riding gear before climbing up and letting him move out onto the field.

"Lascia andare amico mio," I say and he takes off across the field towards the end where a bunch of trails were.

Getting to the edge of the forest I pulled the reigns for him to slow down to a walk.

Moving into the trees Nero followed the well-worn path through the forest towards a small patch of flowers along a lakeside.

There were other paths that led to a dock and a third to a beach but this was the one best suited for Nero. Because at the latter two there wasn't anywhere for him to go.

When I got there, I dismounted and removed the bridle hanging it on a nearby tree before walking over to the water front and sitting down amongst the grass and flowers around me while staring at the water.

Picking a flower from beside me without looking I took it and began plucking petals and placing them in the water. One for every day that I'd been orphaned. One for every day I'd missed my parents.

Six hundred ninety-three.

That number appeared in my mind far too quickly but when I redid the math thoroughly in my head, I was right. I felt bad because the more I thought about it the more I came to realize I'd never had time. I was deprived of time to actually see them to remember them.

Seven hundred seventy-five days.

I had spent almost as long the period of my memories with my parents, alone. I had to grow up fast and now I had nothing but my own conscience for support.

That was how it had been most of my life and would continue to be unless I fully let the boys in. But that wasn't an option, it just wasn't.

Fun fact adding in Nero wasn't even an initial plan of the series, it had just happened one day because it made sense for the plot, so you all get reflection and horse chapters. Comment, vote, and share. Anyways

Peace✌