The History of an Evil CEO

Chapter VII The Beginning of a CEO Part 2

The streets of London have a way of speaking to you, whispering stories of the past with every cobblestone. This afternoon, as I wandered aimlessly through the city, memories of my childhood in Lincolnshire mixed with the weight of my current responsibilities. I didn't expect to find anything or anyone, but life has a strange way of surprising us. As I turned a corner near Bloomsbury, a sign caught my eye: the address of a building Natalia once mentioned in her letters. She had been working there, but I didn't expect to stumble across it by chance. My heart raced as I realised this might be a chance to reconnect with my girlfriend.

I hesitated at the door, wondering if I should knock. What if she wasn't here? Or worse, what if she didn't remember me? Gathering my courage, I pressed the bell and after a moment, the door creaked open. There she was, standing in the doorway, her familiar confident stance softened by a look of pleasant surprise.

"Natalia," I said, my voice breaking.

"Elliot!" she exclaimed, her face alight with genuine joy. "What are you doing here?"

I told her everything: about the factory, Ludwin, the Playtime Train, and my new role as CEO. She listened intently, seeming unyielding and kind, as if she were mentally putting together the puzzle pieces of my story. When I mentioned the strange dynamic at Playtime Co. and Ludwin's secret plans, Natalia crossed her arms and frowned slightly. "Elliot," she said with a mix of admiration and concern, "I'm glad to see you're up to the task, but are you sure you trust Ludwin? There's something about all this that seems... calculated."

I admitted my doubts, telling her about the strange visions I'd had, the hidden files I'd discovered, and the increasing weight of responsibility I felt. She nodded, her sharp mind picking up on details I hadn't even realized were important. "I'm happy for you," she said after a pause, her tone softening. "But don't let your ambition blind you. Keep your eyes open, Elliot. There's more going on here than just business."

We spent hours catching up, slipping easily into the camaraderie we'd always shared. Natalia told me about her studies, her work, and the people she'd met in London. Despite the intensity of her words, her smile radiated warmth, reminding me why I'd always admired her. She told me, "Before I left, she handed me a small box I was going to give it to you when I was there but since you are here I will give it to you." Inside was a delicate necklace, the charm of which was shaped like a compass.

"It's a reminder," she said. "No matter where you go or how far this journey takes you, stay true to yourself."

I put the necklace in my pocket, feeling its weight as more than just metal and chain: it was a symbol of friendship, trust, and perhaps a warning. As I walked back into the cold London night, the streets seemed quieter, as if the city itself was reflecting our conversation. I couldn't shake Natalia's words or the growing feeling that I was being dragged into something much bigger than I had anticipated.

I'll keep the compass close. I'll need it, both as a guide and a reminder. It was just a matter of walking.

As the chill of the London night settled in, enveloping me, I walked back to the hotel. The afternoon had been a whirlwind, and Natalia's words still echoed in my mind. I had barely begun to process it all when, a block from the hotel, I saw two familiar figures in the dim light of an alley.

At first, I thought it was exhaustion playing tricks on me, but as I got closer, my heart stopped. It was Esach and Eseth, my brothers. I hadn't seen them since I was 12, the day they stormed out of the house, leaving behind a rift that had never healed.

"Elliot?" Esach's voice was unmistakable, rougher now, but still with that tone of disbelief I remembered so well.

"Eseth? Esach?" I managed to stammer. "What... what are you doing here?"

They exchanged a glance, a sly grin forming on Eseth's face. "We've been... around," he said, his tone as casual as if we'd parted ways yesterday.

Esach took over, eager to share his story. They'd created a film company, among other things, specializing in cheap, fun animation. "We use characters we don't have the rights to," Eseth admitted with a shrug, "but hey, what's the worst that could happen?"

(In my head I only said this: it sounds familiar to the newspaper story Natalia and I read.)

Eseth chuckled. "We've made a name for ourselves with those knockoffs, but, well... let's just say our workers weren't too happy with the 'working conditions.'"

"Wait," I said, still trying to put the pieces together. "Have you been working all this time?"

"We have been," Eseth corrected, his smile fading. "We went bankrupt last year. We even wanted to open our own toy factory; we had big plans for that. But it takes more than dreams to get funding, and we didn't have enough."

His words carried a weight that reminded me of the resistance and stubbornness anyone has to wanting to start something.

Then the bombshell came: "Elliot," Esach said quietly, "and our last help mom died of cancer in 1970."

The words hit me like a freight train. I staggered back and gasped. I had always imagined I would have time to reconcile with her, to repair the relationship I had left fractured when I moved to America.

"And Uncle William," Esach added quickly, perhaps sensing my struggle to process it, "is now in America. He works at a pizzeria."

Before I could say anything, they both turned to me with a strange mix of hope and despair. "Elliot," Eseth said, "we've hit rock bottom. Take us with you." I stared at them, not knowing what to say. After all, they were my brothers and the only thing that could make me feel better now. Despite everything, memories of our childhood and the bond we once shared weighed heavily on my decision.

Finally, I agreed. "Okay. Come with me. But no more shady dealings, okay?"

Their smiles returned and, for a moment, we felt like friends again. When we got to the hotel, I introduced them to Matteo and Xavier. Matteo, ever the optimist, welcomed them with open arms, while Xavier remained reserved as always, clearly distrustful of their motives. Despite the tension, I felt something shift inside me. Maybe this was the beginning of rebuilding what we had lost, a chance to turn the page and start a new. Only time would tell.