Hollywood Zenith



" That was a long but comfortable flight.." Samuel stretched his body as he descended the stairs.

" I know; why don't we hurry to our hotel? You must be tired." Darren said with some urgency in his voice.

" What's the rush? I heard few people are waiting to meet us." It was something that the pilot informed him before he got off the flight.

" Why? Who?" Darren exclaimed loudly. He hoped to skirt by somehow but couldn't afford to meet her here again.

" Why are you yelling?" Samuel covered his ears in response. There was definitely something wrong with this big lug! He thought.

" I mean, we have our ride here, right? See? I already arranged for them to take us to our hotel." Darren tried to persuade him. He was confident the person waiting for Samuel was her.

" We have to show some respect. I can't gloss over it, knowing I represent my family in these scenarios." Samuel was talking about airport management officials there to welcome him, but Darren was too far gone to listen to reasoning.

" No, you mustn't go there!" Darren grabbed him from behind. Due to a little height difference, they looked like some couple in love quilling. 

" I will knock you out and carry you if you keep grabbing me like this!" Samuel was furious, getting suspicious gazes from attendants around them.

" No!" Darren was stubborn. He had already seen several texts she sent when they landed, so he couldn't take any chances.

"Ouch!" Samuel performed a simple over-the-shoulder move, slamming his bulky body to the ground. He was mindful of his head, but his back took a big hit.

" Why are you behaving like a child!?"

" Alright, then I will go alone. We should meet at the hotel- wait! You can't drag me like this!"

" Aunt Aubrey told me to look after you! I can't leave you alone!" Samuel dragged him a few feet before he gave up the idea of escaping.

" Bienvenue, jeune maitre, I hope you had a pleasant flight." a middle-aged man stepped forward and greeted him in French.

" Merci, I am sorry Mr. Pierre had to receive me personally," Samuel said respectfully. Pierre might look like a typical upper management personnel, but he was the chairman's son, who owned significant shares in the ADP group.

He was here to gain experience before his eventual accession to the chairman's position. For now, he was managing the Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, the principal airport serving the French capital, Paris.

" I didn't know Mr. Samuel spoke French? Even your pronunciation was authentic!" Pierre was surprised. He had met many influential people, but even they regarded Samuel highly. Many of them interacted with him and would often boast about it.

He was not sure what to make of it, but now that he had met him, the first thing that surprised him was his humbleness. Considering his standing, it was plausible for him to be a haughty young master, but it was different.

Not to mention his appearance, a lean frame with exceptional good looks? He had never seen anyone like him traveling the world. Even the most renowned models didn't hold any candle to him.

" This is my friend, Darren Wintringham." Samuel introduced him, who was still grumpy. He looked around and found she was nowhere to be seen, which made him relax a little.

" Bonjour."

" Yes, I have heard of the prestigious Wintringham. It's a pleasure to meet you." Pierre went all French on him only to be disappointed.

They talked for a few minutes, Pierre offered to arrange a few vehicles for them, but Samuel politely refused. He had specially brought his new Ferrari 250 GTo for this occasion! What's good, a big jet, if one couldn't even carry his treasure? He was planning to take a long drive after his interview.

As they were walking toward the exit, someone shouted from the side.

" SAMI! LITTLE SAMI! Over here!" It was definitely some rowdy women, so Samuel ignored it.

" SAMI! DARREN!" She struggled as the guards tried to restrain her. Samuel heard Darren's name again, which made him look closer at the woman.

" Maam, you can't go there."

" Hold on! Stop!" He commanded, which led the guards to let go of her. Samuel saw she was carrying a little girl in her arm, and he stopped them because of that little girl's safety.

The woman stepped forward and walked toward Samuel and his group while cursing the guards.

" Sami, now that you have become a big shot, you are avoiding me?" She said with a smile. Samuel took a closer look at her, he thought she looked familiar, but he just couldn't remember her.

" Why are you silent? Didn't Darren tell you I was coming?" She turned toward Darren next.

" Umm..."

" Mayra?" Samuel exclaimed.

" Took you long enough." Mayra smiled again; it was good that he remembered her.

...

...

...

A few years ago, at the public park situated near Harvard University. Mayra was sitting alone, looking at people passing by. Although she had a book in her hand, her attention was obviously somewhere else.

" Here, where are the others?" Samuel handed her a cup of coffee before sitting down.

" I don't know. Probably busy burying their noses in books." She replied, fixing her hair.

" You should be doing the same. I don't know how you manage to pass your previous exams." Samuel sighed as he took a sip from his cup.

" It's easy for me, I just need a few all-nighters, and it's rich coming from you, who haven't even touched one book since you came here," Mayra complained. She never understood why he was even here and when did he find time to ace every exam?

" I am here because it's mandatory. I already learned everything, thank you." he handed the cup to his attendant," I am just passing the time."

" I see you always have your minions following you. No wonder people are scared of you." her snide remark was a little loud enough for Samuel's people to hear.

" I see, young miss is feisty as ever, but can you not corrupt our innocent boss!" It was Jane who spoke up. She volunteered for the job after finding out what type of people Samuel hung out with.

" How can he be your boss? He is just a kid who hasn't even hit puberty!" She grabbed Samuel's hand and said defiantly!

" Young master! Permission to exterminate the bug!" Jane said dramatically, looking at Mayra's cheeky smile.

" You two. Do you have to do this routine again?" Samuel sighed.

" She started it first!"

" But you are the adult here!"

They began arguing, and it went on for a few more minutes before Samuel had to shut them up. He kindly asked Jane to leave them alone for a while, which obviously didn't sit well with her, but regardless of her feelings, she did as he told her.

Jane hated Mayra's guts, and she probably knew why Mayra couldn't reach Samuel all these years.