I Promised

Two Years Ago...

Darwin’s POV

To be honest, I never knew my father Damon would wholly accept me as his heir. In fact, I didn’t even assume that he would call me his son either.

I am now the current Chief Executive Officer of the Gray Co. But I always tell myself that, with great power comes with great responsibility. And I have one hell of responsibility on the company, my employees, and my reputation.

Frantically speaking, I feel sad for Derrick. But, he’s okay with that anyway. I’ve talked with him many times and he also told me many times that he’s not the leader type of person. I’m so grateful for dad that he finally saw what I’m capable of.

Finally, I can be rich. I am rich from my own hardwork, sweat, and tears. I can finally be a billionaire. Finally…I can make my promise to that young girl when I was seven—that I will marry her, no matter what.

I’ve ordered a doughnut and  a cup of cappuccino. Fifteen minutes have passed and my half-brother, Derrick, hasn’t yet arrived. It’s quite cloudy; it’s drizzling outside to be honest.

“Where the heck is my brother?” Glancing to the right, I saw Derrick waving at me from across the street. He and that red-head woman were on their way to this coffee shop. I watch them cross the pedestrian as my brother takes off his jacket and covers it above them as the rain now begins to pour.

‘That’s what makes him too long to come here, he probably picked up a girl first in order to make me jealous,’ I mused.

I cannot see the girl’s face as she’s wearing a face mask, so is Derrick.

“Why the hell are you wearing a mask?!” I asked as soon as they found their seat in front of me. I signaled to the waiter for the menu.

This place is perfect. The coffee shop is not so crowded compared to yesterday where I had a chat (well, more of a sexchat) with my secretary Lyla Roberts.

Derrick beamed at me along with a nudge to the girl he brought.

I can’t recognize her apparently because her face is half covered with a mask. But, there is something in this woman’s sapphire blue eyes that reminds me of someone.

‘Could she be….’ No, I shove the thought away from my head. It’s just very coincidental that she had made my half-brother her man as someone to please her in bed.

“I’m sorry for being late. It seems traffic is always one’s hindrance to being prompt.”

I rolled my eyes. It’s been his excuse and reason ever since. “Then you should’ve left earlier, brother.” My voice is very much deep and stern, candid to be precise. I hate being late. Time is gold, and every second I wait for a late person, I waste gold.

“I’m sorry…” Derrick apologized again. I just sipped  my cappuccino. I glanced at the woman beside him. She’d been very silent throughout the time that me and Derrick were conversing, playing with that wavy strawberry blonde hair of hers. She looks very familiar. I can’t tell where I’ve met her before. But it can’t also be that young girl, could she?

Derrick noticed me staring at his companion. My half-brother very well knew how much I hate when one invites someone else.

“This is my girlfriend, brother.” He said to me in a low, intimidated voice. Well, it’s not surprising.  Me and this brother of mine had always been flocked by a lot of women since high school years.

Arching my brows, I pretended that I’m interested. “Oh really, Derrick? What’s her name?”

“Minerva.”

I tried not to choke but I coughed otherwise. I almost forgot that I scooped the entire half of the mocha doughnut.

‘It is not her… it is not her…there are so many Minervas in this world…’ I chanted, even prayed.

“I am Minerva Miriam Miller.”

She took off her mask and that’s it. It is, in fact, her. Her ethereal voice. Her precious sapphire blue eyes that I’ve waited for several years just to look at again. Her strawberry blonde hair that these trembling fingers of mine always wanted to caress. After a decade, I’ve finally seen her—in another man’s arms. In my brother’s arms.

Derrick noticed my sudden shift of expressions. “Are you okay, Darwin?”

“Get her out of my sight.”  Derrick blinked. Minerva’s eyes widened. “How many times have I told you to not pick up some mere women in the street!”

Derrick stood, rage was all over his face. My brother’s chest was rapidly rising up and down. His lips are pursed; fists clenched at his either side as if he’s ready to punch me. “She is not a mere woman like everyone else that you’ve fucked!”

Then he vanished at the coffee shop—this coffee shop that I once owned before selling it to someone else as it is not my cup of tea.

Derrick walked out from me; they walked away from me. Hell hath indeed enlarged itself as life had thrown me into another fiery pit of this shitful of a hell.

My half-brother is dating the woman I’ve known since childhood. He’d been chosen by the young girl I promised to marry.

I may be full of richness and luxury. But without Minerva, money cannot access my happiness. But I always honored my words that came from my own lips. She didn’t recognize me. Good.

I will do what I’ve promised her. If money indeed buys happiness, I will buy her from him. Derrick is a gambling addict, unknown to Minerva. It just takes a little pull of string for her to be mine, through my half-brother.

I, Darwin Dennis Gray, had promised Minerva Miriam Miller that I will take her hand for marriage—and I indeed will, come hell or high water.