Diana's Office, Red Dragon Company
Present Time
"Just get the hell out of my office!" Diana yelled as she threw the bouquet of roses at Len Chandler's face. The roses he bought earlier were scattered around his feet. He quietly gathered the scattered roses as people stormed the office to see what was happening. They saw the CEO standing facing her husband as he bowed on his knees, collecting flowers. She looked terribly pissed at her lame husband.
Diana looked at her husband in disgust, "You should be ashamed of yourselves. If it were not for me, both of us would be beggars out in the streets of Olkdale. Begging for food and coins from passersby."
Len kept quiet, unaware of the people around him and of the words his own wife had hurled at him. He was shocked that the woman he loved treated his birthday surprise like trash. He stood by and was surprised to see the office workers whispering and chuckling at him, while his wife was already gone.
He blinked naively at the office workers. "Where is my wife?" he asked. Puzzled, they looked at each other and immediately laughed.
"Look at this fellow, the audacity to call the CEO his wife. He is just a joke!" One said while another one commented, "Even if he is the CEO's husband, that would be a terrible mistake by the CEO. The single biggest mistake of her life!"
They all laughed and laughed, openly mocking him while he stood by with the bouquet still in his hand. It was a bitter pill to swallow when your wife lets her subordinates belittle you, but he took it without any complaint.
If it were up to him, Len would destroy their lives with scandals and make them suffer for the rest of their lives. But Len had made a promise to Diana's dying father when they first met, about five years ago.
***
Olkdale Private Hospital
5 Years Ago
Sigmund Kylan was looking out through the hospital's window when his subordinate, Mattius, walked to him and whispered, "He has arrived," before making way for his guest to enter the private ward.
The footsteps entering the room were light, yet Sigmund and Mattius could sense the overwhelming pressure their guest carried as soon as he stepped in. The young man, in his 20s, was wearing a blue shirt, jeans, and sneakers. He went straight to the bedridden old man and extended a bouquet of yellow roses, his sign of affection to Sigmund.
"How are you, old man?" he asked with a faint smile. Sigmund immediately recognized that smile; he was the one who taught this young man how to fight and start his own security empire.
In Olkdale City and the rest of the world, the police department has completely ceased after a major global economic meltdown; most world governments abandoned their police forces. In their stead, security companies and other dark organizations created their own police or gangs to enforce the law.
Among them were The Dragon's Claw and The Red Hornbill, each created by Sigmund Kylan and Len Chandler to ensure secure trade access for The Red Dragon Company. Together, they forged a strong alliance and have a combined total of 10,000 gang members. However, the two gangs started to splinter off when the news of Sigmund getting cancer spread.
Sensing that the Red Dragon Company was in danger of collapse if their gangs dissolved, Sigmund proposed an eternal alliance between him and Len. His time on earth was running out, and he needed to seal the deal quickly.
"Len…" Sigmund said, he heaved a sigh, "Let's merge our gang before I die."
"Old man, you are still alive - "
"Promise me…" Sigmund interrupted, "Promise me something, Len."
Len nodded, "If you insist, I promise you. What do you need, old man?"
"Marry my daughter and merge our gangs into the Red Dragon Company."
Len's jaw dropped when he heard Sigmund's request. "What the heck, old man. You cannot simply do that. Forget our companies, but what's with your daughter? I don't even know she existed."
Sigmund smirked, "Now you know. So, I got my promise. The security of our gangs, my business empire, and the livelihood of my daughter is secure. In your hands."
Len facepalmed as he listened to the dying old man, "Even death is nearing, you still wanna set me up ehh…"
Len patted Sigmund on the shoulder, "Any agreement must have its own release clause. Don't you think so?" he said, "So, what is my release clause. To get me off this marriage thingy."
Sigmund scratched his chin, "Marry her for two years, if she decides that she doesn't want you anymore, or in this case, decides to divorce you. By all means, take back your gang and live as you like."
"As you wish, old man, our agreement, sealed in our words."
***
Sigmund Family Home
Present Time
After the incident at the office, Len went back home, took out his apron, and immediately sprang into action. The empty living room, aside from a sofa, a table set, and a 77-inch TV, was transformed into a romantic birthday party setting.
The bare, empty wooden kitchen table was replaced by a two-person table with a single candle standing in the middle, perfect for a candlelight dinner. He also had ordered the best pastry chef in Olkdale, Chef Ricardo, to bake a special birthday cake for Diana's 27th birthday. To create a personal touch to the surprise dinner, Len prepared a set of wagyu steaks with imported red wine.
Everything was completed perfectly by the time the clock hit 7 p.m. Len smiled as he looked at his work. "Totally worth it!" Diana was supposed to arrive in twenty minutes. An ample time for Len to take a shower and wear his best attire for the night. Before he went to the kitchen again, he texted Diana:
"Don't forget to come home soon. I got something for you."
He did not receive any reply text that night. Diana… did not arrive home early that evening. She arrived at 12 midnight. When she opened the door, she found Len was already asleep at their dinner table.
The food was already cold but untouched. She figured that Len had not eaten dinner yet, waiting for her, but she couldn't care less. She left a deep sigh, put the empty wine bottle on the living room table, and went straight to their bedroom.
Even though Len was sleeping, he could sense the difference in his wife's breath and fragrance. It belonged to another man. A man from within the company. He pretended to stay asleep, waiting for his wife to call on him.
But it never arrived…