Chapter 3

A Memory's POV

Running out breathe, the person that ran and ran for her dear life is getting breathless. She needs to get out there for she might not see the light again. A remotely deserted place, a girl was trying so hard to escape there. She needs to go and get help.

'HELP!'

'HELP!'

But no matter how hard she tries to scream for the mercy of someone to go and help her, there was none. She wanted to rest but her situation is not letting her. 'God, help me!'

Seeing a clearing of the road right before her eyes, a flash of hope surge through her. Forcefully running towards the open highway, she stood in the middle of the road to find a car that would stop and help her, but none actually took the girl's begging and just drove off. Not wanting to have anything to do with her.

Eyes filled with tears as to that no one had helped her until she felt a tinge of dizziness to drown her head. Her eyes fluttered close and she collapsed on the pavement.

"If you hadn't been such a bad girl, this wouldn't have happened. This is your fault! You brought malice in this family! You have done nothing right the moment you were born. I wish you were the one who's gone." The voice said without any restrain towards his words.

Lucy's POV (Present time)

"Are you sure? I can drive home later if you want." Natsu asked for the nth time that morning. He started bugging me with that same question the moment we were done eating breakfast. I can't help but giggle when he keeps on asking. Strolling towards him, I assured his worrying soul. "I told you, I can take care of myself. No need to worry Pim." I hugged him to reassure my husband that I will be fine for the day. "I'll just call or mail you." Fixing his tie while saying that, I gave him a smile to reassure him more.

"I'll miss you." Pulling me closer, he whispered to my ear those words that left me smiling.

Tangling my arms on his waist, I leaned on his chest. "That is why I'll call you because I know you'll miss me." I said with a smile.

"Is that so? You won't miss me then?" Even if I can't see his face while hugging him, I know for a fact that his using his 'creased forehead' expression on me. This man loves to frown, while me, will lovingly straighten his creased forehead and will gladly turn that sexy frown upside down.

"No, because I know that by the end of the day, you'll be there when I get home. You'll be beside me when I sleep, when I hug you and kiss you, just like this!" I held his head between my palms and kissed him square on the lips.

Passionately moving our lips as we pleased. There he goes again, making me weak on the knees. He really is different from the other guys. I know it sounds cruel and wrong for me to say and compare Natsu to the others, but it is true, he is far more different than them. He is the only one who understands me.

"Pim." I was the one who pulled away not letting our first day of work be the first time of us being late. Especially me, pretty much my desk is flooding with paper works at this moment. "I really have to go. We still have a monthly meeting with the board of directors."

Natsu hugged me tightly in his arms, not wanting me to go. He sighed and patted my head. "Be nice to them. I know you, Lucy." He said that only made me stifle a laugh. He keeps repeating the same warning, 'Don't be too harsh on Angel.' But the real question is that if I could restrain myself from doing what I find amusing.

"Fine." With that, I walked away from him to get my bag and keys.

"Why don't we have lunch together? What do you think?" Natsu asked again when we were standing beside my car.

"I told you, we can't. We still have lots of work to do. Remember, we were absent for a week." Our vacation took longer than expected, it supposed to be only three days but, I just loved that island. I met so many people that lived there, and I saw how simple they lived their lives. There were happy being with each other's company where they helped one another. Jealousy filled my heart when I saw them. I didn't know that kind of relationship existed within people. The one where even though they are poor, they still managed to find ways to make their situation better. Their hands are always open for one another.

That is why I told myself that I will help them.

"Fine, fine. Let's just go home early, okay? No overtime." He said that I only nod. That is one of Natsu's childish antics, making me say yes in everything. He makes it harder for me to say no.

"Yeah yeah." I pecked him on the cheek to bid my goodbye before I drive off to work. I managed to wave my hand and completely drove away.

Third Person's POV

The moment Lucy stepped on the pavement of the HC where she works right now, you can feel the stinging eyes from the people around her. Why wouldn't they? Who wouldn't be captivated with her beauty? That perfectly applied makeup, her fitting corporate dress that hugged her body on the waist which was made by her personal stylist, and her favorite pair which is a chic platform pump in patent calf leather is distinguished by its sleek lines and graphic details, including an open toe, straight 6-inch stiletto heel and golden Louis Vuitton accessory at the back. What shocked the crowed more is how happy she looks with her dazzling… smile?

For the past months that she worked here in HC as their CEO, this is the only time employees see her smile. They don't even know why she's smiling from ear-to-ear. Should they be scared or happy of what they are seeing? It feels like something is up. Plus how everyone greeted which she also happily returned the gesture with a 'Good morning too.'

Is this a sign that the world is going to burn? They had known Lucy for quite some time now and she was known for her ice cold stare and emotionless face which why the employees feel alarmed that she is actually smiling for the very first time and is actually greeting them too.

It is also fine with her that people ride with her when she took the lift to her office. The moment they saw her enter, they were about to head out when Lucy asked them, "Why are you leaving? Don't you like to ride with me?" with a matching warm smile.

Mouths agape was the expression Lucy got when the people re-entered the elevator. They don't know what happened that is why they secretly took glances of their smiling CEO.

"Good morning. Am I late?" Lucy greeted the members of the board when she finally arrived at her destination.

"Oh! Hi there Sherry! Are you lost?" sarcasm filled Lucy's words as she greeted Sherry with a smile when she took noticed of the witch. 'Heh! Looks like Angel and Sherry are here. This'll be fun.' With a sly smile, she thought of ways to embarrass the two.

"No, unfortunately. I am here to represent my dad. He won't be able to attend this monthly meeting so I have to fill his place for him." With her explanation, Lucy only took no notice of what Sherry had said. Sherry was slightly embarrass by the way she talked to the wind. The furious girl gulped and lifted her head up to bring back her composure.

"Now that I'm here. Let's proceeded with the reports." Lucy said and with that, everyone took their seats where Lucy sat at the adjourning area of the table where Angel always wanted to sit when they hold up board meetings like this.

Only one word that could describe the position that can withstand that throne. Power. Meaning, the person has the capability to control everything. Whatever decision that person makes will always be heard and considered by everyone.

They started the agenda right away. Reports about their ongoing projects, capabilities of landowners, and the demands of the buyers.

Until they landed on Angel's topic.

"… This will be a good investment for us." She continued. She faced everyone with a head held high where she represent her presentation. To convince the board to approve her work. "Luxury ships will be bought by us to sail our guests to the island."

Lucy is just leaning back on her chair and is eagerly observing what Angel was saying while the other members only kept quiet on their opinions, waiting for Lucy to say something.

"I think her proposal is wonderful!" Sherry said, breaking the silenced room.

"Wonderful?" raising her eyebrow at the female, Lucy looked at Sherry's direction. Everyone's eyes landed on the female CEO. Everyone in the room knows how analytical Lucy can be that is why they're so amazed by her. She really is the daughter of Jude. Both are alike when it comes to thinking and is that sharp when it comes to business. "How can you define wonderful, Sherry? Do you know anything about the business?"

Sherry's eyes grew bigger and has the sign of being in distress. "O-of course! That is why dad sent me here. He knows what I'm capable of."

"Really?" Lucy leaned over, with her arms crossed on the table, seemingly interested on the topic. "What are those, if I may ask? Does it concern our company? Anything about developing a land? Do you know how to look for a property that if you develop and nurture it, someone would buy it from us greater than the amount you paid for it?"

"O-of course!"

A sly smile escaped Lucy's lips when she heard her say that. "Well then, if that is the case…" she prolonged, adding tension to the atmosphere. She relaxed and leaned on her chair again because she will be performing a show that would greatly amuse her.

"Help Angel and convince us."

"Hurry it up before the time runs out. I'll be giving you two, fifteen minutes to convince us." Lucy said with a smile, getting ready for the two to start their performance.

Minutes passed before Sherry walked up to the front beside Angel. Her steps were rugged as if her nervousness is taking over.

"I think… ummm… I-I think her proposal is a smart one. If we buy this land, develop it and sell it, we can earn millions." Sherry said, confidently when she said the last part. Sherry must have not known how to speak upfront. In order to speak with confidence, you have to make eye contact to your audience to make your point hit them and effectively convince them on the things that you want. Sherry on the other hand keeps avoiding Lucy's glance. Minus a point for that. What if this is just an impromptu defense? This is where your skills as a businessman takes place, convince your buyers about your proposal and be ready at all cost. Also, you have to be knowledgeable about the business that you are running.

"Millions." After that a nod came from the CEO. Lucy is making sure that this won't be easy for the two. If she have to make them both crawl inside a needle's hole, she'll do it. "Are we just after the profit of this land?"

"N-no. I mean… ummm..." Sherry's face was drenched in sweat from the questions Lucy had been throwing at her.

"So?" boredom was sprawled in the CEO's voice. "Go on, Sherry. All of us are listening."

"We can develop it and sell it to another company."

"Really?" Was Lucy's comeback when she saw a flaw, a major flaw. "How?"

"That is why we will develop it! We'll make it beautiful and sell! It can be a tourist attraction, we'll just make sure that it's rightly beautified!" Sherry felt the surge of anger and letting loose like that to Lucy only made it worse for she is now being embarrass in front of the people in the board room.

"Is it that simple, Sherry? Do you know how to think about the pros and cons?"

"Why are you grilling me?! I am not the one who came up with this idea!" anger rose from her voice when she spoke to the female CEO.

"I know. I just want you to know, Sherry that not just because you heard something 'wonderful' you'll agree to it right away. You need to think twice or even couple of times before giving out your compliment. This is not just a simple game about buying a land and developing it. Are you sure that you won't go bankrupt on this project? We all know that business is business, Sherry. It's not all about the profit being huge but you also have to think if you can earn the cash that you have spent on this project back. For what? You'll spend millions of dollars of a project that not even a penny came back was returned?"

"And you, Angel. Are you sure that that island is worth every cent we'll be spending? How much does it cost? Six hundred million dollars? That is only the land and you'll be willing to spend nearly a billion dollars just to buy a land alone? What about developing the land? Do you think if that land is not develop somebody is still willing to buy it from us when it costs you over a billion dollars?! That is why naturally you have to develop that land! And how much is your proposed cost for developing that? Three hundred million?! So all in all, we have to take out more or less two billion dollars from the company for your worthless piece of trash project!"

"Trash? You think this is trash Lucy?!" blood boiled from Angel's face from what Lucy had said about her project.

"Yes!" without even breaking a second glance, Lucy answered. "Know why? Simple. Where is that island located? That is the boundary between Fiore and Clost!"

"So? That is still Fiore's property base from what I read."

A sigh broke free from Lucy and she proceeded to speak again. "I know. What I'm saying is this. I'll make it simple so that both you and Sherry's puny little brains could understand. Let's put it this way, we developed the land, making it gorgeous as possible, and won't sell it. We'll be the ones managing the island, do you think it'll be popular with the tourists? When the facilities that you put there can already be seen in top vacation spots in the world. Think of something that is one of a kind that could attract people without it copying the other attractions from vacation spots, Angel. If Crocus is known as the blooming capital and Edolas as the city that never sleeps, what does that leaves us?" Lucy ended her long speech with a shut of her eyes.

"I think Miss Heartfilia is right. We need to show people what it has for investors to buy the island from us or better yet for us to benefit from." Is what Mr. Yajima said following Lucy's speech.

"Yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking." Said Mr. Neekis.

With that, the board of directors' room was bombarded with opinions of different sorts from what Lucy had said earlier.

Angel and Sherry stood motionless from anger upfront of the people that criticized Angel's project while Lucy was silently smiling to herself, looking at them. Yet again, she won this battle, everyone's favor was on her.

Even if she wanted to ease up on the two that stood upfront, she still doesn't want to do it. What is she? Stupid? That is what brought her into this world, to fight the ones she hates the most which is:

Angel, Sherry, and Minerva.

A/N: Thank you for reading Chapter 3! I hope you guys liked it! Leave a favorite or a review to let me know what you guys think of this! :D