The Memory Keeper: The Sin In Our Name

Khai's POV

One Friday morning. Ugh, Fridays. They're supposed to feel lighter, closer to freedom, but for me? Fridays are hell. Meetings after meetings, endless site visits, stacks of paperwork taller than me, and the cherry on top: stockholder meetings.

It's in these moments, these godforsaken Fridays, that I question every decision I've ever made. Why did I ever agree to carry this weight? To step into these polished shoes, ones that pinched more than they fit?

Here I am, chained to this life. Power? Sure, I have it. But freedom? Not so much. Sometimes I wonder, is this what greatness looks like? Or am I just a puppet dancing on strings I never agreed to hold?

I glanced at my phone and sighed. Another meeting in ten minutes. Fridays. Just another day in the life of Khai Stanton.

Khai's POV

Three hours. Three agonizing hours in that boardroom meeting. By the time I finally escaped, my stomach was practically screaming in protest. I slumped into my chair, barely able to savor the temporary silence when-of course-Tanaka bolted into my office like a whirlwind.

"Khai, profit margin meeting in 15 minutes," she announced, clipboard in hand and her usual efficiency plastered across her face.

I groaned, dropping my head against the back of my chair. Of course. Another one. Fridays just never stop giving. "Ugh, yes, I'll be there in 10," I grumbled, waving her off weakly. "And Tanaka, would you mind grabbing a sandwich for me from the pantry? It's already 4:45 PM, and I haven't even had lunch yet."

She nodded, a flicker of sympathy flashing in her eyes, and closed the door behind her.

I let out a long sigh, rubbing my temples. This day was relentless. My stomach growled again, reminding me of its rebellion, but I could only chuckle bitterly to myself. Running an empire was glamorous on paper, but in reality? It was 4:45 PM sandwiches and meetings that never ended.

"Great power, huh?" I muttered under my breath, pulling out the profit margin report. Time to prep for yet another round of figures and corporate jargon. Fridays. What a joke.

Rain's POV

The Marketing team was in overdrive today, and I could feel my brain slowly raising the white flag. Meetings after meetings, proposals that needed to be polished to a shine, marketing plans that somehow all sounded the same by the end of the day-it was enough to make anyone reconsider their career choices.

While I was mid-spiral, half-dreaming of running away to open a quiet bookstore somewhere, a stack of documents landed in front of me with an unapologetic thud. Of course, my curiosity kicked in before my frustration could, and my eyes caught the name plastered on the top: Khalia H. Stanton.

VP of Finance. VP of Marketing. VP of Everything That Matters, apparently.

I blinked. Hold on a second...

"Wait, what?!" I whispered to myself, scanning the paper as if it would suddenly start singing Broadway show tunes to explain itself. The daughter of the CEO-yes, that CEO-was over my department?

Somehow, I had missed this tiny, insignificant detail when I took the job. How had nobody mentioned I was working under corporate royalty? The name sounded like it belonged to someone who walked into boardrooms with lightning in her veins and crushed dissent with a single arched brow.

"Well," I muttered, leaning back in my chair and crossing my arms. "Whoever this Khalia H. Stanton is, she's clearly a force to be reckoned with."

The papers stared back at me, daring me to comment further. But instead, I smirked. Challenge accepted, oh Queen of Everything Important. Let's see if you're all bark or bite.