Chapter 3 03

03

I sighed before opening my eyes. I don't want to lead a company yet. Honestly, I had no idea how. So many people would depend on me and the choices I made for them. But how do I make the right ones?

I mean, some would think it was great. Everyone thinks leading a company is like learning to ride a bike. You fall once or twice, scrape your knee, then suddenly you're balancing perfectly and zooming past everyone. But it's not. There's no helmet big enough to protect me from the kind of falls I'm worried about. I don't know if I can lead a company on my own. My dad's little time spent on training me probably can't help me in the next few days. Hell, it barely helped me when he was still around.

"I know, Adam," I sighed. "Right now, I need a good sleep and after that I promise I'll deal with all that shit." I said and closed my eyes, letting the hum of the car lull me into a brief, broken silence.

As we arrived at our house, Adam immediately opened the door and I climbed out of the car. I didn't even wait for him to follow. I was too mentally drained to pretend like I was okay.

I went straight to my room, tossed my phone onto the bedside table, and stripped off my clothes like they were made of heavy regret. I walked directly to the bathroom, turned on the tap, and began filling the tub with warm water. I grabbed a few bottles-maybe it was lavender, maybe mint, hell, maybe even bubblegum-and poured them in without caring what was what. I didn't need a spa experience. I just needed to feel human again.

The water welcomed me like an old friend. I submerged quickly, letting the warmth swallow me whole. For the first time all day, I closed my eyes and felt... okay. Just okay. But that was enough.

It helped. A little.

So I shall be a company's leader tomorrow. I did see it coming, but I wasn't ready yet. Dealing with money and properties is not an easy task. It's not just numbers. It's people. It's pressure. It's walking into rooms filled with men who think they can tear you apart just because they've been doing it longer than you. And maybe they can. But not forever.

But I can learn, right? I'm sure all those years in Harvard can be put to use. Otherwise, what the hell was all that stress for?

So yeah, I am Alexander McKinley.

Welcome to my life.

I am 25 years old. I have one sister and her name is Katie. She's very happy with her current boyfriend, David. The way she looks at him makes me feel things I don't say out loud. Hope, maybe. Longing. A tiny bit of jealousy, maybe-but in a good way. I want that kind of love. That laugh-at-inside-jokes, kiss-in-the-kitchen kind of love.

Me? I'm single. I don't have time to have romance in my life, especially now that I have to take care of the company. And I'm gay, making it a lot more harder. I discovered I was gay when I was just 13 years old. Well, I don't really remember how, but I just realized that I am gay and I like boys. It wasn't a lightbulb moment. It was more like fog clearing over time.

My family was fine with it, and I could care less about everybody else bitching about it. Seriously, if someone doesn't like who I am, that's their problem. I've got bigger things to worry about-like board meetings and company assets and pretending I have my shit together.

But still, I just hope I find someone for me. And despite all the stress that's inevitably going to arrive, a part of me still hopes I get to meet someone someday who will just sweep me right off my feet and make me happy for the rest of my life. You know, the type who brings me coffee without asking and doesn't flinch when I ramble about quarterly returns or late-night insecurities.

Moments after my bath, I got out of the tub and dried myself off. I changed into my underwear and quickly buried myself under the covers. My bed-oh God, my bed-was a literal cloud sent from heaven. It's so soft. Like really, I might marry my bed someday. Screw soulmates. This mattress gets me.

With a content sigh, I closed my eyes and hoped that tomorrow would turn out fine.

When I woke up, I knew my life was about to change.

The moment I stepped out of bed, there was this weird stillness in the air. It wasn't calm. It was the kind of quiet that comes right before a storm. I showered quickly, pulled on a freshly pressed navy-blue suit, and tied my tie three times before it sat just right. I don't know why I bothered so much. Maybe I just wanted to look like I belonged.

As I rode the elevator up to the top floor of McKinley Enterprises, my heart thudded against my ribs like it wanted to escape. I tried to steady my breathing. This was it. The moment the elevator dinged and the doors opened, I stepped out and knew the new chapter of my life was about to begin.

The receptionist looked up. "Good morning, Mr. McKinley," she said with a polished smile. Her voice was calm, rehearsed, like this was just another day. I guess it was. For her.

I forced a polite smile and nodded. "Morning."

The office space was bright, glass walls and sleek furniture. It had my dad's touch all over it-orderly, grand, a little cold. I walked past familiar faces, all of them giving me those unreadable expressions. Some were probably curious. Some skeptical. Maybe a few supportive. But all of them waiting to see if I'd sink or swim.

When I finally reached my office-the one with the ridiculous view of the city-I hesitated for a second before turning the handle. Inside, everything was the same. Nothing changed since the last time I was here with him. His chair. His scent. His unfinished files stacked in a perfectly neat pile.

I sat down and stared at the skyline. I tried to imagine what he would say right now.

"Don't let them eat you alive, Alex."

I could almost hear him. But I was alone. And now, it was all mine.

I placed my hands on the desk and took a deep breath.

Here we go.

I was no longer just Alexander McKinley, the Harvard graduate, the son, the gay guy with a taste for quiet evenings and caramel coffee. I was Alexander McKinley, CEO.

And whether I liked it or not, the world was watching.