"James, take off your watch for me. I'll exchange it for a roasted whole lamb. Every day, I’ve been eating instant noodles that make me sick."

My heart shook. This bastard really had his eyes on my watch.

"Don't you have one yourself? Why are you using mine?"

Otto was clearly furious at my words. He then stepped forward and grabbed my collar.

"This watch is my lucky charm. Since I wore it, I’ve always been blessed by good fortune. How can it compare with your lousy watch?"

I couldn’t help but slap his hand away.

"Just because it's your lucky charm, so what does that have to do with me? If you want the roasted lamb, exchange it for your own watch!"

As both Otto and I argued, Yvette and her men came over. She reached out her hand to me, her voice cold.

"Just give your watch!"

Yvette was the leader of our Foreign Trade Cooperation department. Since she supported Otto, rumored to have close ties with the boss, the others followed her. They were glaring at me with hostile eyes.

I knew it was foolish to fight them right now, so I swallowed my anger and explained.

"This is my watch, so I have the right … "

"How can you be so egoistic? It’s late. For days, all of us have been hungry. What’s wrong with exchanging your watch for food?"

Before I finished, Otto cut me off as if he were a knight in shining armor.

"These are unusual times. Everyone must show selflessness. How can you let all of us starve just because of a watch?"

The others chimed in after him.

"Everyone knows you come from a rich family. A watch means nothing to you. Why are you acting so stingy?"

"He’s the very picture of a rich, heartless man. In his eyes, all our lives together aren’t worth that lousy watch of his."

"If someone so stingy becomes a boss one day, his workers will surely suffer."

***

These fools were right. I really was their future CEO. To help me learn more about the company, my father let me join the Foreign Trade Cooperation team as an intern. This trip to Ukraine was both a trade deal and a secret test.

The people in this team were all young talents my father thought had great promise. He knew the rule of a new CEO came with new higher-ups. Just before handing over power, he set up this test so I could choose the people I would trust.

Yet, the outcome was truly disappointing. Since I refused to hand over my watch, they gathered under Yvette’s order and surrounded me.

"Since he’s got no shame, take off his watch by force!"

Under Yvette’s order, those people ran towards me to take off my watch. I stood up and shouted, "Stop! I’m your future CEO. I’m the next CEO of Blackmoore Corporation. If you dare touch me, you’ll regret it!"

Before I could continue, Otto stopped me. He kicked me down, stepping on my face. He looked angry.

"You fucking asshole, how dare you pretend to be Blackmoore Corporation’s successor? I’ll kill you with my kicks!"

Yvette then crouched down, showing a sneer.

"James, how dare you lie so boldly just to protect that lousy watch?"

"Don’t you know the future of Blackmoore Corporation is named Blackmoore? How could someone like you be the successor?"

"The real successor of Blackmoore Corporation should be … "

Just when she tried to direct her finger at Otto, he cut her off by showing a proud face.

"Keep it low, keep it low!"

Before, everyone had only guessed. But after they heard us talking, those people ran forward to grab me as they started to flatter Otto.

"No wonder I felt Otto was special the moment I saw him. It turns out that he’s the future CEO of the Blackmoore Corporation!"

"Even though Otto stays low-key, you can’t hide such a strong charisma. He’s really not an ordinary man!"

***

When I saw Otto’s proud face, anger rushed through me.

"How can he be called the future CEO of Blackmoore Corporation? I’m the real one-ah!"

Before I could even finish, Otto pressed his foot down hard on my neck.

He leaned close to my ear, his voice low and threatening.

"James, use your brain! If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll kill you."

"There’s already a war here. I’ll just say the rebels killed you. Nobody will question it."

When I looked into his cruel eyes, I knew Otto really could do it. And judging by the way everyone now looked at him, they would probably side with him, too. For the sake of living, I could only stay silent.

Only when I stopped struggling did Otto finally lift his foot from my neck. He grabbed my watch, shook it proudly in his hand and looked around at the group.

"Everyone, let’s go! I’ll treat you to a good meal."

"This watch can buy several whole roasted lambs from the people here."

Under Otto’s shout, the crowd followed him. Then, they left me lying alone on the cold, hard ground. Meanwhile, Yvette walked over. Her face was full of disgust as she pulled me to get up.

"I’m ashamed of being a girlfriend to someone like you. You’re stingy, fake and you even dare to say you’re the future CEO of the Blackmoore Family. What a joke!"

I pushed away her hand, forced myself to stand and looked at her coldly.

"Yvette, let’s end our relationship here. Besides, you’ve got no interest in me at all."

"What nonsense are you talking about? They just wanted some food. Who told you to be so selfish and unwilling to share?"

"You’re breaking up with me just after saying a few words? Are you done acting up?"

Was I really acting up? I had almost been choked to death. Instead of helping me, Yvette had stood with the one who hurt me instead. I ended up heartbroken, so I broke up with her. However, she still said I was just playing around.

It turned out that the old saying was right. When you were with someone who didn’t hold you in their heart, all your feelings and actions were nothing but nonsense.

"Yvette, we’re not the same type of people. Breaking up is the best choice."

Both Yvette and I were once envied by others a long time ago. In the past, I faced a drunken thug with a knife. She stood in front of me bravely, scolding him and taking a strike meant to kill.

Another time, I was in a drinking contest with my sworn enemy. Yvette helped me by drinking eighteen cups in my place, letting me win. However, she drank so much that she bled from her stomach.

But all of that ended the moment Otto appeared.

After Otto returned, Yvette’s eyes no longer rested on me. I heard that they had all grown up in the slums together, facing hardships side by side. In fact, Otto had even once saved Yvette’s life. They had been together before, but their relationship ended when Otto went to the Middle East to find work.

A year ago, Otto returned to the US out of nowhere. He then joined the Blackmoore Corporation. He even openly and secretly promoted himself as the Blackmoore Family’s heir. The long-awaited reunion between Otto and Yvette quickly reignited their feelings. So, I saw everything with my own eyes.

Yet, I had refused to admit it. I convinced myself that Yvette still loved me. It wasn’t until what just happened that I finally understood. When a woman’s heart has changed, there was no way to change it back.

By now, everything was over.

For now, the most important thing was to leave this dangerous place. As for Yvette, I decided to let her go. While Otto’s group wasn’t back yet, I went inside and quickly packed my things before slipping away. Yvette ran after me, calling me. But I ignored her.

For a while, I realized that nobody chased me anymore after walking. I finally breathed in relief. Then, I approached a red-bearded Ukrainian and spoke to him in his language, saying I wanted to trade my gold pendant for US dollars.

The red-bearded man brought me to a corner of the street. Just as I pulled out the gold pendant to exchange, a hand suddenly grabbed it from behind. When I turned, it was Otto.

Yvette was right behind him, her face smug.

"Otto, I told you something was wrong because I followed him secretly. I was right. He was hiding something valuable."

"Give me back my gold pendant!"

I stretched out my hand to Otto, staring hard at him with my burning eyes.

Otto looked down on me with eyes full of disdain.

"When the pendant is in my hand, it’s mine. Why should I give it back?"

This gold pendant was my last hope of escape. I had to get it back. So, I lunged at him, grabbed his hand and tried to force the gold pendant out of his hands.

I pushed Otto hard. He then fell to the ground. I struggled to open his fingers to get my pendant back.

Just as I was about to succeed, Yvette shouted to the others, "Why are you still standing there? Go help him!"

At her command, the group rushed at me and pinned me down. Otto slapped me across the face. Soon, a salty, bloody taste spread in my mouth. Staring at this beast who had tormented me again and again, I wished I could tear him apart.

But the fear of death pressed down harder than my anger, so I begged Otto in a low voice.

"Otto, we have no grudge between us. Why do you treat me like this?"

"Please, give me back my gold pendant. I only want to trade it for money and leave here."

Otto sneered and whispered into my ear, "Don’t blame me. Blame yourself for blocking my path. You’re very useful to me."

Then, he ordered his lackeys, "Strip him and check if he’s hiding anything else."

"If he is, we’ll sell it all and take the money to the black market. Tonight we’ll enjoy ourselves together."

It was minus ten degrees Celsius in Ukraine. If they stripped me naked, I would freeze to death. I struggled against their grip and shouted, "I’m the future CEO of Blackmoore Corporation! If you hurt me, my father won’t let you go!"

Hearing me claim the Blackmoore future CEO title again, Otto’s face turned dark.

He shouted an order, "Strip him naked and tie him to a tree! Let’s see if he dares talk nonsense again!"

I fought with all my strength, but I couldn’t break free. They tore off my clothes and bound me tightly to a freezing tree trunk. The cold wind bit into me, making my teeth chatter and my whole body shake.

Otto smirked with evil delight.

"Everyone, listen well. I’m the true future CEO of Blackmoore Corporation. I’m your real future boss."

"Now, each of you will pour a bucket of water over this fake future CEO. When you come back to the US, I promise you that all of you will get promotions!"

Hearing the promise of promotion, the lackeys immediately rushed to find water. Soon, one of them returned with a full bucket. Otto took it with a twisted smile and poured it all over me with a loud splash.

"Ah!"

The splash of water stabbed into me like icy needles. It felt as if my insides froze in an instant. The water quickly turned to ice, locking me in place. I couldn’t breathe, as though death was only a moment away.

Just as they raised the buckets to pour more water on me, a squad of armed Ukrainian soldiers surrounded us.

The bald Ukrainian leader shouted, "Stop!"