The Kiss that Sparked it All

That small fraction of shareholders couldn’t sway Nolan’s decisions.

Especially those who had marched step by step through the trenches with Nolan to build the empire that was the Harris Group chose to follow him unconditionally.

They trusted their CEO’s vision and foresight. They believed whatever Nolan saw was surely beyond their grasp. All they needed to do was march behind him.

Besides, if it were truly a misstep, then why were all the real estate tycoons vying for that piece of land? This is property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

From the moment they bid on the project, their confidence was sky-high. Nolan didn’t overthink it. He simply saw profitability in the project, and the Harris Group couldn’t just box itself into the high-tech sector forever.

After spending so much time in the tech world, he felt an itch to diversify, to step out of his comfort zone.

Ambitious and not yet thirty, Nolan was still expanding his business horizons.

Marriage? That was not even on his radar.

That drifter, come nightfall, wandered the streets with his tattered sack.

Regina, lugging all her belongings, trailed behind him. She wanted to see where the man would settle down for the night.

The others glanced at her wild-eyed determination, clicked their tongues, and shook the heads. “Typical rookie energy. Reminds me of my early days, but it’s long gone now.”

“Don’t get me started. If I weren’t assigned to this gig, I’d be snug in a hotel room, not ou here in the boonies. It’s only the crowd that makes this bearable. But this girl, solo? She got guts.”

Another journalist slurped his instant noodles and chimed in, “Why else but for the story? To endure and land the scoop. I had that drive once, but not anymore. For peanuts a month, why bust my back?”

“Man, you’re making me consider a career change.”

The two seasoned reporters shared a knowing chuckle and went back to their grub.

Regina’s legs grew weary following the drifter, yet he showed no sign of stopping.

She quickened her pace, stepped in front of him, and saw his vacant eyes, mechanically moving as if on autopilot.

Regina planted herself in his path. “It’s getting late. Where do you think you’re going? It’s dangerous out there with no one around. Why don’t you rest with us for a while?”

But the man didn’t spare her a glance, continuing to carry his bag, almost bumping into Regina, who had to step aside. “Hey, what’s gotten into you?”

Perhaps seeing a bit of their younger selves in Regina, the older reporters warmly beckoned her over,

“Come back and have some food, young lady. It gets cold out here at night. You can’t keep this up. You’re too young. You haven’t gotten through to this guy yet, so he won’t open up no matter what you ask.”

Regina watched the man’s retreating figure with concern. “Is he going to be alright, just wandering like that?”

One of the veterans waved it off. “Hey, before we showed up, didn’t someone report he’s been roaming for days? Nothing happened then, and with all of us here, nothing will happen now.”

“Better fill up on something warm while you can. A girl like you, how could your folks bear to let you out here?”

Regina reluctantly joined her colleagues, her gaze lingering on the solitary figure disappearing into the urban maze.