Lovers Curse: The Ring of Amun-Ra Series - A Romance Fantasy: The Ring of Amun-Ra, #1

By Ava Kane

Collin Abbott knew that taking over his family's business empire would be hard and it will take a lot of hard work and determination to keep it going, but he never thought that it would also mean his life.

When Collin took over the Abbott Empire, he was bent on living up to his father's expectations and his ancestors before him. He was orphaned when he was just ten and the only family he knew was his father's associates who taught him the ropes in taking over the business. On his first day, he already escaped death twice and both times, he was saved by this mysterious woman with beautiful eyes, Lila.

From then on, he was taken on this world wind adventure of finding the Ring of Amun-Ra, which was later on revealed to him as the whole reason why his life was in danger and the only thing that could prevent a horrible event. An event that was bigger than him, than Lila, his protectors, and his pursuers. Then, more unprecedented turn of events started happening to him and Lila that will take them further than they’ve ever gone before.

This journey will shape their lives and their future, most importantly, their past and the whole of man’s existence. It will also make them realize their love for each other as they go through every difficulty and struggle throughout their search for the one ring that could save them.

Will Collin and Lila withstand the tests beset before them?

Will Collin fully accept who he is and what his family is all about?

Will Lila get her revenge and get the love she’s been waiting for all these years?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ava Kane
• Release date: Jan 21, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524295837

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Lover's Curse Copyright © 2015 by Ava Kane.

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Fantasy is hardly an escape from reality, it’s a way to understand it.

- Lloyd Alexander

Collin Abbott

February 15th

I have to run faster or else they’re going to catch up. Where is she anyway? I make my way out of the kitchen and through the gardens. I can’t seem to stop my heart from beating too fast. I wonder if they can hear it.

Thud-thud-thud! Thud-thud-thud!

On and on. The pounding in my chest has not stopped since they arrived. Well, actually, since she arrived.

I sit on the soft grass beneath my feet, careful not to show my form to anyone who is looking for me. I crouch down to the ground some more, until I’m totally flat on the grass. How much longer should I wait? Is she even coming back? Maybe she left me and decided to just run away and leave me to deal with these thugs. No, she couldn’t have. She swore to be my protector, and what good would her oath be if she runs away now?

I hear a pair of footsteps near the place I am hidden. Oh no, don’t let them see you. I don’t even want to breathe in fear that they might feel the sudden shift in the air once my breath comes out.

The footsteps move forward, towards the gate of the garden. I purposely left it open earlier so they would think I had gone there. As the footsteps recede, I let out a sigh of relief.

Oh, how did I get myself in this mess! I could’ve been on some sandy beach, enjoying my wine, scotch, whatever. But no, here I am, shivering in the cold night, blinded by the darkness and waiting for a woman to save me. Ha! What a predicament. To think that I need saving, and from a woman, nonetheless.

I remember the day we first met.

A week ago...

Mr. Abbott, right this way, please. John, the company-appointed bodyguard, led me to the elevator that would take me straight to the top floor of the building. I’d been here before, several times, with my father. This was the third Abbott building constructed in the city, and I chose this particular one to be my office because this was my father’s office when he sat at the head of the enterprise. I also liked it because I could look straight down at Central Park. I liked running in the evenings, and having the park just within reach was very convenient for me.

Thank you, John. I should be okay. You can check with the other personnel to let them know that I’m already here, I said to John, nodding to him as I entered the big elevator and the doors started to close. Then, suddenly, a woman knocked John out of the way as he was going through the doors to the main lobby. She zipped past him and entered the elevator at such great speed that I didn’t even notice she was there beside me as the doors closed. She pressed the stop button as she came in, so we were at a standstill.

Whoa! What the hell! I was so surprised at her entrance that my instincts were to berate her and order her out of the elevator. Who the hell are you? And why the hell did you come barging in here?! I was beginning to get angry at her intrusion when she looked toward me, straight-faced and all serious-looking.

Mr. Abbott, she started, as I surveyed her face for the first time. The elevator was brightly lit, so I could see every detail of her face, from her long, black hair that cascaded down her back in curls, to her dark and deep-set eyes. I’d seen eyes like that before. They were similar to those I saw in my trips abroad. Women who wore hijabs as part of their everyday clothing could be found in the Middle East and Egypt, and I’d been to both countries several times as part of my business training. Many of the women there had very mysterious and beautiful eyes, and covering their faces with a piece of fine cloth only brought out their beauty even more.

I tore my gaze from her eyes and asked pointedly, What do you want? Are you a reporter? I can have you escorted out of the building or you can leave on your own accord. Either way, you need to explain yourself and get out of my elevator. I stared at her coldly.

You don’t need to have me escorted, I can find my own way out, but I have an urgent message for you. I can’t tell you here, too many ears. Meet me here. She handed me a piece of paper and opened the elevator doors again. And Mr. Abbott, make sure to come. Your life is in danger at this very moment. You need to know many things. She exited the same way she had come in, as John was recovering from her assault earlier.

What the hell just happened? I was asking myself more than anybody else, but John apologized to me for not seeing the woman and for getting the wind knocked out of him. To be honest, I was impressed by the mysterious woman. John was by no means small; he had massive shoulders and stood well over six feet, just like me, but she ran by him like he was a scrawny high school kid. She didn’t even reach my chin when we were facing each other.

That’s alright, John. I was just surprised at how she got here so quickly and who she was. Anyway, get that checked John. You took quite a fall. I’ll be up in my office for the rest of the day. I reached the top floor and surveyed my office.

Finally, I’m here, I said out loud to myself.

I remembered my father. I had lots of memories with him while growing up. The fondest ones I had with him were mostly the summer vacations where we went to our ancestral home in London. I’d been gone for fifteen years, away from the public eye, away from the responsibilities of taking care of the company, but I was thoroughly briefed and taught the skills I needed for my future stake at the head of the empire my great-grandfather had built.

These walls were the same walls my dad was surrounded with when he was still alive. I remembered playing and running around this office. Its double doors were the same shiny mahogany and the wooden floors were just as immaculate as when my father was still here. I used to sneak up on him from behind his desk and leap into his lap when I was little. And no matter how busy or preoccupied he was, he always had a smile for me.

I looked out at the park and the people below, and then I remembered the piece of paper the woman had given me. Didn’t she have a phone so she could just call me or text me the location? I got more intrigued by her because of her veiled message. Who could she be?

I recalled her features and her clothing, and I felt like I’d seen her before, but I just couldn’t pinpoint where. She had long, raven-black hair, and her eyes were an intense mix of colors. The most I could remember about her eyes is they seemed at first green but were mixed with bluish hues as well. I shook my head, because I couldn’t get over how beautiful and captivating her eyes were, like the Egyptian women I’d met before, and hers also held something sad and painful. I didn’t know if it was just because I saw her up close or maybe the light playing tricks on my eyes that led me to believe that she looked sad.

I unfurled the piece of paper, and there were stark black words written in careful cursive writing. They read,

The Guitar Case, 1 AM. Come alone and watch your back.

Well, that was very informative, I spoke into the empty room. I knew the Guitar Case, a small café slash nightclub in one of the streets near Soho. I wondered what could possibly be there at one in the morning. I folded it back and kept it at my breast pocket. I pushed what had happened to me that morning to the back of my mind, because there were more pressing things to do that day. I was going to meet the board, all of them, for the first time, to officially place me as the CEO and owner of the string of companies under Abbott Holdings.

I was happy. It was a good day for me, even though the day was not yet over. I had been preparing for this day since I was young, since my father died. I’d wanted it to come sooner, of course, but my guardians, two of my father’s most trusted associates and also members of the board, warned me that I must complete my learnings first and not rush into taking over. Mr. Knot and Mr. Horace advised me that the company was doing well and that they had appointed pertinent and hard-working employees to take care of the business.

From the reports that they showed me every year, the business had managed to stand its ground even after all the years of recession in the economy and the fall of the consumer markets. And as of this year, the business had grown by 30% of its revenue over last year’s, which was a good turnout. This made me all the more nervous about taking over. I mean, what if I didn’t deliver? What if I failed? What would my dad say?

I had dealt with these issues all my life, always wondering what my dad would say whenever I did a task, but I had come to realize as of late that I must not live under my father’s shadow. I had to make a name for myself, and not because I was the heir to the empire. I wanted to prove myself to people, to my employees, and to the board. I wanted to show them that I had the capabilities to lead, and that I was the right person for the job.

As I contemplated on what I should say during the meeting later on that day, the phone on the table rang. I picked it up instinctively, forgetting that my line was an unregistered number and only a handful of people knew that number. Yes, Abbott here, I said, as I continued typing on my laptop.

Mr. Abbott, eh? Well, it’s been a long time. The voice was a deep male baritone, and it had a weird sound to it, a kind of grating. The man had an accent, maybe some kind of Middle Eastern, or a variation of that. I hope that you found your office satisfactory? the voice asked.

Who are you? I asked, sounding irritated. I’d had my share of weirdness and strange people for the day, which was why I had no more patience for secrecy or mystery. I still had to make many calls and attend several meetings. I could not be derailed by these strangers. How did you get this number? He wasn’t responding, but I could hear his raspy breath near the phone’s receiver, like he was catching his breath or it was taking too much effort for him to talk.

Don’t worry Mr. Abbott. We shall meet soon. Since then, I will be looking out for your progress. He clicked off, and I was left wondering who the hell that guy was. I’d had two strange events that day so far, and it was only my first day in the office.

Hmm, not bad for a first day, I scoffed, going back to editing my speeches and going over the numbers for that quarter. I had to make a compelling pep talk for the employees to trust me. I wanted to make a good impression and gain their undivided trust. My father always told me that, People are important, no matter what their stations are or if they’re your subordinates or your bosses, because when people come together, there is nothing they cannot do.

The day went on as planned. I had an efficient secretary who guided me through the whole itinerary for the day. I also visited the other three offices in the city, and I scheduled a visit to other branches in the state.

That was a great speech today, Collin! Tony, one of the board members, told me as we were piling out of the conference room.

Well, thank you, Tony. Thank you for trusting me to take over. It’s a great honor to be taking up this torch. I shook his hand and noticed from his expression that he wanted to tell me something more, but decided not to.

You are the right person for this job, Collin. It feels like now, your family’s legacy will truly live on. If only...Nah, forget it, these are good times. He walked away, and I couldn’t help but feel that he was not telling me everything.

I decided to just ignore what I’d been seeing and hearing all day. It was a much-unexpected day, but, otherwise, it ended okay.

I decided to have a short run around the park before heading to my apartment building, so I had my sweats on and was minding my own business when a homeless guy came out of nowhere and knocked me over. It was dark in the park, and I was making my way towards the clearing from the thick trees. I didn’t see him. One moment I was running, the next thing I knew, I was on the