Back at the mansion, Luna had patiently listened to Jasper's press conference, and she admired not only his courage and brave composure but also his tall, handsome nature. She loved his masculine build, and she wished he would just be a husband to her rather than a cold, detached human. She had also followed up with the online community and what people said. She was glad everything went well, but she was still not satisfied. She waited patiently for his return.Jasper arrived home late in the evening; his tie was loosened, and he placed his suit jacket around his neck. He was exhausted from the day's activities. He slowly walked upstairs and walked towards his room. As he walked past the sunroom, he noticed the door was open. “Who could be up at this time of the night?” He pondered as he walked into the room.“You're up late." "I wanted to hear how it went,” Luna replied as she put down the book she pretended to be reading on the table.“Well, you probably already know. The press con
Harriet sat in Jasper’s office as she placed a call across to Mr. Wilson's assistant. She needed to set up a meeting for Jasper as soon as possible. Once Wilson's PA picked up the call, Harriet set it on loudspeaker so Jasper could hear their conversation.“Hello, I'm Harriet, the Chief Strategy Officer at Maksoft Technology Company.”"Hello Harriet, I'm Caroline. How may I help you today?“My boss, Mr. Jasper, would love to have a meeting with your boss; please could you arrange for that? It's very urgent.”"Oh. I'm sorry, Harriet, but my boss is pretty occupied today. He won't be taking any more appointments today.”"You know what? Just forget the formalities. My boss really needs to see Mr. Jack; it's very urgent. Please help him out, I beg of you," Harriet pleaded over the phone."I–I understand, but... there's nothing I can do. He's. He's currently not at the office. Please bear with me.” Caroline stammered over the phone, it was clear she was lying, and someone was telling her w
Jasper walked out of Jack's office feeling a bit relieved. They've been partners for God knows how long, and he wouldn't let Gregor get a hold of him just like that. He had to move fast and get results too. “I need a miracle," he mumbled as he walked to his car. Luke, as usual, followed from behind.That evening, Jasper returned home looking tired. By now, he was used to the fact that Luna always sat in the sunroom at that time. He paused at the door, peeped through the slightly opened door, and found her writing down something on paper. “What could she be doing?" He got curious and stepped into the room.“And what are you drafting out this time?" he asked in a calm tone. Luna raised her head, looking a bit startled; she hadn't noticed him walking in. “You're back. Welcome, Jasper. I've been working on something special; why don't you take a look?" She said as she handed him a folder.Jasper hesitated a bit before collecting the folder from Luna's hand; he wondered what could be insid
Later that evening, Jasper sat in the living room while he scrolled through his tablet. A moment later, Sophia returned from a shopping trip she had earlier gone on with friends. Ariel helped take her luggage upstairs as she sat elegantly on the sofa opposite where Jasper sat.“Welcome, mum." Jasper greeted her nonchalantly without lifting his head from his tablet.“Thank you, my son," Sophia replied.“Can I get a cup of coffee?" She asked as Ariel made to leave.“Sure Ma. I'll get it right away." Ariel replied, walking briskly to the kitchen. She came back, carrying a tray containing a cup of coffee. “Here you go, Ma,” she said as she set the tray on a stool beside Sophia.Sophia nodded slightly, lifted the cup, and sipped from it as her eyes swept across the room.Turning to Jasper, she broke the silence. “I hear your so-called wife has been meddling in business matters.”“Luna isn't meddling. She's helping." Jasper replied calmly without lifting his head." Helping? Urgh!” She scof
Two days later, Jasper was awoken by the ringtone from his phone. He stretched a bit before staring at the caller ID. It was Harriet."What could be the problem?" he mumbled as he picked up the call."We did it!” Harriet screamed from the other end; she couldn't contain her joy."Good morning. Slow down, Harriet. We did what?" Jasper asked, looking a bit confused.“Oh, my bad. Good morning, sir. The audit reports are out, it's all over the news, sir, and the online community is in our favor. I'm so happy right now.”“Alright, I'll check right away," Jasper replied and hung up. He quickly checked the internet, and the headlines were nothing but good news. The headlines read:“Busted. Audit reports are out. Maksoft Technology Company is trustworthy.”"They were all lies. Maksoft Technology Company passed the test.”“The audit reports have said it all. Maksoft Technology Company is free from all allegations."Jasper couldn't help but smile at the news. This is just the beginning, Gregor.
Jasper followed behind as Luna led the way. She walked with a determined gait. “What gift could she possibly have for me?” He pondered as she opened the door leading into the sunroom.The sunroom shimmered with the soft glow of evening light filtering through the tall, arched windows. Luna walked forward and stood beside a large rectangular object that was covered with a white cloth. Her hands nervously clasped in front of her. She had rehearsed this moment in her mind a million times, yet her pulse raced.Jasper entered after her. His gaze swept over her, lingering briefly, before moving to the large, cloth-draped object beside her.“What do you have there?” He asked, with a little smile tugging at the corners of his lip.“It's…uhmm…I…uhmm..” Luna stammered. She was suddenly overcome by nerves. She looked at Jasper. He was quiet. His silence was egging her on to continue. “For …..uhmm…everything you’ve accomplished.” she said, her fingers clasping and unclasping. “You’ve achieved s
As Jasper walked briskly from the sunroom to his study, he ruminated over everything that had happened in the last hour. He thought about Luna, her gift to him and the way her face fell when he rejected her gift.Unfortunately, he could not dwell on those thoughts for long because of Evans’ call. A frantic call from Evans meant only one thing- Bad news. “Imagine being tossed into another war, after just recently surviving the last one.” He thought to himself. As he entered the study and shut the door, his phone rang. “Hello Evans. What's up?” Jasper inquired with hitched breath.“Hi boss. I'm so sorry to bother you, but there's an emergency.”“What's going on, Evans? Have there been any new reprisal attacks on the company?” Jasper queried impatiently.“No boss. None at all. The emergency is not work related. It's about my father.” Evans blurted out. “He was rushed to the hospital. They think it might be a heart attack.” Evans, who was usually a pillar of confidence, sounded so ner
Jasper’s bedroom was dimly lit, the soft glow of a bedside lamp casting long shadows on the walls. The air was thick with the quiet hum of the night outside.“Jasper, where am I?” Luna inquired. She couldn't recognize the room. “You are in my room. Don't be in a rush to sit up. You might feel dizzy.” Jasper advised as he stood up and approached her. “Why am I in your room Jasper?” Luna asked softly.“You slumped in my arms. I had to carry you in my arms. Bathed you and tucked you in. I even had….” Jasper was still explaining before Luna cut him off.“Wait…What? You bathed me?” Luna's voice increased in pitch. She looked at Jasper and she could see the hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lip. “ Like I was saying, I brought you here. Bathed you and tucked you in. I even instructed Ariel to brew some herbal tea for you.” Jasper said cheekily. He enjoyed making Luna squirm. Luna's cheeks were red hot. She felt embarrassed in that moment. She glanced down at her body and real
Two Months After The Shootout The courtroom had been silent when the judge read the sentence. Life Imprisonment Alexander Mason, once a feared man, had sat expressionless as the verdict was delivered. His fate had been sealed—the culmination of years of crime, deceit, and brutality. The United States government had wasted no time in securing his extradition. The evidence against him was overwhelming: the murder of Jake Morgan and Jung Yen, the torture and grievous bodily harm inflicted on Sebastian’s mother, Luna, Lin and his funding of a terrorist cell (Black Sentinel).There had been no grand farewell or dramatic objection from him; just a simple nod as the gavel came down, condemning him to a lifetime behind bars. His reign of terror had ended. In the weeks that followed, Thomas and Sebastian worked closely with the local authorities in Vietnam. With Alexander gone, the Black Sentinel crumbled, their remaining members either arrested or fleeing into the unknown. The contraban
Five Hours EarlierThe convoy moved steadily along the winding dirt road, a line of black Humvees and trucks kicking up clouds of dust under the gaze of the moon. Inside one of them, Sebastian sat with his hands bound, his jaw clenched. Lin and Luna sat beside him, equally restrained. Across from them, Alexander Mason sat, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. Sebastian had expected many things when Alexander’s men had dragged Luna, Lin and him, bagged their heads and tossed them into the van, but the sight that greeted him when he had reoriented himself was not one of them. The moment his eyes landed on her, his breath caught in his throat.“Mum?” His voice cracked, disbelief rendering him momentarily frozen. Her eyes widened, and before anyone could react, Sebastian lunged forward, pulling her into his arms. Her thin frame trembled as she clung to him fiercely, her silent sobs shaking her body. “You’re alive.” Sebastian whispered, as he deepened the hug.Alexander chuckl
Thomas adjusted his night-vision binoculars and focused on the camp below. Locating the camp after Jasper's direction wasn't hard, coupled with the fact that they had high-tech surveillance devices. The camp was a hive of activity, armed personnels moving swiftly in all directions. From their vantage point, he and his team had a clear view of the entire setup. The black tent in the center caught his attention again. Jasper had been clear. That was where Sebastian's mother was being held.However, getting into the camp wasn't going to be easy. It was heavily guarded and its location in the centre of the camp was a tactical nightmare. Thomas arched his brow as he noticed a pattern. There was a tall, bearded man, immaculately dressed, who strolled leisurely around the camp. As he walked, soldiers paused and slightly bowed to him in respect. This led Thomas to believe that the man held some sort of high authority. He was definitely the top dog in the camp, the shot caller. Thomas zoo
Sebastian’s head hung low, blood dripping from his temple. His wrists were raw from the metal shackles that bound him to the wooden post. His body screamed with pain from the beatings, but he had endured worse. He would not break. He just hoped that Jasper had been able to escape and call for help.Lin was slumped beside him, barely conscious. Her face was swollen, her lip split open. They had fought. They had endured.With a venomous stare, he spat out a lump of blood on the boot of his torturer. The torturer was a bulky, dark man who had been tuning them up for days in search of information. He had proven to be an unyielding captor, and the fact that Sebastian and Lin refused to talk infuriated him. A knock vibrated the door. The torturer's attention snapped to the door. He had instructed his minions not to interrupt him whenever he was at work. With an irritated voice, he snapped.“Who's there?” He bellowed.No response.Sebastian and Lin exchanged weak glances. They were glad fo
Jasper’s breath came in ragged gasps as he sprinted through the dense undergrowth. Twigs snapped underfoot, branches tore at his arms, and the darkness seemed to press against him from all sides. After running and simultaneously scanning his environment for hours, he had done it.He had escaped the camp.But now what? Realization dawned on him. Adrenaline had driven him out of the camp, but now that the rush was fading, reality set in.Where the hell was he?The jungle was vast and like a green void. He had no compass, no map, and no idea how far he had run. He sighed as he mentally facepalmed himself.He had been so reckless.How was he going to locate the shore where the boat had been hidden?He forced himself to keep moving. There was no turning back. As the hours stretched into days, Jasper’s pace slowed. His legs burned, his lips cracked from dehydration, and his stomach twisted painfully from hunger. No food. No water. The sun was relentless, beating down on him thro
Jasper had begun to believe his father had abandoned him again. Days had passed without any word from him. It was therefore surprising when his father strode into his tent on a cold evening. His father stood at the entrance of the tent, a smug look on his face. Jasper hated how unaffected Alexander looked. He clenched his fists. “Where are my friends?” “They’re fine.” His father replied him, his voice devoid of emotion.Jasper studied him. He didn't believe anything he said.“I want to see them.” His father exhaled through his nose. “That won’t be happening.” Before Jasper could retort, Alexander held up a hand to cut him short. “I didn't come here to banter words with you. I came here to give you a choice.” Jasper’s jaw tightened. “What choice?” “You leave this island. Tomorrow morning, a helicopter will arrive. You’ll board it, and you’ll forget you ever saw me.” Jasper stared at him in disbelief and confusion.“Excuse me?” He inquired.“You heard me.” Jasper let out
Two days passed by in quick succession. Ever since Alexander stormed out of the tent, he hadn't returned. The only people who had entered and left the tent were the nurse who came to change his bandage and the maids who came to drop off food and water for Jasper and the strange woman I'm the corner. Two days confined in a space with a mute woman who was like a lifeless husk—unwilling to socialize. The morning of the third day, Alexander decided to bless Jasper with his presence. Jasper sat on the edge of his chair, his father’s piercing gaze locking onto him like a predator studying its prey. Without any form of pleasantries, Alexander decided to swoop in for the kill. “Let’s try this again.” He said, his voice calm but firm. “My apologies. I wasn't entirely honest with you. Your friend Jung is in custody, that you already know. However, we also managed to capture two other people plus the commando-lady we picked up two weeks ago. They've already been questioned and I have to give i
Jasper groaned as he stirred, pain radiating from his injured leg. His mind was foggy, the lingering effects of morphine dulling his senses. As his mind cleared, the first thing he registered was the smell of roasted coffee beans. Last time he checked, they weren't on a vacation island which provides luxuries like hot frothy coffee. With a huff, he sat up and properly assessed his surroundings. He was in a tent, that much he could deduce. The tent was well furnished, two plush couches arranged perpendicular to each other, a large shiny oak table in the centre, maps and documents spread across it, expensive-looking artworks propped up against the foot of the tent and another king-sized bed situated in the opposite corner of the tent. Glancing at his foot, he noticed that it had been neatly wrapped up with clean bandages. He sighed.His nostrils traced the source of the coffee smell. It came from a coffee pot which was placed on a tray with cups on a table in the corner of the tent. T
From the shadows, figures emerged. At least five of them, dressed in a mixture of camouflage and dark clothing, their faces partially covered with cloth. Each one wielded a weapon—rifles, machetes, even crossbows.The leader, a tall man with a bald head, stepped closer. Unlike the other men, he didn't cover his face with a cloth. From the slant of his eyes, he seemed to be of oriental origin. However, his English was surprisingly clear and well-pronounced. “Who are you? And what are you doing on this island?” His voice boomed and reverberated around the forest floor. Sebastian's mind whirled as he tried to figure out the best way out of their current predicament. Looking at the men, it was evident that they weren't government military personnels; instead, they looked like the pirates that Lin had warned them about. Sebastian exchanged a tense glance with Luna. He knew one thing for certain. They were in serious trouble.“We are researchers, on a research mission to uncover the w