||Hardie Morrison||
"Don't you get? it's foolish keeping her here, she needs to go before she brings any suspicion." Lincoln glared at me. I blinked, this was never the Lincoln I trusted. He never for once raised his voice at me, talk more of glaring dagger at me."I know right, I just want to...""Don't try anything rash, please Hardie." He countered."Okay. Okay, I won't." I smirks."Good. I'll get her to some safe route, it almost dawn already." He pinched his brows."Can I go with you at least?" I asked still putting on my smirk.He glared at him before nodding. "Right, no rash actions.""Sure..."***"Why did you look like you don't wan' leave yet?" I twitched my neck towards the back seat, facing Arlington. Lincoln insist I sit at the front for his own self reason."I've got work to go, stupid." She huffed."Yeah, right." I nodded. "You're only leaving cause of your work, now I get it.""You talk too much, Mr imposter." She hissed under her breath. "The Hardie everyone knows barely talks and now you're claiming to be him, tch.""You've met with him once? Cause you talk like you're having a crush on him." I taunt her further."Arrgh! I've not met with him once and I don't know what he look like either. How can I be having a crush on a ghost?" She glared daggers at me."Does that mean you're crushing on me, huh?" I flirts. "Well, it worth it though since I'm good looking.""What are you saying?" She half yell as she burn red."Come on don't be shy, Arling. This might be your first and your last, you know." I smirks but she kept mute as she swallowed her breath. "You see, there's no hurt in accepting the fact that you're having a crush on me.""I- I don't get you." She was clearly embarrassed."Or you might be thinking of having me as a night stand, who knows?""Stop saying nonse..." Arlington was cut short by the sudden abrupt of the car."What was that?" I gawked at Jade."I made him to since you two won't stop talking, tsk." Lincoln said lazily as he lay back his head. "We're here, you should get down from here. You should get yourself home from here, I guess.""Yeah, Sure. Thanks." She flashed Lincoln a short awkward smile before stepping down. "Goodbye...""And me? I don't deserve a thank you too, even after saving you?" I put on a frown. "That hurts, you know."She twitched her lips before giving out a sweet smile. "Guess you deserve one too. Thank you." she said before running through the narrow lane.I held out my cell phone, dialled a number before speaking into it. "Make sure she's safe, do you get?" I cut the call without giving the guy on the other end the priviledge to speak.||Arlington Arlington||I sneakily entered the house, rushed upstairs and quickly get dressed in a new clothing not after having my bath. I hurriedly arrange my room to avoid any suspicion or to get mother worried."Arling, Darling." Mom called from down stairs."Coming, mom. I'll be there in minutes." I quickly yelled back. I picked my bag and hurried down stairs. "Morning, mom.""Hmm... Morning." She nodded slightly, stirring her coffee. "I came knocking on your door yester night, but you didn't reply. I decide not to pry in, thinking maybe you need some privacy. Are you okay?""Yeah. I'm good. I was just stressed out, that's why. I stayed out late cause of work." I smiled convincingly. "You don't need to worry mom, I'm doing just fine.""Just let me know, if you are facing any crisis. Okay?" She said. "I can't stand seeing you hurt.""Yeah, copy that." I smiled."Eat up, else you'll be late for work." She said. I nodded curtly and start digging in. I Don't want Jesse's trouble, at least not today. But little did I know there is more In store for me today...***I got to work few minutes late and Jesse won't stop ranting but I might end up doing something irrational, so I decide to keep my calm. But Jesse wasn't satisfied until she see me react, still I remain dumb.Just when I thought everything has died down, murmuring and side talks was all over the whole restaurant. Is something wrong? I waved it off and decide to face my stuffs.The chicken stew was almost done when Min Hung came in."Gosh, Arling. Guess who's here?" She squealed excited."Min Hung, you see I'm busy and I'm not good at guessing." I said with a hint of I'm not interested. "Besides, I don't want Jesse' trouble today.""Forget about Jesse for now. I guess Jesse is tongue tied by now." Min Hung pressed on. "Try guessing, please.""Hmm..." I tried thinking but nothing is coming. Whose name am I gon' mention anyway?"See, I can't really gu..." I couldn't complete my statement cause of how Jesse' barge. Min Hung quietly walked out."We are having a new customer and Arlington has to attend to them." Jesse said."Wait, I don't understand you." I crackled at her statement. "When is it my Job to attend to customers?""You don't ask me questions alright, just do what I asked of you. Okay?""But..." I wanted to protest but kept quiet, maybe this is another tactic of her of trouble. "I'll go take their order now.""Sure. Do." She scoffs. "They are both sitting at the end of the hall putting on whites with black caps on."'Fucking bitch...' I muttered under my breathe. I walked towards the new customers just as Jesse describes them.I sigh as I neared them. 'You can do this, Arling.' I told myself. The truth is I was offered the chance of being a waitress but I declined cause I don't know how to face people."Good day, sir." I was a little bit audible trying my best not to stutter. "Can I take your order please?""Yeah, sure." One of the men responded. The other guy glued his attention on his phone, his cap, covering his facial appearance. I was glad, at least. Order was placed and I quietly went in to serve it.I quickly served them their orders and was about when the guy on cap raised his head up. This can't be true cause he isn't the one, right?"Mr imposter...?" I frowned at him. What is he doing here anyways? I've never seen him around here before, so why now? Or am I just noticing?"Good to see you again." He said flashing a dark grin...What are you doing here?" I glared at him. "Aren't you suppose to be in a more classy restaurant since you claimed to be Hardie?""That's not how to talk to your crush, you know." He said with a smirk.I scoffs at his statement. "Don't tell me you are stalking me, or are you?" I pressed on further."And what if I am? What are you going to do about it, huh?" He switched to his flirting mood. Gosh! Why can't he be normal for once?I turned around to return to my usual job post and felt a grip around my wrist. I turned back to meet with mr imposter's taunting smile and I was red."What the..."He cut me short. "Please can I get extra package for take home?" He said like he wasn't flirting earlier."Hmm, sure." I gave him a dry smile. "I'll be right back." This guy isn't mentally stable, I guess. How can a man comfortably switch mood with in seconds?Since I don't want to get caught up with his tactics anymore, I arranged his take home package and dropped it politely on his table. Befor
_Page 9_||Hardie Madison||"Here, take a look at this." I collected the pictures from Lincoln.Without going through them, I gave him a blank stare. "What are these for anyways?""Go through them first, at least." He pressed. "You might get few information from it."I sighed as I go through the hard copy just as instructed. "The faces here are blurry, what information am I getting from blurry faces?" I asked."They are the faces behind the sudden explosion of your warehouse, I'm still trying to track down the faces though. But for now, these are the information I gathered."At leat he's trying to prove his worth by working his ass to find out about the opposite attackers.I stare hard at the pictures but I don't seems to recognize any of them, though. Who are these people anyways? They did a really nice job in hiding their identity from me. Wow, just wow for a job well done.Am I having new enemies aside from Jamel and Gareth? Why are they after me? I really need to know about these
||Arlington Arlington||The day seems to break faster than user, I sighed repeated as I get out of bed. I just hope today should not hold any drama. For the past two days, things have not be really good with me. I quickly do my daily routine and dressed up for work."Good morning, mom." I greeted my mom who's already at the table with a smile."Good morning, sweetheart." she returned the smile. "You look stressed out, why?""Nothing mom, just that work these days are demanding. But no to worry, I'll manage just fine." I replied curtly."Sure. I know you a strong girl but if things are getting out of hand, do let me know." She said, concern laced in her voice."Hmm..." I gave her a nod and had my breakfast in a hurry. "Good bye, mom."I kissed her goodbye on her cheek."Be safe at work alright?""I'll, mom..."***Trailing down the street, few meters before the next bus stop where I'm suppose to board a cab, a car halt beside me. I decided to ignore the car but the car owner honked to
||Unknown Unknown||I smiled.The type of smile that hold suspense and smirk.Hardie. He is the cause of my smile. Wait? What was he thinking? That he'll be able to get information about me? Did he think capturing and torturing my men will make them rat me out?He is hell wrong if he thinks doing all those will make them rat me out. I own my men and I have full right over their lives and families', they are expected to obey my order to the fullest even if it means loosing their own lives.You call it loyalty? No, cause no one is loyal this. You only use what you have to get what you want.***"Any new information about the president?" I asked as I puffed out huge smoke from my nostrils."For now, there isn't any. We are still looking out for any changes, boss." Jade replied."You can go, get me updated if there's any..." I waved my hand at him to dismiss him. He gave a shirt nod and walked out.I just need to be on my best watch and make sure nothing goes wrong this time around....
||Jamel Jamel||I threw the glass on my hand on the floor and start breaking anything that's I come across. Who could have done this to me? How do the deal get terminated?I made sure to make it private cause I know how much millions of dollar I will be getting from it but now...?Everything is gone in less than twenty-four hours?Fu.ck, I can't take it. This is the most shocking news I'll be getting in the last few year."Call me Gareth..." I growled at my men."You don't need to, I'm here already." Gareth stood at the exit with his hands in his pocket."What..." I was shocked to see him, like I haven't seen him in days and now?He walked up to me. "Hey, you look fucked, what's wrong?""What are you doing here, Reth?" I asked with a raised brow.He looked confused. "What did you mean? I don't have right here anymore or what?""Hmm, I mean I haven't seen you in couples and you just showed up today." I scoffs.He shrugged his shoulders. "Business, I must say. Why did you look fucked up
||Hardie Morrison||The ride was not that long cause Lincoln could see the urgency burning in me and he drove faster than usual. He was at first surprised when I gave him the hospital's location."Are slowly dying and you keep it away from me?" He asked."No, not that. Something more urgent than my own life." I had replied."Tell me, what's it that's more urgent than your life?" He pressed on. The Lincoln I know loves digging in into any situation at hand but I'm not ready to give him the actual answer."It doesn't matter if I tell you, you might get to know with time." That was the reply I gave to him.I barged into the doctor's office with burning rage with Lincoln trailing behind me, I grab the doctor by his collar. "What happen to her? You better start talking now Smith.""I'm sorry, I'm not the head doctor. I don't know who you are talking about." The doctor said with fright."Where the hell is Smith Barney then?" I growled at him."He's currently in the theater room, he's been a
[14]||Hardie Morrison||Morning came much faster than expected and somehow, I was feeling tired and exhausted. For past few days, I deprived myself of proper sleep and now I guess my body can't contain it anymore.I've been escaping different escapades this past few days and finding myself in another one." Arrgh! I need a long break from this shiit that's been happening lately." I uttered with a long sigh."A few hour sleep will do." I managed to convince myself.***Letting out a soft moan, I stretched my tired muscles before getting up bed. Okay, its seems I haven't slept for long or it's the time who decided to stop."Thought you will be sleeping a little longer cause you really need it, Hardie." Lincoln was sitting on the sofa next to the dressing table. I never noticed he was there."Since when have you been here, eh?" I uttered with a frown on my face."Long enough to count the stars." He replied, nonchalantly."Arrgh! Remind me to lock my doors when I'm about to sleep." I gr
[15]||Arlington Arlington||Its been three days since I saw Hardie and its very difficult to forget his existence, even when I tried my best to.Thanks to Min Hung, she always find a way to make me smile and that's seems enough to forget about Hardie for a while. Even if it seems hard, I know I'm gon' forget about him with time."Hey, look what I got." Min Hung flagged two tickets at my face."What's this for...?" I creased my brow."My sister was gift these tickets to see a movie but since she'll be busy, she asked me to give her own out." She explained. "So, you gon' be my plus one.""Oh, right." I flashed her a smile. "When are we seeing the movie?""Tonight. Looks like luck is on us today, cause we'll be closing earlier than usual." Her face was beaming with smiles."Then count me in."***Jesse walked in with red face, anger and tinge of jealousy, visible on her face. She really look like a haunted doll right now and I couldn't help but chuckle."What's funny...?" She fussed, her
[84]The sun dipped below the horizon as the fiery colours infused the sky above the sky above them, painting the perfect backdrop for the end of an era. As the crimson hues bled into the night, Lincoln couldn't help but admire the scene from the rooftop terrace if Hardie's lavish home.The cool breeze brush past them, bringing forth a scene of melancholy that mirrored the thoughts racing through Lincoln's mind. It was hard to believe that after all the hardship they had faced together, their journey was slowly screeching into a halt.Hardie, in his usual assertive manner, told Lincoln that he did not plan of letting him go anytime soon. Despite anticipation, the words slammed into Lincoln's chest like a brick wall, causing him to struggle for breath.Although, Lincoln had mentally prepared for such a confrontation, the reality was far more difficult to accept. Over the years, the two had become intertwined in a complex net of loyalty and betrayal, blurring the lines of their allianc
[83]"Isn't she the same with her?" I heard her asked all of a sudden, her voice was laced with outmost surprise or maybe shock.I raised my head up to the television's screen, trying to figure out what she was talking about. It was Ms. Roselle, that was her name, Hardie's mom. Why is she on the media all of a sudden? "She's the one, right?" She asked again, this time turning to me. "This is Hardie's mother." "Yeah." I nod in agreement, drawling my words. "I'm sure she is the one, she looks like her and the name too." "Why is she on the screen then?" Charlotte furthered, staring questioningly at me. I frowned at her question, we are both in the same room and she is the one who had informed me about this yet, she is asking me such a question? She's seriously unbelievable! "Were you not the one who just told me about it?" I return her question back to her. "And we are yet to listen to what she might have done." "You are right." She said sounding defeated but I did not really care.
[82] ||•Lincoln Shire•||"Welcome..." The hotel receptionist uttered, wearing a delightful expression as she smiled warmly at us.I'm not the type that smiles but I was kind enough to reciprocate it. Charlotte, on the other hand, just gave her a slight nod with a blank expression on her face. It's obvious that she's too tired for all of this, every thing about her tell it all."Two VIP..." I simply stated but the stare on her face tells otherwise, I need her not to say much before I understand her expression. "We'll just hop for any available rooms left, okay. As far as it's as comfortable as a home, we have no choice to it."She shook her head with an apologetic look on her face. "I'm sorry, Sir..." She muttered, avoiding eye contact with Charlotte and I. "It's just a room left, all other rooms are occupied for the night."Mere looking at Charlotte, she was not comfortable with herself as she scrunched her face tightly in displeasure. "Why...?" She requested with indifference
[81] ||•Lincoln Shire•||The day has been kind of hectic for Charlotte and I, tailing and spying on other lords just to get want we want from them.Well, as usual, Charlotte was used as the bait to get to them. I must commend how much she has done in the nick of time.She made every thing much easier for me since they are things I can do and places I can't penetrate as a male, yeah .Retiring for the day, we decided to lodge the night in one of the suites around till the next day.I would have vouch for a clubhouse instead because there, I would surely meet with new lords but Charlotte had insisted we get a proper night sleep instead.Well, I have no other choice to obliging. We will just find a suitable suite for us after we are done with our drinks. •••"I think I need a break after this." Charlotte muttered before chugging down her last cup of wine. "This is becoming much more challenging than it ever was.""What break —?" I asked with my brows raised in questioni
[80] ||Hardie Morrison||I speed up and in no time, we arrived at the park, the same park I brought her to couple of months ago. It was just few weeks after we met. Arlington was a little bit surprised, well, it reflected on her face."I guess I did not see this coming..." She countered with a soft chuckle after. "Why did you bring us here?"I ignored her question and helped her undo her seat belt. "Come on." I said instead and hopped down from the car.She hopped down immediately after I did before I was able to turn around. "I can always help myself with the door, you should stop worrying over little things." She said as she shut the car's door behind her."Little things also matters, Arling." I told her in reply and hold her hand, and intertwined it with mine. "What did you want?" "I want… that." She pointed at the cotton candy not to far from us, wearing a wide smile on her face. The smile of hers that I did not want to miss, not now or ever.I’ve done so much wrong
[79] ||Hardie Morrison||"Ms. Roselle is coming home with us." Arling suddenly announced which made Hardie stopped in his track."What...?!" I blurted out, almost choking on my own breathe. " think I heard wrong, yeah. What did you say?""What did I say?" She repeated my question with her brows deeply creased. "I said; Ms. Roselle would be coming with us, did I say some thing awful?"These days, ever since this fóxy human suddenly introduced herself to you, I see you enjoy getting on my nerves...” those were the words I wanted to reply her with but said some thing else instead.I know and I'm sure of it, this fóxy human is trying to cause a rift between Arlington and I the same way she did to Amelia and other people too.But then, I would never give in to such cheap plan she drafted. I'll just have to pretend I never heard Arling speaks about her or made mention of her name."Aren’t you tired of staying here?" I asked, diverting the topic else where. "You’ve been in the ho
[78] ||Ms. Roselle||There are so many things to regret but I don't think I have a reason to regret any of them, except of course, if I lose access to them.Yeah! That would be my only regret!How do I regret my source of income and wealth? Because I smug in drugs? Or because I'm an old stripper and a s3x worker? Probably because I rob dignitaries off their wealth?I've done and indulged myself in so many shits and dirty works and I'm glad I did, if not, how do I gather so much wealth in the nick of time?But of course, I do have one regret! It's hurts me and I'm suppose it's never too late to rectify it!No taming Hardie when I have the chance to was my only regret! I couldn't hold in the pain I felt seeing him succeed in his own games and outsmarting other drug lords in the game.Most time, I do wonder how he was able to attain such height at a very young age. He used to be the gentle type who barely talks or socialize himself with others, how did he turn out to be the b
[77] ||Hardie Morrison||It was hard to convince Arlington about the babies being alive, she felt we were lying about them to have want her to go home with out thinking of seeing the babies.For this, I have to asked the doctor if it was okay and safe to visit just for the air to be clear and he gladly permits with out blinking an eyelid about it."They are much stronger than they were in the last few days and out of danger too." He told me. "They are recovering faster already, it safe to visit them."Due to the babies being conceived earlier than they were supposed, one of them was too weak and barely look like she was going to survive as of when they were birthed.The impact from Arlington's fall made her weak and having almost near de@th experience. Thankfully, she turned out to be a strong survivor and did not d¡e and the other baby was safe too.I couldn't just imagine how hard it will be on Arlington to hear about one of the babies not surviving. She will definitel
[76] ||Hardie Morrison||The weather temperature today was cold but not that very cold. That doesn't matter, what matters is Arlington would be discharged any time from now since I already signed documents for her to be discharged."Please, keep her under close watch and make sure she doesn't go under pressure. She should be stress free too and nothing should threaten her health status too." The doctor advised as he scribbled down things on a pad. "She is still prone to shock and I'm sure you won't want her to go in to coma again.""Why will I? I won't be foolish to repeat such mistake again." I muttered in response. I don't want her mom to take her far away from me, I won't be able to stand the pain that would come after it."Here are the drugs she will be using..." The doctor handed the scribbled piece for me, not after explaining each benefit of the scribbled drugs and how she's suppose to use them."When is she gon' be discharged?" Min hung was the first to asked immediat