“Get your hands off me, you fucking vause!” Thomas bellowed while struggling to get out of Nathan’s firm clutches.“Who’s this swank with ya, missy? Your sugar daddy?” The men behind Thomas jeered in laughter as they stepped closer to their leader.Nathan didn’t balk. He dug his fingers deeper against the branch of the gang leader’s neck and turned his shoulders to peek from his side. “Ah, so these guys are your sycophants? Ain’t I right?” He smirked deviously. “Shit, dude, your people looked like they’ll betray you any minute after I throw your ass in this goddamn building.”“You don’t fit here. Don't go meddle in other's business, wuss. Go back to your gold and shit!” Thomas’s nose flared. Lifting his arms, he grabbed Nathan’s wrist and shoved it away.Despite how facile Thomas could counter his attacks, Nathan didn’t shrink from him. He still stood tall in front of him, regardless of his towering heights. Thomas might be a few inches tall from Nathan, but it didn’t bother him.“The
If there was one thing that could describe their whole trip, it would be damn hell green around the hills.Daphne could sense the unfitting restlessness of Nathan, while the nerves on her body were on tenterhooks. The drive took them about a painstaking duration of an hour before they arrived at Clara’s flat. When Nathan stopped by the side street, Daphne unfastened her seatbelts and thanked him, “I don’t know how can I repay you for all the help you did, Nathan, but thank you so much.”Nathan jerked his shoulders upward. “It was nothing, Daphne. I just did what I have to do.”“But, still...I’m really grateful.” The corners of Daphne’s lips quirked up. Grabbing her bag beside her, she added, “Good night, Nathan.”“You too, Daphne—Good night.” He nibbled his bottom lip, gandering at her.Daphne pulled out the car’s door. “See you next week, Nathan.”However, before she could open the door fully, she felt his large, soft palms over her skin. Jostling from both shock and buzzing sensatio
"Is that so? You think I’m hot?" A silvery, thick, hoarse voice emerged before them. She knew that instant that it was Chuck’s uncle who was behind her all along, listening to their conversation. Daphne was caught off guard by him; she didn’t know how to face the man without looking like an utter idiot. Slowly, she turned around and was greeted by his serious, yet amusing, expression. Her body stiffened, and her ajar mouth locked when she noticed him walking closer to them, still staring at her like he had found out an interesting piece about her. The man was wearing his usual fitted suit and tie, which even stressed his regal and blue-blooded posture, which made her reaction worse.Nathan simpered as he approached them, his eyes transfixed on her while he strode to Chuck’s side. Leaning down to his nephew, he greeted apologetically, "Sorry, bud, I was late."Daphne couldn’t let his pompous smirk pass by, as she wanted to explain herself to the man. Moreover, she didn’t want him t
It was late at night by the time they reached Clara’s neighborhood. Daphne didn’t bother waking up Chuck and bid goodbye to Nathan before getting out of the car. However, before she could do so, Nathan reached for her arms to stop her."Is there something you need to tell me?" She asked while her fingers were curled on the handle of the car.He removed his hand from her and replied, "I’ve made up my mind."Her forehead creased, crunching in confusion. "To what?"Nathan wet his lips and looked at her closely. "You don’t have to pay what you owe me…""Oh, okay. What’s the catch then?" She faced Nathan and furtively gazed at his mysterious expression."You’ll be my girlfriend," he said seriously, without batting his eyes.Daphne was startled at his request. But it was not really an appeal and was more like compensation for her debt. Was she hearing it right? Did he say that he wanted her to become his girlfriend? Nathan knew she had come from a toxic relationship, and she was just starti
Kelly Holding wasn’t always as regnant as it was today. In the past, when the company was still one of the fledging businesses making its way to the market, Robert Kelly, Nathan’s father, had a hard time pervading the top market spot. Despite his efforts and acute vision for his company, he knew how hard it was to penetrate the top position in the market. However, that changed when Robert met Casper Smith. A well-known business magnate with more power than the government. He’s a man who had the touch of Midas’ hands where even the most shunned corporation could become a glorious business enterprise.Adamant about the notion of getting his business into the playing field, Robert asked for Casper Smith’s support. Despite this bankable aid from the god of business himself, Casper’s help came with a blowback cost. It was a consequence that Nathan’s father didn’t ascertain, not until he came down to his last breath.And now Nathan had to face this conniving man again. The man who had bec
"Is there a problem? Are you goddamn serious?" The mother shot her a glare, hauling her child closer to Daphne so that she could see the swelling bruise on his cheeks. "That brat hit my son! Look at what he did to my poor baby’s face! Kids like him should not be allowed here!"Daphne calmly took a step forward, shielding Chuck from the woman’s hysterics. She raised her arms to appease the woman, who was getting angrier. "I really apologized for what happened, ma’am, and would talk this out with Chuck. We can assist you to the clinic right now so that your son’s bruises are tended."She then looked at her friend Stacy and asked her to help the mother and the kid go to the clinic before something drastic happened. The math teacher got her signal pretty quickly, and she rushed to get to the side of the mother. "Why don’t we let his bruise be treated first by our resident nurse, Mrs. Rochester? Then we can talk this over with our principal once everything settles down."The mother gave he
A commodious and furnished mansion was seen in front of Daphne's viewpoint, a cozy one she had desired when she was juvenile. The tinted glass door had slid open, making way for her. She entered and saw the bifurcated stairs on the right side, which had a glass handrail. Her gaze lingered as she saw Chuck and Nathan standing at the landing.Smile plastered on Daphne's face as she moved forward and stood in the living room, where she had noticed the presence of Elliot, sitting on the black sectional sofa that could accommodate six people. A black corporate attire was what he had worn, which perfectly matched what Nathan had worn.Daphne had looked back at Chuck and Nathan and saw how they moved down the stairs fast, and as she blinked, they already had in front of her.Chuck's white polo uniform had been tucked on his black pants, with the school logo on the left side printed in blue, matched with his black leather shoes and a white sock that almost reached his knees. He had a black ba
Cirrocumulus clouds formed above the city's skyline. An elevator tone was heeded as Daphne reached the top floor. She faced the door as it slid open, seeing a group of employees standing in front, waiting for her to be out.All were in corporate attire, and their eyes concentrated on her, starting from head to foot, which provoked a chuckle on their faces, a judgment of her clothing inside the ravished office.Daphne stepped into the Carrara marble hallway, about to head towards the lobby a few steps next to the elevator, yet she heard the gossip and how all the ten employees conversed about her."The guard had been reminded not to let any homeless enter the office. Gosh! Look at her clothes!" said the woman whom Daphne had passed.Another woman had covered her mouth and nose using her palms as she smelled something—a mixture of sweat and some seasonings in the kitchen that became a stain on Daphne's precious shirt."Move! Your smell has reached us!" said the other. "What were you doi
One month after the traumatic incident, Maverick and Deanna were put on trial for attempted murder, rape, homicide, and other related allegations that were charged to them. Meanwhile, Daphne’s mother, Linda Collins, was also convicted of the crime of conspiring with the suspects and was sentenced by the court to five years of imprisonment. Before going to jail, Linda begged for her daughter’s forgiveness, but she failed to do so when Daphne had already wanted nothing to do with her, cutting her off completely in her life. The feat in their lives continued to flourish after the trial. Nathan was successful in acquiring back the rights in his father’s corporation and kept his executive manager title both overseas and in the main branch. The following month of having full control of the business, he was triumphant in increasing their sales by a whooping margin of twenty percent. Because of that, the board of members was satisfied with his management and wanted the company to venture int
As the two men take on to exchange blows, neither of them wanted to back out. Maverick threw Nathan a punch on his ribs, while Nathan hit him on his shins. Both of them knew how to play physically along with wit, and despite their airtight attacks, none of them were knocked out in a single smash. Maverick stood up from his fall, wiping the blood on his nose, and said, “Since back then, you’re always a pussy, Nathan.” He smirked, showing his bloody teeth. “At least not like you who is a goddamn fucking maniac.”Nathan rushed toward him, pushing all his strength to Maverick, locking his arms around his waist and slamming his back to the wall. They both fell to the ground, hitting each other with all their willpower as they rolled through the wide pathway of the kitchen while plates, condiments, and other necessities were falling from the cupboard. Meanwhile, as their fight continued in lock horns and a thug of wars, Clara, who was knocked down to the ground, gained consciousness when
Nathan surveyed the entire residence of the beach house. While Clara and Chuck were behind him, he sifted through the location and found out that aside from Maverick, Daphne, and possibly Deanna, no one was there to secure the front lawn.The front door didn’t have any operative on the lookout, even at the side and the back of the abode. He then climbed into a nearby willow and pored over the area. There was a faint shadow in the room to the left on the second floor and an open window by the side of the house. Consequently, on the east, he scaled around to check for the other entrances where he could snitch inside. “He might be there—look at your seven,” Nathan commented to Clara and mounted down to the ground. Clara looked up to where his eyes were pointing. “What if we wait for the police first before we sneak in? Just to make sure that this won’t go wrong.” He rubbed his palms together, wiping the dirt he got from the bark of three. “Nah, we can’t. They may arrive late and we mi
“Is she fucking telling the truth, Maverick? Goddamn it, answer me?!” she shouted, blaring at him with her utter resentment. Maverick’s shoulder jostled in shock that in reflex his mouth parted to say, “Yes. Fuck, that’s right, Daphne! If I didn’t do that, you wouldn’t come to me! And if I didn’t accept Casper’s help, that fucking son-of-a-bitch will have what is mine!” He bent forward, grabbing her shoulders rigidly as he continued, “You’re mine, Daphne! And he can’t take you away from me!” Daphne was flabbergasted by his statement. Her body became frozen in the bed as she gazed at him in wonder and shuddering. Meanwhile, Deanna found Maverick’s concession hilarious that her high-pitched voice soared throughout the room like alarming sirens. “This is so good! Oh, God, Daphne, you never fail to amaze me, dear. You’re just too fucking sweet that all I want to do is to tear you into pieces.” She arched her body forward and gave her a condescending smile. “This is also the reason why
The crack of the dawn settled on the horizon as Daphne’s senses rouse from unconsciousness. A drumming throb in her head kindled when she struggled to get up from the wide silk mattress of the bed. She perched her palms on the soft cushion and looked around the room, surmising the familiar interiors of the spacious chateau. Her eyes scooted to the open window by the bedside and were sleeted by the overlooking view of the ocean. The tides were calm; the air was moderately breezy, and the skies flourished with an auburn, unruffled-tone array of billows. Daphne quite remembered this place as though she had been here before with the Brenners when they went for a vacation. Furrowing her eyebrows in bewilderment, she roamed to the right side of the room and was welcomed by Maverick’s collected yet lecherous expression. Daphne juddered up from the bed, realizing that her arms and feet were chained to the four corners of the bed. She pulled the cuffs away and tried to escape from it—from t
The time had idled in Chuck’s room while they were waiting for Nathan’s arrival. Chuck was on his desk, encrusting his chin with his palm elbowed on the desk, while Clara was pacing back and forth in the middle of the room, raking her fingers through her hair as the time ticked another minute. Her eyes shot at the movement of the long hand on Chuck’s white clock and flailed her arms in the air out of frustration. “Oh my God! What’s taking him so long? We’ve called his phone millions of times and yet we still can’t reach him.” She gave the kid an eye and ranted, “I’m getting disappointed with your uncle every minute that has passed by."Chuck’s eyes tilted up to the hood and exhaled. “Why do you have to wait for him, anyway? I told you I could help you. I know how to read maps.” Clara looked at him and was about to say something when Mrs. Willis chimed in, “We don’t have to rush. Rushing won’t do us any good and it might even make the situation worse. She placed the tray on the tabl
Daphne’s eyes fluttered ajar when she felt herself moving at a constant speed while her body was in inert motion. She was plagued by the plodding movement of the car as she felt the tight manacles on her ankles and wrists. As she felt the crack of dizziness on the back of her head, she blinked her eyes twice until her vision became clearer.Cocking her head to the stained-glass window, she peeked through it, sifting at the blurry sight of the road by her side. She didn’t know where she was, but the passing trees and secluded road gave her a hint that she was somewhere in a provincial location.Drifting her head to the front, her eyes darted at a muscular-looking man in his late twenties. His back was broad under an Oxford shirt, and his arms had a fine sliver of body hair that was noticeable in the bright cast of the afternoon sunlight.Her nose crinkled in contempt as she tried to fix her fetal position in the narrow space of the seat. Daphne wanted to collect her inflating with Lind
A clear blue indigo sky slightly turned yellow-orange on the east side. The sun slowly rose, matched with busy streets, and people rushed to work and other destinations. At the same time, Nathan only relaxed on the balcony and sat on the chair while there was an empty cup of coffee on the table. Seeing an incredible masterpiece and scenery somewhat calmed his morning and made him smile to prepare for a long day and another problem he might encounter."What a beautiful sky. I hoped it was beautiful as my day," muttered Nathan. "But I knew it would not be."In his silence, Nathan heard the car’s horn and a shout of a fellow citizen. Minutes after that, a vibration of his cell phone in his pocket made him blink twice, then look at who was calling him. A police officer he had coordinated was calling him, which gave him an idea it was good or worse, unwelcome news regarding Deanna's whereabouts."Hey, officer, how are you doing?" Nathan's opening spiel."Stressed, but still fine," retorted
“I recalled that damn woman flying near the gutter as my car ran over her….”A familiar woman Nathan saw in his side mirror would never be forgotten. Yes, he felt worried, even when he recalled it. Until now, he didn’t know that woman’s name if he had met her before or had not. The run-over incident brought him fear.‘Shit.’He had reason to be told and announced if it would be brought as another issue. It was from the past, but enemies were found digging it to destroy his name for personal interest, maybe because they wanted to own a company.Sitting on a smooth swivel chair on the top floor of the Kelly Building branch, he turned it, facing the door as his secretary entered. Elliot had a confused face when he went near Nathan. Elliot turned his gaze around and saw it was just the two inside the office, then looked back at him.“What was it, Mr. Kelly?” asked Elliot. He was worried it would be another problem. “Was it about Deanna?”“Nah,” responded Nathan and exhaled. “It was about