Gary just stared at Claire with a blank expression. The girl still had the guts to speak even though she was surrounded, he thought. Interesting.Gary had become desperate. He had been desperate from the start but it doubled a triple times over and he couldn't just sit and wait for someone to help him or for the stupid Harrier man to suddenly call him and announce that he was returning his assets to the bank. And most of all, he couldn't keep begging like a fucking pathetic loser. He gritted his teeth and his jaw hardened when he remembered how he had shamelessly pleaded with Claire, only for her to walk out on him. Even the stupid manager who also knew him wouldn't pick up his call anymore. Time was running out, he couldn't lower his pride and begged only to end up losing his job. He'd rather do it the hard way and keep his job. He had tried to be nice anyway."What's the meaning-" Claire started but Gary interrupted her harshly. "Will you shut the fuck up?" He held her fiery gaze,

Claire's heart rammed in her chest when she thought that Brad had figured out that she was lying."I mean," Brad licked her lips, her eyes darting from Gary and back to the floor, "Your withdrawal has been causing a lot of ruckus. Our CEO is mad at all of us for letting you withdraw from the back. So I'd just like to know if you would really stop banking with us.'"Well," Gary listened intently as Brad explained, "I have found a pretty nice bank to keep all of my funds in. I am aware that my father has been using your bank forever and there has been no issue, but I guess the chain has broken during my time since the employees of Trust Financial Bank now seem incapable of treating the customers right. Perhaps, the management does not find empowering its employees with good customer relationships and service skills important enough. But then, how would they when the manager himself is horrible at relating with the customers."While Claire thought of something to say, perhaps to convince

"Mum!" Sophia felt like a kid all over again as she ran into her mother's arms, revelling in her warm motherly embrace.Together, they walked to Lancelot's side, who had a grin on his face as she watched the both of them. He might not have fully recovered but he was happy that he was back home and his family was united again."My son," Sophia's mother cried as she let go of Sophia and bent over Lancelot, caressing his face and arms before she pulled him into a hug.Oh, she had missed them so much, especially her ever-so-sweet boy. She hugged him again and her eyes watered when he slowly curled his arms around her form."I missed you guys so much," she said as she beckoned on Sophia to join the hug. "Many times, I thought of taking up an extra job so I could save up and fly to Russia,""Oh Mom," Sophia's eyes watered and she tightened her arms around her mother. As they silently reveled in one another's embrace, happy to be back together, Sophia suddenly heard sobbing sounds and she l

"Hey man," Gary literally sighed in his response after he answered the call."Man," the caller, Dylan, drawled. "You don't sound good, "What's up? How far have you gone with the search for your man? Did the chick tell you who he is?"Since Dylan was the one who arranged the men he used to get Claire, he knew about it.On a normal day when Gary was his normal self, if he had been asked so many questions at once, he would have lashed out at whoever dared to try it but this time, he didn't. He only knew his friend was talking, he couldn't process his excessive words."Man, I need to talk," he pinched the space between his forehead, squeezed his eyes shut, and opened it again. "I need to clear my head." "Are you okay, Gary?" Dylan asked worried."I might lose my job soon, I can't be fine," he answered Dylan's irritating question. "What do you say we meet at the usual restaurant in…" he trailed off and his gaze slid to his desktop screen to check the time. "I'm about an hour?"Dylan had

"But how do I make someone who hates my guts, my friend? I can't even get myself acquainted with him talkless of making him my friend," Gary said angrily."But- " Gary hesitated, still thinking about all she had. Found out and all that Dylan just explained to him. He was still confused as to how all of these were possible.His brows creased as he looked at Dylan, "If what you're saying is all true then Brad Harrier isn't just a rich man…" he trailed off and paused, " He is actually the head, " he broke off again, his sentences coming out distorted. His heart beats quickened as he started to grasp the real situation he was in, "That means Brad Harrier is a mafia lord," his heart skipped a beat, "one that had the power and had every legal right to take my life if he felt the need and the government would do nothing about it?"Dylan nodded tentatively, feeling sorry for his friend."Holy shit!" Gary had thought the walk calmed his nerves and made it easier for him to think straight but i