“This city has a beautiful, captivating sky,” Valerie remarked, her gaze fixed outside the glass wall of the restaurant at the full moon, standing in all its night glory over the clouds. Adonis watched her as she admired the captivating scenery of the night sky, taking up a spoon of his casserole dish into his mouth. They'd decided earlier during the day that they would have dinner at this restaurant; BAYLIE'S KITCHEN, it was called, when they were done for that day's tour as it was very close to the hotel and seemed to have good food varieties and ratings when Valerie had checked it up on the net. “You sound like where you came from didn’t have a beautiful night sky,” Adonis pointed out and she turned to gaze at him. “Occasionally,” she replied, taking up a piece of chips from the appetizer bowl set at the center of the table. She dipped it into ketchup before throwing it into her mouth.” I don’t get to see the moon all the time because the clouds covers it up, but since I came her
CHAPTER THIRTY TWO: COUNTER SAVINGMinutes passed as they were still knelt down on the ground, with these armed men deciding on what to do with them while Adonis reeled his mind on different thoughts.“Hey!” The leader remarked snidely at Adonis, waiving his gun in the air to get his attention, which he did. “Listen,” The man stepped away from his league of hoodlums and squatted closer to him. From the close distance, Adonis could only see the shape of the man's eyes, and its color – more of green that brown in them. It was almost memorable and easy to recall.“Now you’re gonna come with us, because you’re the one we have a problem with and not your girlfriend over there,” he nodded in the direction of Valerie who still was shaken with anxiety at what she’d heard them say. They wanted Adonis, so it was obvious someone wanted him out of their way.No one needed to tell him that it was Oliver behind all of this.Oliver was the only one he had problem with, and the only one he knew coul
The next day, Valerie had to leave for work; the reason why she’d travelled down to this city, and Adonis insisted on driving her there, as she still did not seem to have a relaxed state of mind to drive. After dropping her off and promising to come back to drive her home later in the evening when she had closed from work, he parked at a corner blocks away from the company he'd dropped her off at and phoned Jesse immediately. When Jesse answered the phone call, he CHAPTER THIRTY THREE: POWER USAGEboomed with inquisitiveness through the phone.“Found anything?”The previous night, after he’d watched Valerie sleep, he had called Jesse to get him to figure out who those men were that had attacked them. Since Jesse was trustworthy enough to get information at a quicker pace, he assumed he would have found out something about them now.He needed to treat Oliver's fuck up, and punish the gang that had accepted to carry out his scheming plans.“Yes, your highness.” Jesse replied. His backgr
Oliver was having a post-celebratory drink at his home bar when he heard the news about the arrest of the gang he’d asked to deal with the freak Adonis, and it didn’t settle well with him. First, he wondered what had caused it to result into such situation as he was sure, from the brief details he got about the utter failure and the gang's uproot, that Adonis was too weak to have caused such dissention, unless he had help from someone powerful. Now, he couldn’t tell who would have agreed to help such a lewd punk like Adonis, and he ached to know who.Second, he hoped the gang leader would not rat him out.It was very common in situations like this. The gang leader who didn’t seem so amiable would think he was shady because he hadn't let out too many dutiful information about their target to have considered a possibility of someone with power helping him so he could be prompted by a rush of inconsiderable anger to let out the identity of who must have asked them to do it to the cops. H
“We meet again, Oliver,” Adonis remarked, delightfully spiting Oliver by stating his name without a title. “Puny brat!” Oliver scoffed, his voice dripping with intense revulsion. “I'll punch you in the face one day again for being so disrespectful to your Prince and I swear you won’t like that day. “Oh yeah?” an unpredicted smug smile invaded Adonis' expression. “And I suppose I should await your failure just as your previous attack on me versa that amateur gang. You couldn’t even do so well in hiring someone better enough to get rid of me. Just is everything about you such a failure?”He knew the nerves he was desperately pricking in Oliver with his words. He was seething, almost like he would pounce on Adonis without warning, but he still maintained a balanced composure.“I wish…” Oliver drew threateningly close towards Adonis who was unhinged by the glare Oliver shot him, and his close proximity. “I had a gallon of acid I could pour down your god forsaken throat to keep you from
As the days passed, Adonis and Valerie's bond with each other only grew stronger. They both felt a growing attraction towards each other, but neither dared to confess their feelings. Despite this, their mutual infatuation was palpable. On a bright, sunny morning, as Adonis was indulged in figuring out some distinct problems in the PDF document Don-Louisa had sent him dutifully concerning the bank's rising stock statement and the survey result of the transactions that had been carried out in the previous weeks, an unanticipated knock rapped on his room door. He could tell from its cheerful texture, and the manner at which the person knocked that it was none other than the lady who always seemed to blow his mind away with little to no effort. “Door's open,” he boomed, inviting her in. His eyes went to the door the moment it swung open, revealing a Valerie basked with all pretty glory in the world. She wasn’t clad in her usual, formal attire, but rocked a pair of crazy jeans (of the mo
The atmosphere rocked with the symphony of a tango music as the massive hall swarmed with different people. Not one person looked below dignified, as they all portrayed one curtsey or the other in their expensive get-ups, some making merry, cheering wine and buzzing with hearty laughter in their conversation while others moved their bodies rhythmically as they danced in sync to the music as they awaited the starting of the main event. Valerie was immediately indulged with conversation the moment they stepped foot into the bubbling hall, looking like an angel descent in her white, feathery, knee-deep dress that accentuated her svelte bodyline. Adonis, well fitted in a tux with his hair properly fixed that it enhanced his manly features and made him more attractive, accompanied her by the side, their arms interlocked. As they walked and Valerie mingled with some people that she supposedly knew, Adonis tried keeping his thoughts in check, mostly against ending up being talked scornful
“Hey Adonis! Long time no see, man!“ Jockey exclaimed with a wide façade of a grin on his face. The music tuned back on, this time, a slow waltz, distracting most people’s attention from them. Valerie, glancing from one man to the other in a perplexed disposition, trying to figure out the relation the two had that she was oblivious about. Adonis forced a tight-lipped smile and replied, “Yeah, it’s been a while, Jockey, ” Valerie could faintly sense Adonis’s discomfort and made to step in, but Jockey spoke before her. “You’ve only slightly changed from back then, Adonis. “ he stated to the hearing of most people.. “Although you still look like the total dork I used to bully back then in high school. I could practically recognize your dorkiness from afar off. “ When Valerie glanced at Adonis for a confirmation to what Jockey was saying, and saw his detached demeanor, one she didn’t appreciate, she stepped in. “Jockey, can you please leave us alone, now?” Jockey’s gaze diverted
Meanwhile, in the palace, the elders sat in somber silence, each lost in their own thoughts as they waited for their prince’s return. Jesse's watch seemed to tick louder with every passing second, a constant reminder of Adonis's absence. They all shared the same unspoken hope that Adonis would return safely, that his plan had succeeded.Suddenly, the room was jolted by the abrupt entrance of an excited messenger, who burst into the chamber with breathless urgency. "The prince is back!" the messenger exclaimed, unable to contain his joy.Without hesitation, the elders and Jesse rushed outside, their faces alight with anticipation. Their hearts swelled with relief and joy as they laid eyes on Adonis and Valerie, who walked toward the palace in a regal and triumphant manner. Adonis, his presence commanding, strode majestically with Valerie by his side, a living testament to the successful rescue.Jesse approached them, his relief was obvious as he greeted the prince with a deep bow. Adon
Adonis clenched his fists, his anger boiling over as he continued to listen to Oliver's sinister demands. "You heartless bastard!" he spat, his voice trembling with a mix of fury and desperation. "What do you want with my wife? She's innocent in all of this and you know it! This is not necessary at all!"Oliver's voice remained chillingly composed as he replied, "Adonis, your wife's fate is in your hands. All your protests and shouts won't change a thing. H\You know what you need to do but I will be a darling and just repeat them for you: step down from your position as the heir to the throne. Then, prepare an official statement, one that will be signed by the kingmakers and the tribunal. And this time, that is not all that you will do, let me add one more that I have not added before, Adonis, you will deliver this statement to me in person, and only you should come with it."Adonis attempted to reason with Oliver, his mind racing for alternatives, but before he could make any headway
The next day, as Adonis stood at the crime scene, frustration and weariness washed over him. The weight of the situation pressed heavily on his shoulders, burdening him with unanswered questions. He recalled the call he had received from Oliver during his joyous wedding party, the moment when everything had taken a dark turn.He turned to the acting commissioner, his eyes burning with determination and anger. "Why wasn't I informed about Oliver's escape?" Adonis demanded, his voice filled with frustration. "I trusted you to keep this city safe, to keep my loved ones safe!"The acting commissioner sighed heavily, his gaze filled with remorse. "Your highness, I didn't want to ruin the joyous atmosphere of your wedding day," he admitted. "The truth is, the police station was attacked, and Oliver managed to escape yet again. We kept it from you to preserve the happiness of the moment and also due to the fact that it was just so hard to tell especially since its not his first time."Adonis
Heril's eyes remained widened in disbelief even when Adonis confirmed what he had just said. He couldn't fathom that his little sister was engaged to the Prince of the city. It all felt surreal, like a dream."Valerie, is this true?" Heril asked, still struggling to grasp the reality of the situation.Valerie nodded, her cheeks flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and pride. "Yes, Heril. Adonis and I are engaged, you still think that I could never get such a man?"Adonis decided to show Heril the depth of their connection. With a gentle smile, he approached Valerie, his eyes locked onto Heril's. He embraced Valerie tenderly, pulling her close to him. It was a silent but powerful gesture that spoke volumes. Adonis was staking his claim, declaring his love for Valerie in front of her brother.As they stood there in that heartfelt embrace, Heril's initial shock began to give way to a sense of acceptance, and perhaps even happiness for his sister. Adonis even went further to gently ra
As they made their way back to the palace, Adonis decided to contact his lawyer to inform him about Oliver's capture and discuss rescheduling his case.He dialed the lawyer's number and, after a few rings, the lawyer answered."Hello," the lawyer said.Adonis replied, "Hello, it's Adonis. I wanted to let you know that Oliver has been apprehended, so we need to reschedule my case as soon as possible."The lawyer, however, had some news that Adonis wasn't entirely pleased with. "I understand your urgency, Adonis, but the city currently has a backlog of cases, and it might take some time before we can secure a new date for your hearing."Adonis, slightly frustrated, responded, "you’re saying that even as a prince, I still have to wait too?"The lawyer, maintaining his professionalism, explained, "It's a matter of protocol, Adonis. We'll do our best to expedite the process, but we must follow the established legal procedures."Adonis, though not entirely satisfied, reluctantly agreed, rea
As Adonis and the elders anxiously awaited news of the police mission's outcome, a sense of unease hung heavy in the air. Adonis couldn't help but consider the myriad of possibilities that could derail their plans. What if Oliver had somehow learned of the police's approach and was lying in wait to ambush them like he had done twice? What if his henchmen had already scattered upon hearing of the police's arrival? Maybe he still had more minions giving him information? Time seemed to stretch on endlessly, and Adonis' patience and hope was starting to waver. Some of the elders began to voice their doubts, questioning whether everything was truly unfolding as Adonis had envisioned. They had been waiting for nearly an hour, and the absence of any updates was gnawing at their patience too. Adonis remained silent, but the seeds of doubt had already been sown in his mind. The uncertainty of the situation weighed heavily on him, and he couldn't shake the feeling that their carefully laid pl
While Adonis stood in the room with the unconscious guard, Jesse suddenly busted in, holding Adonis's phone. The screen displayed an incoming call from an unknown number, which, in their world, meant it was likely Oliver on the line. Adonis took a deep breath and answered, bracing himself for what was to come. "Adonis," Oliver's voice echoed through the phone, "it's time." Adonis couldn't contain his curiosity any longer. "Who tipped you off about our coming?" he demanded, hoping to unravel the mystery. Oliver's response was far from what he expected. "Oh! I had no idea you were coming, Adonis," he replied, genuine confusion in his tone. "I didn't even know you had been to our previous hiding spot. But it seems even nature is conspiring against your success." The revelation left Adonis perplexed, wondering how Oliver had managed to stay one step ahead without any external information. Oliver continued, hinting at his usual threat. "Get ready, Adonis," Oliver warned. "The second p
The tracker had arrived, and Adonis wasted no time briefing him on the task at hand. They needed to locate Oliver through a phone call, and the tracker assured them that he could accomplish the job. He emphasized the necessity of a ninety-second call to pinpoint Oliver's location accurately. With their plan in motion, they turned their attention to the captured guard, their determination unshaken. They needed him to make the crucial call to Oliver, even though he had deleted all traces of their previous conversations. Initially, the guard remained silent, stubbornly refusing to cooperate. But as the pressure mounted, he finally relented and dialed Oliver's number. The call went through, and Adonis took the phone, speaking calmly but urgently. "Oliver," Adonis began, "we've captured one of your minions yet again." There was a pause on the other end, and then Oliver's voice, cold and calculating, responded. "Who told you those were my minions, Adonis? They were nothing more than tool
Pleasantries were exchanged as they all settled around the table at the casino. Adonis observed the familiarity the elders shared with King Clark, who greeted him with a hint of amusement."Prince Adonis," King Clark said, a mischievous glint in his eye, "it's truly delightful to finally meet the lost but found prince in person."Adonis, though puzzled by the king's words, offered a polite nod. "Likewise, King Clark."However, as they indulged in the various games and distractions the casino had to offer, Adonis couldn't help but sense a subtle shift in the king's demeanor. What had started as a friendly encounter took an unexpected turn when King Clark began to act rudely.He fired questions at Adonis with a mocking tone, each one designed to taunt. "Do you know how to play the 'rich men' games, Adonis? After all, you've just become a prince. Do you know how to act rich, or have you been poor your entire life?"The others at the table remained silent, aware that King Clark was simply