“$2million.”
Xavier peered at seven digits on the bank cheque. He realized that the boss’s wife was serious when she said that she was willing to pay him $2 million in exchange for his body.
“All you need is to give me your heart, Xavier. Then the $2 million will be all yours.”
Xavier stood silent as he clenched his fists.
They said when temptation comes, you should close your eyes and run away from it. Because those who fall from temptation and snare will plunge men into destruction and ruin. But oddly, Xavier couldn’t take his eyes off the money.
The will is eager, but the flesh is weak.
“I heard that you decided to work here because you have debts to pay,” the boss’s wife continued.
At that moment, the head of the man standing in front of her turned. His blue eyes locked onto her. She wore her red hair down, and as she gracefully moved with her night gown, he saw glimpses of her neckline, white neck, and collarbone.
The boss’s wife, Lewelyn, raised her head and seductively smiled at Xavier. Her amber eyes fluttered and gleamed like jewels. Straight teeth were revealed between the curled corners of her mouth. Anyone who would see her will have the desire to own the lady.
But not Xavier.
Even if Lewelyn was the most gorgeous woman on Earth, Xavier would only love his wife.
“What do you think?” Lewelyn inquired. She crossed her legs, revealing her smooth skin. “You can pay all of your debts and be my man at the same time. Isn’t that killing two birds with one stone?”
“Madam.”
Xavier muttered. What was contained in his blue eyes was disgust as he looked back at the beautiful lady.
“As a driver of the Fugito family, I would never dare lay a hand on the master’s woman. How could I commit this great sin?”
A blazing fire engulfed Lewelyn. As she swallowed her saliva, flames climbed in her throat. Lewelyn struggled to suppress her boiling emotions and calm them down. Somehow, she never lost her nobility. But the grimace sneaked in.
She couldn’t believe that a mere driver would reject her coldly even if she offered to pay for his debts!
How audacious and humiliating!
Lewelyn never experienced getting rejected by any men.
Xavier is the first one.
Ever since Xavier worked as Fugito’s driver, a rumor about the handsome man has spread in the mansion. They said Xavier Green is truly a beautiful man, like an angel.
Out of curiosity, Lewelyn tried to prove if the rumor is true. And the first time she saw him, she fell in love.
Lightly waving pale blonde hair, blue eyes, and red lips contrasting with white skin. He had suffered a lot in the past for working so hard, but his face was still shining. That’s why Lewelyn thought she could have an affair with the driver of the house.
Yet, all she received in the end was rejection.
Lewelyn clicked her tongue and crossed her arms while looking at Xavier in disbelief.
“You are being stupid, young man,” she tossed a sharp remark. “Instead of dirtying your hands every night, you can pay your debts using me. So, why take the difficult path?”
With hands behind his back, Xavier gawked straight at her. Then, he detached his lips.
“My only wish is to make my wife happy. That’s why I am working so hard to pay my debts. Just like what you said, I am taking a difficult path. It was hard for me. But, if I can escape from this by giving myself to another woman, I doubt that will make my wife happy.”
Lewelyn’s cheeks turned red and her eyebrows narrowed. Fury roared through her mind. She swore she wouldn’t forget this humiliation for the rest of her life!
“Lewelyn! My dear wife!”
The door banged open and the master of the house came in.
Both Lewelyn and Xavier looked at the old man who had entered the room. He is Cesare Fugito, Lewelyn’s husband and the owner of Fugito Winery. Cesare is a man in her late 60’s, while Lewelyn is in her early 30’s. The age difference clearly shows that the young lady was married off with an old man for business purposes. And that is why she is eager to find a lover that would ease her loneliness in this loveless marriage.
“I missed you so much, my dear Le…”
Cesar ceased from running when he saw Xavier inside his wife’s room. The brightened expression turned strained as he wondered why there was a handsome and young man beside his wife.
“Who is this b*stard?” Cesar asked while holding the gun on his waist.
Xavier felt the sweating on his hands. Once Cesar finds out that his wife was seducing him, he might kill the two of them! That is possible since Xavier found many corpses in this mansion as soon as he started to work.
“Sir Cesar!” Xavier called as he bowed his head to give him respect. “My name is Xavier Green. I am the driver located at 43 East gate.”
Lewelyn held her breath while watching Xavier introduce himself. If Xavier speaks the truth, Lewelyn knows she’ll be dead too.
Cesar thinly narrowed his eyes onto the handsome driver.
“And why are you here in my wife’s room?” Cesar questioned.
“On my way to work, I found Mrs. Fugito’s bank cheque,” Xavier explained before he pointed to the bank cheque on the table.
Lewelyn couldn’t believe that Xavier would think of an excuse within a short period of time.
Cesar saw the bank cheque. Then he diverted his eyes to his lovely wife.
“Is he saying the truth?”
Lewelyn quickly smiled at Cesar. “Of c-course! T-The maid told me that a driver found my missing bank cheque. I was so afraid that you'd get mad once you heard that I carelessly dropped such a precious thing. S-So, I directly called the driver to bring the cheque to me.”
With trembling hands, Lewelyn grabbed the cheque and showed it to her husband.
Cesar looked alternately at his wife and the driver. He let go of his gun barrel and walked towards Xavier.
Xavier clenched his teeth and chewed his lip. He didn’t know if Cesar bought their lies. In any second, he might lose his head right here, right now.
“Young man,” Cesar called as he stood in front of Xavier.
With a loud beating heart, Xavier lifted his head and met the old man’s gaze.
“Yes, Sir?” he responded in a low voice.
As Cesar’s answer, he slapped Xavier’s face.
Lewelyn covered her mouth as she gasped.
Had his face tilted, Xavier kept his eyes on the floor while feeling the prickling ache on his cheek.
“I never allow men to visit my wife’s room,” Cesar said in a cold voice. “But you brought back my wife’s belongings. So consider this as your reward.”
A slap as his reward?
Xavier wanted to laugh at this nonsensical idea. However, he had no right to complain and was left with no choice but to nod his head.
“Thank you so much for being considerate, Sir Fugito,” Xavier murmured while gritting his teeth.
“If you know it, then get lost. I don’t want to waste my free time looking at your face.”
Xavier bowed his head and dashed outside the room. As soon as he went out, he leaned on the wall and held his chest. It felt as though barbs prickled at his throat every time he breathed.
He was so scared.
Xavier thought he'd gonna die right there and he would never see his family again.
With cold sweats on his forehead, Xavier shut his eyes and took a deep breath.
‘Two years. I only need to endure for two years in this house,’ Xavier reminded himself.
He put his hand onto the wall to support his strength and then stood straight.
As if nothing happened, Xavier made his way out of the mansion.
“Xavier! Where did you go? We’ve been looking for you for damn an hour,” Frederick complained as soon as he saw Xavier walking towards the 43 East gate.
Frederick is Xavier’s only friend in the mansion, and he works as the family’s driver.
“Sorry. Something just came up,” Xavier apologized.
“Your cheek is red. What happened to you dude?”
Xavier turned his head to hide the reddened part and murmured, “Nothing.”
He walked forward, and Frederick went on his tail.
“Did you get on the boss’ bad side?!” Frederick asked while following Xavier.
Xavier kept his mouth shut as he walked. Nothing good will happen if he tells him what really happened a moment ago.
“You idiot. You only have two years on your contract. Keep away from any danger while you are here.”
“I guess the danger is following me right now,” Xavier teased.
“Me?!” Frederick pointed to himself and laughed. “I know I am dangerously handsome.”
Xavier stopped for a moment to throw a disgusting look at his friend’s face. “Huh!” he scoffed as he shook his head and walked away again.
“Anyway, whatever the case, stay away from our boss,” Frederick reminded him. “I heard that there are fights between the siblings' inheritance. That’s why our boss is always on edge.”
“What does it matter to people like us?” Xavier responded. “While we are here, we only need to focus on our job.”
The two of them arrived at the 43 East gate of the mansion.
From the entrance of the underground facility, Frederick helped Xavier carry a huge and heavy black cadaver bag inside the sedan car.
“The delivery location is in 53 warehouse,” Frederick recalled as he gave the car key to Xavier.
Xavier grabbed the key. Before he opened the door of the car, he looked back at Frederick and said, “Oh right. Congratulations. I heard that your wife gave birth to a baby boy.”
“Thanks dude. I’m gonna be a father. Any words from an experienced dad?”
Xavier sneered as he opened the door. “Prepare for hell.”
He hopped inside the driver’s seat and then buckled his seat-belt. When he started the engine, he looked back at the black cadaver bag on the back seat.
“Today, I will be your driver. I promise to make your last ride very comfortable.”
After giving his promise, Xavier drove the car out of the mansion.
When he said that they only need to focus on their job, this is what he was talking about.
The job is to drive the corpses that go in and out of the mansion.
Driving on the empty highway, Xavier glanced at the front mirror and looked at the cadaver bag which contains the corpse. This is the 120th corpse that he will deliver ever since he worked in Fugito mansion. It's been a year, but the fear is always there. To be alone inside the car with a corpse requires courage. Clutching his hand around the wheels, Xavier took a deep breath. “You are the 120th corpse that I will transport. What is your name? Do you have a family? What was your job?” Xavier asked even if he knows that the dead won't answer him. This is his way to get rid of his fear. At the same time, mourned for the victim of another cruelty. Xavier was always curious why there are so many people dying in that place. But for the sake of money, he never asked anything. He abandoned his moral to be an accomplice of a crime. Heaving a sigh, Xavier glanced at the black cadaver bag on the back seat through the front mirror. As soon as he looked at the bag, he saw it moving.
[“ THE MADAM TOLD HIM THAT YOU TRIED TO RAPE HER! SIR CESAR WAS SO MAD HE ASKED HIS MEN TO ABDUCT YOUR FAMILY RIGHT NOW!”]Problem after problem. Xavier hadn’t solved how he would deal with the survivor in the back seat of the car, and now, another trouble aroused.“The madam s-said that I tried to r-rape her?” It’s laughable. Horribly laughable. It’s freaking funny how that woman can ruin his life through a simple lie. Was it because she felt ashamed? Her pride was crushed? She wanted to get her revenge? None of these is reasonable to put someone in danger! As the seconds passed by, Xavier was sinking little by little into reality. The madam’s lie would get him and his family killed. He shook his head and began to murmur his desperate pleas. “No. Not my wife. Not my son,” he murmured with a voice that was like a turbulent ocean. He looked down on the dim car and searched for the phone he had dropped before. Just for that moment, Xavier forgot about the cadaver bag on the back
“This is not true,” Xavier defended while shaking his head. “I never covet your woman, Sir!” “Lies!” Lewelyn screamed while crying hysterically. “Y-You forced yourself inside my room and confessed that you liked me. When I rejected you, you threatened me and tried to hold me!” “No!” Xavier declined. “I never d…” Xavier stopped when Cesar pinned the gun muzzle onto his forehead. Click. There was a clicking sound as Cesar put the gun’s hammer down. After that, every sound was muted. Xavier could only hear the loud beating of his heart. “Are you saying that my wife who was crying so hard is lying to me?!” Cesar shouted. “I… won’t dare lie to y…”“SHUT THE **** UP!Xavier’s shoulders tensed. From the beginning, he was never given the chance to explain himself, and everything was decided. Whatever the truth is, Xavier will be punished by Cesar. No one would listen to a lowly and powerless driver. “You touched something which isn’t yours, young man,” Cesar said while grinding his t
In the empty street of McKenly, a van quietly made its way. McKenly is a ghost town, and it’s been years since people left the place. Many feared visiting, especially at night because of the rumors that ghosts have appeared recently in this area. However, for criminals, this is the perfect pathway to use for transferring dead bodies. “This place is scary,” John, who was sitting in the passenger seat, complained. “It seems that any time, a ghost will appear. They said this town was cursed. If you bring a corpse here, then the corpse will haunt you forever.” The driver, Bradport, laughed so hard while driving. “Are you telling me that Xavier will stand up and eat us? Stop being a wimp. That won’t ever happen.” Taking a deep breath, John looked behind the van and stared at the corpse inside the cadaver bag. Clutching the seat belt, John stared at the road again. Certainly, the curse of the town is just a rumor. But tonight something will happen that can make everyone believe it mi
Xavier woke up on a soft sheet as a streak of sunlight trickled in through the window. Slowly and reluctantly, he opened his eyes. He blinked several times to clear the hazy vision as he scrutinized his surroundings in confusion. And then, he found himself in an unfamiliar place. He was in a room that was the size of his apartment, and on a bed that was as big as a studio, with extremely expensive-looking furniture all around. ‘What happened? Where am I?’ Last night, he woke up in a van. He killed the men who were supposed to deliver his body in the 53rd warehouse. Then, he drove the van in order to escape and find his wife and son. ‘But after that, what happened?’ He closed his eyes and tried to recall last night’s event. When he was driving the van, he felt a throbbing pain that he thought his head would crack open. Xavier held his head with one hand, while the other held the steering wheel tightly. Dizzy, the surroundings turned blurry. He thought it would be better to stop
Criminals. To be a criminal, one had to go against the rules. The first time will make you regret it. The second will make you think twice. The third time might be thrilling. But at 4th, 5th, 6th… you will stop counting anymore. Xavier went against a rule. But he stuck at first, which is the level of regrets. Because not all criminals were born as one. Sometimes, it happened because you had no choice. To eat. To live. To survive. Those are the essentials of life. Therefore, when Xavier was looking at the members of the Mafia, who bowed their heads in front of him, he doubted if he was still in phase one of being a criminal. Driving for the corpse is his first. Killing goes for the second. But deceiving the mafia members might be for infinite numbers. One thing is for sure, Xavier did not feel the thrill of being in this crazy situation. ‘I am the Mafia boss?’ The boss of the criminals?’ Xavier asked himself. He wanted to shake his head and deny that this was his realit
The sun set to the west. Xavier stayed in the room all day while thinking of a way to get out of here. When he stood up and looked outside the window, he was surprised that there were no men guarding the gate anymore! Even if it was weird that everyone suddenly disappeared when nightfall came, Xavier could not let this chance pass by. It’s now or never. Carefully, he tiptoed towards the door and gently twisted the doorknob. The wooden door creaked as he pushed it open. He peeked outside and saw the empty hallway. ‘Maybe, the Mafia boss wanted to be alone at night,’ he guessed. As quiet as a mouse, Xavier exited the room and closed the door. He used the same path he took before and arrived at the balcony. It’s empty either. The deafening silence echoed in the surroundings like a scary melody. There was only one light to brighten the huge hall, which made the place eerie. Xavier gulped dry saliva and suppressed the fear. He took a deep breath before he walked down the stairway.
When Xavier opened his eyes, he found himself in a dim place. His feet and hands were tied on the wood chair. No matter how much he tried to get out, it was futile. Breathing heavily, he looked North. He saw a man approaching on his side. Step. Step. Finally, under the lighting, he saw the man with droopy eyes which were darkly shaded. It was Gian, the underboss of the Harbor Black Mafia. Gian was holding a piece of paper as he stood in front of Xavier. “Xavier Green,” Gian read the contents in the paper. “Graduated of business management in Harvard University. Married and a father of a 9-year-old boy. You have million dollars debt from the loan shark and to pay for that, you are working as a driver.” With Cheshire grin, Gian stared at Xavier. “So far, this is the information I got regarding you.” He showed the paper in his hand which contained Xavier’s photo. “Your picture and your face right now are very different.” “I already told you that before!” Xavier shouted. “That m