"Damien!" Charles Ban's playful voice could be heard from the other side of the phone line as soon as Mr. Ban picked up. Not like Mr. Ban had anything against Charles, but currently, his mind was too occupied to deal with Charles' fast-paced countenance. "Charles, what can I do for you? I know you only call when you need something," Mr. Ban said. "Oh, come on, don't sound like Margaret. Anyway, I just booked a ticket. I miss home and I'm coming back!" Charles Ban said with a stubborn tone. "What the hell are you talking about?" Mr. Ban asked with a greasy voice. He leaned forward and rested his elbow on his right lap, ruffling his hair warily. "I've not been home in five years, Damien, I'm sure anybody that has grudges against me has forgotten about me," Charles replied. Mr. Ban chuckled with sarcasm and shook his head. "You think so?" He asked Charles. "Damien, I'm 23 now. I'm a big boy and I can handle myself," Charles insisted. "You cannot handle shit, Charles. Stay over t
Three days had passed, and Greg's life had supposedly returned to normal. Although, Lucy had not called him, and she was not answering his calls either. Greg wondered about this until he decided to give up. He was back working at the warehouse.Oftentimes, he would take a daring look outside, imagining that Lucy would strut in with her usual nonchalant demeanor but it never happened. It didn't bother Greg anymore because he thought that Lucy had grown tired of him. Especially because of the horrendous viral video that had mysteriously disappeared from his phone. "You care to come with me to the Vanity Place Tonight?" Greg's colleague dared to ask him. "What? Are you out of your mind?" Greg asked sharply, wondering why his colleague dared to ask him that sort of abominable question. "My mentor is having his birthday bash there, he will ensure everyone's security and not let any gangs come at each other. He's a strong force in the city," Greg's colleague bragged.A strong force?G
''He heard you,'' Pedro turned around to look at his girlfriend and told her with anger. Pedro's girlfriend tried to hide her guilt. While Greg was gathering his belongings and talking to Pedro about leaving, she hid in a corner of the living room, glaring at Greg and wondering if he had heard her or if it was indeed a coincidence that had occurred. ''He did not!'' she replied to Pedro's accusation. Greg went back to his house impromptu. ''Damn!'' he muttered as he opened the door and the heavy stench of dormancy hit him. Just then, his phone rang. Greg looked at his phone and saw that it was Don Black. He heaved a deep sigh. ''I'm sending someone to pick you up. There is someone I would like you to meet,'' Don Black said. Greg had already promised Don Black that he would think about accepting a decent job from him, and as far as Don Black was concerned, that was the same thing as a yes to joining his gang. So he had something in store for Greg from that day onwards. They h
At the city airport, by 6 AM, an aircraft landed from abroad. The departure hall of the international wing immediately became restless when they announced this flight. Apparently, more than half of the people at the departure wing were waiting for commuters of this particular air taxi. Charles Ban, wearing an oversized black hoodie, stepped out of the plane, looked around, and put on dark glasses, even though the sun was not out at that time. As expected, it took a while before he located his luggage among the thousands that were displayed on the carrier. ''Harpers Inn!'' Charles said to the taxi driver as he hopped into the back seat of the car after putting his luggage behind. The driver twitched his eyes. The location Charles asked him to drive to was a high-brew area.He tried to peer at Charles through the rearview mirror, to see the person that was going to that sort of place at that time of the day. Charles looked obviously young, he was in his early twenties, so he didn'
Mr Ban was livid because of what Charles told him.Back at his house, he was staring into space, weighing everything that had been going on with him lately."It has to be that, that worthless man came out of jail with a strong jinx, because how do I explain the heap of mess I'm in?" Mr Ban said to his bodyguard, Barter.Barter had been making passes at Laura anytime he had the opportunity to. Most times, he was with Mr Ban, but anytime he had the opportunity to be in the same space alone with Laura, he seized the opportunity to harass her. "I told you, runaway with me. I know a place we can elope to, where you'd be far away from your hideous husband," Barter said to Laura on one occasion. Laura glanced at him and removed her eyes quickly. Already, she had disconnected with herself, and was merely a vegetable in Mr Ban's house, ready to be used the way Mr Ban liked. She had heard Mr Ban mention something about Greg hooking up with his niece, and she was devastated at the thought of
Barter heard Laura screaming, and wondered if something heavier than what he was used to was happening.He was used to Mr. Ban beating Laura up every now and then, but the only reply he ever heard from Laura was her wailings and crying, but, this time, he could hear her screaming at Mr. Ban.Also, did he hear her mention a divorce? He hoped he heard correctly.Barter peeped into the room and saw how Mr. Ban held Laura like a rag doll, barking angry words at her, and he raised an eyebrow.At this point, he hoped he truly heard Laura asking Mr. Ban for a divorce.Maybe she had accepted to run away with him."What has come over you? Your ex-fiance's magic has started to work on you, right? Since when did you become so aggressive and ratchet?" Mr. Ban asked with surprise evident in his voice.Laura squirmed under his grip and looked at him. Her eyes had never shed such tears before. This episode was different, her heart was heavier than ever, and she just wanted to leave Damien Ban's hous
Barter heard Laura screaming, and wondered if something heavier than what he was used to was happening.He was used to Mr. Ban beating Laura up every now and then, but the only reply he ever heard from Laura was her wailing and crying, but, this time, he could hear her screaming at Mr. Ban. Also, did he hear her mention a divorce? He hoped he heard correctly.Barter peeped into the room and saw how Mr. Ban held Laura like a rag doll, barking angry words at her, and he raised an eyebrow.At this point, he hoped he really heard Laura asking Mr. Ban for a divorce.Maybe she had accepted to run away with him. Finally."What has come over you? Your ex-fiance's magic has started to work on you, right? Since when did you become so aggressive and ratchet.?" Mr. Ban asked with surprise evident in his voice.Laura squirmed under his grip and looked at him. Her eyes had never shed such tears before. This episode was different, her heart was heavier than ever, and she just wanted to leave Damien
For now, Laura's mind was clouded. She had already accepted Barter's offer before she realized that she shouldn't have. But she wanted to escape from Mr. Ban's house, desperately. What else would she have done to escape? She didn't have the key to the secret door and would have tried to walk out through the front door, and of course, she would have been stopped. So, technically, Barter helped her. But she wished he didn't have to.''My name is Alina. I'm Barter's sister,'' the lady that showed Laura to her room at Bueno's hotel said. Laura raised her eyebrows in realization, no wonder the girl had a striking resemblance with the gangsta bodyguard. They were siblings.Looking at Barter's sister, Laura wondered if she was comfortable with her brother's lifestyle. Barter was a dangerous man, he was so dangerous, to the extent that, even his comrades who guarded Mr. Ban as well, gave him the utmost respect. It was safe to say that he was the leader of Mr. Ban's gangstas.''How do you k
Greg Chase didn't know if he should laugh or cry. He stared at The Man until he was sure that The Man was serious about what he said, then he heaved a tired sigh. ''You cannot afford to do this to me. I mean...you sparingly ruined my life,'' Greg Chase complained, his eyes on The Man the entire time. ''You are the watcher, Mr. Chase. You shame me. The watcher ought to be more powerful than you are, but you are too full of yourself, so you cannot reach your full potential,'' The Man told Greg Chase. ''How powerful can I get?'' Greg Chase asked. ''Did you hear about the natural disaster that happened in the city Aklans weeks ago?'' The Man asked Greg Chase. Greg Chase nodded.''Yes, that was caused by a watcher like you. He was upset about something, and his intense anger caused a stir and an earthquake occurred. Though the government officials claim it to be solely a natural occurrence, it is a lie, and they know it...'' The Man told Greg Chase. Greg Chase was not sure he heard
Greg Chase almost dropped dead when he heard everything. ''If you have anything to tell me, or there is an emergency, I bet you now know how to summon me. It took you two years to learn how to summon me, Greg Chase. Now, you know what pride can do to you. It can ruin you,'' The Man said as he gradually disappeared into space. Greg Chase stared in arrant shock.All this...it had to be a joke.''Boss...at least...you aware that you returned my colleagues back to our company, right?'' Scissors asked Greg Chase after The Man left. Greg Chase looked at Scissors casually and nodded. ''I have told you not to call me boss anymore,'' Greg Chase said.Scissors smiled. ''The boss is really back to himself. Boss, you have not told me that in the past two years, and I have only called you boss throughout,'' Scissors said, smiling. Greg Chase wished it could stop.Someone needed to come and tell him that all this was a dream.Ge desperately needed to hear that he had been pranked heavily. So
''Master!'' Greg Chase muttered. Then he blinked. The next time that Greg Chase opened his eyes, he was in his living room on earth.He was leisurely watching TV and Scissors walked by casually. Greg Chase looked at Scissors, expecting him to freak out and ask how and where he had been but Scissors acted like every other day. As if nothing happened. Or?Had he been in a trance?''Scissors, what day is it today?''Wednesday,'' Scissors said. ''Where have you been in the last twenty-four hours?'' Greg Chase asked, looking at Scissors, squinting in confusion. It was as if his brain had been formatted. Scissors turned to look at him funny.''Keeping tabs on me now, huh, boss!'' he said, taking orange juice from the fridge and heading back inside the house, to his room. Greg Chase's eyes sparkled in confusion. ''I'm not keeping tabs on you. Fuck you,'' he said under his breath.''I heard you!'' Scissors yelled from afar. Greg Chase nodded with satisfaction. The first thing that
''Boss?'' Scissors called, wondering why Greg Chase was looking at him like that. ''What is growing on your head?'' Greg Chase asked Scissors. Scissors frowned.Was it because he had indicated that something was funny about Greg Chase, that Greg Chase decided to switch up on him?''Boss, are you kidding?'' Scissors asked, flashing a weak smile.Greg Chase shook his head. ''There's a radio on your head,'' Greg Chase suddenly said.''Radio!'' Scissors muttered and raised his hand to touch his head but he did not feel anything, and to Greg's shock, Greg saw Scissors' hand pass through the radio. ''Ah, boss...you are playing the pranks on me. But there is an antenna on your head anyway,'' Scissors said to Greg Chase. Without wasting time, Greg Chase raised his hand to touch his head, and he was not surprised when he could not feel anything, yet he saw Scissors gasp in shock. ''Your hand passed through it,'' Scissors said. ''Same thing that happened to you. There's a radio on your h
''You...I must give it to you as the watcher with the biggest ego ever...'' The Man said to Greg Chase.Greg Chase frowned. ''Are there more watchers? I thought I was the only one,'' he said to The Man as he walked towards Scissors and started to pull him up again, but just like before, an unknown force repelled Greg Chase. The Man laughed his usual mocking laugh, one that made Greg Chase upset by all means. ''Can you please release my friend? What the hell?'' he asked The Man, anger flashing evidently in his eyes.''I am not holding your friend to anything, he will get up when he wants to,'' The Man replied.''And, about your question as to if there are other watchers, of course, there are billions of watchers around the world,'' The Man said to Greg Chase. ''I thought I was the only one. Are they also up to anything as big as mine? Do they try to take down their enemies or they are solely connected to the source of wherever this watcher thing comes from?'' Greg Chase asked. ''T
Greg Chase was beside himself, wondering why Laura had suddenly cut off from him.Yes, she might have been spotted in his house, but from the way he felt, he knew that word had not gotten to Mr. Ban about the fact that she was in his house, so why was she suddenly unavailable? Why was she no longer interested in their plan to overthrow Mr. Ban completely this time?He had his hopes on her, especially now that Don Black had looked in another direction, having found another ''young blood'' to show the ropes of the business and get acquainted with. No matter how many times Greg Chase called Laura Ban, it either did not go through, or she abruptly hung the call up on him.''Urgh, what the fuck is going on?'' Greg Chase asked himself. He felt as if everyone he knew and looked forward to helping him achieve one thing or the other, was turning their back on him. But, under what basis? What did he do, or what did they suddenly realize for them to have such a decision made overnight?''Boss
''What is it?'' Shadow asked, looking very interested in Barter's thoughts. Barter had been looking at him with so much intensity, he had to know what was on Barter's mind while he was looking at him. Barter looked at Shadow closely.If he told Barter what he knew, everything could take another turn for the worst, but he also wanted Laura Ban to face the repercussion of the trouble that she had doled out on others. Shadow stared at Barter, waiting for an answer. ''I was just wondering when you will ever settle down with one woman. You should be married by now, you know...'' Barter suddenly said. Shadow was surprised. ''Are you kidding me right now?'' he asked Barter.Barter shook his head. ''Nope! After you lost your ex-wife, I could understand you staying away from relationships and not wanting to commit to anyone anymore, but it's been nearly ten years since that happened. Don't you think you need someone by you to make you feel better? You know what I mean. Even gangstas nee
Barter was getting frustrated, and desperate. After spending more than two decades with Mr. Ban, he was easily going to throw him, Barter to a corner just because of a loose whore he called his wife? He stared at the door of the room as if he wished that his eyes would bore a hole through. ''Preposterous,'' he muttered as he suddenly turned to leave. In the living room, when Barter stormed in angrily, he saw Shadow. Barter looked at Shadow as if he was seeing a ghost. ''Dude, where the hell have you been for nearly two weeks?'' Barter asked, shocked. Shadow rolled his eyes. ''Did you really expect me to hang around so that I will get discovered by Chase and the rest of them that I am on Ban's side?'' Shadow asked. Barter suddenly realized. There was no way Greg Chase and his cohorts would not have found out about Shadow playing both sides, the tension and pressure were too much, especially after the war. ''You are right, you would have been spotted,'' Barter said.
''We just had a few drinks and nothing more,'' Laura Ban said. By this time, they had arrived at the home of Mr. Ban.Mr. Ban hurried out of the car as if, if he stayed there for one more second, something will happen to him. ''Boss!'' Barter greeted him as soon as he sighted him. He had been waiting rather impatiently for Mr. Ban to return and give him a rundown of what happened at Laura Ban's house. Barter would have been the one to follow Mr. Ban to Laura Ban's family house, but his hideous face did not allow him. ''How did it go, boss?'' Barter asked. Mr. Ban glanced at Barter and rolled his eyes. Barter knew at once that Mr. Ban must have been ridiculed and insulted. The look on the man's face was so intensely upset. Barter spotted Laura Ban behind, hurrying up to meet Mr. Ban, and he obviously hissed, loudly enough so that Laura Ban would hear him. But of course, at the moment, Laura was bothered about something else, so she paid Barter no mind. She hurried towards Mr