"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