This was a weekend before Triple M, so Kagern expected the Maze to be flocking with the academy students. It was the only destination for any person who wanted their outfits to impress, after all. However, meeting this particular pair wasn't among those expectations. He glanced at Erica, her last name sipping into his mind. Brooks.'What's with the Brooks fools trying to make my Friday a hell?'His encounter with Mr. Brooks back at the hotel was enough for him to avoid another abomination going by such a last name. Now that he has nothing to do about it, he gritted his teeth and spared her a glance. ‘Heavy makeup’ was the first phrase to cross his mind, then ‘expensive outfit.’ This made her less beautiful than Kagern remembered, complimented by a dress so revealing and indecent that some buildings or places would not allow her to enter. With a triumphant smile, she leaned against David like he was a wall, and the latter's hand was somewhere behind her, way lower than it should b
Kagern allowed a smirk to climb onto his face as his gaze swiped across the embarrassed faces of Erica and David to settle on Carolina."Do you still want me to explain what happened?" he asked. Carolina lowered her head and quickly apologized. "Please forgive me sir! I was incompetent and disrespected you but I swear it will never happen again."The manager stepped toward her. "Not that easy! I want to know what actually happened. I want to hear you say what you're apologizing for."Kagern didn't interfere. "He... He told me to..." Carolina stuttered, much to the manager's annoyance. She hated workers who disrespected clients because some people who visited the Maze were influential enough to cause a backlash if they told their fans something bad about it. This young man was clearly not a celebrity because she couldn't recognize him, but he could be a son to an influential family.That's why she asked, "Were you stuttering when you disrespected him?"Carolina shook her head. "Go
After these men with guns rushed out of the van, the scene outside the Maze became chaotic. Everyone ran aimlessly except Tharn and his men who quickly surrounded Kagern and Belinda to take them to safety.Their convoy was packed across the pavement, the reason why it took them a while to reach it. Kagern heard a few gunshots as Tharn pushed him into the car, bringing back the trauma of being hunted by gunmen back in Cereal City. This didn't stop him from looking out of the window, though. He wanted to see who had attacked them and why.Two two men holding a young woman came into his view. The woman was clad in a woman's suit, usually the one won by lawyers or formal people. One of the men tried to pull the briefcase she was holding onto as the other threatened her with the gun so she could let go of it. 'So, the attack was not directed to me?' To his surprise, he didn't feel relieved to know that. At least he had some bodyguards. How would that woman survive when she was on her
Soon, the trio made it into the Golden Heart Hotel's restaurant and looked for a table for three to sit. A waiter approached their table to take their orders. "Damn! Is it you guys?"The waiter exclaimed with a beaming face after noticing it was Kagern and Belinda. They had been working here for a long time so it wasn't so surprising to run into a waiter who knew them. "Who else would it be, Kim?" asked Kagern, raising his first to give a peace to the waiter. "Of course it's you. Guys, every crew member would have thanked you for putting Mr. Hako in his place if you had stayed a little longer."Kim's words sparked a plan in Kagern's mind. He had been friends with the restaurant crew for a long. They were his second family, his friends who sometimes did his work so he could note some ideas of his scripts that would pop up while he was at work. He had to repay them for their kindness. At least he owed them that much. The question was, how? Should he buy all of them a meal? No! Pe
The commotion came unannounced, the reason why Kagern couldn't guess where or who had started it. This forced him to raise his gaze. The first thing to come into his view was a waiter, then waiters and waitresses filled it. It was them.They came and surrounded his table, all of them happy and each saying his or her own words."Bro, Mr. Hako must be looking for a way to have you poisoned after what you did to him yesterday," said one waiter. "Hey! How come you're so rich, man? Is it true that you've won a lottery?" asked another guy.A girl punched the guy who asked this as she shouted at him, "Don't be stupid. Don't you realize that he is a scion from an aristocratic family who was just pretending to be a waiter?""Ouch! Gennie, you could have just said it. Was the punch necessary?"Kagern was relieved. No one was attacking them. Lydia was safe. He glanced at her and saw the panic on her face fading. Some waitresses she had befriended during her visits to this restaurant noticed h
Bingle wasn't dressed in her uniform. Instead, a black cargo pant and a baggy jumper of the same color, clothes you wouldn't expect a girl like her to wear. 'Interesting!'Kagern nodded his head to show her he had got her signal, then tried to end the conversation with Belinda."Saying this might be your house soon," her question replayed in his mind. "What did you mean?”Kagern didn't have a better lie. He just said, "That's one of the issues Lydia will help me with. I'll explain it to you when you're back."Belinda raised her eyebrows. "Back from where?"Kagern answered with a question."Didn't you say you'll accompany Lydia to the police station?"Belinda gave him a suspicious look. "Why do you sound like you have somewhere you want to be?""It's because there is."With this, Kagern stood up to leave while saying, "Tharn will take you. Inform me when you're back so I can come talk to Lydia."He knew Belinda would be watching him, but he had no choice but to approach Bingle. Sur
The plush king-sized bed, a cloud of Egyptian cotton sheets the color of fresh snow, still swallowed Kagern and Bingle whole. Sunlight, softened by silk curtains the color of spun gold, streamed in, illuminating motes of dust dancing in the air like tiny ballerinas. A crystal vase overflowing with lilies, their fragrance sweet and intoxicating, sat on a bedside table crafted from a single slab of mahogany, its surface polished to a mirror sheen.Here, in this luxurious haven, Bingle cried. Tears, unchecked and glistening, traced tracks down her cheeks. Leaning against Kagern's broad chest, her sobs were muffled by the thickness of the down comforter that seemed to puff up around them like a protective cocoon. Kagern, his jaw clenched with an anger that mirrored Bingle's fear, held her tight. His voice, a deep rumble that sent shivers down her spine, promised comfort. "Don't worry," he vowed, each word a testament to his resolve. "Now that I know the truth, nothing is gonna happen to y
Bingle, mortified beyond belief, peeked through her fingers at the unfolding scene. Lydia was still shocked on her own, so embarrassed as if she was to one caught in a guy's room.If only the carpet could swallow her. For once, Belinda seemed genuinely surprised... though her mischievous glint quickly returned as she wrestled Kagern's hand away from her mouth."Okay, okay," she conceded, her voice breathless from laughter. "Maybe interrupting wasn't the wisest thing."Kagern tried to defend himself. "Obviously not!" Despite saying this, his cheeks were still burning crimson. He glanced back at Bingle, his frustration tinged with a desperate hope. "Bingle, I...""Oh, don't worry about me, Kagern," Bingle interrupted, forcing a small smile. "I understand. It's a bit...awkward."Her voice held a hint of sadness that pricked at Kagern's conscience. He wanted nothing more than to usher Belinda and Lydia out and comfort her, but the urgency of the situation wouldn't allow it.Lydia, fin