"I don't understand that."
"Families and friends don't matter to them when it comes to business. If not for that discipline, the Alberts wealth would be gone before now. They are a beast in the business field and all they want is to win. They can go any length to see that they are one step ahead of their competitors. That is the game of business I am talking about."Harlan nodded. It makes sense. Just a little more information from Mr Smith and he would be able to convince anyone of the tricky things the Alberts are up to."I see.""But, I would rather not be rich than practice some things they do.""Like?"Mr Smith turned around to face Harlan."I want to keep my head away from business today."Harlan smiled, "it's okay." Mr Smith would be of great help here.Mr Smith nodded.***"One of the Alberts is going to participate inThe next morning, Harlan went to the place where the contest was to take place. He had been told that it would start very early in the morning and he could already hear that sound of songs as he walked in the hall."Mr man, come back here," someone said rudely, calling Harlan's attention."Me?" Harlan touched his chest."Yes, you. If you are here for the contest, I should tell you that you will never win," the man who had been asked to man the entrance to the hall said."Unfortunately, I am not here for that.""Wait a minute. Don't tell me you are here to watch the performance.""I am.""Who invited a stupid idiot like you and didn't tell you that you will need to purchase the ticket before you come in.""I invited myself.""Where is your ticket?""I don't need one.""Security!" The man snapped his fingers and two security men came
"Bomb? What do you mean, Sir?" Jack called from the front."Something dropped through the window."Jack looked back and saw the piece of paper."Don't touch it," he said. He activated the car's self drive and got to the back seat with Harlan."This doesn't seem like a bomb, Sir," Jack said and took the paper.Harlan sighed in relief. Why would it have been a bomb anyway?Inside the paper, was another paper with few words neatly written on it.WE NEED TO TALK. SIMON.Harlan glanced at Jack."What does he want to talk about?""I don't have an idea. His friend didn't show up where we planned to meet two days ago," Harlan said."They must think you are jobless. You caused it, paying them because you wanted to hear their damn story," Jack said."Nonsense."***"I am happy for you." Elizabet
Harlan was preparing to get some hours of sleep before the day breaks when he got a call from Roger. Did he get a hint that he is the CEO of 'where talent glows'?He answered the call and cleared his throat."Hello?""You are more brave than you look."Harlan wondered what that was all about."What?""For confessing to Elizabeth that you love her. You are really bold."Harlan quickly hung up. He ran his hand through his hair. He should have known that Elizabeth would not keep things like that from Roger."What the hell have I done?" He sat on the bed and dropped his phone on it.The two of them must have had a fun laugh while talking about his feelings.He clenched his fist. How dare Elizabeth toil with his feelings!His phone rang again. The call was from Roger. He didn't answer and it soon stopped ringing, but it started ringing
The next day, throughout the time Harlan spent getting ready for school, getting into the car, the ride to the college, everything seemed as if he was in a trance. If he had known that Elizabeth loved someone else, he wouldn't have told her anything that day. He would have kept his mouth shut. Why does he always have the same fate of getting rejected by the girls he has feelings for?"Sir, we are here," Jack said, managing to bring Harlan back to the present."Where?" Harlan stared at Jack who had opened the door and was standing by it."Healy law college.""Huh? When did we arrive?""Just now. I have been standing by the door for a few seconds now, Sir.""Oh, okay." "Sir, is everything okay?"Harlan nodded and got down from the car.Jack bowed slightly. He watched Harlan as he left. He shrugged. Things don't always go right for everyone.
Harlan turned slowly in Elizabeth's direction. He met her glance. For some moments, they maintained eye contact.Elizabeth smiled at him before looking at Cecilia. She gave her a hard stare."I wasn't the one—""Get lost," Elizabeth snapped.Cecilia clenched her fist. She picked her books from the floor and stormed off in rage.Harlan didn't know how to react to what was happening at first, but when he realized that Elizabeth might be doing this to save his face, he smiled.They both walked out of the library. Compared to the other times, only a small crowd had watched the scene happen.Harlan cleared his throat when they got outside."I appreciate what you did there, but I would rather you stopped acting.""What are you talking about?" Elizabeth asked."Stop pretending as if we are dating."Elizabeth glanced at Harlan. She had been hoping that Harlan wouldn't take what she said seriously. How was she supposed to explain to him about the stupid thing that Roger did?"Oh... That?""You
Jason turned off the television that had been ceaselessly giving nothing but bad news since he woke up. He heard a knock on the door and opened it. A young man, dressed in the hotel's black and white uniform bowed slightly before going to pack the plates that Jason had used to eat. He closed the door after the man had left.Feeling bored, he lay on the bed and took his phone. He checked the group chat for something to keep his mind busy.He saw a picture that had just been dropped some seconds back. He enlarged the picture.He could recognize Elizabeth fast. Who was she hugging? He scrolled up to have a better view of the person. "Harlan?" He muttered to himself.He looked at the picture well. There was someone with the two of them. The blue hair made him realize who the person was. Roger.Too bold, isn't it? Harlan is hugging Elizabeth in the full glare of everyone. Th
When Harlan opened his eyes, he found he wasn't in his room. He felt some heaviness in his leg. He stifled a groan as he tried to lift the heavy leg.He looked around and saw that he was in a hospital.He closed his eyes and tried to remember what happened. The memory came flooding into his head.The door opened and he saw Jack come in."You are awake, young Master?" Jack's voice was full of anxiety."Did you get the person?" Harlan asked.Jack nodded his head."How are you feeling now?""I feel as if my body is on strike. My head hurts a lot. What is the smell in this place?""Smell?""Everything here is disgusting. Geez.""You will soon get out here. You feel a lot of pain?""Yeah. The pain in my leg is the worst."Someone knocked on the door and it opened.Elizabeth entered.
"Someone from the Alberts?""Yes. They are the only ones I know who can be after you this way.""The only person from the Alberts who could send him to me is Jason, but I am not sure he wants me dead.""Do you trust him?"Harlan glanced at Jack, "not that much."Jack nodded, "I promise to get to the root of this, Sir."****Harlan had just come out from the examination Hall. As usual, Roger had not come for the exam. Jason had come into the exam hall five minutes before it was over. Cecilia had walked around the hall while everyone was busy writing away, even with the invigilators' warning that she should sit quietly, she hadn't stayed in a position for more than five minutes.Elizabeth, when Harlan glanced at her, had been busy with exam papers. The exam, just as always, was a work over for Harlan. Sometimes, he wondered if those who set the exam