Cordelia nodded, her curiosity piqued. "Why is he asking everyone to gather around? Some people are already playing games and having fun, look at those dancing even," she observed, gesturing to the lively scene around them.Hannah shook her head. "I have no idea. Who knows? Well, since he's the mastermind behind this event, he might have plans, you know," she speculated.Cordelia nodded in agreement, she and Hannah rose from their seats and began to make their way forward, joining the crowd as they gathered around to see what surprise awaited them.Meanwhile, Hayford caught sight of Cordelia and Hannah making their way through the crowd, their figures illuminated by the vibrant lights of the club park. A grin spread across his face as he nudged his three friends and nodded in their direction."Hey, guys, those are the ladies I was talking about," he said excitedlyHis friends followed his gaze, their eyes widening in appreciation as they watched Cordelia and Hannah approach. "Wow, you
Hayford, seeing Cordelia and Hannah's momentary silence, took it as a positive sign. "I'll take that as a yes. I'll dance with you, Cordelia."Seeing Hayford choose Cordelia, his three friends started arguing on which of them was going to dance with Hannah. "I saw her first!" one of them exclaimed, reaching out to grab Hannah's hand."No way, I called dibs!" another protested, attempting to pull Hannah away.Hayford closed in towards Cordelia and smiled, “Don't worry they'll solve it themselves.” He then walked at the ack of Cordelia. He couldn't help but gulp, she indeed had a big booty. He was about to hug her from behind when Cordelia turned around quickly with a frown. “What are you trying to do?” She asked“Dance with you, hug you from behind and dance with you just like how the others are doing.” Hayford replied“I'm not interested in that kind of smutty dance. If you want to dance, be in front we dance gently don't be touching me.” She saidHayford frowned but he didn't say a
The people who had surrounded them now understood why Cordelia had slapped Hayford, but they were surprised as to why she was that angry. Murmurs rippled through the crowd as they exchanged puzzled glances, trying to piece together the situation.Hannah, ever observant, quickly dashed forward to stand beside Cordelia, her brows furrowed with concern. "What's going on?" she askedHayford's expression darkened with anger as he turned to face Cordelia, his words dripping with venom. "This bitch dared slap me because I touched her," he spat out, his tone laced with indignation.Cordelia's eyes flashed with fury at his derogatory remark. Without hesitation, she raised her hand and delivered another resounding slap across Hayford's face. "This bitch?" she seethed, her voice cutting through the stunned silence. "You must be mad! Do I look like a bitch to you? Or do I look like a dog to shake my tail according to your tune?”With a flash of anger in her eyes, Cordelia's voice cut through the
Whop whop whop whop!” Tutututu!”Amidst the escalating tension, a sudden loud noise reverberated through the venue, cutting through the chaos and drawing the attention of everyone present.Everyone raised their heads to look up, their curiosity piqued by the sudden noise emanating from above. Gasps of surprise rippled through the crowd as all eyes turned skyward.Instantly, a collective gasp swept through the venue as the crowd beheld the sight unfolding above them. Two helicopters hovered in the sky, their sleek silhouettes cutting through the darkness as they descended towards the ground below.Helicopters? Everyone was stunned, their mouths agape in disbelief as they watched the unexpected spectacle unfolding before them. It seemed straight out of an action movie, a scene so surreal that it left them momentarily speechless.Cordelia, Hannah, Hayford, and his friends were also among the shocked onlookers, their expressions mirroring the astonishment rippling through the crowd. They
Gulp!”Cordelia's eyes widened in shock as she caught sight of the newcomer, her breath catching in her throat. "Benjamin?" she whispered incredulously, her voice barely audible over the murmurs of the crowd.Hannah's own shock mirrored Cordelia's, her eyes widening in disbelief as she too recognized the newcomer. The realization of who it was sent a jolt of surprise coursing through her veins.As Benjamin made his way forward, the eight men accompanying him created a path, bowing their heads lightly as he passed. All eyes in the crowd followed his movements, captivated by his commanding presence.Stopping in his tracks, Benjamin cast his gaze over the assembled crowd, his eyes scanning the faces before hi.. It was as if he was searching for someone specific, his gaze lingering on each individual before finally settling on Cordelia.A smile tugged at the corners of Benjamin's lips as he locked eyes with Cordelia, his expression one of quiet satisfaction. Despite the shock etched on her
Hannah, her heart brimming with joy and satisfaction, observed the stunned reactions of those around her, a triumphant smile gracing her lips. She met Hayford's gaze, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "You dared to question the power and wealth of Cordelia's boyfriend, didn't you?" she remarked, her voice laced with a hint of triumph. "You wondered if he owned a yacht or a private jet. Well, take a look now. He flew two helicopters all the way from Elysian just to see his girlfriend. Now tell me, are you even worthy of her?”A gasp rippled through the crowd as Hannah's words sank in, the revelation hitting them like a bolt from the blue. Benjamin, the enigmatic newcomer, was indeed Cordelia's boyfriend—a fact that left everyone reeling in disbelief.Hayford and his three friends exchanged incredulous glances, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief. The realization that they had underestimated Cordelia's partner left them speechless, their breath caught in their throats as th
Cordelia felt a warmth spread through her as she leaned into his touch, comforted by his presence. At that moment she felt like a queen. Benjamin then spoke up, his voice carrying a hint of authority as he addressed the crowd. "As it's her birthday, can we all celebrate it together?" he announced, his words met with enthusiastic applause and nods of agreement from the gathered guests. Some even began snapping photos of the helicopters, capturing the extraordinary moment.Just as the crowd was about to burst into a rendition of "Happy Birthday" for Cordelia, Hayford stepped forward, his expression a mix of anger and frustration. "Hello," he interjected, his tone sharp and confrontational. "This arrangement was made for my club's theme party, not for your girlfriend's birthday. If you want to celebrate a birthday, go look for somewhere else.”Undeterred, Benjamin simply smiled and turned to face Hayford, his demeanor calm and unruffled. "Relax," he replied, his voice laced with amusem
Benjamin smiled at Hannah's words, appreciating her well wishes. "Of course, I'm ready to even make her the mother of my kids, it's all up to her," he replied with a playful glint in his eyes.Cordelia playfully swatted Benjamin's chest in response. "Stop being naughty," she chided him, though a hint of amusement danced in her eyes. "I'm not marrying anyone or having kids," she whispered to him.Chuckling, Benjamin leaned in closer to Cordelia. "We'll talk about that later. For now, let's just enjoy the party," he whispered back. Throughout the night, they danced, laughed, and made cherished memories with their friends and loved ones.As the birthday celebration came to an end, Benjamin approached Cordelia, his hand gently cupping her cheek. "Do take care of yourself. If you need anything, just give me a call, and I'll be back," he reassured her.Cordelia nodded, her heart filled with love. "Surely, I will. Just a few more days, and I'll be back," she promised.With a final tender ki
The rugged man clenched his fists, his pride warring with his fear. “You can’t be serious,” he hissed, his voice barely above a whisper.Abdelkarim cocked the gun audibly, tilting his head. “Do I look like I’m joking?”Reluctantly, the rugged man lowered himself to his knees, the humiliation evident on his face. His companions followed suit, each moving with visible hesitation. The restaurant’s patrons and staff watched in stunned silence, their eyes wide as they bore witness to the surreal scene.One of the men reached for Abdelkarim’s shoe, his hand shaking as he wiped at it with his sleeve. Abdelkarim smirked, glancing down at their feeble attempts. “Pathetic,” he muttered. “Put some effort into it.”As the men continued their reluctant task, Abdelkarim’s tone turned colder. “Now, let’s add some respect to the mix. Each of you will address me properly while you’re down there.”The rugged man looked up, his face twisted with fury and shame. “What do you mean?”Abdelkarim leaned in s
The room fell into an eerie silence, the earlier chatter and laughter evaporating like smoke. All eyes were on Abdelkarim, who stood tall with the gun firmly in his grasp. Even the rugged man who had slapped him seemed caught off guard, his eyes widening in a mix of disbelief and anger.Benjamin, who had been calmly observing moments earlier, straightened in his seat, his sharp gaze narrowing as he assessed the situation. He hadn't anticipated this escalation, and for a fleeting moment, his surprise flickered across his face. Cipherella, sitting beside him, froze, her lips parting slightly as her eyes darted between Abdelkarim and the scarred man.The tension was palpable. The rugged man pushed his chair back slightly, his hands clenching into fists as if ready to retaliate. His companions, who had been laughing moments ago, now looked uneasy, their confidence shaken."You think this is funny?" Abdelkarim said, his voice steady, but the undercurrent of anger was unmistakable. He point
The room went tense as Abdelkarim froze, his gaze darting nervously to the man’s threatening expression. Around them, a few other patrons glanced over.Cipherella’s delicate brows furrowed with concern as she leaned closer to Benjamin, her voice barely above a whisper. "Master, they’re trying to bully him," she said, her eyes darting between Abdelkarim and the rugged man.Benjamin didn’t respond immediately. His sharp gaze remained fixed on the scene, observing every detail—the posture of the men, Abdelkarim’s unease, and the simmering tension in the air. Finally, he nodded slowly and said, "Let’s just watch for now.”"But Master—" Cipherella started, her worry evident."Relax," Benjamin interrupted gently, his tone calm but firm. "Let’s see how he handles himself first. If things go too far, I’ll step in."Cipherella hesitated, but she trusted Benjamin’s judgment. She bit her lip and stayed quiet, her hands clasped tightly in her lap as her eyes returned to Abdelkarim.Meanwhile, Abd
As they entered, Benjamin's gaze swept over the bustling interior of the establishment. The atmosphere was thick with chatter, clinking glasses, and faint music playing in the background. At one side of the room, a group of rugged-looking men occupied a long table. They were loud, drinking and eating heartily, with wisps of smoke curling from the cigarettes and cigars they casually puffed.Their appearances were striking—some had jagged scars running across their cheeks.Others had scarves tied around their heads, their expressions hard and uninviting, with sharp eyes that scanned the room like predators on the lookout. A few wore leather jackets with frayed edges, while others had rugged shirts and boots.Benjamin took note but didn’t linger on them. Instead, he calmly made his way to an unoccupied corner on the other side of the room. He settled into a chair with an air of quiet authority, his face betraying no hint of concern. Cipherella followed closely, her gaze flickering brief
Benjamin settled back onto the couch, gesturing for Cipherella to sit. She listened intently as he recounted the night's events."Cipherella," he began, "I met Abdelkarim yesterday. His boss wasn’t exactly treating him right, and he seemed ready for a change."Abdelkarim shifted uneasily, but Benjamin continued. "We ended up being followed by three of Darnell's men. They tried to corner us, but I convinced them to switch sides and work for me. Abdelkarim here was part of that, and he’s proven he’s willing to take on something bigger.”Cipherella raised an eyebrow, intrigued but cautious. “And they just… agreed? Just like that?”Benjamin nodded, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Sometimes all it takes is to show someone what they’re worth. They’d been risking their lives for scraps. Now, they have a reason to be loyal." He glanced at Abdelkarim, who looked both grateful and a little overwhelmed.Cipherella sighed, finally relaxing a bit. “If you trust him, Master, then that’s enough
The men exchanged nervous glances, doubling down on their story despite Darnell's threat. The first man cleared his throat, attempting to sound confident. "Boss, like we said, it was just a routine check. We saw the car following and thought it could be a minor threat, so we stopped to make sure it wasn’t an issue. But they turned around as soon as we approached."The second man nodded quickly. "Exactly, boss. We didn’t think it was worth disturbing you for something so small, figured we could handle it ourselves.”Darnell's gaze remained icy, not buying the excuses. His eyes bored into each one of them, but they held firm, each nodding in agreement, sticking to their story. "We were just looking out for you, boss," the third one added, trying to muster confidence. "Didn’t want to waste your time.”Darnell narrowed his eyes at them one last time, as if weighing the truth of their story. Finally, with a wave of his hand, he dismissed the tension. “Fine,” he said sharply. “Get back in
The men climbed out of their cars and walked over to Darnell’s vehicle, where he stood waiting, his expression already dark with suspicion. As they approached, he wasted no time.“What’s wrong?” Darnell’s voice cut through the silence, his gaze sharp and unyielding. “Where’s the last car?”The men looked at each other, shifting uncomfortably, clearly at a loss. Finally, one of them spoke up. “We...we don’t know, boss. One minute, they were right behind us, and the next...they weren’t.”Darnell’s jaw tightened. “I don’t want excuses. Give me an answer.”They fumbled for words, but all they could offer was a helpless shrug. Frustrated, Darnell took a deep breath and crossed his arms. “Fine. Who was in the last car? Give me their names. Now.”The men stammered for a moment, then rattled off the names of the three who had been in the missing car, exchanging nervous glances as they waited for Darnell's reaction.Darnell narrowed his eyes, his impatience evident. “Call them. Now,” he ordere
As the men disappeared down the road, Abdelkarim turned to Benjamin, a worried crease on his brow. "Do you trust them? What if they tell their boss everything?"Benjamin's expression was unwavering. "They won’t."Abdelkarim’s eyebrows rose, disbelief flickering in his gaze. "How do you know?"Benjamin smirked, a trace of confidence in his eyes. "Because I gave them something Darnell never has: respect. They’ve been doing his dirty work for scraps. Darnell treats them as disposable. But me? I just paid them a month’s worth in minutes and offered them a way out. Right now, loyalty is cheap—but it’s the one thing Darnell can't buy.”Abdelkarim nodded slowly, his gaze steadying with newfound determination. “I’m ready to work for you, Benjamin,” he said with a slight smile. “But... tonight, I don’t have anywhere to stay. I might just end up sleeping in the car.”Benjamin’s expression softened. “Don’t worry about that. You’ll stay with me,” he replied. “As long as you’re willing to follow m
Benjamin looked at them intently. “How much do you want to be paid?” he asked, his voice calm but commanding.The men glanced at each other, hesitating for a moment. Finally, one spoke up, “Every month… pay us double what Darnell does.”The other nodded, adding quickly, “Yeah. 2000 dollars each.”Benjamin smirked, a glint of amusement in his eyes. He had expected them to ask for something outrageous—10,000, even 50,000 dollars a month. Instead, they only wanted a mere double of what Darnell paid them. To someone like him, 2000 dollars was nothing, even if he had to pay them that amount daily.“Deal,” he said without hesitation, nodding once.They stared at him, dumbfounded. “Wait… deal? Just like that?” one of them asked, disbelief evident in his voice.Benjamin shrugged. “2000 dollars a month is nothing to me if you’re loyal and good at what you do.”They exchanged glances, still stunned by his response. "You... you really mean that?" one of them asked, sounding almost hopeful.Benja