Arnold knew better. He knew way better than to act out based on the overwhelming anger he was feeling. Or, at least, he was supposed to know better. But, after everything that had gone down in one day, it was hard for him to keep up the calm guy, big talker act. He had to hit something, to hit someone. He needed to take it all and free it from his chest, from that cage that was becoming so crammed and tight within him.Jia had gone. What he'd looked forward to had gone along with her. He'd genuinely looked forward to spending a cool, serene evening with her and maybe they could have bonded even more after diner. But, he'd never know now, after the two women he regretted ever being with had come to ruin what was left of him and Jia's evening.Everything good he got. Everything good was leaving him. That was what it felt like. And he couldn’t help but stop feeling that way.It had happened before. When he as broke and miserable. And now that he'd gotten money and a little bit of fame,
Sasha opened her heavy eyes with a start.Where am I? She asked herself in her head, unable to say the words out loud.Her head was pounding.Is that a headache?No, it was worse than a regular headache. It felt like someone had wiped her over the head with a large wooden plank over and over again until she fell unconscious instead of hitting her head just once.She opened her eyes wider and all he could see was white walls. Everything was so damn white.Am I in heaven?No, she couldn't be. This couldn't be heaven. If it was, she was sure she wouldn't be feeling this intense headache.Everything felt so damn heavy. Like she was high on drugs but the drugs were doing little to nothing to help her situation.She sniffed in the air painfully slowly, getting in the overwhelming smell of medicines. All kind of medicines.She tried to move, but couldn't. When she looked down at her body, she was bandaged and strapped the bed. She couldn't even stand up from the bed. Drips were stuck into he
The sun was streaming in and all suddenly felt light and good. Jia opened the door and let him in. Again.One would think she'd gad enough with the way she'd stormed off at the restaurant, leaving him speechless in the dust. But, she'd yielded. Again.Arnold had a way with words. It was so easy to just swim in his voice. In the way he said his words, speaking calmly, choosing carefully before saying more. So, when he came knocking on her door, begging for one more chance to explain things."Jia," he started, his face looking so remorseful, it was so hard to resist."Come in."She led him to her living room and watched him watch her home. This was the first time he was entering inside. He'd always just stood outside the door or met her in her driveway.She looked at him. He looked at her back. Somewhere within her, she wanted to hate him for being the way he was. She knew he was far from perfect. She didn't even expect him to be perfect. Heck, she knew about his one night stand between
Arnold's determination was on a high level. It broke through his misconceptions of Sasha. It broke through his wary thoughts. Now, here he was, planning to take down the big three with her. It wasn't all that hard. Once he could get past the fact that she was a psycho and the fact that he wanted her for his guilty pleasures, he got used to working with her. Plus, he could really use her skill set.Her hacking skills were too notch, add that to the fact that she could do just so many other things that’d come in handy for him, in the long run. He wasn’t about to let some minor squabbles and fight end their relationship. At least it yet. Besides he’d given her a sound warning, and from the look of things, she seemed to have adhered to it. Now though, unto the matter at hand.How does one take down bad guys? By going as dirty as the bad guys would go, or doing things even worse than that. To take down bad guys, one had to go lower than low, and dirtier than dirty. The way to truly t
Some hours later and Arnold was back at his safe haven. His apartment.Going straight to his bedroom, his feets took him to the safe where he kept the black card Mr Black had mailed to him. Typing in the combination, the electric pad unlocked and the safe opened.Seated beautifully—alongside the cards that the Nexus had given him at the start of this system journey—was the black card. His one time free pass and the only thing he could use to meet Mr Black now.“Phew…” Arnold scoffed, his hands reaching out and grabbing the safe item. Staring at it, and caressing the card, he felt some kind of thrill and a certain joy buzzed within him.It seemed just like yesterday when he had first received the card. Not only that, but could remember just how he’d even gotten the card, and the obstacles he’d had to overcome before getting it. The gamble. The game. The anxiety and fears he’d had to overcome and everything had boded well in his favor.Everything was clear, and lips quivering as if
Arnold arrived at the club. It was located in a surprisingly serene environment, and he was a bit shocked by that. Plus, there was no random noise or unnecessary crowd spilling out of the club building, like he’d expected or was the custom for clubs in the city. Instead, the exterior of the building was so quiet, and it was hard to tell if it was really a club or not. The entire street was just as strange as the setting too. There was a certain feel to the environment. Like it had been abandoned and there were no occupants anymore.It was almost eerie, but Arnold tried not to think too much about it, even though he felt so unsettled by this whole thing.Or had he come to the wrong address? Surely it. His car’s GPS and tracking system was one of the best, so there it could have brought him to the wrong location. ‘It’s not the wrong location, mister.’ His subconscious chimed, adding. ‘The club’s name is clearly written in bold at the top of the building, as you can see even from whe
"What brings you here, The Apprentice?" Mr Black asked, staring at Arnold earnestly as he waited for a reply.Taking an empty glass and pouring a considerable amount of whiskey in it, he handed it to Arnold who collected it sharply. “Do you like whiskey neat?"“I do sir.” Arnold nodded and taking the glass, he downed a respectful sip and then nothing more. Despite how much he needed the burning alcoholic liquid at the moment to calm his nerves, Arnold also knew he had to keep himself in check. He wasn't about to go get himself drunk, and act out of plan. Besides how would he able to negotiate if he was drunk, and slurring out in his speech?‘Get a grip on yourself man. Get it together.’ He thought inwardly, hissing slightly at the same time. "Come, sit on the couch with me. Let’s talk.”Mr Black said again, his hands outstretched as he led pointed to the couch at the middle of the room, and Arnold followed him as he walked over.He watched Mr Black get comfortable, and then the r
Mr Black’s request played in Arnold's head over and over again, like an insistent buzz.His eyes widening and mouth dropping open, he looked at the man seated across him in stunned disbelief. What the…?! "Mr Black, I—" He began, trying to bargain and ask for another thing from him, but the look on Mr Black’s told Arnold all he needed to know.Mr Black wouldn’t budge. This enigmatic and rather cunning man was one stubborn human specie, this he noted.Suddenly, the system in Arnold's head spoke up, reminding him of the research he'd done about Mr Black and all the things he’d discovered.Nexus took him down memory lane, reminding him of how he'd discovered that Mr Black was good at using people and monopolizing their talents for his own good.How could he have forgotten so easily? Surely Mr Black’s request shouldn’t come as a surprise to him. If anything he should have known, and this Arnold remembered.Everything was coming to him in bits and pieces. All too damn well, and just like