“Young lady!” One cold roar and Diana’s irritating laughter stopped abruptly. “I don’t get what is so humorous here that is making you cause all this laughter!” Diana swallowed hard, bowing a little to the man’s cold demeanor. However, she didn’t intend to stay with her head hunched for long. The urge to expose Jordan for the useless nobody that he was stroking her pretty badly. She composed herself and lifted her head. They entered the office of Mr. De’Luka, and the door closed. Mr. De’Luka embarked on scrutinizing Jordan again. He wondered whether he was a new businessman that he had idea of. But where could he have emerged from? “What is your name, young man?” He asked Jordan in a cold yet calm voice. Jordan cleared his throat once as he faced the seemingly non-friendly man. “Jordan, sir! Jordan Rivers!” He said. Mr De’Luka toured his eyes around the corners of the room. His thoughts were also spinning as he tried to seek any familiarity with that name. But all was in vain. No
“You better start explaining yourself before I lose my cool, young man. What tricks are you playing with my daughter? Where and when did you even meet her because you don’t fit even on the ground she walks on?!” Mr. De’Luka spoke with loath to Jordan. “You must have cast a strong spell on her to have spent such a lot of money on her.” Mrs De’Luka states. Anna felt suffocated by what her family and Diana were doing to Jordan. He was not the one to blame. He bought him the suit out of gratitude and also paid for the food out of her own will. And who said class mattered here? The guy had saved her life, that was more than enough to make him fit to belong in her world. “Jordan is innocent, father!” Anna spoke, meaning to set Jordan free from the flooding injustices. She managed to summon her parent’s attention as they turned to her with questioning glances. Anna felt like she was adding salt to the injury with her intervention “He is innocent, Anna? Why are you protecting this useless
“Then we are going to sue you, Jordan! Let us see if you have what it takes to fight in court. You have no single penny on you so be ready to rot in jail.” Diana sneered after Jordan spoken. If she could not have the contentment of seeing him on the knees apologizing, then she would bask in seeing him behind bars. She had money and Jordan had none. She was certain Jordan would surely end up being locked up. That would be axan enic delight to her. Edwin looked at Jordan and felt a kick out of what he was about to do. He might have had an unbreakable ego, but there was nothing that money and power could not buy. He would use all that was within his power to make Jordan pay. “Let’s see where your arrogance will take you, jerk!” He said, held Diana’s hand, and was ready to head out to work on his plan, but Mr De’Luka stopped them. “No one is filing any charges against anyone!” He spoke, stopping the duo as they gazed at him with furrows on their expressions. Even Mrs De’Luka was taken
Jordan’s eyes narrowed at the mention of money. He felt like the senescent, algid man was deliberately insulting him or making a bang-up mockery of his state. Hadn’t Jordan’s know-it-all ex-wife explained his predicaments to them in detail? They knew very well he had nothing in his pockets, all hail to his ex-wife who was bent on exposing his poverty to the entire world. Why was he then bringing such a ridiculing shit up? He even had the guts to ask those two impossible beings to name their price? They would, without a doubt, take advantage of that and name an absurd price just to see him suffer. He wondered why the man would choose for him. Or maybe, he also wanted to sample the tasty juice of mortifying him. I mean, that was what the well-heeled were so good at - identifying your weakness and using it to their selfish advantage. Jordan despised them more. And he scorned the situation even more. He knew Diana and Edwin were trying their level best to hold their tickling rapture as t
Take the offer and be free!? That statement resonated in Jordan’s head with a ticklish irony that left him smirking. Free? Only a dumbass would be stupid enough to fall for that. How free would he be when the man wanted to turn him into his horse to pay off the debt? Only God knew what the man’s plan was, and Jordan at this point was no longer interested. He had just left a toxic home in the name of marriage, he wasn’t just going to throw himself into another toxic environment in the name of work. As for the money, he had something called brains in his head that he could put to use and show the fools that they could not sway him however they wanted. “No, but thank you anyway, for your kind gesture. I can take care of this myself!” He stated with affirmity, crashing the hopes of Mr De’Luka and shocking him and his wife to the core. No one dared to refuse him. No poor pest in Jordan’s situation would think of saying no to such an offer. How dare he? How dare he act all mighty and abl
In the office, Jordan left a lonely fearful sole - Anna. She could not explain the pain that stung her heart after watching Jordan vanish from her sight. He didn’t even spare her a glance. She felt hurt, and fearful because her father was one of the people that no one wanted to mess with. Jordan had just done that, daring him in front of people. And looking at her father, she knew he wouldn’t let Jordan go just like that. “Why did you let him go, Dad?” Anna thought out loud. Her fright and concern were increasing. She did not want Jordan to get hurt. She still wished they would see each other again after that day and become friends. And she did not want to be caught up in a web of war. “I let him go so that I can hunt him?” Mr De’Luka said between gritted teeth, his eyes smoking danger. Ana felt her bones shaking in her flesh. She had guessed it right. But what was Jordan’s fault that he had to bear such consequences? He had already agreed to pay the mind-boggling amount that they
The racket of the footsteps kept getting closer. The man kept pleading with Jordan in a wispy vocalism. Jordan kept banging his head about what he was expected to do in the situation. But before he could even make up his mind, the fulgent lights of the torches came from the direction of the footsteps. In a flicker, three armed men halted a few meters in front of Jordan, blocking their way. For a moment, Jordan considered turning around and running away from the dreadful danger ahead. Run for his dear life. He wanted to stay away from such trouble at all costs, but with the dying man in his arms, he ruled out that idea. They would catch up with them before he could even take a step. There was no way he could escape now. At that moment, Jordan wondered whether saving lives was his calling in life. He wanted to smirk at that wild idea, but a voice came from the dreary men before them. “What do we have here! Seems like luck is fore-playing with us tonight. We have got a bonus on top of w
The golden glow of the sun kissed the earth, and under a small shade, two pairs of eyes snapped at the blinding sun rays. Jordan peeled his eyes, and they forthwith fell on the static figure beside him. The briefcase was still clinched in Jordan’s hands. The small tree of a deserted small road had served as their shelter the night prior. It was the second day Jordan had spent the night in the cold. He did not know where to take the almost lifeless person after the fight last night, so he carried him until his strength could no longer carry them.They were still in the middle of nowhere when his legs refused to take another step, but at least they were out of the wounds. He laid the man down gently, and he had collapsed beside him with the hope that they would safely see the dawn. Gladly, the angels kept them under protection, and now the morning had come.He gazed at the man who was still in pain and helplessly lay on the floor. His eyes were tightly closed but one could tell that he
Three months later!Anticipation and enthusiasm surrounded the grand opening ceremony as it took place. In addition to officially opening The Rivers Group of Martial Arts' newest location, the ribbon-cutting ceremony signified the end of a journey that had passed through darkness and emerged into the light of mutual empowerment and progress.Jordan stood proudly in front of the assembly and spoke to them. "Our slogan stands true today as it did when we started: The Rivers Group of Martial Arts is not just a school to teach martial arts, but a community for empowerment and growth, both as a community and individually." His statements reverberated with authenticity, capturing the spirit of their group's objective."And so, ladies and gentlemen, here I present to you the last, as of now, branch of The Rivers Group of Martial Arts." Jordan handed the scissors to Ana, symbolizing the transition from the shadows of the past to the bright possibilities of the future. As Ana cut the ribbon, t
The following day, Ana woke up in his old home, the De’luka mansion. Ricotchetting her eyes. Memories lingered—a combo of both good and bad memories. She had slept off there with her entire crew to prepare for the burial.“Are you ready? You can stay back if you want. I will bring the body here.” Jordan said, giving her a morning hug after strolling into her room.Ana sampled everything that Jordan’s body was bleeding on her—the solace, the heat, the comfort. Everything. She appreciated his comfort and his gesture. She then pulled away, and Jordan kept her hands in his. “I appreciate this, Jordan, but I have to do this.”“Are you really sure?” Jordan emphasized."Come on, Jordan! Do I look like I am showing signs of a mental breakdown or something? I am perfect. Besides, you and I know the story behind this man. I'm all good.” She said.Jordan nodded his head. “Alright. I never said that you were about to break down, by the way. I know you are strong. Even more than I am.”‘Yeah, yeah
“I guess so. We can all say that.” The officer affirmed.A few chatters filled the room for a long time. Who would have thought that a once vigilante group could be saluted by the government, huh?Jordan cleared his voice, speaking to the officer, although everyone was keen. “Whether the government recognizes me or not, I don’t care. But I know how much you loved your job. I also know that you like it, and it is my hope that you have no regrets whatsoever for those few days that you and your boys have been members of this family. I want you to know that I cannot hold you back. If they want to give you back your position, please don’t feel obliged to remain with us. You deserve that position.”Officer Adamson looked at Jordan with so much appreciation and gratitude. “Regrets? What is there to regret about being part of this great community, Jordan? I felt honored that I was lucky to have a chance to meet you all and to partake in your just missions. But, like you said, I feel the need
The group, which had now become a family, pushed itself into the audacious project of opening martial arts schools in the following weeks, their unwavering dedication transforming dreams into concrete accomplishments. With incredible vigor, resolve, and a sense of purpose that permeated each movement they took, Jordan's vision came to life in that brightly illuminated room.Securing a central location for their flagship martial arts school was the crew's initial action. They converted a large warehouse, which had previously served as a symbol of corruption, into a center for empowerment, training, and discipline after extensive reconnaissance and planning sessions. When they held their first courses, the sound of kicks and swishing-trained moves filled the air inside those walls.With her excellent organizational abilities, Sarah oversaw the administrative side, making sure that all licenses, registrations, and marketing campaigns were completed. She proved to be the mainstay of the o
As the soft hues of morning began to seep through the windows, the room, once ablaze with celebration, now held a serene stillness. Jordan and his crew, draped in the comforting shadows of a night well spent, found themselves resting on makeshift seats, their weariness a testament to the battles fought and won.The sunlight painted a gentle tableau, revealing the subtle lines of fatigue etched on each face. Yet, amidst the quietude, a sense of unity prevailed. Jordan, observing the camaraderie that had evolved in the past hours, felt a renewed purpose bubbling within him. This wasn't just a crew; they were a band of individuals who had weathered storms together and emerged stronger.Looking at Major, he knew that he had a question to tackle. They looked somehow confused about what to do next, and he knew he owed them an explanation, at least for the sake of their sanity. He remembered how he and Major’s group became participants. Initially, they were just his hired bodyguards, but ove
‘‘Huuu!” Noises crackled in the house of Jordan as the members heaved out their tiredness, sampled in the aura of victory, and rested their weapons on the tables as they took their seats. It was almost 4 in the morning, but the night echoed with sounds for the next few hours. Their faces were smeared with soot and sweat from the tough battle they had fought and, by God’s grace, won.“This calls for a big celebration!” Jordan spoke, pulling Ana beside him as he rested on his signature seat of authority. “Mariela? Could you make us something delicious for us?”Mariela nodded in agreement. “After emerging triumphant, you all deserve a special treat. I had made arrangements before we left. I will be back in a sec.”They all made sweet sounds of appreciation that sent Mariela off to the kitchen with a smile on her face.Soon enough, she was making hasty back-and-forth tours to and from the kitchen with trays of mouthwatering shawarmas. Then the drinks followed, and everyone wanted nothing
As Jordan and his group crouched in the shadows, staring at the far-off warehouse where the covert conflict had taken place, the night sky hung thick with an oppressive still. An overwhelming feeling of unease permeated the air as they anticipated reaching the pinnacle of their unwavering quest for justice.Abruptly, a menacing gleam illuminated the horizon, illuminating Jordan's team members' features with elongated shadows. From the warehouse, flames shot up, licking the darkness with an abysmal embrace. The blast echoed through the still air like a mighty cry of vengeance.Jordan clinched his hands and tensed his jaw, watching the conflagration with a bleak determination mixed with joy. The warehouse collapsed under the weight of its own secrets; it had previously been a center of corruption and dishonesty. His transgressors were being burned into charred souls. He could imagine them weeping in pain as the wildfire mercilessly devoured them.Jordan whispered, "That's it," his voice
“Names? What names, Jordan?” Mr. Elias asked in confusion.Jordan, with a steely gaze, had no time to waste. He needed to get to the heart of the issue as fast as he could. His voice was firm as he spoke. "The names of your supporters. The high-ranking officials who are protecting."The alliance members exchanged uneasy glances, a palpable scent of impending doom slapping at their nostrils. How could they comply with Jordan's request? Revealing the identities of those wielding formidable power felt like signing their own death warrants. And death was what they were trying to escape by all means. How could they negotiate for survival and sell themselves to the devil in the same way?“Jordan, please understand that we cannot do that. It is too dangerous for us. Besides, why do you want the names?” Mr. Elias replied, attempting to mask the tension in his voice.Jordan's eyes narrowed, his frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "I need those names to expose the corruption that is eatin
Jordan looked at Elias and his meanness. He could read through their minds. He knew exactly what they wanted. And he loved their stupidity.Elias gazed at Jordan and spoke with a stern voice without a single tinge of wavering in it. “You are wiser than this, Jordan. I know you know what I mean.”Jordan shook his head and read a memo that said, ‘I know, but I want to hear that crap from your stinking mouth itself’! “No! Please enlighten me, Elias! I might be getting carried away.” Jodan spoke.Elias even managed to smirk, even though he could not tell whether Jordan was toying with his mind or not. He spoke. "Jordan, all I am suggesting is that we can settle this amicably. You don’t have to betray your noble parents by becoming a bloody murderer. Well, if it is revenge that you want, your parents are gone, and you can’t bring them back. Don’t even kill us. I have got something that will surely interest you."Jordan, unmoved, eyed Elias with a steely gaze, his expression portraying no