ARTHUR WOKE UP to a call from his secretary, Helen. She basically ran his whole life schedule now from his gym sessions to meetings with dignitaries and governors of the state to even press conferences. He rolled over in his bed and groaned when he looked at the caller ID. He tried to recall if she had told him about any meeting for today, but he could not think of anything so he picked up the call."Yeah?" He answered gruffly. "Morning sir," Helen said brightly. Sometimes Arthur wondered how she did it. When he wanted nothing more than to collapse back on the bed and sleep as long as he wanted, her voice was always sharp. It was like she did not sleep. "Hello, Helen," Arthur muttered. He swung his leg over the side of his bed and stood up. He might as well fix himself a cup of coffee to wake up. "Yes, sir," Helen said. He could hear the sound of traffic in her background and realized that she was on the road already, this early. What time is it? He glanced at the digital clock.
HIS NEXT STOP was a fashion store. He glanced at the clock on the car's dashboard, the time was 8.56 a.m.He chuckled. He still had time. He trapped his fingers on the steering wheel slightly as he cruised the street, looking for the best fashion store around. A glass and chrome budding caught his attention and he drove to the parking lot. His car was getting the attention of some nearby people, and they stared as they walked by. A girl quickly took a selfish in front of the car. She was going to post it on her Instagram and pretend that she knew who owned it. With a smile on his face, Arthur got out of the car, and the people around gasped. They could not believe that such a shabby-looking man could own such a wonderful car. Arthur pressed the key button to lock the doors and the car responded with the flash of lights. He walked into the store and was welcomed with pleasant cool air. He could immediately see his type of clothes – a regular shirt and baggy jeans – lined on a shel
[New Task >> Get the information from the man. Either by negotiation or by Physicality] "What?" The tall, muscular man muttered to himself. "Get the information from your witness," The computerized voice said. "You have two options to do it. Negotiate, or use Physical contact." The man paced the dark room. "What does Physical contact mean?" He muttered to himself again. No answer. The system remained silent. "Did you hear me?" The man asked in a fierce whisper. The system remained silent. The man's bodyguards shuffled on their feet uncertainly, wondering why their boss was muttering to himself and leaving their witness – who was the chief of staff of the Salvatore Empire – seated with a smug smile on his lip. "You can't do anything," The witness said. His name was Hobie Galdin, the chief of staff and major controller of the Salvatore Empire. The tall man stopped his pacing and faced Hobie, "What did you say?" He asked. Hobie chuckled, "You think you are something. You think
FIVE YEARS AGO... The Salvatore Mansion, Connecticut. "Arthur, don't be an ass." The shrill voice rang through the whole room. Arthur took a deep breath. He completely loathed family dinners such as this. He plastered a fake smile on his face and nodded before looking down and chewing on his food. "So tell me again, Arthur," His stepmother said again in her nerve-scratching voice. Arthur groaned inwardly. He just wanted to eat his food in peace, give a few nods and shakes of his head, and then disappear from this mansion for as long as he could. "Tell me, What is it that you're doing in New York again?" His stepmother asked. He knew exactly what she wanted to hear and her aim – to embarrass him even further – and he wanted to tell her to go to hell, but he did not have the guts or courage to voice out his mind, so with some difficulty, he swallowed snd said in a small voice, "Well, you see, right now, I am working two jobs…" "Hmm," His stepmother said, playing around with her f
ARTHUR PUSHED THE hood of his jacket to cover his head as he beat furiously against the rain. He was pedaling furiously, wanting to deliver his last package and then call it a night.He jumped off the bike before it stopped and hurried up the stairs of the house he was to deliver to. He rang the bell urgently. No answer. He pressed it again, longer this time. Still no answer. He grumbled and looked up at the sky, the clouds were gathering even more. It was going to be a thunderstorm and he did not want to be here when it came.He was just about to pound on the door when it opened."Didn't you see the bell over there that you were about to put your filthy hands on my door?" The slob of a man said.Arthur snapped his hand to his side, plastered a smile to his face, and said, "I came to deliver your meal, sir." He pushed the box forward.The man collected it and said, "My wallet is inside the house somewhere. I will be right back." He slammed the door in Arthur's face.Arthur shifted his
HE DID NOT know who sent the text as he got on the next flight leaving for Connecticut. He could barely afford the economy seat and had to borrow some money from some of his friends at school.As the plane took off, Arthur started the calculations in his head and figured that he would have to work for two months before he would gather up the money to pay back. Luckily, it was unlikely that his friends would embarrass him for the money, but he did not like to be in debt so he planned to pay back as soon as possible.He rubbed his eye socket and tried to sleep amidst the clutter going on around him on the plane. He was packed between a woman with a kid and an old woman. When he approached the air hostess for a seat change, she had scoffed. Then she gave him a once-over glance and walked away without answering. Arthur had resigned to his fate and since it was not a really long flight, he was prepared to endure it through.He closed his eyes and his mind went back to the text, "Your grand
ARTHUR REMAINED DUMBSTRUCK for almost 5 minutes. Then the house became stuffy and he hurried back inside to pack his things and leave immediately.He saw Logan in the music room, gently playing a classical tune. He looked angelic. No one would know that behind that calm demeanor and blonde hair, the boy was a demon in disguise.He entered his room, stuffed his few clothes into the room, and hurried out. He saw Clarence, still sulking in the sunroom. He ignored her and went out.He stopped by his grandmother's grave first. He had not been here when she was buried because he could not stand the harsh and stony gaze of his family.A gentle wind blew around, rustling the large oak tree and making some leaves fall gently around him.He felt a strong choking emotion rush into him and found it hard to swallow the large lump in his throat. He knelt beside the headstone and rubbed it fondly."I don't know why you did what you did by willing majority of the properties to me, Grandma," He said s
HIS EYES OPENED slowly. His vision was blurred as he tried to sit up but felt a sharp pain jolt on his side. He gasped and laid back down as a nurse hurried in. "Lay back down," she snapped. "Where am I?" Arthur asked, twisting his neck to look around.The nurse propped her hands on her supple hips and stared at Arthur, "You are in New City Hospital. A good Samaritan brought in your broken body." She picked up the chart beside his bed and looked at it, then she adjusted the drip that ran into the veins of his right hand.Arthur looked around. The monitor beside his bed was beeping at steady intervals. "What happened?" Arthur asked. The nurse scoffed and walked out without answering. She could not see any reason why she was assigned to look after the scrawny-looking young man. "Excuse me, miss," Arthur called to her just before she walked out. "Who brought me here?""You will know soon," the nurse snapped. "Now, go back to resting, and do not disturb me. I have much more important