2025-01-11 01:33:57Jason did not realize how much time he had spent under the drizzling shower as he turned it off and proceeded to dry his body with a rag-like brownish white towel abandoned for his own personal usage.
‘Beggars ain't choosers’, he thought as he recalled the fast-paced episode he was casted in few minutes earlier. His wife was the female lead, the villain in his story since 3 years ago. It began at exactly 6:54 AM when Diane couldn't hold it in any longer. Her ‘uplifting’ early morning monologues of his extent of uselessness which had replaced his cup of iced Americano coffee served cold were enacted just like he hated them. He should have gotten used to it by now but his mind is set on the notion that she'll change for good. ‘Once I get my promotion as the head deliverer. More money, more time for Dee and my Ria Thered be enough for a trip to Miami Beach for Dee's birthday She'd be happy. We'll be happy. One big happy family again I should take a loan to get a house in her name. That should make us work again.’ He thought while smiling wearily He was suddenly brought back to life by a furious knock on the bathrooms door ‘Jason! Some of us have well-paying jobs to go to for Petes sake!’ Danny half screamed from the other side of the door. Danny was his sister in-law's 36 years old husband, a total opposite of what he is. 6 feet pale skin Adonis with frizzled blond hair and icy blue eyes. He was the head product and project manager at Fickle Minds and Arty. Danny had been in town for a couple of weeks supervising a huge project under the franchise of his employers company. Most days, he was mostly out of the house but on days when he has less to do, he finds pleasure in just two things, ‘Watching soccer and broke-shaming Jason. ‘Maybe if you pay more attention to your job like you do to your scrawny skin, you'd have bought the whole city by now, fool! ‘ Danny said with disgust. Jason hurriedly wore his faded pajamas and opened the door to the sight of a half-dressed Danny with a disdainful smirk on his face as he watched Jason walked towards his bedroom before he entered the bathroom to carry out his own daily routine. ‘Technically’, he thought, ‘i'ts my wife's bedroom.’ He hurriedly picked out a grey t-shirt and a pair of black trouser from his section of the wardrobe which was shoved into one of the four corners of the room. His section was more like next to the heap of used clothes dumped in the lowest section of the wardrobe. He often tried his best to straighten out his clothes in folds every time he does his laundry but they always manage to end up under the piles of dirty clothes used by his wife and daughter. As he pulled his shoes from beneath the bed, he noticed that the soles had flattened out badly and he needed to buy another one. As he sat on the edge of the bed to put on his trousers, his eyes met with the face of the clock. 7:30 AM?!, he screamed as he saw the time. ‘I'm late for work!', he thought frantically as he hurriedly put on his clothes and shoes. He quickly made his way to the dining table to eat his breakfast but he met nothing on the table. ‘She must have gotten so busy in the kitchen Ria is already a handful for a 5 years old child.’, he thought. 'Dee!', He called out with a sultry tone 'Is my breakfast ready?', he asked and listened for a response which he did not get. 'Dee...', he called out again ‘Stop calling me that annoying name for goodness sake!' She yelled from the kitchen. ‘I'm so sorry. I just wanted to ask about my breakfast', He said ‘Sit down dear. I'll bring it to you', she said with a sweet voice which surprised Jason. ‘Thank Goodness… She’s no longer in a foul mood.', he thought As he made to sit on one of the intricately designed vintage dining chairs, Danny emerged from his bedroom to the dining table. Immediately Danny saw Jason, he looked at him scornfully, as he sat on one of the chairs. Emerging from the kitchen with two plates, Diane placed one in front of Danny and the other in Jasons front. She hurried back to the kitchen as her husband made to open the covered plate as Danny had already opened his. Diane suddenly halted and turned back to look at Jason. With a sinister smile emerging on her face, she watched as he picked up the spoon and removed the cover. Again for the second time Nothing stared into his face. What jolted him to reality was his wife's evil cackling laughter which was complemented by Danny's equally menacing devilish laughter. 'No food for a lazy man', Danny mouthed as he continued with his meal of fried bacon and corn. Still holding the spoon in his left hand, he watched as his wife continued to laugh at him. ‘I just need to earn more. I'm not lazy. I'm trying my best.’, he thought with tears stinging his eyes ‘Lazy, clueless man! Who in her right senses would waste her time, money and energy to cook for you?', She said as she stopped laughing. 'You are not even ashamed that you want to eat out of your wife's parent's food.', She hissed. Emerging from her grandparent's bedroom, Ria who was obviously still halfway in dreamland while still wearing cute pyjamas with Minnie mouse pictures plastered in different part of the fabric, staggered to where her Father was and proceeded to sit on his thighs. The sight of his daughter relieved him of the ‘energy draining vampires' for a moment. 'Hey sweetheart, good morning.' He said staring at her lovingly. ‘I did not watch Cocomelon before I slept off', Ria replied with an innocent voice. ‘Don't worry, you'll watch it today', he assured her. 'Daddy', she called 'Yes, Cupcake', Jason replied while smoothing out her scattered blonde hair. ‘Where is your food?’, She asked while playing with his fingers 'Dad is done eating', Sweetheart, Diane replied before Jason could ‘Yes and I have to go to work now. Daddy should not be late.’, he said as he lifted her off his laps. Obviously feeding off his innocent daughter's bubbly energy, Jason rose and picked up his scooter's key and proceeded to walk his daughter while holding her hand to the kitchen. 'Remember Cupcake, Daddy loves you so much Dee, I'm off to work... I love you’ Totally ignoring his presence, she looked at her daughter and held out her arms for a big ‘wakey bear hug’ like they called it. ‘Good morning, Love. Your munchy fruity milky pop is ready. Go bring your chair and I'll feed you.’, Dee said lovingly ‘Okay mummy!’, Ria said excitedly as she ran towards the sitting room. Seeing as he is being ignored, Jason made to leave for work. ‘Daddy!’ Ria called as he opened the door ‘When am I going back to school like Amelia and Owen?’ She asked with a sad tone ‘Very soon, Ria. Very soon.’ He answered as though he was reassuring himself. ‘Very soon. Head deliverer. More time. More money. One big happy family.', he thought ‘Okay daddy. I love you so much’, Ria replied as she dragged her small chair on the wooden floor towards the kitchen ‘I love you too, Ria. Be a good girl’, Jason said as he exited the house and turned right towards the garage. He knew that he was already late and trouble was hovering ahead because his boss had suddenly turned a new leave, a very bad one, he thought. ‘Not good for a Thursday morning. But I'll be fine... Surely.’ He reassured himself as he hopped on his scooter and rode out of the courtyard out onto the street to Xavi's Cafe and fillings, his worst nightmare and right now, his only saving grace.
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It was already few minutes past 8AM when Jason reached Xavi Cafe and fillings. He knew he was late and had to face his boss and not the present head deliverer, Jones. Jones was a 65 years old Irish-Latino sturdy man who looks like he took 20 years off his age with his pinkish baby like skin, grey iris and black hair. Jason believes that Jones understood him better than anyone else.‘I know I'm safe with him. I hope he is able to convince the boss.', Jason thought as he drove into the garage. As soon as he parked his scooter in the general section, he spotted his boss' car in the reserved corner his brain sent a shiver down his spine. He felt a throbbing pang in his heart as he turned off the ignition. He harbored the thought that he might one day have a cardiac arrest as a result of the shocks his heart receive from the fear of his boss. He had secretly hoped that his boss would not be at work so early.‘Past 8 isn't so early if you asked me’, he reminded himself. ‘Well, here goes not
The Billionaire's Masked Heir CHAPTER 3
After the first 3 rounds of delivery, the delivery van started emitting thick smoke from the exhaust pipe as he made his way back to pick up the next batch of pastries and beverages. ‘This Thursday sure has something up its sleeves.’ Jason thought wearily and felt obligated to report the boss directly as he had been instructed to do so whenever the vehicles develop hiccups.As soon as he parked the van and made his way to his boss's office, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand in their roots. Jason had learnt to pay attention to this rush of dread but at that moment he had zeroed in his mind on what he had to do.‘Yo man! What's up with the van?’, The 6 feet tall brown skin security guarding the parking lot asked approached the van.‘I really don't know.’ Jason replied dismissively as he exited the van.‘You should be careful with our boss's babies. He doesn't like them bothered.’ The well- built and taller security with a strong German look and accent chipped in. ‘You shou
The Billionaire's Masked Heir CHAPTER 4
‘Watch out man!’ Iglesias called out behind Jason as he almost bumped into one of the waiters exiting the kitchen with a breakfast box. Jason heard nothing. All he wanted to do was flee. It was not until he exited the building through the back door that he realized that his keys were not in his pocket and he was still wearing his work clothes. ‘I’d rather dump them in a trashcan rather than return them anyways.’, he thought.He had momentarily forgotten what he had just witnessed as the ache in his head made it difficult for his thoughts to conjure. Jason whimpered as he felt his head throbbing as the scene and exchange of dialogues came rushing back. He felt his stomach churn as though he was hungry and nauseous at the same time. As he held unto the delivery boxes stacked by the door in order to relief himself of his aches, he heard the door open behind him. He did not turn because he knew that whosoever it could be was probably out to mock him. Then he heard the familiar voice
The Billionaire's Masked Heir CHAPTER 5
Dee thought she was glad that he was nowhere to be found 3 days after the incident but by the sunset of the third day, she could feel her anxiety level spike up beyond what she could control without her medications. Her anxiety issues which got diagnosed when she was 16 years old had worsened over the years until she met Jason. She was almost 22 years old when she met him and just 2 days before her 23rd birthday, she discovered she was pregnant with Ria. Since that day, her breakdowns occasionally made its grand appearance whenever she’s extremely stressed. ‘Where is he… where is he… where is he… where is Jason?’, She whispered repeatedly as she paced around her bed while pulling at her hair unconsciously. She stopped suddenly in the middle of the room while staring into the wall as the feeling descended on her again felt as though her throat was closing up as she felt the floor beneath her feet quake slowly. As Dee struggled to steady her feet while reaching for the bed, she heard
The Billionaire's Masked Heir CHAPTER 6
The funeral house was located at the southern end of the Catholic Mid-west district church. Neither Jason nor his wife was a devoted church goer but as the church owned the only funeral house which was allowed to exist in the southern province of Arkwrath, it made sense to bury the deceased in the ways of the people. The way of the people required the widow of the deceased to be present during the funeral ceremony at the church but not at the graveyard during the burial. Even though Dee had never regarded black as a colour fit for her body, she was shrouded in a knee-length black silk dress flattering her hourglass figure at the funeral with a tiny shawl hanging loosely on her shoulders. The funeral ceremony was packed with people she could not recall knowing or seeing until that day especially the several men who were all suited up. Dee was too lost in the myriad of the thoughts of losing her husband and the euphoria of false freedom she knew she never wanted when she was called to
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Dee woke up in her bed with a throbbing ache in the right side of her head which made her wince inaudibly as she struggled to open her eyes. The curtains of her room had been left wide open and she could see the sun setting across the horizon. She had always loved watching the sunset especially when she sits by the pool of hers’ and Jason’s mansion which they lost to a deadly loan shark whose constant threat made them escape the city for her parents’. Jason had however never provided her with answers to the question of what he used the money for. She closed her eyes again as she felt the numbing ache returning with extra throbs. Dee caught herself drifting into dreamland again until she felt something warm snuggling close to her body. She instantly opened her eyes and turned her head to check what it was. It was then that she realized that Ria was sleeping beside her on the bed. She wondered why Ria was sleeping beside her as she rarely sleeps in the room with her without her father
The Billionaire's Masked Heir CHAPTER 8
Sidney, who was coincidentally the doctor assigned to Dee told her that she was indeed pregnant. He confirmed that it was the pregnancy coupled with stress that succeeded in shutting her body down several times. She, however, did not react in any way to the news as it merely confirmed her fears. She knew she could not tell Danny as he was not interested in having a child as he wanted to be hundred percent child-free. Telling her sister, she knew will spell doom for the whole family and ruin her sister’s happy marriage. Dee wanted an easy way out. As soon as Dee left the hospital after 6 days of medical care and attention, she began to seek the easy ways out of a lifetime burden and the evidence of her unfaithfulness. She knew Jason would automatically be identified father of the baby but a living being had to take responsibility because she knew she was too broke to cater for a pregnancy talk more of a child. ‘ZacXavi is the easy way out.’, she thought as she picked up her phone l
The Billionaire's Masked Heir CHAPTER 9
His eye lids felt as though they were glued to his eyeballs as they have stayed shut since he became conscious enough to realize that he had been trying to open them. The more he tried, the more he realized that it was a futile effort. Jason felt trapped in some place, something as small and stuffy as a shoe box. The air around him was hot, too hot that he felt himself drifting in and out of consciousness despite his struggle to stay awake. As he struggled desperately to free himself from whatever was holding him captive, he felt his body sprawling out effortlessly onto a softer platform. It was at this point that he felt his head spinning; more like his whole body was tied to a spinning wheel. Then, it stopped. Everything stopped again as he felt his whole body been stuffed into a much smaller box and space again. …The doctor was sited behind his table which was crowded by several medical books, hospital records and a hospital file named ‘X-Classified’ printed beneath ‘ARKWRATH H
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CHAPTER 43
Mauve’s eyes narrowed as he studied Cain, who seemed visibly disturbed, his words hesitant and strained. Mauve had seen his son in various states of frustration, but never like this, there was something more to Cain's discomfort, something that was eating at him. The older man’s gaze hardened, and his voice dropped to a low, commanding tone.“Cain,” Mauve said, his voice steady but laced with impatience. “Why do you look so distressed? Speak now.”Cain’s eyes flickered for a moment, as though struggling with something lodged deep within his chest. He opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again, his voice shaking with a mix of fear and anger. “It’s not you, Father. It’s... something bigger. There are problems here that you’ve not even begun to grasp.”Mauve’s brow furrowed, his curiosity piqued. "What do you mean?" he pressed, leaning forward, his piercing eyes fixed on Cain as if trying to dissect every emotion his son was trying to hide.Cain hesitated again, clearly weighing t
CHAPTER 42
Cain, Abel, and Adam walked into Mauve’s office, their steps synchronized in the polished luxury of their suits. The tense air from the meeting still lingered in their minds, and the click of their shoes on the marble floor seemed louder than usual. As the door closed behind them, Cain immediately cut to the chase, his frustration palpable. "What was that in the meeting?" Cain demanded, his voice sharp. "What was all that nonsense? It was upsetting, embarrassing even. I’m sure everyone could tell. The way the room was reading us… it was clear." He stood there, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on Mauve, unwilling to let the awkwardness of the earlier exchange go.Mauve, seated at his desk, let out a short laugh, his voice smooth, but tinged with something colder beneath the surface. "Don’t worry yourself too much about how things played out in the room, Cain," Mauve replied, leaning back in his chair, the leather creaking under his weight. "What you should worry about are the things that
CHAPTER 41
Jason walked through the corridors of the building, his thoughts drifting toward the office that had once belonged to his father. The space that had been a symbol of power for decades now felt like a hollow echo of the past. His father’s legacy loomed large in the room, and Jason could already feel the pressure of expectations weighing on his shoulders. His own office was still under construction, a temporary arrangement that seemed to perfectly mirror his own temporary state of mind. The presidency was his, but it was still something he had yet to fully claim.As he continued down the hallway, something nagged at him, adetail he had overlooked earlier in the rush of his new responsibilities. He had yet to choose his personal assistant, someone who would be his right hand, his confidante, the one person he could trust to navigate the constant maelstrom of corporate politics and public perception. And in that moment, Jason knew exactly who he wanted. His father’s secretary had been ef
CHAPTER 40
Jason sat in the president's chair, his posture straight, his expression unreadable as the weight of the moment pressed down upon him. His father, once the man who had sat in this seat with authority and charisma, now stood up and shook Jason’s hand, the passing of an era unfolding in a single gesture. The sight of the handshake reverberated around the silent room, the only thing louder than the action itself was the uncertainty hanging thick in the air. His father’s exit was swift, deliberate, the door closing behind him with a soft thud. Mauve, Winston’s brother, followed soon after, calling out behind him in an attempt to stall his departure."Wait, brother," Mauve’s voice was firm, the kind of tone that left little room for argument, "Don’t head straight to your office just yet. Come to mine. We’ll talk about what comes next over a cup of coffee. Retirement’s on my mind as well. We can make plans together."Winston’s eyes narrowed for a brief moment, but he didn’t reply immediatel
CHAPTER 39
Cain ArkWrath sat rigidly at the long, polished conference table, his fingers clenching into fists beneath the smooth surface. His sharp eyes darted between the family members sitting around him, though his mind was far from the polished business conversation taking place. The room felt suffocating, and the air was thick with applause, but Cain’s thoughts were anything but celebratory.Jason ArkWrath, the man who had just been introduced as the new president of the State and business empire of ArkWrath was an enigma to Cain. The moment Jason had walked into the room, Cain’s instincts had flared. There was something disturbingly familiar about the young man. For a fleeting moment, Cain’s mind had thrown up a memory, one that was not so buried in the past and had now resurfaced with sharp clarity. Jason looked almost identical to Fad Lucas, the cleaner who had disappeared off Cain’s radar after their confrontation. The very same man who Cain had tried to kill in a fit of anger and arro
CHAPTER 38
The meeting had reached a critical point, and the tension was hotter than ever. Winston ArkWrath had just announced the unexpected decision to name his son, Jason, as his successor. A murmur of surprise had rippled through the room, and the once-steadfast supporters of Winston seemed unsure how to react. Some exchanged anxious glances, others appeared relieved, but no one dared to voice their true feelings, not in front of Winston. To many, it seemed like a peaceful moment. But for those who truly understood the dynamics at play, it was a carefully orchestrated facade that threatened to crack wide open. Winston raised his hand, signaling for quiet. “We’ll take a 5-minute break,” he declared, his voice commanding yet oddly calm. “During this time, I’d like to address any concerns that might have arisen regarding my decision to name Jason as my successor. I know many of you must have your doubts... perhaps you feel uncertain about this choice. But I assure you, this is the right dec
CHAPTER 37
Mauve’s heart pounded in his chest. His palms were slick with sweat. He could feel the weight of the eyes upon him, even though he was doing his best to remain stoic. He knew, deep down, that this was not his moment. It would never be his moment. Winston turned to the side and gestured to a figure standing at the back of the room. It was a man Mauve had not expected. Jason. But what confused the room was his appearance. The mask he wore, one that had covered his face until now, was an unusual choice for someone in a position of power. As he reached behind his ear and pressed a button, the mask began to shrink, revealing the raw scars that lined his forehead. It was clear that these were not just battle scars; they were marks of someone who had been through something much darker, something that went far beyond the surface.The room fell into an uncomfortable silence, the reporters too stunned to ask the questions that burned on their tongues. Mauve’s chest tightened as he watched Ja
CHAPTER 36
It was now Monday, and the glass conference room hummed with the subtle buzz of activity. The room, sleek and modern, exuded power as its polished floors reflecting the sharp, angular edges of the classy furniture. The walls, adorned with massive digital screens, displayed the ArkWrath logo in stark contrast to the otherwise single colour, grey decor. Two reporters, seasoned professionals known for breaking the most confidential news from headquarters, sat in their designated corner, marked Media Section. They were quiet but observant, poised with their pens ready to capture not just the words spoken but the unsaid. The emotions, the shifts in energy, nothing was beyond their scrutiny. They had spent seven years in that room, learning to decode the faintest sigh, the flicker of an eyelash, the nervous shift of a hand. In this world of power drift and secrecy, they were now masters of reading between the lines. Today, however, something felt different, more dangerously exciting. The r
CHAPTER 35
The clock on Mauve’s desk ticked louder than usual, each passing second feeling heavier than the last. He leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing as he stared at the letter that still lay in front of him. The crisp parchment, sealed with Winston’s unmistakable crest, seemed to mock him in its simplicity. A year ago, he had made a critical mistake. A failure that still stung, one that he hadn’t fully forgiven himself for.Mauve’s fingers drummed lightly against the polished wood of his desk as he remembered the mission he’d assigned. It had seemed so straightforward then: eliminate the only heir left to Winston’s business empire.But, as with most of Mauve’s plans, things hadn’t gone as expected.The people Mauve had chosen to carry out the task, his trusted agents, handpicked for their loyalty and their experience, had failed him.The operation had fallen apart quickly. The moment Mauve’s agents lost contact, he knew that the plan had failed. He had no choice but to eliminate those
