2025-01-11 01:47:10It 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 nothing!’ He said to himself as he made his way to the entrance of the magnificent two decades old Xavi Cafe and fillings building which had brick walls sprawled one storey high, serving and delivering beverages and pastries. His entry instantly drew smirks and sneers across the Xavi's dining area on the faces of the two out of five staff working their morning shift. ‘Good morning, Mr Jason!’, Daisy cooed from behind him. Looking startled and confused as he did not hear her enter, ‘Good morning, Daisy’, he answered as he turned his head to look at her. ‘I have a piece of advice for you’, she said while plating with the leather bows attached to the leather belt on her waistline, ‘Buy yourself a clock with an alarm… If your lawfully wedded wife has decided to remain unfaithful to you, at least the clock wouldn't.' Jason was more confused and made to ask her what she meant by what she said but Daisy had walked away from him immediately after she uttered those words. Jason looked around to check whether anyone had seen or heard them. He noticed that the 2 girls sitting close to where he was were staring at him as the taller one whispered something to the shorter one. ‘Dee is everything else… but unfaithful?, he thought and sighed heavily. Jason knew he was not ready for a case on his wife's fidelity on an early Thursday morning and walked straight into the head deliverer's office. ‘Good morning, Boss J. I'm sorry ...’ ‘Good morning, Jason.’ Jones interrupted without looking up from his laptop, ‘The boss is waiting for you in his office Be careful of what you utter this morning. He is not in a good mood’, He added. ‘Thank you, mini boss’, Jason said playfully. Jason made his way to his boss's office. His boss, Mr ZacXavi had established Xavi's Cafe and fillings 21 years ago starting as a make shift kitchen doubling as an outlet outside on his family house's courtyard. Mr ZacXavi relays the story of the humble beginning of his two decades old treasure ‘Xavis Cafe and fillings’ to everyone who cares to listen as many times as possible. Jason knocked gently on the door and got no response. ‘Good morning, Boss.’, He called out with a pitch too high than he had intended. He got no response again. He decided to open the door to check whether his boss was on seat or not. As he did, Jason checked his boss's corner and found no one. He stepped into the office to probably wait for his boss but was startled by his boss's raspy voice. ‘How many times have I warned you not to enter into my office without my permission?’ ZacXavi asked while shaking the ashes off his cigar in the glass ash tray on the wooden stool in his front. ‘Good morning, boss ‘Jason replied looking like a dog that got caught with the neighbor's shoes in its mouth, ‘I knocked but no one answered, sir.’ He continued without missing a beat and listened intently for a reply. ZacXavi continued to draw the smoke from his Cuban Cigar and puff it into the air with his eyes closed and head resting backward on his brown leather couch. Jason stood still unsure of what to do, whether to keep quiet and wait for his boss to speak or say something to grab his attention again. ‘Boss?, Jason whispered ‘Jason, Jason, Jason!', ZacXavi called with an angry tone as he rose suddenly in a way that startled Jason again. He walked steadily with his ash tray in his right hand and the Cigar in his left in a way that screamed 'Mafia!' with a body that seemed as though he worked out every single day with his blond hair making a statement on his head complementing his greyish blue irises. His well-built physique and ocean eyes, like Daisy called it, has women drooling over him. Jason had once heard Diane mention to her sister that his boss was a hot number. ‘What is today's date, Jason?’, ZacXavi asked as he sat on his office chair. ‘Huh 21st of May?’ Jason replied after a few seconds pause sounding unsure as he wondered where the conversation was headed. Good its nice to hear that it’s few hours to payday. How many times have I called you into my office this month?’, ZacXavi continued while puffing out smoke from his Cigar. ‘Its been 3 times, Boss’, Jason replied while staring down at his shoelaces before he shifted his focus to the faded wooden floor. ‘Good! Then, how useless can you become that would make me dismiss you from work?’ ZacXavi asked staring intently at him. 'And raise your freaking head up when Im talking to you!', Jason immediately raised his head up but found it extremely difficult to look directly at his boss. ‘You still don't get it, do you?’ ZacXavi continued ‘Xavi's Cafe and fillings has been standing strong for a mostly good twenty one years, you know I began with just a few dollars to my name accumulated from series of jobs I took on as a teenager.' 'Oh Oh! here we go again with the daily dose of grass to grace Ted X', Jason thought and chuckled mentally ‘Do you think that I would be here today if I had handled my business with the level of irresponsibility you are handling your job with? ‘ 'I'm so sorry boss', Jason replied sounding remorseful. ‘Sorry for yourself, Mr man!...This is your fifth year here and you still lack the basic qualities of a responsible employee!’ ZacXavi said with a voice that showed that he was visibly irritated, 'I wonder what your wife sees in you that is making her stick with you.. I promise you, she deserves better'. ‘What has my wife got to do with this again? Your wife this, your wife that. Y'all should leave Dee out of this already.', Jason thought as he felt his patience hitting its rock bottom. He was jolted back to his boss's office as he someone knocked on the door. ‘Come in, Iglesias.’ ZacXavi called out. A frail looking boy teenage walked in with a cup of hot coffee and dropped it on the table in front of the boss. ‘Look at Igly...', ZacXavi said as he pointed at him. ‘He comes to work early before I do he makes sure my coffee is ready at the appropriate time just the way I like it and it is common knowledge that he is still a teenager and at his age, he understands perfectly that one must be responsible and carry out his duties diligently.’. Jason could clearly see that Iglesias was grinning at his discomfort as he did not even bother to respect his presence. Its my fault, anyways, Jason thought as he felt his eyes stinging from tears threatening to pour. ‘This should be the last time I call you into my office for this nonsense and irresponsible attitude of yours. Close my door behind you.’ ZacXavi said as he lifted his coffee to his mouth. ‘Thank you, boss’ Jason replied looking remorseful ‘Don't thank me, fool. Get out of my office and go do your job! There's too much delivery to be done today and we are lagging already No thanks to you.’ ZacXavi replied, ‘Igly boy call me my secretary’ He said facing Iglesias ‘Alright Boss.’ Iglesias made for the door with a smile on his face. Jason left immediately after Iglesias did to avoid further insult and to ensure that he covers his mark for the day. ‘I think I've ruined my chances with the boss already. How do I become head deliverer now?’, he thought ‘See me through this, Jason. I believe in you.’ He said to himself as he headed to his designated delivery van already stocked with pastries and beverages to be delivered. Then, he saw her again, 'Daisy'. She smiled and winked at him awkwardly which threw him off balance. 'I really don't understand this girl. One minute, she's raging like a dog, the other minute, she's acting all sweet… It better not be what I'm thinking.’ He thought as entered into the van and turned on the ignition. 'Hey Jason!', Daisy called out loud 'Come back as soon as you can, sweetheart I have a surprise for you, the boss has a surprise for you or... let me say, we all have a surprise for you', She said and winked before turning back to enter the building 'I just left the boss!', Jason replied 'Oh really?' she said as she turned back 'Yes!', Jason said and sighed heavily. 'Trust me, he has a bigger surprise for you. A beautiful one… Dont tell anyone. It's a secret', she whispered loudly in a way that sounded creepy and it horrified Jason that he felt something crawling beneath his skin. 'Drive safe, sweetheart and remember... Daisy loves you', she said and smiled creepily before entering the building. Jason had always thought that Daisy was just been an annoying brat but at that moment as he shifted the gear to drive mode, he felt sorry for her. He did not understand why he did but he had it in mind to ask her what she has up her sleeves this time. 'And yes, the boss... I don't even know whether she's lying or not I'll know when I return', he thought and sighed as he drove out of the premises.
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The night had finally arrived. The city of ArkWrath buzzed with anticipation as the opening chords of a new era played out in the luxurious ballroom of the ArkWrath estate. The welcoming party was not just an event—it was a statement. Every detail, every glance exchanged, every whispered word carried weight. Jason stood before the large mirror in his suite, his father’s new butler—a tall, perfectly composed man named Benet—having finished the final adjustments to his attire. Jason’s tuxedo was tailored to perfection, black as the night with gold accents that subtly hinted at the opulence of the ArkWrath legacy. His mask, a work of art, rested over his face, hiding his expression from the world. The ArkWrath family did not simply walk into a room; they commanded it. And tonight, Jason was going to make sure the world saw him as more than just a name—he was the face of this empire. He barely noticed Benet fussing with his cufflinks, his mind preoccupied with the events to come. His f
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Jason stood by the grand windows of his mansion, the floor-to-ceiling glass offering him a sweeping view of Arkwrath serene coastline. The sun was just beginning to set, casting its golden light across the shimmering water. This mansion was the perfect place for power players like himself to keep their secrets hidden. But secrets, as Jason had come to learn, were never fully hidden. They had a way of bubbling up, especially when you had too many people to trust.His father’s call had come just two days ago, and now, with the welcoming party drawing near, Jason was still grappling with the weight of the conversation. Winston, his father, had been unusually insistent that Jason make time to visit Aunt May. The invitation was personal, informal, and in Jason's eyes, fraught with potential complications."Aunt May insists on cooking for you," Winston had said, his voice gruff but warm. "She wants to meet the man who's taken over everything that once belonged to her husband. I understand
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As the day wore on, Olivia couldn’t help but feel the weight of it all. She had no idea how much her life would change from this point forward, but one thing was certain: she was now part of Jason’s world. And as much as she tried to deny it, a part of her couldn’t help but wonder what else lay behind that mask, behind that calm, composed exterior. She would have to learn to navigate this world, to keep her emotions in check. But deep down, she knew the hardest part would be keeping her growing attraction to Jason hidden. Because no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t deny the undeniable pull he had on her. And that terrified her more than anything else..Olivia stared at her phone, her eyes scanning the schedule once again. The calendar she’d just synced with Jason's was now filled with precise, almost meticulous details of her upcoming days. There were meetings, appointments, tasks—all arranged with an efficiency that left no room for ambiguity. As she went through the events, o
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Olivia had returned to her seat and she didn’t trust him. Not yet. But as Jason’s fingers moved swiftly over the keyboard, she realized that her choice was already made. She had no other option but to trust him, at least for now.Again, Olivia sat in the uncomfortable silence of the room, her eyes darting between Jason and the space around them. There was an air of discomfort about the situation, a palpable tension that seemed to follow Jason wherever he went. He was different from the man she had first met—different from the son of Arkwrath who had been an unspoken legend. Jason was no longer just a figure in the shadows of his father’s empire; now, he was its heart, and every action he took seemed deliberate, controlled, and... unsettling.She had tried to understand him in the moments she spent around him, but now, in this office—his domain—it felt like the game had just begun. Jason didn’t seem like the kind of person to make idle conversation. He spoke when he needed to, and when
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Olivia sat across from Jason, her mind racing as she observed his every move. He was different now, no longer the man she had once seen in passing, no longer the son of the man who had ruled the empire with unyielding control. Jason was the empire now. And Olivia couldn't help but wonder: was this his true nature? Or was it all an elaborate façade? His calculated demeanor, the coldness with which he spoke, it was as if everything was part of a game—a game she didn’t fully understand but would soon be forced to play.Jason’s gaze never wavered as he stared down at the screen of his laptop, the soft glow illuminating his sharp features. His presence in the room was suffocating even. He exuded an energy that made everything else seem insignificant. Olivia shifted in her seat, feeling like an intruder in this vast, cold office.Then, just as she thought she had figured out his demeanor, he spoke again, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade.“You’re going to start living with
CHAPTER 44
Jason stepped out of the elevator and into the atrium of the Arkwrath Tower. The faint hum of the city outside echoed in the massive glass windows, but inside, there was nothing but silence and the sense of impending change. The air seemed thicker, charged with a subtle tension as if the world itself was holding its breath, waiting for him to take the first step into his new role. As he crossed the polished marble floors, his heels clicking against the surface, a realization hit him. This was it. This was the moment. He wasn’t just stepping into his father’s shoes—he was claiming the throne. He was no longer the son of the man who had once built the empire; he was the emperor now. And whether he liked it or not, the world was going to watch him. His every move, every decision, would be scrutinized. Agreed with, disagreed with, criticized, and most of all, gossiped about. Jason had always known this would come. But now, as he entered his father’s old domain, there was a tangible weig
