Dario took a cab to Kejar hospital to check how Maria was doing.
On his way, as he thought about how his life had turned around in a twinkle of an eye, smiling ear to ear and how he couldn’t wait to tell his wife, Delilah, about the news. He can now buy her all the luxury items she’s always wanted. He was smiling brightly anticipating this happy moment with Delilah. However, the thought only lasted a few seconds before he remembered what happened at the villa last night. Delilah is no longer his wife. His heart sank when he remembered. It was like an arrow physically pierced through his heart. Whenever he got good news, maybe a new job or any good news at all, Delilah was always the first person he wanted to tell. Even when he had bad days, she was the first and only person he wanted to talk to about it. She was like his safe space. But now, he doesn't have that anymore. He would have shared the good news with Maria, but she’s unconscious in the hospital. Dario was lost in thoughts for a while until he realized the cab had not moved from the same position for over twenty minutes. “What could be causing the traffic?” He wondered before looking past the few cars before his cab. In the middle of the road were two black vans blocking a Mercedes benz. Earlier, the driver of the Benz ran away before thugs bounced out of the vans with harmful weapons in their hands. Nobody dared confront these thugs because everyone in the city recognized them. Their boss was the ruthless Mr Charles and anyone who tried to confront them was ready to lose their life. The thugs gathered the Mercedes Benz, trying to open the doors but it appeared that the doors were locked. After a while, they started using their weapons to hit the screen of the car. A lady’s scream was evident from the car but no one moved an inch. Dario watched the scene unfold before him until he couldn’t. He then came down from the cab. “Sir, if you don’t want to lose your life, just leave them be,” the cab driver warned Dario. Dario couldn’t sit still hearing a lady’s terrified screams so he didn’t care and walked forward to where the scene was unfolding. As he passed cars by cars, the drivers tried to warn him but at this point, Dario was raging with anger. How can grown hefty men be doing this to a poor lady? “Unusually, you’re not moving around with bodyguards, come on, we couldn’t afford to miss this opportunity,” a thug said laughing evily. “Ms. Wilson, since you’ve proven to be stubborn, we don’t have a choice but to do this our way!” One of the thugs who seemed to be their leader exclaimed as he raised the huge hammer one more time to hit the windscreen. Before he could bring his hands down, a voice distracted him. “All of you have five seconds to flee.” The voice was none other than Dario’s. The thugs, surprised at the statement they heard, stopped what they were doing to see who had such guts. “Is he a newbie in town?” One of them asked the other. While the rest of them let out a loud sarcastic laugh as they eyed Dario from head to toe. Dario was physically fit to an extent, he had built up muscles due to heavy lifting from his part time jobs but compared to these hefty men, he was like a rat next to them. “You must have so much guts! Now you have two seconds to leave!” The boss shouted at Dario. Before he could finish talking, a loud punch landed on his face. The pressure of the punch almost dislocated his jaw. He staggered back, as blood trickled down from his nostrils. “How dare you?! Kill him!” The other thugs then rushed Dario at once with their weapons in the air. Dario wrestled with them fearlessly, weaving through them as fast as lightning. Each time someone came within arms length, he didn’t think twice to dash out a firm punch. The men fell over one after the other after a few bone shifting and cries of pain. Beating them up was a piece of cake for Dario because it was nothing new to him. Growing up on the streets, he had to learn to fight to protect his mother and himself. He had to protect Maria on several nights from drunk men wanting to take advantage of her. So, he was a skilled martial artist. The thugs were scared out of their pants. Never has anyone tried to confront them. And never would they have thought Dario could take them out all at once. Surprisingly, not a single strand of hair on his body was harmed. Natalie Wilson’s eyes widened in disbelief as she watched Dario beat the thugs to a pulp. Initially, she didn’t bother to think if Dario was going to have a hard time fighting these hefty men, she felt bad that he was going to get himself killed trying to help her. Who knew he was such a capable fighter? While admiring his fighting skills, she couldn’t help but notice how handsome this young man was. Not only was he skilled in combat but he looked like he just walked out of a magazine! A man like him was rare in the city! Dario then walked towards the leader, “Don’t come near me! My boss will make you pay!” the leader exclaimed. Before he could get up, Dario kicked his abdomen hard which made him fall back on the floor, holding his stomach tight with blood evident in his mouth as he coughed. “Now, you all have five seconds to flee,” Dario said calmly. Whining in pain, they helped each other up and got into their van and zoomed off. Everyone watching had their jaws dropped, their mouths fell agape. ‘Who is he?’ Dario then walked to the Mercedes Benz to check on the lady. He knocked on the window and Natalie unlocked the door and came out. “Are you okay? you shouldn’t go around without bodyguards, moving on” Dario said. He was already walking back to his cab when Natalie stopped him, “Wait!” When Dario turned back to answer, he realized how stunning this young lady was. The dress she wore defined her curves seductively. She had clear skin and radiant eyes that sparkled. But, women was the least of Dario’s priorities right now. “Thank you for saving me, I have no way to pay you back,” she said, as she scurried towards Dario stretching forth her palm in a gesture for a handshake. “I’m Natalie Wilson, you literally just saved my life!” she gratetefully added. “It’s nothing, you’re very much welcome,” Dario nodded, while accepting her handshake. Natalie swiftly brought out her bag from the car and dipped her hand inside, “Seriously though, I’m really grateful and I should return the favor.” she said, bringing out a card. “My father’s hosting a banquet tonight. You should come as my guest. Consider it a thank you and I’d love to introduce you to my father as well.” Dario smiled warmly and accepted the invite.“Good day, I’m the guardian for Maria Esterno. I was told she was transferred here early this morning,” Dario informed the nurses at the reception at Kejar hospital.“You must be Dario. Please, come with me.”When Dario got to Maria’s ward, it was a private ward and she was on a huge hospital bed. The room was very spacious, had a flat screen T.V and a coffee table. It also had large windows that allowed natural light to flood room. He could tell this was the VIP suite of the hospital.Looking at Maria, Dario let out a sigh of relief. She was looking better than he last saw her. Maria was diagnosed with low blood pressure a few years ago, but they couldn’t afford the treatment so it only got worse over the years.Her skin was no longer pale which signified that the blood flow to her skin has increased so her blood pressure was improving.Dario sat beside unconscious Maria and had a little chat with her.“….I can’t wait for you to wake up to give you all the juicy details.”“I love yo
“Young master, I am deeply sorry!” Bruce said, bowing deeply to Dario.‘Who could be after my life? Could it be the thugs?’‘No.’ Dario shook his head against the thought. Those men didn’t seem like thug material, they were uniformed and heavily armed. Dario had a feeling they were sent by someone powerful and influential. Someone that could afford them and those guns.But why would someone like that want him dead?“From your description of the men, only one person comes to my mind,” Bruce interrupted Dario’s thought flow. “They must be from empress Elizabeth”“Who is Empress Elizabeth??”“Young master, please forgive me for not informing you ahead. She is Lord Reynolds’ ruthless older sister. Only she knows about your inheritance and she definitely knows we’ve found you.”“Why does she want me dead then?”“Though she rules the mighty Beth empire, she wanted the Persian empire for herself after her brother died.”Elizabeth was very sure that she’d inherit the Persian empire and everyt
After enduring enough humiliation, tears started swirling in Brian’s eyes but he dared not do anything rash if he still wanted to keep his job and his life.Brian was still on his knees when the hotel attendant came around.“Good evening Mr Dario. Welcome to Sesame hotel. I trust you had a pleasant journey. My name is Sarah, and I have the privilege of assisting you during your stay as a VIP guest.” “Allow me to escort you to your luxurious accommodation.”“Yes please,” Dario left and followed the hotel attendant.Dario wasn’t done with Brian obviously but he’ll be back for him so he can have enough to tell the Williams.Though Dario was yet to know that Sesame hotel was also one of the businesses his father left behind and Brian only managed it.On the other hand, Bruce warned Brian not to get up from his knees until Dario himself told him to.Brian knew he would dare not disobey Sir Bruce’s order, no matter what.***After a while of walking down a corridor, Sarah halted at the fron
It was the evening of the banquet and it was happening at the Cellar. The Cellar was the most prominent club in the city at the time. The building was large and made of marble and glass. It had large window bays and a special rooftop club for after parties. Both the interior and exterior of the club exuded elegance. The compound was very spacious, allowing guests to move freely with a big artificial fountain at the center that enhanced its aesthetic appeal.A blue Chevrolet corvette stopped at the entrance of the club. A gorgeous lady dressed in a black evening dress and a man got out of the car. Everyone’s attention was drawn to the woman especially, because she outshone every other woman in her presence. Her blue eyes glowed in the dark.“Her skin is flawless”“What a beautiful woman!”Ladies from other wealthy families whispered among themselves while photographers rushed to take several shots, marveling at Delilah’s beauty.“I’ve never been to the Cellar, it’s so grand. What beau
“She’s my ex-wife.” Dario replied. “Oh really?” Natalie said, eyeing Delilah from head to toe with a sarcastic smile plastered on her face. “Hi, I’m Natalie Wilson. Nice to meet you,” she stretched her hands in a gesture for a handshake, her eyes locked with that of Delilah’s. Natalie’s actions seemed friendly but her aura came off as slightly intimidating. Of course, she intended to come off as intimidating. “Nice to meet you Ms Wilson, I’m Delilah Williams.” Delilah tried to maintain her composure as she answered, though avoiding direct eye contact. Although Delilah is one lady who has always prided herself in her looks and figure. Ever since she was little, she had always been regarded as the ‘Belle’ of the Williams family. But, she had to admit that Natalie was in a league of her own. The woman before her was uniquely attractive and she had a seductive aura to top it off. Any man would be easily infatuated at the sight of her. All her life, Delilah was always the prettiest l
“Here comes my friend’s jewel. Oh! you look more stunning by the day.” Lord Derik’s face lit up when he saw Natalie enter the room. “I hope my friend hasn’t been much of a disturbance lately,” he teased as they all laughed.It was a small gathering of Lord Wilson and his old friends dining before they attended the main banquet. And Natalie had taken Dario to meet her father just as the latter requested.When Natalie told her father about the incident with the thugs and how Dario saved her, he became very interested in Dario and wanted to meet him. Though Natalie knew well not to go out unprotected, she wanted to experience a sense of freedom and independence, underestimating the potential dangers involved.The private room was tucked away from the main club building behind a set of elegant double doors. The walls of the room were adorned with a deep luxurious color; burgundy, with gilded frames including oil paintings, tapestries and ornate mirrors showcasing exquisite works of art.As
Lord Wilson clinked his glass of champagne with a fork, aiming to grab the attention of the guests as he walked to the stage. Smiling over the crowd, he started, “I welcome all my family and friends, partners and esteemed guests to the banquet tonight. Thank you all for coming to celebrate with me.”“First and foremost, I’d like to express my gratitude to certain individuals by specially recognizing them here.”“Ladies and gentlemen, join me in extending a warm welcome to my best friend, Lord Derik…”“It’s a great pleasure to have the Honorable Henry Thompson, former Secretary of State and the esteemed Senator Margaret Davis. Their presence here tonight is appreciated and their contributions to the nation are truly remarkable…”Lord Wilson went on and on to introduce special guests. “Last but not the least, allow me to introduce to you a very special guest I have here today, who has demonstrated a rare blend of courage and kindness. And I am honored to call him a son…”A very special
“I should bill you for the damage you've caused, but I doubt you have two pennies to rub together, you sorry excuse for a human being!”He hailed insults on and on at Dario. It’s not like Dario didn’t look expensive or didn’t seem like he could afford the shoes, but the man was blinded with rage. “You know what, I’m in a good mood so I’ll let it go. But only if you clean the champagne off my shoes with that tongue of yours.” The guests around watched as the scene unfolded. Is the man really serious?“Look, I’m sorry. I need to leave here right now!” Dario said, looking at his watch. He had already spent almost ten minutes just finding the exit.“You’re not going anywhere until you lick the champagne off my shoes!”Looks like he really meant what he said. This man was asking Dario to kneel and lick champagne off his shoes? What a joke!Dario stood there stunned, this man was starting to get on his nerves and he was not having it anymore.Smirking evilly, he continued “Oh! you can’t do