2024-03-18 09:16:12As Alexander left the banquet, “Maybe they are not all the same after all”, Alexander thought to himself about his meeting with Jacob Harrington as he walked down the dimly lit streets of Billiard Maze Avenue.
It was aptly named for its labyrinthine intersections and dead ends. The sky above was pitch black, a perfect backdrop for the unsettling silence that crept along the deserted road. Alexander’s footsteps echoed faintly, but the sound wasn’t solitary. Someone was following him—he could feel it. His instincts had been honed through years of hardship, and every fiber of his being screamed that he was being watched. He paused and glanced over his shoulder, catching a fleeting glimpse of a shadow slipping into the darkness. Alexander’s jaw tightened. Persistent. He took the next left turn, quickening his pace, but the shadow reappeared at the next intersection. Another turn, then another—each corner only revealed more pursuers, silently closing in like wolves circling their prey. Finally, his path ended at a dead end. Alexander stopped and sighed heavily. He turned to face the shadows that had now converged behind him. Six men stepped out of the darkness, their faces hidden by the dim light of a flickering streetlamp. "Before we get started, does anyone here want to walk away?" Alexander asked, his voice low and icy. The calmness in his tone sent a shiver through the group. Some hesitated, murmuring among themselves, but no one moved to leave. Suddenly, a loud, mocking laugh broke the tension as the group parted to reveal their leader—Julian Monroe. He stepped forward with his signature arrogance, clapping slowly. “You certainly are a man of character, Alexander Chase,” Julian said with a grin, stopping a few feet away from him. “What do you want, Julian?” Julian raised his hands in mock surprise. “What do I want? I want you to do the smart thing and sign the divorce papers.” He held out the papers, his smile turning sinister. “Julian? I had no idea we were on a first-name basis already”, Julian mocked. “I tell you what, I am feeling generous tonight, Alexander. Sign these, and I’ll let you walk out of here unharmed." Alexander stared at the papers. Julian’s words repeated in his mind. "Sign and walk away unharmed." He let out a bitter laugh. “It seems I didn’t make myself clear earlier. I’m not signing those papers—not now, not ever.” Julian’s smile faded, replaced by cold fury. “It’s a shame, really,” he said, stepping back. “But you’ve left me no choice. Your wife will be mine. And if you have to disappear for that to happen…so be it ” “Over my dead body,” Alexander retorted. Julian gave a coy smile, and snickered “O, that can be arranged…." He gestured to his men with a flick of his hand. “Boys, get him.” The six men charged at Alexander. He smirked, his adrenaline kicking in. Finally, some action. The first attacker swung an iron rod at his face. Alexander ducked smoothly, sidestepping the wild swing. Before the man could recover, Alexander struck him with a sharp blow to the neck, hitting a pressure point. The man crumpled to the ground, unconscious. The second came at him with brass knuckles, throwing a punch aimed at Alexander’s jaw. Alexander sidestepped, grabbed the man’s wrist, and twisted sharply. A loud crack followed as the attacker howled in pain. One punch to the face knocked him out cold. “Come on!” Julian shouted from the sidelines, his frustration boiling over. “It’s six against one! Do I have to do everything myself?!” The remaining attackers hesitated but began circling Alexander cautiously, looking for an opening. The third man lunged with a knife. Alexander weaved to the side, grabbing the man’s wrist and disarming him in one swift motion before delivering a knee to his stomach. The man doubled over and fell to the ground. One by one, they fell. The fourth, the fifth—it was over almost as soon as it had started. Alexander stood amidst the fallen bodies, barely breaking a sweat. Only one attacker remained. His face pale, he staggered backward, pulling a gun from his waistband in a desperate last attempt. Alexander’s eyes narrowed, his reflexes kicking in as he saw the man raise the weapon. The man fired, but Alexander twisted his body just in time, the bullet missing him by mere inches. The stray shot, however, found another target— Julian Monroe. The bullet struck Julian in the neck, and he dropped like a stone, blood pooling beneath him. The shooter froze, horrified by what he’d done, and then fled into the night without looking back. Alexander rushed to Julian’s side. He wasn’t dead, but he was unconscious and bleeding heavily. Without hesitation, Alexander tore a strip of fabric from his shirt and used two sticks nearby to create an improvised tourniquet, pressing it firmly against Julian’s neck to stop the bleeding. Julian’s life hung by a thread. Alexander looked at the cards in his pocket—the two connections he could call upon in a crisis. He made his choice. Pulling out Jacob Harrington’s card, he quickly dialed the number. The phone barely rang before Jacob picked up. “Alexander!” Jacob said, excited. “I wasn’t expecting your call so soon. Did you forget something?” “No,” Alexander replied, his tone urgent. “I’m in a bit of a mess, and I’m hoping it’s not too soon to cash in on the favor you offered.” Jacob’s tone shifted immediately. “Of course. What do you need?” “I’ll send you my location. Bring help quickly—someone’s life depends on it.” Jacob didn’t hesitate. “I’ll be there. Hang tight.” --- Hours later, Julian lay unconscious in a private hospital room, his neck bandaged, and his body hooked on life support. The room was guarded by six men, their stern expressions warning anyone against approaching. The atmosphere in the room shifted when the door opened, and Wilson Monroe, Julian’s father, entered. The man’s presence was suffocating, his aura heavy with power and menace. As the head of Monroe Logistics, Wilson was a kingpin of both legal and illegal operations in Pantheon Valley—a man feared and respected in equal measure. He stopped by Julian’s bedside, his jaw tightening as he took in the sight of his son lying helpless. His voice was a low growl as he turned to the nearest guard. “How did this happen?” “Sir, your son and his companions were attacked,” one of the guards reported nervously. Wilson’s eyes darkened. “By whom? A gang? A rival family?” The guard hesitated. “No, sir. It wasn’t a gang. It was one man.” Wilson’s eyes widened, his fury barely contained. “One man? Who?” “His name is Alexander Chase.” The name clearly meant nothing to him. “And who the hell is Alexander Chase?” “Sir,” another assistant interjected, stepping forward. “We’ve received word that Jacob Harrington has canceled your deal. He claimed it was because of your son’s actions at tonight’s banquet.” Wilson’s fury erupted, his fist slamming into the wall. “And who was the guest Julian assaulted?” “Alexander Chase,” the assistant replied. Wilson’s rage burned hotter. The deal with Jacob Harrington was worth millions, a stepping stone to raising Monroe Logistics to new heights. Now, it was gone, and all because of this mysterious man. “Find him,” Wilson growled, his voice filled with venom. “I don’t care what it takes. Find Alexander Chase.”
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chapter 34: Hangover
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Chapter 33: The Lunch Date
Earlier That DayGrace’s heart began to race as Alexander’s calm but insistent voice came through the phone.“You’re with Daniel Lockwood, correct?” he asked.Grace was taken aback that he knew this. How could he possibly know that? She hesitated before responding, “Yes, sir.”“Good. I need you to relay a message to him.”“Of course, sir. What should I tell him?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.Alexander’s voice remained steady, but there was an edge to his words. “Inform Mr. Lockwood that Maverick Corporation will only accept Seraphina Lockwood as the project head for our deal. And as a response to his actions, we have decided to terminate our two hundred billion-dollar contract with the Lockwood family if Seraphina is not restored to her rightful position.”Grace’s eyes widened. She struggled to hide her surprise. Daniel Lockwood had been sitting here, trying to charm her into putting in a good word for him with the head of Maverick Corporation… and now Alexander himself was instru
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Chapter 31: Flowers
Alexander could have walked to Maverick Corporation, but time was of the essence. Every second counted, and he couldn’t afford to waste any more of them."Sir, if I may ask—what seems to be the pressing matter?" Geoffrey, his butler, asked, his hand steady on the wheel as the car sped through the early morning streets. Alexander sat in the passenger seat, tension radiating off him. His brow was deeply furrowed, his thoughts racing behind his eyes."Just drive faster," Alexander ordered, the sharpness in his tone betraying his frustration. His mind was spinning in a dozen directions at once, and what made matters worse was that he couldn’t get in touch with Grace Pemberton. He had searched his phone for her number, only to realize it wasn’t there. Of course, it wasn’t—Grace was on a three-day leave, a fact that only added to his growing irritation.Geoffrey pressed harder on the gas, the car surging forward. As they sped through the streets, Alexander’s mind wandered, replaying his rec
Chapter 30: Happy
Alexander dropped the woman and her child off at the nearest police station. He didn’t wait to give a statement—he couldn’t afford to. The sound of Seraphina’s sobbing still echoed in his ears, driving him to move faster. What could have happened? Alexander questioned himself as he ran home, moving so quickly that anyone who saw him would have caught nothing but a blur. He promised himself he would find out who had hurt his wife and make them rue the day they dared to do so. When he reached home, Alexander was panting heavily, short of breath. He pushed the door open with urgency. “Sera!” he shouted, his voice laced with concern. To his shock, there she was, sitting in front of the TV, a half-empty bottle of alcohol in her hand, with more bottles and cans scattered across the floor. It was clear she was drowning her pain, something completely out of character for her. “Oh, Alex, I’m sorry… I was just overwhelmed,” Seraphina mumbled, turning to him, her head slightly lowered in emba
Chapter 29: Moments ago
--- MOMENTS AGO “It’s Lady Charlotte... she wants to see me… Lady Charlotte wants to see me!” Seraphina stared at her phone in disbelief. She had hoped and prayed for this moment, but never in her wildest dreams did she expect it to happen so soon. “About damn time,” Alexander replied, clearly ecstatic, mostly because the conversation had shifted away from the tension that had been hanging over his head moments before. “What do you think she wants?” Seraphina asked, even though she already knew the answer. She just needed someone else to say it, a second voice to confirm what she was too afraid to believe on her own. “What do you mean? Don’t tell me you don’t know why she texted you.” “Yeah, I do, I just… I don’t know, I want to be sure.” “You want to be sure?” Alexander scoffed in disbelief. “Come on, Seraphina, I thought you’d be happier.” “I am! It’s just…” “It’s just nothing, Seraphina. You earned it, you deserve it, so stop doubting yourself and go meet the sadistic old
