Meanwhile, back at the company, the scene of the incident was still buzzing with chaos. Employees were gathered in tight-knit groups, whispering furiously and speculating about what had just happened. The reporters, eager to follow the next chapter of the story, were hastily packing up their equipment, some already heading to the Watson estate in the hopes of catching another glimpse of Emmett Watson.Amidst the commotion, someone slowly bent down, their slender fingers brushing against the cold, hard floor. They felt around carefully until they touched the dented surface of the gold coin. With a quick glance around to ensure they weren’t being watched, they picked it up and clutched it tightly in their hand.The person straightened, slipping the coin into their pocket. They moved with a calculated nonchalance, blending back into the crowd of employees who were still murmuring in disbelief."Did you see how he just got up? Like it was nothing!""I thought for sure he was a goner. T
"Y... you've got to be kidding me," Sultan blurted out, though he was not as shocked as one might expect. He was familiar with the Hermit, a figure from the Major Arcana he knew nothing about just yet. The old wizardly man's face, pale as a corpse and shrouded under a hood, stared back at him from the mirror. His eyes, like ancient sand, held a depth of wisdom and forewarning.Sultan frowned, conflicted by the Hermit's sudden appearance and cryptic presence. "What do you want?" he asked, his voice tinged with frustration and curiosity.He was trying to avoid those people huh, those other work cult trying to initiate him yet.. ugh! They just kept appearing.The Hermit's gaze was intense, truly penetrating Sultan's soul. He raised a skeletal hand, pointing directly at Sultan through the mirror. "Looming dangers approach, Sultan," the Hermit warned, his voice a haunting whisper. "The path is fraught with peril, and shadows gather around you."Sultan tried to grasp the meaning behind
"Err, Dad..." Sultan stammered, searching for the right words. "I, um, I don't remember having a mole. Maybe... maybe you're mistaken?”His father’s expression turned serious. "You do have a mole, son," he insisted.Sultan blinked, the fear of being exposed tightening in his chest. "Dad, I said in the interview that I underwent surgery. I wasn’t lying. If I had a mole before, I shouldn’t have one now."His father narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. "Nice joke, son," he said, stretching out his hand and pointing to Sultan’s face. "There, the mole is still there. Perhaps the surgery didn’t do much justice to the mole, and I’m thankful it didn’t. That mole reminds me of our father-son relationship. It’d be sad if it were lost."Sultan quickly raised his hand to his nose, poking around until he felt the mole. It wasn’t small, nor was it big, but it was clearly noticeable from a closer distance. How? He had looked at himself in the mirror today and there was no mole. His mind raced, trying t
"Hey, pops, moms. Heard my cousin's getting married tomorrow. Is this the reason why I'm back home?" Ashley asked as she came down the stairs in her cute, fluffy, hairy bear coat.Her mom looked up from the kitchen counter, where she was preparing breakfast. "Good morning, Ashley. Yes, Tiana's wedding is part of the reason. We wanted the family to be together for this special occasion."Her dad, sitting at the dining table with a cup of coffee, added, "But we also missed having our little trouble maker around. It's been too long since we were all under the same roof."Ashley grinned, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Well, I'm here now. Anything else exciting happening while I'm back?"Her mom chuckled, "You know how it is around here. There's always something going on."Her dad, knowing his daughter's mischievous streak, gave her a stern look, raising an eyebrow in a silent warning. Her mom followed suit, giving Ashley the same eye signal, a clear reminder to behave.Ashley rolled
"Let's meet for the last time, Sultan."Ashley rode on her bike all the way to the Finn Household. She had been dreading this visit for weeks since she came back to the city, but she knew it was necessary. She could guess her step-aunt, Felicia was likely to be her usual condescending self, but Ashley was determined to keep her cool.As she entered the house, the maids greeted her warmly, and she exchanged pleasantries with them. The Sanderson family's wealth and status meant she was always treated with deference, even by the Finns, who were merely "average people trying to live off by selling their daughters to rich men."Ashley made her way to Tania's room, her mischievous mind cooking up tricks to anger her dear sweet step-cousin. Sadly, the house was too quiet for one that would host a wedding thr next day, she had a feeling something was off. Still, she approached the slightly open door, and then she overheard Tania's conversation on phone. "Let's meet for the last time, Sult
Sultan pulled the hood of his yellow, duckie-designed hoodie over his head, removing his million-dollar watch and tucking it away."All good," he muttered to himself.He gazed down at his feet, then turned to face Lugard, whose reflection stared back at him from the mirror. "Lugard, can I get a boot? A farm boot, the dirty one?"Lugard's expression was puzzled. "Huh? Young Master Watson, why do you need a dirty farm boot?"Sultan's response was swift. "To eat!"Lugard's confusion deepened."Tsk! To wear them, of course!" Sultan clarified with a smirk.Lugard shook his head, chuckling. "You're something else, Young Master Watson. I'll get you the boot."As Lugard turned to leave, Sultan called out, "And make sure it's the dirtiest one you can find!"Lugard raised an eyebrow but nodded. "As you wish, Young Master."Sultan watched Lugard leave, feeling a sense of satisfaction. He needed to look as
Sultan studied Butler Henri’s face, noticing the shift from tension and anxiety to genuine fear and concern."It seems there is a conspiracy to take you down, Young Master," Butler Henri said, his voice low and urgent. "Don't go to the company anymore. Stay at home."Sultan's eyes widened slightly, processing the weight of Henri’s words. "A conspiracy? To take me down?" he echoed, his mind racing with possibilities.Henri nodded, his expression grim. "Yes, Young Master. It's dangerous for you to be out in the open right now. Plus, you just came back from….. Young Master, staying at home is the safest option."Sultan took a deep breath, slightly calm. "I understand. Thank you for the warning, Sir. I’ll take your advice seriously."‘It seems he has no idea I was shot days ago. He'd find out sooner or later.’Butler Henri nodded, relief evident in his eyes. "Good. We’ll ensure your safety here. If you need anything, please let me know."As Henri turned to leave, Sultan stopped him. "Emmm
Hearing the name Joe, Sultan's mind raced back to the file of his new secretary he hadn't met yet. He looked towards Ashley, her face full of emotions she seemed to be struggling to suppress. 'Who is she? What Joe are they talking about?' he wondered."Sultan, I called you here because I wanted us...""There’s no us, Tiana," Sultan interjected, the words spilling out before he could think them through. The mention of Joe had shifted his mood, driving away the nostalgia and replacing it with a sharp edge. Turning to Ashley, he looked down at her, noticing how her emotions flickered across her face. "Didn't you hear what my d...date said?" he continued, irking Tiana even more. "Let's go," he said to Ashley, draping his right arm across her shoulder and leading her out of the room. To where? He wasn't sure. He just needed to talk to her privately.As they walked down the hallway, Sultan could feel the weight of Ashley's silence. Once they were far enough away from Tiana's room, Sul