Zale's voice had the timbre of authority, and his words cut through the tension-laden air like a blade.The burly men, momentarily frozen in their advance, exchanged baffled glances, caught off guard by the unexpected intervention.The young lady, though bewildered by the sudden turn of events, felt a flicker of hope ignite within her. It was only a matter of seconds before the people in the club focused back on what they were doing. The only reason they had turned towards Zale's direction in the first place was because of his high-pitched declarationZale rose from his seat and slowly approached where the commotion was happening. Though before then the bartender had given him a fair share of insults."Are you sick in the head, boy? You're new here, you don't know anything about this place. If you're not careful, you'll lose your life sooner than you expected," the bartender warned, his voice dripping with mockery.Zale ignored the man and continued marching toward the commotion.The
Zale and the young lady entered the room, falling into an uneasy silence. The thick tension in the air hung heavily over them. They were both acutely aware of the compromising position they found themselves in, but the imminent threat of the men chasing them took precedence.Zale leaned against the door, one hand covering the lady's mouth to stifle any sounds, and the other resting near her chest. In the dimly lit room, their proximity was closer than either of them had ever expected. Their minds were fixed on the hallway outside, straining to hear any signs of the pursuers.As they stood pressed together, their strange and unintended closeness went unnoticed, overshadowed by the urgency of their situation. Time seemed to crawl by, each second feeling like an eternity.Finally, the distant sounds of footsteps and voices began to recede into the distance. The men who had been hot on their heels had walked past the room without any inkling of their presence.The young lady, her voice ba
Zale was still unyielding in his insistence that Leia shouldn't join him. He understood the dangers of his life all too well and didn't want to put her in harm's way. He repeated, "Leia, you don't understand the world I live in. It's not a place for someone like you. You need to focus on building a safer, better life for yourself."Leia, however, wouldn't be deterred. She looked up at Zale with burning determination in her eyes. "I appreciate your concern, but you saved my life, and I want to repay that debt. I've spent years in a cycle of gambling and danger, and I'm ready for a change. I've already faced death once, and I've come to terms with it. Please, let me be your servant. I promise I won't hold you back."Zale sighed deeply, recognizing Leia's unwavering resolve. He realized that she was determined to accompany him, and it was futile to argue further. "Very well, Leia. Even if I were to entertain your request, we've only just crossed paths, and you're an utter stranger to me.
The old man's gaze shifted from Leia to the source of the cold voice, which had cut through the tension in the room. His eyes fell upon Zale, whose countenance remained impassive, radiating an air of authority and confidence.The room grew still as the old man studied Zale, his earlier demeanor of anger gradually replaced by one of amusement.He leaned back in his chair, a small grin playing on his lips as he fixed his gaze on Zale."I see. You truly are the grandson of the infamous oracle," the old man finally acknowledged, addressing Zale directly. "But you do care about the young lady that much?" Luther asked, his voice laced with curiosity.Leia was taken aback by the revelation that Zale was the Oracle's grandson. She found it hard to believe.Zale's gaze remained locked onto the old man, his eyes revealing nothing but coldness. "I care about those who stand by my side, old man. Loyalty is a quality I value highly, and I take the protection of those who accompany me seriously. No
Sasha's heart pounded as she heard her father's stern voice. She had never heard him sound so commanding and threatening. Her mind raced, trying to figure out what could have prompted such a message."What's going on, Dad," she managed to stammer, her voice shaky with a mix of fear and confusion."Get your ass back here right now and stop asking questions!" the old man barked from the other end of the line "F…fine, I will be there," Sasha stuttered, eventually agreeing.Her father's response was swift and unyielding, "You better be. This is not a request, Sasha. It's an order."Sasha hastily ended the call and turned her car around, speeding back towards her family's mansion. The thoughts of her ulterior motives and career at the Adair Group were temporarily pushed aside as she grappled with the urgency of the situation.As she pulled into the driveway of the imposing mansion, Sasha couldn't help but wonder what had gone wrong. Her family was known for their influential status and e
The room fell into contemplative silence after Elsher's bold accusation against the Adair Group. The weight of the situation hung heavy in the air, and the family members exchanged uncertain glances.Cassidy was the first to break the silence, her voice steady but filled with concern. "Elsher, your suspicion about the Adair Group's involvement is not certain, but we need to consider all possibilities. Accusing them without concrete evidence could lead to dire consequences."Azazel, still seething with anger over the allegations against him, nodded in agreement. "Your mother is right. We can't afford to jump to conclusions, especially without any proof. Let's focus on finding the missing funds and resolving this issue."Lennon, the most level-headed of the family, spoke up, addressing Elsher's theory. "I understand your point, Elsher, but we need to approach this with caution. The Adair Group is a trillion-dollar company. What would they stand to gain from taking over our smaller family
Azazel leaned forward, intrigued but cautious. "Tell me more about this company. How do you know they can provide the loan we need, and what are the terms?""The company I have in mind," Adams began carefully, "is Adair Group."Azazel's eyes narrowed, a mix of surprise and skepticism in his gaze. The very name of Adair Group held a complicated significance in their current predicament. They were already in a contract with this giant corporation, and Azazel was well aware that seeking a loan from them could send the wrong message. He leaned back in his chair, his voice laced with doubt as he inquired, "Adair Group? Borrowing money from the same company we're in a contract with? Adams, do you realize the implications of such a move?"Adams nodded and offered a measured response. "I understand your concerns, sir. It's not a decision to be taken lightly. But the truth is, we're in a bind, and we need a substantial amount of money quickly. Adair Group has the resources to provide it, and
Leia considered the receptionist's offer for a moment, then turned to Zale and Ace, raising an eyebrow in question. "Well, it seems we have only one room available for tonight. What do you think, sir?"Ace exchanged a knowing glance with Zale before nodding. "That should be fine for one night. Let's take it.""Will you be comfortable staying in the same room as us? We barely met, remember?" Zale asked, his voice barely above a whisper.Leia chuckled softly and responded, "Well, I don't mind, sir.""Alright, if that's the case then you can go ahead with the booking," Zale urged.With a hint of satisfaction, Leia turned back to the receptionist. "We'll take the available room."The young receptionist eagerly handed over a rusty key and pointed them in the direction of the room. "Room 103, down the hall to your left. Enjoy your stay, lovely people. I look forward to meeting you again."Leia forced a smile and nodded. She brought out some cash from her backpack and paid for the room.As th
As Zale and Ace ventured beyond the gate, the air hung heavy with tension. They arrived in front of the mansion, which was guarded by three security guards.The guards were slightly taken aback when they saw Zale and Ace.Their comrades at the gate hadn't informed them of the arrival of any guest, so they were confused.They didn't have the slightest idea of the fight that had taken place outside; they were completely oblivious.The guard, who appeared to the leader, stepped forward and asked, “Who might you be, sirs?” His voice was polite and respectful.He thought that if his companion had allowed Zale and Ace entry, it meant they were esteemed guests of honor.Ace glanced at Zale and upon seeing the hidden smirk on his face, he understood what was going to happen.“We are honorable guests of your boss. Should you really be standing here asking questions or just step out of the way?” Zale asked, his voice stern.The guard shivered slightly when he felt Zale's gaze on him. “I…I’m so
The guard's eyes widened in shock, his expression transforming into a lethal glare directed at Zale."Who the hell are you, you bastard?" Despite his astonishment, fury seethed in his voice.Zale chuckled softly before responding, "I'm just someone who wishes to see your boss. We can avoid all of this if you tell your colleagues to let me in."The guard's eyes ignited with rage as he retorted, "Bullshit! If you don't want to leave peacefully, I will make you leave myself."The tension escalated, drawing the attention of the other guards who became alert to the hostility emanating from Zale.They stood ready, poised to open fire at a moment's notice if the need arose.Ace moved in closer to Zale and whispered in his ear, "I don't know what you're trying to do, but these guys are well-armed. I trust your decisions, but I must admit we are clearly at a disadvantage here. The shadow guards are nearby. I can send them a message, and they will take out these guys."Zale nodded, seemingly in
In the aftermath of the charged meeting, Zale and Ace headed outside the building, toward the mansion.Zale's mind swirled with a mixture of determination and uncertainty, while Ace, ever stoic, maintained a vigilant presence.As they arrived in front of the mansion, Zale’s phone vibrated in his pocket. It was his grandfather."Zale," Oracle's voice resonated. For the first time in a long time, he called Zale by his name. "I've been monitoring the meeting. Bane's words have validity. Are you certain about this path you're taking?"Zale, undeterred, responded, "I've made my choice, Grandpa. This is a battle I must face, not just for myself, but for those who've suffered unjustly."The last part was talking about Oracle. The old man had gone through a series of emotional breakdowns after his son and his daughter-in-law died. It was one hell of a torture at that time.Oracle let out a sigh, a blend of regret and understanding in his simulated eyes. "I cannot dissuade you, but remember th
The following day, Zale gathered his closest allies in a private meeting. The meeting took place in one of the buildings in Oracle's estate.The atmosphere was charged with tension as he addressed them, laying out the challenges they faced and the imminent battle against Asper.A middle-aged man interjected, "I don't harbor personal grudges against Asper, but I'm willing to assist you."Another guest joined the conversation, expressing disdain, "That kid is a rude brat. I recall the first day he invited me to his place. He subjected me to the worst humiliation of my life. I can never forget that day. Count me in; I'm ready to join and bring him down.”"While I don't hold a personal grudge against Asper, many of his allies are my enemies. Participating in this battle, I aim to indirectly confront my enemies.” Gradually, each person in the room consented to join the battle.Zale sat at the table's forefront, wearing a smile.Once he explained the purpose of the gathering, he observed as
About an hour or so later, Zale arrived at Oracle's estate.Zale went straight to his room the second he entered the mansion.He freshened up and changed his clothes. When he was done, he headed downstairs and had his breakfast.“Where were you last night, sir?” Leia inquired as they strolled out of the dining room.As usual, they were the only ones in the dining hall. Ace was said to have gone out of the mansion early in the morning.Zale chuckled mischievously. “Why, you miss me?”“Cough!” Leia feigned a cough and changed the subject.“Anyway, how did last night go?” She asked, curious.“If you're talking about your performance, I must admit; you did….” Zale began, but Leia cut in."Not that, sir. Ace has already filled me in on that a million times," Leia interjected with a pout. "You know what I'm referring to.”Zale paused as if thinking about it. “Are you by any chance asking about what happened between me and my girlfriend?” His smile had taken a mischievous glint.Leia let out
Zale headed straight back to Oracle’s estate. He needed to have a serious conversation with Ace.He couldn't wait any longer. Asper had begun his move and he wouldn't just sit back and watch.“Now I have stopped to think about it, what later happened to Adams? I didn't see him again last night. I guess the security threw him out. After all, he had attacked me,” Zale muttered, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.‘Does this mean others now know about me?’ Zale mused excitedly.It was pretty easy to guess; Adams wouldn't keep what he saw last night to himself.Zale made it pretty clear last night that he was the one behind all of Jenkins's misfortune, so Adams would most certainly not keep quiet about it.“I’m glad things turned out this way. Although I doubt Adams' words would be enough to convince them.” Zale seemed pleased by the fact that he stumbled upon Adams last night.He didn't plan to suddenly show up claiming to be the new chairman of Adair Group. To him, that wouldn't be
The atmosphere in the room shifted, with Oracle grappling with the unexpected revelation. Zale, still chuckling, tried to ease the tension."Well, Grandpa, surprise! We kept it low-key for a while," Zale said, grinning. He wanted to gauge his grandfather’s reaction.Oracle sighed, shaking his head. "You always find a way to keep me on my toes. I hope you're serious about this, Zale."Zale's smile softened. "I am, Grandpa. Maya means a lot to me."Oracle studied Zale for a moment, then nodded. "As long as you're sincere and treat her well, that's what matters."Zale was a little taken aback when he heard that. He was confused, more like shocked.He had expected the old man to be greatly against the relationship but that didn't seem to be the case.“Seriously?” Zale couldn't help it. “Are you really not against our relationship?” He didn't expect such an outcome.“I mean, why?” Oracle pretended not to know anything.Zale gave the old man a dry look. “You're very bad at acting. You shoul
Before long, Zale was ready to leave. He intended to head directly to his family mansion to visit his grandfather.“I will get going now, darling. Take care. I will call you later in the day.” Zale gently planted a kiss on Maya's forehead before he departed.Maya arranged a car to drive him there, therefore as soon as he arrived outside, he entered the car and left the mansion.Maya’s head guard, despite having the urge to wave at Zale while he was departing, had decided against it.What if all of this was a ploy to make him let his guard down? He couldn't help but think.“I have to be completely sure he isn't going to harm my young Miss. Only after then will I be at ease around him,” the head guard muttered to himself.The journey was long and full of silence. Adams was occupied with his thoughts, and thankfully, the driver wasn't interested in striking up a conversation with him either, so none bothered to say a word to each other.“I don't think I will be able to enter the Adair ma
The room fell into a stunned silence upon hearing Elsher's speculation about Zale's possible connection to Adair Group. The family members exchanged bewildered glances, grappling with the implications of this unexpected twist. Azazel, breaking the silence, furrowed his brows and questioned, "Adair Group? What does that have to do with our troubles?"Elsher, maintaining her composure, explained, "Adair Group has substantial influence and connections. If Zale is indeed associated with them, it explains how he gained the resources and power to orchestrate our downfall.”"I discovered that Ace is aligned with the Adair family when I was researching the mysterious chairman of the Adair Group. Consider this – why would Zale have any association with someone like Ace if they weren't collaborating? It raises questions, especially regarding our acceptance of a contract from Adair Group. After mysteriously losing the contract funds, they still extended a substantial loan to us. Have you ever w