Zen awoke to the soft light of dawn filtering through the curtains. The room was silent except for the faint sound of birds chirping outside. He sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Just as he was about to get out of bed, there was a soft knock on the door.“Come in,” he called out, his voice still groggy from sleep.The door opened quietly, and Keisha stepped inside. She was calm and composed as always, her expression neutral. Zen watched her carefully as she entered the room. “Good morning, Chief,” Keisha greeted him, her voice soft but professional.“Morning,” Zen replied, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. He stretched his arms and then fixed his gaze on her. “Where have you been, Keisha?”She hesitated for the briefest of moments before responding, “I apologize for my absence. I had to monitor your overseas business dealings. There were some urgent matters that required my attention.”Zen studied her, noting the calmness in her demeanor. Inwardly, he thought,
Zen's phone buzzed, pulling him away from his thoughts. He glanced at the screen to see Nia’s name pop up. With a slight smile, he answered the call, his voice calm and composed.“Hey, Nia,” Zen greeted her, leaning back in his chair.“Hi, Tom,” Nia’s voice sounded a bit unsure, but there was a hint of excitement. “I was thinking… would you be free to hang out today?”Zen paused for a moment, his gaze drifting towards Keisha, who had just walked into the room. He caught her eye, and she raised an eyebrow at him, waiting for his question.“Keisha,” Zen called out, covering the phone with his hand, “Do I have anything on my schedule today?”Keisha, ever the picture of calm efficiency, gave him a quick glance and shook her head. “Your schedule is empty as always,” she said, her voice carrying a subtle hint of amusement. Zen chuckled softly at her departure and returned to the phone. “Looks like I’m free,” he said to Nia, his tone light. “I’ll pick you up in a bit.”“Oh, great! Thanks, Z
The drive was smooth and uneventful, the car gliding down the streets with ease. As they got closer to the destination, the cityscape began to give way to more greenery, the buildings thinning out until they were surrounded by a lush, verdant landscape. When they finally pulled into the parking lot of the Fountain of Love, Zen took a moment to appreciate the serene beauty of the place.True to its name, the area was filled with elegantly designed fountains, each surrounded by carefully tended gardens. The sound of running water mingled with the soft rustle of leaves, creating an atmosphere of tranquility that was immediately soothing.“This is… nice,” Zen said, a note of surprise in his voice as he stepped out of the car.“I thought you might like it,” Nia said, her nervousness fading as she saw his reaction.They began to walk along one of the paths, the gravel crunching softly underfoot. Nia pointed out different plants and fountains, her enthusiasm infectious. As they walked, Nia’
The waiter hesitated, unsure if he had heard correctly. “The… Golden Special, sir?” he repeated, his voice tinged with disbelief.“That’s right,” Zen confirmed, his tone as calm as ever. “Two plates, if you don’t mind.”Paul’s sneer faltered slightly as he realized what Zen had ordered. The Golden Special was the restaurant’s most expensive dish, renowned for its rarity and luxury. It cost a staggering $30,000 per plate—an amount that even Paul himself would hesitate to spend on a single meal.“You’re bluffing,” he said, trying to regain his composure. “There’s no way you can afford that.”Without a word, Zen reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a sleek, black card, handing it to the waiter. The waiter’s eyes widened as he took the card, recognizing it immediately.Around them, the murmurs in the restaurant grew louder. Whispers spread quickly as people took note of the black card Zen had handed over.“Isn’t that…?”“Yes, it is. That’s a black card.”“But only the highest of
Nia nodded, her voice lowering to a sultry tone. "Yes, that’s so."There was a brief silence as they held each other’s gaze, the tension between them was electric. Zen broke the silence first, his voice calm and measured."You’re not like most girls, Nia," he said, his eyes searching hers. "Initially i thought you were shy and timid but you’re none of that. You’re straightforward, direct… you don’t play games. I admire that."Nia’s heart skipped a beat at his words, but she kept her composure, a soft smile playing on her lips. "I don’t see the point in games," she said quietly. "Life’s too short for that."Zen nodded in agreement. "You’re right," he said. "Life is too short. And it’s rare to meet someone who’s as real as you are."Nia blushed at the compliment, feeling a warmth spread through her. "Thank you, Tom," she said softly. "That means a lot to me."Zen leaned backwards again, his eyes never leaving hers. "I’m just telling the truth," he said simply. Nia bit her lip, her hear
Without warning, a thug lunged at Zen, aiming the blade at his side. But Zen was faster. He sidestepped the attack with fluid precision, grabbing the thug’s wrist and twisting it with enough force to disarm him. The switchblade clattered to the ground as Zen delivered a swift elbow to the thug’s face, sending him sprawling. Zen clenched his jaw, he had thought Natasha would want the best for herself and now she had led him straight into a trap. "In the end, you ended up like everyone else," he replied, his voice laced with disappointment. Before Natasha could respond, the man standing next to her stepped forward, a sneer on his face. "Touching, really. But we’re not here to chat. You’re coming with us, and if you know what’s good for you, you’ll cooperate." Zen’s eyes flicked to the man, sizing him up. "And if I don’t?" The man chuckled, pulling out a switchblade, the sharp edge glinting under the light. "Then things get messy." Zen’s expression didn’t change, but there was a dan
Zen’s grip on the steering wheel tightened as Willow explained the details. “So, Silas Wales owns Policy Entertainment?” he asked, his voice calm but carrying a sprinkle of irritation.“Yes,” Willow confirmed. “We only found out after re-examining the case. He’s been using actresses from the company to sweeten his business deals—one of his many schemes to get ahead.”Zen’s face hardened, his jaw clenching with disgust. “That’s revolting. I should’ve given him a worse beating last time,” he muttered.“Well, there’s also something I must say,” Willow advised carefully. “The Wales family is known for being ruthless. The fact that they haven’t responded yet likely means they’re letting Silas handle his own mess. If you escalate things, it could draw the entire family’s ire.”Zen snorted, his eyes narrowing. “Do you think I’m afraid of them? How dare you underestimate me?”“Ah—” Willow came back to reality, but Zen cut her off sharply.“I’ve heard enough.” He ended the call with a swipe, s
As Sinclair’s car glided smoothly along the road, Zen took in the changing scenery through the window. The city’s vibrant lights began to fade, replaced by the lush greenery and tranquility of the outskirts. Sinclair, sitting opposite him, began to explain.“Welcome to Fairy Island. You know, Chief, Fairy Island is also owned by the Albrecht family,” Sinclair said, breaking the silence. “This estate made them one of the major players in the world of elite estates. To the point that it got separated from the rankings of best estates in the city.”Zen’s interest was piqued. “The Albrecht family again, huh? What makes Fairy Island so special?”Sinclair glanced briefly at Zen. “Fairy Island is a massive luxury estate, no one knows much about the person who designed Fairy island but when the land was bought and the high society saw the blueprint, Albrecht was the first family to see the vision. They hold a significant margin of shares in several major industries, which gives them unparalle