As Zen stepped out,“That was incredible,” Tasha’s friend said, shaking her head in disbelief. “We’ve gone from a crisis to the spotlight. This could get out of control.”Zen, maintaining his calm demeanor, responded, “Show’s over everyone, it’s time to get back to work.”Suddenly, the hospital’s lobby TV flickered on with breaking news. The anchor’s voice was upbeat as she reported, “Breaking news: A new cosmetic product unveiled at Patel Bass’ Hospital by the new rumored miracle doctor and this is making waves. This product is reportedly the first instant acne and pimple remover, showing results almost immediately. It has already garnered 34 million views and 8 million likes across all social media platforms in just minutes!”___In a high-rise living building elsewhere in the city, a female voice asked, “Who is this Miracle Doctor they keep talking about?”A male voice answered, “That’s the new Miracle Doctor that saved Cyrus’ life at his event. I didn’t realize he was with Patel’s
The next morning, the city buzzed with the latest sensation: an instant cosmetic product that seemed to erase pimples almost magically. As Zen drove into the hospital parking lot. He parked his car and was greeted by a man in a sharp black suit.“Mr. Diel,” the man began, his tone was formal and businesslike. “I represent an organization that has been expanding its influence in various cities. We’re interested in acquiring a stake in your product. We’re willing to offer 25 billion dollars for 45% of the product’s rights. Our team will handle all production and distribution. All you need to do is provide the recipe and preparation details.”Zen looked at the man for a while. “25 billion, huh? And you think I should just hand over the recipe like that?”The man remained calm, his face a mask of professionalism. “It’s a very generous offer, Mr. Diel. This could be a significant opportunity for you.”Zen shook his head, clearly unimpressed. “I’m not interested. Tell your organization to f
Zen stepped into the sleek, modern boardroom of Mega Group, the expansive glass windows providing a sweeping view of the city skyline. The room was alive with a low hum of conversation as the executives settled into their chairs around the polished mahogany table. Sunlight filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a warm glow over the room. Zen's entrance commanded immediate attention, and the murmurs faded into an expectant silence.Zen took his place at the head of the table, his demeanor both confident and contemplative. “Thank you all for coming on such short notice,” he began, his voice carrying a tone of authority that immediately drew the room’s focus. “I’m sure you’ve all heard about the recent developments at the hospital. The instant cosmetic product has caused quite a stir.”A chorus of enthusiastic responses followed. “Yes, sir, we’ve been following it closely,” one executive said with a smile. “It’s quite the sensation. How did you come up with such an innova
Zen settled into the plush seat opposite Sinclair, the yacht gently rocking beneath them as the water lapped against its sides. Sinclair swirled his drink, his eyes narrowing as he leaned forward slightly, his tone casual but carrying a sharp edge. “Chief, what about the slow poison being snuck into the city?” Sinclair asked, his voice cutting through the breeze. Zen’s expression didn’t change, but his eyes flickered. He leaned back, crossing his arms. “It’s nothing serious—just another group trying to make a name for themselves. We’ve dealt with worse.” Sinclair raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. “You seem pretty calm for someone who was bothered about poison circulating around your city.” “I handle things before they become a problem,” Zen replied coolly, his tone dismissive. “But thanks for the concern, I made Keisha handle all that. There was no fun in it anymore.” “So let me get this straight, you broke into the warehouse, interrogated a member, found out their secret plan and
The golden light of the sun bathed the yacht in a warm glow as Zen and Sinclair continued to lounge, the conversation momentarily lulled into silence. The distant sounds of the marina and the soft hum of the waves were the only noises that filled the air.Suddenly, Zen’s phone buzzed on the table. He glanced at the screen and saw Rosalia’s name flashing. With a sigh, he picked up the call, putting it on speaker."Tom," Rosalia's voice was smooth, teasing. "It's been ages since we last caught up. What’s keeping you so busy that you can’t spare a moment for an old friend?"Zen smirked, leaning back and letting his gaze wander over the horizon. "Well, it’s been a bit busy around here.""Come on," she pressed. "I don’t believe you’ve been that buried in work. I was thinking we should have a proper catch-up. Maybe dinner? You owe me that much after bailing last time."Zen chuckled. "Dinner sounds nice, but I’ve got something better in mind. Why don’t you come by and watch my students’ pres
***FLASHBACK BEGINS**Zen sat in the passenger seat of a large 4x4 truck, his hand loosely gripping the gun resting in his lap. The vast desert stretched endlessly before him, barren, quiet, and soaked in heat that made the horizon waver. His eyes scanned the nothingness, trying to find something — anything — but there was nothing. Only silence. Kelvin, his friend and fellow soldier, sat behind the wheel, whistling absentmindedly before turning to Zen with a smirk. “Why are we even here, man?” Kelvin asked, half-laughing. “Who attacks a desert? We’ve been staring at the sand for hours.”Zen, his face expressionless, shrugged. “Orders.”“Orders, my ass,” Kelvin chuckled. “You’re too serious. It’s like you’re waiting for something to crawl out of the sand and attack you.”“Anything can happen,” Zen replied, his tone was flat but with an underlying sense of certainty.Kelvin shook his head, grinning. “Yeah, and pigs might fly too. Come on, be serious for once and stop acting like a kid
***FLASHBACK CONTINUES***Zen sat in the back of the taxi, the low hum of the city barely cutting through the driver’s nonstop chatter. The cab swayed gently as it passed through winding streets. Zen stared out of the window, his mind lost in a thousand thoughts. The gun from earlier now felt like a distant memory, though his grip on control never wavered. But the driver? The driver wouldn’t stop talking.“You know, I’ve driven all over the city,” the driver said, his excitement was palpable. “But never, not once, have I ever been inside this estate! You rich folks, man, you live in another world.”Zen glanced at him, expression unreadable, but the driver didn’t seem to need any encouragement. He was talking enough for both of them.“And who would’ve thought,” the driver went on, practically bouncing in his seat, “that I’d be the one to finally get through those gates! All because I got to carry you, huh? It’s crazy! All those years of driving the same streets, looking up at those big
***FLASHBACK CONTINUES***Zen clenched his fists, his eyes were still fixed on the cracked statue as he struggled to steady his breath. The rage inside him simmered, but he knew he had to pull it together. Clearing his throat, he turned back to Keisha, who still knelt on the ground, her head bowed. “Stand up,” he said, his voice was rougher than he intended.Keisha rose to her feet immediately, her eyes meeting his without hesitation. Zen ran a hand through his hair and exhaled deeply. “Sorry you had to see me like that... in such a sour state.”She didn’t respond right away, her usual stoic expression never wavering. It was clear she’d been by his side long enough to know better than to comment on his emotions. Still, there was a flicker of concern in her eyes.Zen straightened, forcing his voice to remain calm. “Who killed him?”The question hung in the air for a moment, the weight of it making the silence unbearable. Keisha lowered her gaze slightly. “I don’t know,” she admitted.