Chapter 3 Six years ago

"Six years ago, we met in Rome, in a club with Damien. When I realized she was alone, I offered to be a gentleman, to buy her a drink.

"And?" Drake asked.

"She refused," as he gazed at Drake, his eyes burnt out of intense anger.

"Holy cow! Is that all?" Drake questioned surprisingly.

He didn't reply, he chuckled and continued.

"You know how much I hate to be refused, yet I controlled myself and acted gently.

I moved closer to her and then whispered something in her ear. Just like that, she hit me on the face with her delicate hand, accompanied by a splash of water."

All that while, he pressed the wine glass so hard, his expression darkened and he ended up so furious by Maya's temerity.

"Now tell me, am I being heartless?" He asked rhetorically as he smiled.

He loosened his grip around the glass, passed his thumb on the tip, and smiled all the time.

"You see that hand, it's going to weep. I am just playing a fair game, don't you think so?"

Drake could actually sense his anger, he got up to pour another glass of whiskey for him. He questioned reasonably.

"I don't know what to say. Do you think she would remember?"

"I don't know and I don't care," he replied as he collected the glass and then leaned back in his chair.

"Knock, knock," a knock came at the door and an old woman of about 55 years entered.

"What is it?" King asked.

See bowed, gathered her hand at her back as she spoke.

"Breakfast is ready and Mr. Gonzalez is waiting in the living room."

"Okay, you can leave and tell him to join me here,"

"Excuse me," she said as she flounced in her tight black long skirt.

"Drake, you can also leave."

Without a word, he nodded and headed out humbly.

Soon after, Mr. Gonzalez fell in.

"What a pleasant surprise, to what do I owe this visit?" He smiled usually and asked sarcastically.

"Join me, let's talk over breakfast," he added, emptied the glass, and walked out.

"That's nice of you, King." Mr. Gonzalez replied and followed behind.

"So, tell me, why are you here?" King asked, meanwhile, Hayat served their plates with an egg omelet and orange juice.

"It's been very long since you spoke this calmly, what is new? Gonzalez remarked after he had sipped water first.

After Kind had unfolded the white napkin, he placed it on his lap and looked at him through a squinted gaze.

"Mr. Gonzalez, that's not why you are here, I am listening."

He sipped his coffee instead of the orange juice.

"Let me get straight to the point, I didn't receive your delivery."

"Mr. Gonzalez, do I look stupid to you? You are not receiving any deliveries from me unless your debt is paid in full cash. Excuse me, I have things to take care of, see you later."

King gathered the napkin and threw it to the table and then smirked at him as he left him on the table. He returned to grab the porcelain cup of juice, raised it into the air, and left.

*****

A young man in all black entered the living room, he trailed to King who was busy on his phone.

"King, everything is set, we can go now."

He got up and followed the man. The car's door was opened for him to jump in.

"Louis, start the car," he commanded. The car moved out of the house and his phone rang, the caller ID read Mr. Gonzalez.

"Mr. Gonzalez, why are you calling? What can I do for you?" He didn't wait for his reply, he spoke again.

"My decisions are final, simply pay what you owe me. If that is all you have to say, then goodbye." He smiled as he hung then placed the phone back into his black suit.

About an hour and a half later, Louis pulled the car to a stop in front of the penthouse which was way smaller compared to King's.

"Sir, we are here," Louis said.

King leaned back into the seat, lit a cigar, and slipped it in between his lips.

"We are? Bring her to me, I am not coming in." He ordered and sat in the car while he smoked his senses out.

"Yes sir, right away," Louis replied and walked to their door.

King rolled down the window to watch the scene the family and the girl will concoct. Immediately Louis knocked, and a beautiful lady came out.

"That is her, isn't it?" He questioned his instinct as he couldn't recall very well. Her large emerald green eyes brightened like never before. Her black hair cascaded down to her lower waist. She smiled, making her cheekbones shoot up. She bit her lower lip, batted her natural lashes, and began to say something King didn't hear.

As she was spoke, everyone came out of the house, hugged and kissed her. "I wonder if she was going to die." King thought and smiled in the smoke.

"Well, they must have seen through the future." He thought silently to himself again.

"How fascinating to be powerful," he watched as she gently followed Louis. All he could was what would go on right now inside the car.

Funny, isn't it? Will she cry? Well no, funny enough she didn't seem disturbed as Louis opened the door for her to join Sebastian.

Her presence didn't affect King, he smoked and was a little confused by his thoughts.

"I like what I am seeing, isn't she supposed to be crying like a princess who has been abducted?

Good for me, at least, I've got a woman who isn't weak."

"Have we met before?" She questioned as though they were not strangers.

"Maybe, I don't really remember?" King replied as Louis packed her bags into the trunk.

Looked through the car's door and saw about 10 more cars packed aside from theirs.

"Anyways, why all these cars?".

"A convoy they call it? Haven't you ever heard of that? I questioned bluntly, and looked away from her.

"Whatever, Oh I get it now, are you afraid your so-called boss will be killed? She asked boldly without a sign of sadness or fear.

She sat well and turned to face him.

"Where is he, you know, I still wonder why he is not behind bars. Is it because he has so much money?"

"Your seatbelt." He reminded her as he asked Louis to start the ignition.

King's phone started to ring, he checked the caller ID and it was Mr. Gonzalez. He answered it right away.

"What is it this time? Oh, have you now? Good! Delivery will be made right away."

Immediately after King ended the call, he threw the cigar out and she started to talk again. "Very soon, you wouldn't have the mouth to speak a word." King thought to himself.

"You know? I don't know your boss but I am very certain you are like him. Arrogant and ruthless." She said simply with much audacity.

King frowned, turned to face, and looked her dead in the eyes.

"Young woman, careful the way you talk to me?"

Or else? Huh? Will you kill me as you did to my husband? Oh come on, don't be like your King. I know you have a good heart, that is why I am talking to you. Do you know why I have agreed to his proposal?"

King sighed, he didn't really care about it, for him there was only one good reason he went for her, and not even Drake had an idea.

Surprisingly, she shifted closer and whispered something in his ears then back to her position.

"I have told you, that's why I have agreed." She said, as she nervously played with the ends of her hair.

"I bet you also have no idea what his plans are for you. People like him are like that, he would kill you in a split second, forgetting you had worked for him your whole life."

She said again, and to be honest, King wasn't with her, he was extremely baffled at what she whispered in my ear that he could hardly concentrate.

King kept his focus on the phone as he forced himself to disregard her presence.

"Does it look like I care? He is your King, not mine, you get that? Tell me about yourself. Are you married, do you have children, how come you ended up with someone like King, did you owe him?"

King closed his eyes out of annoyance, he opened them and gripped Maya's neck so hard that she struggled for air.

Maya held his hand, she pleaded with him through eye contact as she couldn't speak.

"You ask a lot of questions, wind your neck in, I have things to worry about."

He loosened his grip and looked away, Maya passed her hand on the area, and she blinked back the tears that had formed in her eyes.

She crossed her arms over her chest and said silently to herself than King.

"You are all just the same, heartless people who take advantage of the vulnerable."

The car pulled up in front of King's mansion and he got out. Maya followed after, she wore blue jeans and a white cropped top.

He entered the living room and found Hayat cleaning.

"Hayat, show her to her room."

"Right away, sir." She said and left while Maya followed behind like some obedient child.

King threw himself into one of the sofas and crossed his legs, he wanted a cigar to clear his mind.

"Wait! come right after you are done,"

"I would," Hayat replied and they disappeared.

After a few minutes, Hayat returned.

"Sir, I'm here." She said, as kept her gaze lowered and head down.

King pointed to a package Louis held.

"Yeah, good. I need you to send this to her room and tell her to be ready before 9:00 am tomorrow."

"Yes, sir." She said as she collected it from him and they left together.

"King?" He did not bother to look at the doorway as he knew who had called him.

"What is it, Drake? Good, you are here, have you made the deliveries?"

He placed both hands in his pocket and stood in front of the King.

"I have but that's not why I came here."

After he had gained King's full attention, he sat on another sofa.

"I found out something, something that could change your life completely."