Lucan Vale, the deadliest assassin, is tasked with retrieving a lost artifact while entering into an arranged marriage with Vanessa Smith, a beautiful and ambitious businesswoman. Though Lucan secretly helps her rise to success, she sees him as useless, unaware of his true contributions. The day Vanessa and her family realize who he truly was, it's already too late.
Voir plusOne early morning.
Jason sat at the counter, gazing into the amber liquid in his glass. He looked like a man with nowhere to be, dressed plainly and enveloped by quietness. The bar had no patrons, empty, with just him and the bartender wiping down glasses, and the faint sound of a TV playing last night’s news. His eyes drifted to the screen. The anchor was talking about market shifts, corporate deals, etcetera. A headline crawled across the bottom: Smith Royale in Financial Trouble. Jason recognized the name Smith Royale. It was a powerhouse of a company. Prestigious. Powerful. And it was owned by the Smith's, his fiancée’s family. Looking away, Jason didn't pay too much attention to the talking head on the TV and took a slow sip from his glass, enjoying the cold taste of the drink in his mouth. Just Then, a voice behind him disturbed the quiet. "You shouldn’t be here." Jason didn't turn around, instead he glanced at the reflection in the bar mirror. A man in a black coat approached him, snapping a lighter open and shut, the flame briefly lighting up a cold face that looked like it had seen its fair share of trouble and dealt with it. The man was Cole Vargas, an enforcer to one of the underworld's powerful men. Raising his glass in a mock toast, Jason didn’t turn immediately. He just smirked. "Cole Vargas. Didn’t expect to see you out this early. Couldn't sleep?" Cole didn’t smile, finding Jason's joke unfunny. His voice stayed hostile. "What the hell are you doing in this city, Lucan?” Jason took another sip before answering. "I go by Jason now. And am I supposed to announce my arrival? Maybe send out invitations?" Cole continued to flick his lighter open and shut for no particular reason, the small flame briefly lighting his face. "You know damn well you’re not welcome here. Not after what your old master did." "That has nothing to do with me, besides, that was what? Twenty years ago? And here I thought you people moved on quickly." Jason taunted, his grin growing. He leaned back slightly, “Let it go, man. Holding grudges like that’ll give you even more wrinkles.” He added eyeing Cole's slightly wrinkled face. “Though I see it might be a little late for that. You're getting old Cole, maybe it's time to retire.” It had to be said, Cole Vargas was an old man, well into his sixties. But that didn’t make him any less dangerous. Age hadn’t diminished him, it had refined him. Jason had heard the stories about the legendary Cole Vargas. Everyone in the shadows had. Cole Vargas wasn’t just an enforcer, he was THE enforcer. The untouchable legend in the underworld. It was said he used to be in the special forces, the kind of black-ops ghost the government denied ever existed. When he vanished from that world, he didn’t retire. He just changed uniforms. Now he worked for Duvall, a powerful underground kingpin. Cole scoffed. "Duvall doesn’t forget. He wants you gone. Now. Before this becomes a problem." Jason finally turned to look at him, amusement hiding behind a calculating gaze, "A problem for who, Cole? You? Or the guy hiding behind you?" “Lucan, if you keep running your mouth, you’re going to end up in a ditch somewhere.” Cole seemed to not be having none of it anymore. His attitude was becoming even more hostile. His voice dropped and he spoke in a final tone, “Come with me, Duval wants you to deliver a message to your master.” Jason grinned, tipping back his whiskey. “I think I'll have to decline that offer.” Outside, the city hummed, cars speeding past, glowing billboards flashing, and the distant wail of sirens ringing out through the early morning. A black Van came to a stop outside the bar, and three suspicious looking men got out, making their way inside the bar. Jason, seemingly oblivious to the arrival of the men, kept talking. "So, you’re the one they call the ‘Gravekeeper huh.’" Cole opened his lighter again, the small flame reflecting in his cold eyes. "And you know why they call me that?" Jason smirked. “Because you clean up messes?” Cole didn’t answer right away. His gaze shifted toward the entrance. The door swung open. The three men who had just stepped out of the van stepped inside. They were built like moving walls, their expressions were stone-cold as they locked onto Jason. Then, Cole finally said. “No. Because I decide who gets buried. Jason looked at the three newcomers, and he exhaled, shaking his head in mock disappointment. "Wow. And here I was, looking forward to a one- on-one with the great Cole Vargas." He gestured toward the men. "But instead, you brought backup? You really know how to kill a guy’s excitement." Cole sighed, unbothered. "You're not worth my time, kid." With that, he turned on his heel and strode past his men, then he stopped. Without turning around, he said. “You can walk, or they'll carry you, doesn't matter to me.” Jason watched as Cole disappeared, and for the first time he frowned and did not even attempt to make a remark. He did not smirk or joke. Just silence. Well, he was disappointed. When he saw Cole walk in a minute ago, Jason was excited as he thought he would finally get some exercise against one of the best assassins, but his hopes were shattered. For now. He sighed, and then he looked at the three men and sighed, setting his glass down. "Listen, I appreciate the invite, really. But tell your boss that I usually prefer dinner and a movie before being dragged off by mysterious men in suits. Just feels more personal, you know?” The three men, however, did not take his comments lightly. He was disrespecting them! Clearly, he didn't see them as significant enough to be a threat, and that got on their nerves.Their leader's scowl deepened and he said, "Fine. Then we’ll have to bring you to him unconscious.” Before Jason had time to say anything, they lunged at him. The first guy swung a punch. Effortlessly, Jason ducked, caught his wrist, and slammed his face into the counter. Bottles rattled. Glass shattered. The bartender backed away and headed for the backroom, shaking his head and muttering, “Tch… Fucking hell, Lucan. Can you do this outside for once? You're wrecking my bar, I just cleaned! One of these days, you’re gonna pay for the damages.” “Sorry, Kev. I’ll cover it next time, I swear,” Jason responded, but his attention was on the goons he was fighting. The second guy charged big, dumb and built like a bulldozer with a personal grudge. Jason sidestepped and kicked him hard in the side Stumbling back, he reached for a weapon, but Jason grabbed a beer bottle and cracked it over his head. He crumpled onto a table, sending drinks flying. The last guy snarled and came at him fast. Jason dodged, grabbed a chair, and smashed it across his back. The guy staggered, but before he could recover, Jason kicked him square in the chest, sending him crashing into a nearby booth.Celia's cheeks turned slightly red from feeling embarrassed by the overheard family drama. Only if her mom didn't start arguments with her sister too much. Celia sighed. "Okay, Nina, let's change the conversation."“Sure,” Nina said, not sounding sure at all. “Although... one last thing. Vanessa has, like, tons of options. So why him? Why pick a loser like that?”“Nina, stop it,” Celia snapped, sharper than before.Inside the villa, the place was blissfully quiet. No nosy Smith relatives hanging around the living room. Jason was relieved by that. He leisurely climbed the stairs to Vanessa’s room and knocked gently."Come in," Vanessa's voice called.He found her standing before her mirror, already getting ready for work. She met his gaze in the reflection. "Oh, it's you. I thought you were Celia." She turned fully to face him. "You were supposed to bring the car back first thing this morning."Jason shrugged. “Something came up. Emergency stuff.”She gave a small nod, however she didn
Jason made his demand.“Who do you think you are to demand that?” Angus snapped, his voice rising with disbelief and fury. The audacity of this… some nobody strolling in and calling for his head?He scoffed, glancing at Pauline with disbelief eyes. “I’m the senior physician here. You really think she’s going to sack me just because of something you say? Who do you think you are?” Pauline had always backed him. Always ignored or brushed aside the complaints some patients or even staff made, so Angus believed she would do the same, this time too. Jason didn't even need to answer, because Pauline did it. She said, “Actually… yes. You’re fired, Doctor Angus.” Her voice was cold like frost. “Mr. Wolfe is a close associate of Jamal White. The Jamal White.” She emphasized the name so that Angus could understand who he was messing with. “So it doesn't matter what the truth is. You offended him. Pack your things. Security will escort you out.”When Angus heard that, the color drained from h
Jason’s eyes met hers, calm but sharp. It made her realise that this friend of Jamal was here on some serious business. Which was more worrying to her. Because she didn't want to offend him and lose her job.“I’m here about Doctor Angus,” he said, voice low but steely. “There’s a serious issue with his conduct. It needs to be addressed now, before that man goes anywhere near a patient again.”Pauline’s professional facade was not visible on her face anymore, just for a bit. She thought, ‘Angus, what did you do to piss off Jamal White's friend?’ She showed Jason a smile and said, “I… see. Mr Jamal mentioned there was a concern, but I wasn’t given the full details.”“You will be soon, ” Jason replied. “But first, I want you to call Doctor Angus here,” he said. Though he asked politely, his tone betrayed him. To her, the so-called request landed more like a direct challenge.Pauline simply didn’t like it. Not one bit. Angus was a senior physician, someone she had personally helped rec
“Card.” Jason flashed him a faint smile.After both Jason and Mikayla were done signing everything and the payment was processed, Ross handed them a printed receipt with shaking hands. Neither of them said another word to him. Jason took the slip, gave Mikayla a small nod, and turned to leave.She followed quickly, the air in the hallway somehow lighter now, like the storm had passed.By the time they stepped out of the office, Mikayla was visibly different. Her steps had more bounce. Her face, which had been tense for so long, was brightened with something rare: joy. It bloomed across her face like sunlight breaking through dark clouds.She didn’t even try to hide it. Why would she?“Thank you so much,” she breathed, her voice soft and full of awe. “Mr Wolfe, I don’t even know what to say. You didn’t have to do that, and, God, you really didn’t have to do that to Chris… ”Jason smiled back, “You're welcome, and you can just call me Jason.” He said.They walked back to Lady Norman’s
She nodded, and pointed towards the elevator. Jason nodded back and they both made their way to the elevator.The elevator ride was silent. Neither of them said much. Mikayla was just relieved to have run into Jason, even if the circumstances weren’t great.When they stepped out, a large, opulent door came into view, marked with a brass plaque: Accounting Office.Mikayla pointed. “That’s it.”A few seconds later, they walked in.An old man who looked like he was in his sixties with a potbelly was seated behind a desk. His eyes shot up from his paperwork to look at the two people that walked in. The second he saw Mikayla, he mocked, “Well, well, if it isn’t Miss Mikayla. Back again? Still trying to pay for that impossible bill, dearie? You know, we don’t run a charity here.” He looked at Jason standing next to her, and he chuckled, a dry, humorless sound. “What, did you finally find a rich boyfriend to take advantage of? Or perhaps you actually brought the money this time?” Jason’s u
It was never unheard of for superiors to act out after being rejected by someone, however he never imagined it at this level.Mikayla sniffled, shaking her head. “No.” She paused, then her eyes widened slightly. “Well, I… I did turn him down once. He asked me to be his sugar baby in return for him paying for mom's surgery. I refused him, and he’s gotten cold towards me and my mom ever since.”“Is that so?” Jason muttered. This had nothing to do with him, but people like Angus enraged him. He looked at Mikayla and said, “I'll pay for her surgery, let's go.” Mikayla was at a loss for words when she heard him say that. Not because she didn't think he could afford to do so, but because she didn't think she deserved any help from him after the way they even met. “R-reallly?” She asked.Jason nodded.” Yes.” She couldn't really refuse his help here and she was relieved. Mikayla led Jason down the hall, her anxiety momentarily replaced by a fragile hope, now that Jason was going to pay for
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