The conference room at Cloven Tower had been rearranged for the occasion. The long executive table was pushed to one side, and replaced by rows of simple chairs facing a low podium. A projector screen displayed the Project Kickstart logo. The logo was a stylized open hand reaching upward, with an open palm and its fingers gently curled. The room smelled faintly of fresh coffee and new carpet.The volunteers filled the seats. There were about thirty people in total. Some were students, some were professionals, a few were retirees. Among them sat Ava Cranks and Bella Moody side by side, both were dressed simple, with their eyes facing forward to the projector in front of them. Lila Chen, a beautiful and gracious businesswoman, the owner of Chen's Choices, sat a row behind, legs crossed, with a notebook on her lap. John Knowles and Albert Greene who were two of some of the first volunteers, sat near the back. Every one of the seven beautiful women was present: Chloe, Bella, Rene, Golden

The Glasgow Diner looked different under the evening light, with its neon sign still buzzing faintly above the door, with the chipped paint touched up by Nathan, with its windows cleaned, and the awning straightened. Nathan had sent cleaners to tidy up the place before coming with Bella. Inside, the booths gleamed like the moon outside, while the counter had been polished until the chrome reflected like mirrors. Nathan had quietly ordered the upgrades after his talk with Jude Fuller. There was no fanfare, and no press release, just a memo to Mia telling her to make things right. Tonight he wanted the place to be special, with only one table lit, near the back window that looked out on the quiet street. Nathan sat across from Bella, one of the Seven beautiful women. She had a very soft laugh that almost had the capacity to put him to sleep, with a way of looking at him like he was some boy she had met before the money, not after.She wore a simple emerald dress that caught the low

Nathan woke the next morning with the same restless clarity that had kept him tossing for half the night. Sunlight filtered through the heavy curtains that covered the windows of the master bedroom, pouring golden light on his face. He sat up and grabbed his phone from the nightstand, and then started staring at Ethan’s contact for the third time since dawn.He typed the message quickly, before he could over think things. "Ethan. It’s Nathan," he typed. "Can we meet? Today. Coffee or wherever. I need to talk to you about something. It's been on my mind for quite sometime now."He hit send. The reply came within five minutes, faster than anything he expected.Okay. 11 a.m," Ethan replied. There is a coffee shop across from the aquarium where I usually go to have my lunch break. You can come, if you really want to talk."Nathan exhaled slowly, as he replied. "See you then."He got up and showered, and then dressed in jeans and a plain black sweater, nothing too flashy that would have

The announcement of the annual ESU Winter Formal hit campus like a spark in a blank night sky. Posters of the event were everywhere in just a blink of an eye. The silver and blue themed posters promised “A Night Under the Stars” in the grand ballroom. By lunch, every group chat and hallway conversation all had the same topic on their lips.Nathan sat on a low stone wall near the quad with Aaron and John by his side. In his hand was a half sandwich, he had probably forgotten. The sun was warm for early December, yet the air carried a crisp edge that made people pull jackets tighter."So who are you bringing to the gala?" Aaron nudged him with an elbow, a smile turning up at the side of his lips.“He's probably bringing one of the Seven. Or all seven? You’ve got options, man.”John grinned, popping a chip into his mouth. His face beamed with pure excitement.“Yeah, bro. Golden? Rene? Donna? Bella? You could literally roll a die and whoever it lands on wins the night.”Nathan gave a smal

Nathan stepped out of Jude Fuller’s office into the cool night air. The limestone building loomed behind him, a large imposing figure in the dark. He paused on the sidewalk, Jude’s parting words still ringing in his ears.“Call this number. Ask for Jack. Tell him J-Man sent you. He’ll help you.Nathan pulled out his phone, opened the contacts, and dialed the number Jude had texted him moments earlier. The phone rang twice, only be picked at the second call.A rough, gravelly voice answered from the other side. “Yeah?”“J-Man sent me. My name is Nathan and I need help.”For a while there was nothing said, except from the sound of low grumblings. “The name is Jack," he finally replied. "Nice to meet you. Meet me at Sullivan’s Liquor, it's right at the corner of 14th and 9th Street. It would most likely just take thirty minutes. Bring cash, and don't be late."The line went dead immediately.Nathan stared at the phone for a second, wondering if this was all just a bad mistake.Then he