The deserted alleyway was right in its sense— deserted.
Weeds sprouted literally everywhere, waste metal scrap lay here and there on the ground, littered broken glass scattered on the floor. The mobile kitchen was sitting there, left at the mercy of nature, and it had reclaimed most of its physical appearance. No one cared enough to claim the vehicle, and no one had reason enough to want to be here except crack head and drunkards, but they'd usually show up at late hours. Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Maximus’s boots slowly smashed the broken glass, and gravel under his weight as he made his way toward the truck. From his upclose position, he realized that it was in worse condition than he'd anticipated. The side mirrors were shattered to shards, holes were puntureed on the roof, the tires were flat and the windows were clouded with mist and cobwebs. He hesitated before opening the door, almost imagining what he would be able to find inside. He pulled the door handle with a considerable amount of force, it didn’t budge. He pulled and pulled until it eventually pried open, introducing him to the offensive stench that hovered inside the truck. Maximus swiftly shoved his arm against his nose to shield himself from the odour. It was an offensive mix of dust, greese and something far worse… “... Is that… pee?” he muttered to himself in disgust. He soon mustered the courage to look inside deeper, and just as he predicted, the interior was complete shambles— way worse than the outside. The countertops were chipped and stained, with food scraps that looked like they'd been sitting there for years… and even so, they probaby have been sitting there for years. Maximus froze solid on the floor as one rat ran across the length of the space and into a hole in the corner. Another rat poked its head out from underneath a cupboard and ran away into the same hole as well. “For christ sakes…” He reached into his right pocket and pulled out his phone and his fingers hovered over the lit screen for a couple of seconds as he thought of his next move. The Investment God System had given him a task, but there was no way he could work with this mobile kitchen in its current state. He didn’t want to accept it, but he definitely needed some help. He typed into his search engine— MECHANICS NEAR ME… Scrolled through reviews until he found one that seemed not to look fake and was trustworthy enough. He tapped the call button immediately. An hour later, a low truck rolled into the deserted alleyway and a middle aged man with grey beard and a frowned face poked his head out from the drivers seat window… “You don’t wanna how it took me to find this place… why is so deserted?” Maximus just shrugged his shoulders and gave the man an encouraging nod. “Good day to you too sir…” The mechanic chuckled and existed his vehicle before walking over to the truck and giving it a thorough visual inspection. “Phew! She has definitely seen better days!” he said as he bent flat on his belly to inspect the underside of the vehicle. “But it ain't something Ron and Jons can't fix…” Maximus raised an eyebrow. “Really?” “It's not the worst lady I've ever danced with… by the way we are the best in the area so she's in good hands…” After a few more minutes of inspection and mumbling to himself, the mechanic dusted off his hands and leaned against the truck, still giving it detectives glare. “We can tow it to the workshop and take care of the basics… you know the usual, clean it out, change the engine and patch up them leaky holes on the ceiling…” Maximus nodded as he listened to the mechanic speak. “So how much do you think the whole renovation is gonna cost…” “Huh! Tsk tsk tsk…” the mechanic stroked his grey beard several times over. “You're looking at about twelve hundred bucks my friend..” Coincidentally, or not, The rennovation cost was exactly the same as the system predicted. Maximus gave him the money and they towed the truck on the way to the workshop. The destination wasn’t far, and they arrived within 15 minutes to a modest building just behind a car wash and an old hardware convenience store. As soon as the truck unloaded at the workshop, the mechanics team got to work immediately. The hosed down the truck and scrubbed away as much as they could, eliminating years of dirt and debris. The engine had been blocked with mountains of dust and random junk. It was carefully dismantled and cleaned out too. Maximus watched from a nearby bench as the whole process was unfolding before his eyes. Soon enough, the truck began to look like it had a tint of life it is. By the time the mechanic called him over, the sun was starting to dip below the horizon. “Well… it not new, but it’s a hell of a whole lot better than it was” he said, wiping his hands with an oil rag. Maximus walked towards the truck, the exterior was scrubbed clean and the dents on the body were smoothed out as much as possible. The worn out tires were replaced and the mushy windows were now transperent as it should be. “I said its ready to use,” the mechanic said as he tapped Maximus on the back. Maximus nodded slightly as a proud smirk arched across his lips. “I can see that…” He climbed into the front seat and inserted the new key into the ingnition hole and twisted slightly. Grrr! The engine roared to life.Latest Chapter
Chapter 63
A wave of recognition moved through the Sawyer family section. Victor Sawyer leaned back in his seat, studying Maximus with mild surprise. The Sawyer matriarch's together with an unreadable glint in her eyes. The bidding climbed, two million, two point one, two point two and so on. Voices from all corners of the room stepping in and bowing out like a slow, elegant duel. Two point three, two point four. By the time it hit three point one million, the initial bloom of paddles has withered down to just a handful: Maximus, the Sawyer matriarch herself, a heavyset man in a commanders uniform whom Maximus didn't recognize, and a hawk faced collector from the East seated near the back. Valerie was watching him now with a mix of fascination and thrill. He wasn't sweating or fidgeting, he was still, with a cold presence in a room full of restless money. Three point two. Three point three. With every bid, Maximus cut down the competition. The heavy set man bowed out. But, the collector he
Chapter 62
The gavels sharp crack blasted into the air and a round of applause followed suit. The third item of the night disappeared backstage. The air in the hall was still warm with money, the kind that didn't shout, but smiled and nodded while it took your last dime. A server in a sharp black and white vest passed with another tray of champagne flutes. The clink of glass followed him into the distance. The lights shifted again, the blue fading into something softer; amber glow that bathed the stage in a rich, museum like warmth. Maximus sat back in his chair, his fingers anxiously drumming steadily against his knee. He wasn't fidgeting, it was the rhythm of someone counting possibilities. Valerie, legs crossed elegantly, didn't look at the stage right away. She was scanning the crowd of elites with that sharp, feline gaze if hers, the one that seemed to measure everyone down to the thread count in their attires. Then the curtains at the back parted, and two staff members rolled out a lon
Chapter 61
The murmurs in the grand hall suddenly shifted, rippling like a wave of anticipation. Heads began to turn toward the entrace as the Sawyer family’s highest ranking figures made their entrance.The Sawyer family matriarch, regal as ever in her old age, silver hair swept into a perfect chignon, her prescence radiating authority, glided into the room in a deep emerald gown. Flanking her was Victor Sawyer, tall and broad shouldered in a perfectly tailored midnight blue suit, his expression was calm yet intimidating. At his side walked his adoptive son, Vikram, a sharply dressed young man with slicked back hair and a smile that manged to look charming and calcualting all at once.The energy in the room shifted instantly. The crowd of elites, dressed in shimmering fabrics and dripping with jewelry, instinctively dirfted toward the newcomers like moths to a flame, eager to offer their greetings.Standing off to the side, Maximus and Valerie watched the scene unfold, their fingers intertwined
Chapter 60
CHAPTER 60>The event hall was absolutely dazzling. A huge chandelier hung above everything, spilling golden glow aacross the polished surface of everything and casting long reflections that shimmered with every movement of the attendants.They hadnt taken no more than two steps before a wave of people swept toward them. Hands reached out, voices called valerie’s name, and flashes from the press exploded from every angle, bathing them in a burst of while light.Valerie was very much used to this and straightened up to be poissed and elegant, retuinign each greeting with her flawless social smile, the kind that looked warm, yet never gave too much away. Maximus on the other hand, stiffened uncomfortably. The bright camera lights felt invasive to him, probing deeper than he would like. His jaw cleched slightly as he gave a polite nod and quietly retreated his steps till he left the spotligh for valerie.A passing server in crisp black and white appeared at his side, offereing a silver t
Chapter 59
CHAPTER 59>The obsidian glided smoothly down the open road, cutting through the city like a blade in the midnight. Inside the Dreamweaver, the atmosphere was thick with the scent of leather, expensive perfume, and pungent, potent unspoken tension that was ever so palpable.Valerie leaned back into the passenger seat, her eyes drifting over the dashboard with the admiration of someone used to luxury but still able to appreciate a beautiful machine.“This car is stunning, Maximus,” she said with a fingers lazily brushing over the center console like she was caressing it. “How much do you want for it? I'll pay you double of whatever you price it.”Maximus glanced at her with a crooked grin, one hand still on the stirring wheel. “I’ll take that as a joke.”She tilted her head toward him, her lips curling into a slow, amused smile. “Of course it’s a joke… it's clear she's very valuable to you.” she said, but the way she looked at him suggested everything about her was a calculated dare.T
Chapter 58
CHAPTER 58>Steam curled in a gentle wave through the air as Maximus stepped out of the bathroom, his broad frame catching in slow, glistering streaks. Beaded droplets of water ran down his ebony black skin like they were awe of the canvas they touched.His wool like hair was still damp, clung to his forehead and curled tighter at the ends, dripping in rhythmic succession on the marble tiles of the bathroom.He had a pink towel on that was barely doing its job, it hung low on his waist and it was more of an afterthought than a means of coverage as he walked towards the mirror.He stood there for a moment, breathing softly as he glared at his reflection. Water continued to glide down his chest, tracing outlines of defined muscle, mapping out weeks of discipline and recent victories. Then he straightened his posture and cleared his throat.“Ahem…!”“Good evening, Miss Valerie…”He reharsed with an outstretched hand and a cheeky eyebrow. Then he frowned, that sounded too stiff and he nee
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