2025-09-30 00:43:33Morning light slipped gently into the penthouse suite, scattering gold across the white sheets. Jake stretched, his body stiff, his mind restless.
“So this is what it feels like?” Jake murmured, blushing.
Beside him, Elara stretched languidly, her hair spilling across the pillow like spilled ink. She caught his gaze and smirked.
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Jake quickly turned away. “I just… it’s my first time.” The words slipped out before he could stop them. His eyes went wide, his face twisting into a look of self-reproach.
Elara tilted her head, curiosity glinting in her eyes. “First time?” She propped herself up on one elbow. “You mean… ever?”
Jake nodded, embarrassed. “Yeah. Didn’t you notice how stiff I was last night and… how quick?”
Instead of mocking him, Elara smiled softly. “No… I didn’t feel anything strange at all. You actually seemed skilled. I was very satisfied, Brad James.”
Jake froze. Hearing the fake name spill from her lips sent a pang through him. He wanted to be known as Jake—not Brad.
“Why are you so quiet? Did I say something wrong?” Elara asked, almost pleading.
“Um… no, it’s just that I…”
Jake’s words trailed off. He looked at her closely, then shook his head. “Nothing. Nothing happened.”
“Well, if you say so. Anyway, I still don’t know much about you. I mean… where do you live?” Elara asked. “I’ve never seen you around before. Are you new in town?”
“No, I’m just… not visible in your world. I only recently met someone who helped me.”
Elara’s lips curved in curiosity. “Oh yeah? Who?”
“Damian Crowne. Do you know him?”
“Damian Crowne,” Elara repeated with a faint note of disgust. She now sat fully upright, morning light sharpening her features. “Of course. The carrion king. How on earth did you end up with someone like that?”
Jake frowned. “He’s not… that bad. I mean, he gave me a job, money, a place to live. Without him, I’d still—” He cut himself off.
“Still what?” Elara pressed. “I’m not saying this without reason. I was close to him—intimately—for three years.”
Jake flinched, eyes wide, a flicker of worry crossing his face. If Damian ever found out he’d slept with Elara, things could get dangerous fast.
“Don’t worry. He’s not that great. I know you’re scared because we slept together. By the way, what exactly are you doing for that bastard?” Elara asked.
“Something big and dangerous,” Jake admitted. “But I’m glad I’m doing it—it gives me hope to keep going with my miserable life. If it weren’t for Damian, I wouldn’t be sleeping in a hotel this fancy. I wouldn’t have met you…”
Elara shrugged. “The universe has its own ways of making two people meet. But listen, Damian isn’t your savior. He’s your leash. A pawn in his kingdom.” Her voice hardened. “And pawns don’t last long.”
Jake clenched his jaw. “What do you know about that?”
Elara leaned closer, her eyes sharp as glass. “I know enough. Damian uses people until they’re burned out, then discards them. That million dollars he gave you? That’s just the rope. He wants you dependent, desperate, obedient.”
Her words stung because they rang true. Jake had felt it, though he hated to admit it.
“So what, you want me to just walk away?” he asked. “Go back to nothing? Millions of dollars are waiting for me.”
Elara’s gaze turned sharp with suspicion. “Brad, are you working one of his dirty operations?”
Jake swallowed, cornered. He might be doing criminal work, but in front of someone he liked, his naïveté always slipped through. He couldn’t quite lie.
“Um… I…”
“Good. I’ll take that as a yes,” Elara said, her sly smile returning. “I want you to aim higher. Damian isn’t the only player in this city. There are bigger, better ones. People who value loyalty, not destroy it.”
She leaned in, her perfume intoxicating. “Work with my boss instead. He knows how to use someone like you—smart, resourceful, underestimated.”
Jake narrowed his eyes. “Your boss? What do you mean? You don’t even know what I do.”
“Haha, Brad! I’m not new to Damian’s circle. When he handpicks someone, it means they have a talent he needs. Clearly, you’re important to him.”
Elara gently stroked Jake’s face, making his heart pound.
“So who’s your boss?”
“Lucian Davenhall,” she said casually, watching his reaction. “He doesn’t deal in crumbs. He builds kingdoms. And unlike Damian, he doesn’t keep pawns—he keeps partners.”
“And you?” Jake asked quietly. “What’s your role in all this?”
Elara’s smile turned faint. “Let’s just say I connect talent with opportunity. And you, Jake… you’re wasting yourself where you are now.”
Silence stretched between them. Jake’s thoughts raced. Damian had given him a lifeline, but every word Elara spoke carved at a truth he couldn’t ignore. Still, trusting her felt dangerous—too convenient, too fast.
Finally, he muttered, “So I’m just supposed to betray the man who saved me, just like that?”
Elara slid a finger along Jake’s jaw, her voice low and coaxing. “No. You’re supposed to choose yourself. Damian doesn’t care if you live or die. Lucian might. And me…” She let the sentence dangle, staring deep into Jake’s eyes. “…I see you as more than just a pawn.”
Jake swallowed hard, torn between loyalty and survival, between the pull of Elara’s words and the shadow of Damian’s sly smile.
Elara whispered at his ear, “You have a chance, Jake. A chance to destroy your master. A chance to become a legend.”
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9
They kept running through the forest. One thing Jake realized: the man who had just saved him could run incredibly fast. It felt like his own body was being carried by the wind. They stopped in front of an old house hidden deep within the woods.“Come on, we’ll hide in here!” the man said.Jake was still gasping for air, his back pressed against the damp wall of the old warehouse. Cold sweat mixed with rainwater dripping from the rusty roof above. The man who had helped him shoved Jake forward roughly, then pried open a small hatch in the grassy floor. From inside, a pungent smell of wet earth rose up, mingled with the scent of rusting iron.“Get in,” he whispered sharply, his eyes hard.Jake hesitated. The hole was dark, narrow—like a grave. But the heavy thud of approaching boots gave him no other choice. Panting hard, he crawled inside. His body dropped into a cramped, cold, pitch-black tunnel. Roots scraped his back as his knees knocked against the packed dirt.Once the hatch clos
8
The rain fell softly as Jake stepped out of the car that had just arrived at the harbor. The cold air bit into his skin beneath the heavy, overcast sky.He drew a slow breath, trying to calm his racing heart. Tonight’s mission was clear: reach the heavily guarded weapons warehouse, take the asset that would bring him closer to his dream car, and return without leaving a trace.“Nervous?” Damian asked.“Not really,” Jake replied.“Good. If you keep being scared, you’ll never get that luxury car.”Damian patted Jake’s shoulder and gave a signal to several members who would be joining him.“All right, everyone, today is the day we’ve been waiting for. Something big is about to fall into our hands! I know you all understand and won’t ever fail—especially our master player, Mr. J,” Damian said, winking at Jake.Jake gave a small nod. Damian raised his hand again, signaling his men to board the ship at once.As the vessel began pulling away from the pier, Everett stepped closer to Damian, h
7
Jake stopped in front of the towering black iron gates. Beyond them a grand mansion rose, surrounded by gardens dotted with white marble statues.“This place is huge—yesterday’s penthouse already impressed me,” Jake muttered.“Come in, Jake.”Damian’s voice crackled from the speaker at the gate, and at the same moment the tall gates swung open.Jake scanned the grounds carefully, but what drew his attention wasn’t the mansion—it was the luxury cars lined up on the terrace.A golden-yellow Lamborghini, a blazing red Ferrari, and a black Rolls Royce that looked like a throne on wheels.Jake suddenly felt small; his threadbare clothes made him inhale a long, quiet breath. His eyes fixed on the Rolls Royce.“My God…” he whispered. “When will I ever have a cool car like that?”Inside the main hall Damian was already waiting. He wore a white shirt beneath an elegant black vest. His smile was wide; he treated Jake like an honored guest.“Jake!” Damian spread his arms. “Right on time. Come, h
6
Morning light slipped gently into the penthouse suite, scattering gold across the white sheets. Jake stretched, his body stiff, his mind restless.For the first time in his life, he’d crossed a line he’d never imagined crossing—not with any woman, and certainly not with someone like Elara. He lay still for a moment, staring at the ceiling, replaying the night before.“So this is what it feels like?” Jake murmured, blushing.Beside him, Elara stretched languidly, her hair spilling across the pillow like spilled ink. She caught his gaze and smirked.“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”Jake quickly turned away. “I just… it’s my first time.” The words slipped out before he could stop them. His eyes went wide, his face twisting into a look of self-reproach.Elara tilted her head, curiosity glinting in her eyes. “First time?” She propped herself up on one elbow. “You mean… ever?”Jake nodded, embarrassed. “Yeah. Didn’t you notice how stiff I was last night and… how quick?”Instead of mocki
5
Jazz still floated through the grand hall. Crystal chandeliers scattered golden light across tables dressed with champagne, caviar, and counterfeit smiles.The guests—bankers, politicians, crooked businessmen—crowded around Damian Crowne, praising his latest shady deal that had just rattled Ashborne’s shadow market.Jake stood off in a corner, his back pressed against the cold marble wall. He wore a cheap black shirt and worn-out trousers, a stark contrast to the silk suits of the guests.Damian raised his glass high. “To the man who made the impossible possible!”Cheers erupted, the crowd chanting Damian Crowne’s name as if he were the star of the night. No one realized the toast was actually meant for Jake.Jake’s gaze was flat as he watched people drift past him.One guest whispered loudly enough for him to hear, “Why is that guy here? He looks like a pizza delivery boy.”Another snickered. Jake kept himself in check, gripping the glass of mineral water he held just so he’d have so
4
The sun had just risen when Jake woke up. Golden light streamed through the tall glass windows of Damian’s penthouse, illuminating the Persian carpet and the luxurious leather sofa.Jake jolted, as if his body still wasn’t used to sleeping somewhere this comfortable. A savory aroma teased his nose.He turned toward the dining room and saw Damian already standing in front of a long table loaded with food: roasted meat, warm bread, fresh fruit, imported cheese—even coffee whose sharp scent filled the room.“Wake up, Jake,” Damian said with a faint smile. “Today, you’re going to do something that will change your life.”Jake rubbed his eyes, staring at the table hesitantly. “This… is for me?”“Of course. A full stomach, a clear mind.” Damian pushed a plate toward him. “Eat. You’ll need the strength.”Jake sat down awkwardly, his hand trembling as he reached for bread. “I usually just eat instant noodles,” he muttered.Damian chuckled. “That was before. Now you’re in a different world. A
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