Chapter one

"Who is that man? Which company does he represent?"

Victor Storms heard people whisper about him as he stepped into the large hall adorned with elaborate lighting. He gently arranged the black tusk he wore on the grand Turkish suit and took in the scene again.

There they were; several millionaires and CEOs from all over the city, and they were there to attend the fundraiser party of Thomas Knight, the man with the biggest shipment and transportation company in all of Blaze city, and also the man that Victor had come to deal with that night.

"Boss, do you have eyes on him yet?" A voice said to Victor over the earpiece in his ear. Victor looked around and still found people stealing glances at him. He could not blame them, at twenty-nine, he had one of those faces that got featured in big magazines. 

But he was not there for their praises. He was there to terrorize the man who had joined forces with his Uncle Phil several years ago to murder his parents.

"Not yet, John. Keep the comms on. I'll give you an update soon," Victor responded while he took a glass of champagne from the waiter. He walked over to a corner and then stood to observe the scene.

"I don't think I have you on my guest list," a Female voice said to Victor and he turned to her. Standing there was Petra Knight, the only daughter of Thomas Knight, and the heir to Knight Incorporated.

Petra smiled at Victor while observing his expensive outfit. She had always had a thing for sophisticated men who could manage to stand out from the crowd, and Victor was the best that she had seen.

"...under any other circumstance, I would have the guards walk you out," Petra added while her eyes were still fixed on Victor.

"So, why haven't you done so?" Victor asked and took a sip of the Champaign.

"Well, I find you interesting, Mr..."

"Storms. Victor Storms,"

"Ah, yes. Your confidence attracted me to you. I don't know how you're doing it but somehow, you are making me feel like this party is all about you. Which is strange because, obviously, I organized it," Petra told him with both admiration and a little bit of anger. Victor smiled.

"What can I say? I've always had a way of getting people's attention. It's a lovely party by the way, Petra. Your father must be proud," Victor said and threw the last contents of the cup into his mouth. Petra was intrigued even further and smiled.

"You know my name?" 

"I know a lot about you," was Victor's reply. Of course, he knew how she had taken over the human trafficking business that Knight incorporated deals with in secret, how she had rendered many people homeless and disturbed public peace with her unruly attitude. 

For Petra, men are nothing more than tools for fun, and she is always direct when coming for the men she fancies, and she does not care whether they're married or not.

"I hope the things you know are good. But even if they aren't, I'm certain we can do something about that. We must speak after the party. Enjoy the rest of your evening," irritated because Victor was not swooning over her, Petra smiled and left him alone. But she was not done.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please gather round," Petra called out to everyone while she took a stand on the podium located at the center of the hall. She wore a fake smile as she looked at the faces of the people at the party. But many were there not because they wanted to, but because they feared what she could do to them if they refused her invitation.

"This year, Knight Incorporated is planning something spectacular for our beloved city. We have come to the point where we can fund even more projects so that our workforce will increase. Isn't that marvelous?" She giggled, but no one reacted in any way. Petra then cleared her throat and continued.

"In light of this, Knight Incorporated is about to build a brand new company for courier services here in Blaze City. We need your assistance to do so. In return, you shall become shareholders in our company and we will see to it that you are always well compensated at all times. So, what do you say?" Petra asked, but everyone remained silent. Victor just observed the drama.

"I need responses," she was starting to lose her cool, but still managed to hold a smile.

"We already invested in your company's ideas and they failed. What assurance do we have that this venture won't fail as well?" A man asked from the crowd.

"Because if you don't invest, you will lose everything that this company has ever offered to you. And you know that it's a lot. The choice is yours," Petra said without remorse.

"Are you threatening us? We came here to speak with your father who is actually the CEO, not you! Where is Thomas Knight?" The same man asked. Petra frowned and people began to whisper between themselves. Victor smiled and then stepped forward.

"How much do you need to fund this business idea of yours?" Victor asked and all eyes fell on him. Petra raised a brow.

"Nine billion dollars," she said, and the millionaires gasped. Victor just smiled.

"I'll give you the money. All of it," he said, and Petra froze. The people gasped. They gazed at him again and wondered where he could get such money to spare. "That will make me have more than thirty percent of the shares in your company, right?" He asked her.

"Y-yes," Petra managed to say. She was overwhelmed as she kept looking at him in shock. Victor just smiled, and just as he had expected, Thomas Knight stepped out to meet the person who had donated such an amount to his company.

When Victor saw him, he stylishly touched the earpiece.

"John, now," he said, and in the next moment, three quick gunshots rocked the hall before Thomas could see his face. People screamed as the chandelier fell, and everyone ran away in different directions. 

Thomas Knight was quickly escorted outside and he was safely placed into a Mercedes Benz. 

"Who would dare disturb my party?" He wondered while people ran. But when he discovered that the driver was nowhere to be found and neither were his bodyguards, he began to panic.

Just then, the door opened and Victor sat in the back with him. Thomas frowned while he gazed at Victor and wondered where he got the audacity from.

"Who the hell are you? How dare you get into my car?" Thomas snapped. Victor's dark glare made Thomas shudder. He wanted to get out but the door was locked.

"Nineteen years, Mr knight. You look exactly the same," Victor told him.

"Do I know you?" Thomas asked.

"Well, take a closer look," Victor replied and Thomas gazed into his face. Then, his eyes widened and he jumped back.

"No! You died! You were assassinated. I saw your urn!" Thomas fumbled. Victor just smiled as he observed the man shake with fear.

"You worked with my uncle Phil to murder my parents in a plane crash and steal my company. Then you sent an assassin to kill me when I was barely ten years old. But I survived, and I'm back to give you all hell. So, Mr knight, I want you to spend every single second knowing that your time of reckoning has come..." Victor drew closer to the man who leaned back in fear.

"I will not be merciful, but until then, just stay put. You cannot run after all. Wherever you are, I will always find you," Victor added and opened the door. Thomas wondered how he managed to jam his side earlier.

"And, oh, say hello to my uncle for me. Tell him I'll come knocking soon" Victor added and left Thomas Knight alone.

Thomas quickly dashed out of the car but Victor was nowhere to be found. He breathed heavily as he tried to understand what just happened to him, but Thomas collapsed before he could think.