Music blaring loudly as the lights dazzled in different colors. Under the blaring noise, a man whose face was as cold as ice glaciers raised a glass to his lips, staring at the women swaying their hips below the stage.
One thing he liked about this club, regardless, was the view from the private room. It enables you to see everyone down there but they can't see you. Nice, right? That was what Lester thought.
He checked his watch again. It's a minute to the appointment time and just then he saw a chubby fellow galloping towards him.
That man was trying to get on his nerves. He made it clear what he hated most but still, the man thought he could eat his cake and have it.
He leaned his back as those piercing sea blue eyes stared at a chubby man walking towards him. The man smirked as he poured himself another drink.
He knew he would come. They always do….to beg or strike a deal.
"Lester, what is the meaning of this?", The chubby man threw a paper on the table angrily.
"It's Mr Lester to you. We are not that familiar", the man retorted calmly but with a tone that sent shivers down one's spine.
Lester didn't look at him again as he sipped on his drink. After about five minutes, he turned to face the chubby man who was already sweating…and obviously angry. It seems he forgot he was talking due to anger.
"Mr Banton, I thought you were learned or you rather I called on one of these ladies to come read it for you?"Lester asked looking condescendingly at him.
"The contract was… already signed! You…you can't just give…give..it to someone else like that..", The man said, trying hard to control his anger and…fear.
Who wasn't afraid of this King-like man before them? He was virtually the King of the business world. And to top it all, he was very cruel, to say the least.
"Are you questioning my judgement in my business, Mr Banton?", His voice was lowered but with a hidden threat.
"I wouldn't dare…but…the contract…", Mr Banton stuttered. As much as he was eager to have the contract, he loves his life more.
"Perhaps, I need to refresh your memory, Mr Banton. I hate illegal deals and it's boldly written in the contract", Lester replied seriously.
"I have always been a law abiding citizen, Mr Lester. Whatever you have heard is the work of my enemies!"Mr Banton protested.
"Is that so?", Lester asked in a low tone, his face filled with sarcasm.
Mr Banton lowered his head in shame. How could anything pass the eye of the all knowing King of the business world?
Mr Lester Leon of the Leon Group of Company, the ever ruthless king of the business world. Known to be cruel when you cross his path.
Mr Banton walked up to him and grabbed his pants but four men from nowhere grabbed him and dragged him away from Lester. The man was filled with fear. He knew he was done for but he had to save his skin.
"What? Did you think you could hide your illegal business from me? Don't you think that's the joke of the year", Lester snorted.
"I didn't mean to hide anything… I promised I never wanted to involve your business. It was my partner….he was the one who changed it", Mr Banton ranted when he saw the odds were against him.
"Get him away from my sight and…pick up his partner. You know what to do, right? ", Lester asked, looking at the black suit-cladded men.
"Yes, boss", they nodded before picking the chubby man up.
"You can't do this to me, Lester! I am your partner! ", The man screamed at Lester, shaking the men off him. He had a smirk on his face as stared at Lester.
The man swore to pay Lester back for the humiliation he had given him today.
Lester couldn't be bothered by the man's scream as he ordered his men to bundle him out. The man's whimpering could be heard as they dragged him out.
"You just came back and you are already making enemies? ", A voice asked him from behind.
He looked back to see his friend, Gerald, grinning at him.
"You know me too well. I hate sly fox", Lester said as he beckoned on his friend to sit.
"You know Mr Banton isn't someone to trifle with. He is too cunning", Gerald advised.
"You mean I should be afraid of him? ", Lester asked, glaring at his friend.
"Afraid? Not at all. You just have to be cautious of him", Gerald shrugged, pouring himself a glass of wine.
Lester just ignored his friend as he continued sipping on his wine. His mind was elsewhere. His grandparents had been on his neck to get married and give them a grandchild.
He stared into space as a particular memory rushed in but he quickly shoved it off.
Lester knew deep down that he was going to disappoint his grandparents because having a child wasn't going to happen.
"Lester Leon, we are in a bar. Can you please lighten up that face of yours? You are going to scare away these precious beauties ", Gerald said with a chuckle.
"Do I look like I give a damn?", Lester retorted.
"But I do. I want these babies! But with a stunning face of yours, I don't think I have a chance", Gerald said, faking a cry.
"You are so unpredictable. What do you really want? My stunning or dark face? ", Lester asked his friend as he shook his head.
"I don't want your face! I want those hot babies! ", Gerald said with a sigh.
"You can but you will have to see my grandparents with me tomorrow," Lester said, tapping on his friend's back.
Gerald shook his head so hard that Lester thought it was going to roll off.
"I am not going anywhere and definitely I won't be used as a shield by you. Go alone," Gerald refused.
"Okay, I will just tell Mr Stealthson that you got a girl pregnant and believe me, you would be…", Lester threatened with a smirk.
"Alright, alright. I will come with you. Geez, you are so petty," Gerald relented.
Gerald picked up the telecom and ordered another round of drinks for them. As he sat down waiting for the drinks, he saw a woman dolled up flamboyantly. She was smiling and walking toward him.
Gerald was so flustered that he immediately got up and fled from the room through the opposite exit door. When the woman saw him running off, she ran after him too as she threw a perfunctory greeting at Lester.
Lester couldn't be bothered by them. He was getting bored already and can't wait to get the hell out of that place.
Lester loosen the tie on his neck so he could be a little more comfortable. As he adjusted his tie, he started having that feeling again.
Without looking up, he stood up and turned to the right so as to make his way out of the club. His vision was starting to get blurry. Not right now, he thought.
He walked towards the narrow corridor leading to the private exit. But the next thing he heard were sounds of breaking glass and something like… bottle?
"Haa! I am dead! Why the hell can't you look where you are going? How on earth am I going to pay for these drinks? Haa!" A female voice shrieked in anger and frustration.
Mona had never expected to encounter such a problem on her first day working in this bar. It took her several days of begging before she was given a part time job here.
How could she explain to the manager that a man bumped into her and she broke wines worth several hundreds of thousands of dollars?
"Honourable sir! Are you blind? Even if you were blind, why would you be walking alone?"
Lester had no time to answer this waiter, so he just decided to brush past her. But surprisingly, she stopped him. He began to boil up in anger. What he hated was to be seen in his weak state.
"Get out of my way!" An icy voice rang out in Mona's ear.
She backed off in fright at first but when she thought of the money she was going to pay, she also grew angry and refused to leave him.
Who did he think he was? She fumed.