Three months. Three months since Zianna had stepped into Kian's world. Three months since she had become a part of "Starlight." Three months since she had tasted the intoxicating thrill of power.
And in those three months, "Starlight" had become a force to be reckoned with. It had grown at an alarming rate, a meteor streaking across the financial sky, leaving a trail of stunned investors in its wake.
It was Zianna who had made it happen. She had put in the hours, the sleepless nights, the tireless effort. She had been the face of the company, the one who had charmed investors, forged alliances, and closed deals.
But it was Kian who was the mind behind it all. He had been the architect of the strategy, the visionary who had seen the potential, the mastermind who had orchestrated the game.
He had never stepped out of the shadows. He had never taken the spotlight. He had stayed behind the scenes, pulling the strings, moving the pieces.
But he was always there, watching. Always observing. Always strategizing.
And Zianna knew, deep down, that he was the one who truly held the power.
He was the one who was calling the shots.
He was the one who was in control.
But Kian was not invincible. Because deep down he is still a kid.
The phone rang, shattering the silence of his office. He glanced at the caller ID, a familiar dread tightening his chest.
It was Vergas.
He took a deep breath, steeling himself. He knew what this call was about.
He picked up the phone, his voice calm and controlled.
"Vergas," he said, his voice a low murmur.
"Kian," Vergas' voice boomed from the other end. It was a voice that had haunted Kian's dreams for years. A voice that carried the weight of fear and obligation.
"It's been five months."
"Five months," Kian repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. "Five months since the agreement."
Kian's throat tightened. He knew the agreement. The agreement he had made with Vergas, the one that had cost him his freedom, the one that had weighed heavily on his soul.
"I'm ready to pay," Kian said, his voice firm. "I'm ready to settle the debt."
"Good," Vergas said. "Let's meet"
Vergas hung up the phone, leaving Kian alone with the weight of his obligation.
Kian stood up, his gaze fixed on the window, the cityscape spread out before him. He saw the lights of the city, a glittering tapestry of dreams and desires.
You're right! It's more realistic to have Kian pay the debt via phone or a phone transaction. Here's the revised scene:
Kian stared at the text message on his phone, his heart pounding in his chest. It was a simple message, but it carried the weight of a world.
[Meet me at The Grill.]
It was Vergas. The loan shark who had held Kian's life in his hands for years. The man who had held his sister's future in his grip.
Kian knew the restaurant. It was a popular spot, a place where the city's elite gathered to indulge in fine dining and whispered conversations.
It was a place that was, ironically, under the very company Kian had built, under the very empire he had created.
But it was also a place where Kian's past would collide with his present, where his ambition would be tested, and where his future would be decided.
He took a deep breath, his mind racing with a mixture of dread and determination.
He couldn't avoid this meeting. He couldn't postpone the inevitable.
He grabbed his phone, the familiar weight of it comforting in his hand. He had prepared for this moment, meticulously planning and executing his strategy. His empire had grown, his wealth had multiplied.
He had the means to settle the debt.
He reached into his pocket and retrieved a small, sleek device - a secure transaction device. He had set it up, pre-loaded with the sum that would end his torment.
He arrived at The Grill, the opulent restaurant bustling with the city's elite. He could hear the clinking of glasses, the murmur of conversations, the gentle hum of a live band.
But none of it mattered.
None of it could distract him from the task at hand.
He spotted Vergas in a dimly lit corner, his broad frame towering over a small table. He was alone, a dark aura surrounding him like a shroud.
Kian walked over, his steps measured and confident.
"Vergas," he said, his voice calm and steady. "I'm here."
Vergas looked up, a flicker of recognition in his eyes. He gestured to the empty seat across from him, a cold, calculating expression on his face.
Kian sat down.
"You're late," Vergas said, his voice a low growl.
"I'm sorry," Kian said, his voice devoid of emotion.
He pulled out his secure transaction device, a sleek, almost innocent-looking gadget, and initiated the transfer. The device beeped, confirming the completion of the transaction.
"Fifteen million," Vergas said, his voice a mixture of disgust and satisfaction. "That's the principal and the interest. You're a good boy, Kian. You always do what you promise."
He pulled out his phone, checking the transfer. A satisfied smile played on his lips.
"Consider it settled," Kian said, his voice a mere whisper.
Vergas nodded, his eyes gleaming with a cold, calculating satisfaction. He stood up, and about to leave but Kian's' voice stopped him.
"Wait." Kian said, his voice low and intense, and for the first time, a hint of steel in his eyes. "I have something for you."
Vergas paused, his gaze unwavering. He was a predator who had caught his prey, and now this unexpected turn in events had him wary.
Kian leaned forward, his voice dropping to a near whisper, but each word resonated with a power that surprised even him. "I.M.M.O.R.T.A.L."
The word hung in the air, heavy with unspoken meaning. Vergas's face hardened, a deep furrow appearing between his brows. The name "Immortal" was a whisper in the underworld, a legend associated with the shadowy world of human experiments.
"What do you know?" Vergas growled, his voice laced with a threat that was barely veiled.
Kian leaned back, his expression unreadable. "I know enough," he said. "I know that your losing and a huge asset, an important asset that you keep looking for years."
Vergas's hand twitched involuntarily, his eyes flickering with a raw pain that he had carefully hidden for years. His daughter, his precious Lila, had vanished months ago. He had been working tirelessly, following every lead, but it had been a dead end.
"Who told you this?" Vergas asked, his voice tight.
Kian smiled, a chillingly cold smile that revealed no hint of the truth.
Vergas's hand twitched involuntarily, his eyes flickering with a raw pain that he had carefully hide. His daughter, his precious Lila, had vanished 6 months ago. He had been working tirelessly, following every lead, but it had been a dead end.
"Who told you this?" Vergas asked, his voice tight.
Kian smiled, a chillingly cold smile that revealed no hint of the truth. He stood up, his tall frame filling the space between their tables, a new aura of authority radiating from him. His CEO persona, honed through months of building his empire, replaced the boyish vulnerability he had displayed earlier.
"I know more than you think," Kian said, his voice cool and measured. He took a step closer, his eyes piercing Vergas's with an intensity that made the loan shark shift uncomfortably.
"And I can help you find what you have lost."
Vergas scoffed. "You? You can help me find my daughter? You're a kid playing games with money. You're a nobody."
Kian answered, whispering in his ears, "If I'm a nobody, how did I discover that a Black Mafia Ring leader has lost his most valuable possession?"