~ Poor Lad

|| 𝕰𝖕𝖎𝖘𝖔𝖉𝖊 33: 𝕻𝖔𝖔𝖗 𝕷𝖆𝖉 ||

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𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃 between his hands, Zion sat on the bench on the college's grounds. Spending the classes without Celeste by his side was frustrating. He never could fathom how much he depended on her to light his life - like she was the only candle burning for him in his dark room. All he feared that one day, he would wake up and the candle will be completely melted away.

Leaving him with no sense of the world around him.

Even though they haven't talked or called off their friendship, he knew that a crack had started forming. And he needs to mend it before it's too late. He can't lose her, never.

His phone buzzed, and he checked the caller ID. It was an unknown number but, he picked it up.

"Come to the mansion, right now. I hate delay, Noah," a voice said from the other end.

He recognized it too well - there was only one person who had the guts to order him around and get away with it. Although he was suspicious of Mr. Knight's intentions towards him, he convinced himself to get up and hop onto his bike. Within a few minutes, he had arrived at the mansion.

The grandeur of the Knight mansion never ceased to amaze him - the expansive, lush garden that surrounded the huge building and the precise, elegant detailing of every inch of the mansion was commendable. Yet, it also made him doubtful and fearful. This was the place Celeste grew up in, and for him, she deserved better than this. If it was up to him, he would gift her the entire world and it won't be enough. Her worth can't be imagined or measured.

The camera snapped in his direction as the gates opened and he drove in. He had never been inside of the mansion since Celeste avoided visiting this place as much as possible. Also, he never showed any interest in exploring the mansion without her. She was the only thing that connected him to this building.

And now here he was, stepping foot into the place she hated but for her sake.

He parked the bike on the entrance - he was sure that no one would dare to steal it considering Mr. Knight probably owns dozens of bikes better than his and considering that the security was strict around the mansion grounds, no one would dare to think about touching his precious jewel.

"Mr. Black, Mr. Knight has been waiting for you. Please follow me," a middle-aged man greets him as the door opens for him. Judging by the expensive and tight suit he was wearing, and how clean he was dressed, Zion was sure that he was the butler or perhaps Mr. Knight's right-hand man.

If the mansion looked grand from the outside, the interior amazed him further. The designing was astonishing - although he would surely have the interior designer go through the way the random paintings and vases were placed. It looked like the person didn't connect with the mansion, at all.

He was sure that Celeste despised the interior, it no way suited her style. Her taste was simple, yet rich. After the time he had spent with her, he was proud to admit that she had influenced his style and perhaps, for the better.

Following the mysterious man, Zion walked through the mansion. It was hard to keep up considering that there was so much to see, to explore.

He tried to imagine a young, child version of Celeste running through this mansion. She was so serious in her life that he found it hard to imagine it. There was a careless side of hers he had seen. Never in front of her father and his family. She didn't include herself in his father's little circle.

With her mother's death, a part of Celeste had died too. He had seen her bury it when he first saw her.

"Please knock and wait for his reply. Only then, enter the room," the man says and disappears.

Zion raises his hand, knocks on the door.

"Come in," Mr. Knight replies after a few seconds.

Opening the door, he walks in.

Mr. Knight's study smelled of smoke and pine. With wooden walls, racks filled with files, and a majestic wood table gave an authoritative look to the entire room. It was like a King's lair.

Zion was sure that many businesses were built in this very room, while some went extinct here. The Knights had many enemies, more than they had friends - after all it is difficult to stay at the top.

Mr. Knight's scrutinizing stare examined him, as if accessing every single move of his. He stood in front of him while Celeste's father sat on his magisterial chair.

"You called for me, sir," he says, breaking the awkward silence.

An evil smirk forms on Mr. Knight's face, one that made Zion question what he signed up for. He had literally handed his soul to the devil.

"Yes, I have a contract for you to sign and your first assignment prepared for you," Celeste's father says.

He pushes forward some papers for Zion. Grabbing them, he reads through every single word - Mr. Knight is known for his trapping contracts. Never underestimate a Knight, not even Celeste.

The contract, although, looked good enough. The message was clear - he was to do what Mr. Knight asked him to. The secrets of the mafia, should remain the safe with him. If he wishes to leave, it meant that he would have to disappear - a new identity will be created for him. Breaching the contract meant death.

As a reward, he would be married off to a Knight daughter.

That was enough for him. More than he wanted. The pay was good enough for him to live comfortably as long as he was employed with the Knights.

He signed it without any second thoughts. Desperate he might look, but that's what he felt too.

Mr. Knight smiled as he examined the signed papers. A plan was forming in his head that none knew of. And poor Noah had been trapped into the web, without even realizing it.

He saw a younger version of himself in Zion, that hunger to prove oneself to the world was burning in his heart. That's what he needed - and with enough training, he would build Zion to be his heir.

The dangerous mafia boss.

But that meant that he would have to one important thing.

"Your first assignment is important. I heard that you bagged an internship in New York. Our business there had been running smoothly until some goons decided to steal and disrupt it. Find them, eliminate them. Stop future disruption. Show them who is the boss," Mr. Knight says.

Zion nodded - the word eliminate didn't sit well with him. But he raised no concerns.

"One of my trusted men will train you there, how to use a gun and deal with the business. Learn it carefully, with full devotion, Noah. If you don't want to die young, you need as much knowledge as possible. The money will be wired to your account when the job is done," he continues.

But he wasn't done yet.

"One more thing. My daughter, Astrid, bagged the same internship. You will be staying with her in the apartment. I want no harm done to her - not a single scratch," he says.

Zion nodded, knowing that a father will want to protect his daughter. But for him, Astrid was another burden to deal with. As long as she remained her quiet self, they were fine.

The door opened suddenly, the intruder not even daring to knock. A strong whiff of lady's perfume filled his nostrils - it was like a perfume shop in there.

Astrid strode into the room with a huge grin on her face.

"You called for me, father?" she said innocently.

"Yes. Noah will be accompanying you to New York. The young lad needs funding and seeing his potential, I have decided to help him. Remember, Astrid, be on your best behavior and focus on your internship. Do not mingle with Noah's business or mine. Trust him, he will protect you. He knows what is at the line if he fails," Mr. Knight says.

"Yes, papa," she replies.

Even though they were standing a few steps apart, Zion failed to notice the spark in Astrid's eyes.

The spider was spinning her web for her prey.

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