CHARLES’ LOCATION Everyone were now present, including Longman's wife and kid. “Mommy, who are these people?” The boy asked, in a trembling voice as tears ran down his face. “Just…shhh…. It's okay.” The woman hushed him gently and softly. She was also shaking as well and it was as if she was going to pass out out of fear and anxiety if those men kept standing. Charles had made his guards to stand and watch them as they were tied up. Then Charles walked in with James and Vera walked in a few seconds after them. “So, this is perfect. This is where we are going to work things out.” Charles said, with a smile on his face. “please who are you and why are you doing this to us?” The woman asked, with tears running down her face. “Tch! You should blame your husband for this calamity that has befallen you because I will ensure that he feels the pain he inflicts on people.” Charles said, with assurance. “Please don't do this to us. You can't do this to us. I know my husband must have caused you a lot of pain, just like he does to so many other people, but I need you to please, do not do this to us. Please consider my boy, here.” She sniffled and pleaded with tears in her eyes. “Tch! He didn't consider how my man here would feel when he gunned him down only to plant a bomb in his arm and use it to threaten him. I mean, he could have almost killed him if not for the fact that we found a way around it.” The woman burst out into more tears and continued rubbing her palms together, hoping that Charles would consider her. “You're only rubbing your palms for nothing. Rubbing your palms won't get you out of this situation. Your husband even went as far as planting bombs in several areas around my company and telling me he was going to bomb all those places and people I care about were actually around all those places. So, he was going to use it to teach me a lesson, just for not being partners with him. Can you imagine his selfishness!” Charles raised his voice, beginning to feel more frustrated. “I understand. Truly, he doesn't deserve even a second chance. But please consider us.” “I have no business with you, anyways.” He said, then collected his phone from one of his guards. James and Vera pitied the woman, although, they knew that Charles won't do anything bad to her, but for the fact that she was married to someone as despicable as Longman was just so saddening. If Longman doesn't stop his ways, he was going to definitely meet with someone who would cut his family's bodies into pieces and feed it to the vultures in the forests. Charles dialed Longman's number and he finally answered the call after the dial tone had rung out for a long while. “And why are you calling me!” Longman yelled at him. “Well, because your wife and kid are here with me. In case you do not believe, you can hear their voices.” Charles said and put out the phone in the air. “Honey, please quit these negative acts. Now, look at what you've put us into.” His wife screamed out in pain as the tears came down her eyes effortlessly. “What! What the hell did you just do! You dare keep my family in hostage!” Longman yelled over the phone. “If you know what's best for you, meet me at Eddison Street, the largest garage around there; in about an hour.” Charles instructed him. “Tch! You're not that kind of man. You can't do nothing to them.” Longman snickered “Well, you can take the risk. I wont be the one having to mourn my family. After all, you know I have no family.” Charles said, then he hung up. “Keep watch over them.” He said to his guards and then made move to walk out, but Vera confronted him “You're not trying to hurt them right?” Vera asked, trying to be certain that he was still going to do the right thing. “Where does your loyalty lie, Vera? Or let me rephrase my question. Do you know what loyalty is? Look, if you do not trust me, you can leave.” Charles said, in a cold voice, and left where they were. Both James and Vera exchanged looks, but then James sighed and walked up to her, then patted her shoulder. “Don't take in what he said. He's just annoyed. And we should trust him. He always does the right thing, and even if he ends up killing Longman's family, I'm still going to stand with him. Longman has overdone himself, and it needs to stop.” James said to Vera and also walked out. Vera took one more look at the mother and son who were looking helpless and she shut her eyes, then looked towards the exit.She was also going to support Charles no matter what. ~ About an hour had passed and Charles, Vera, James and more guards were at the garage, waiting for Longman to arrive. Charles checked his wristwatch and noticed it was 5 minutes to the the deadline he gave to Longman. Then he let out a deep sigh. “He really thinks I'm joking?” He uttered under his breath, then rose to his feet. But as he rose to his feet, some men rushed into the garage and began to shoot. “Heads down!” Charles instructed as he figured out what happened. Vera and James bent down and then Charles looked back at them. “I hope you guys are ready?” He asked them. Both James and Vera nodded their head, and they both brought out guns. Charles knew that Longman wasn't someone who would just give in. He was going to put in a fight, so they had prepared. Bullets were flying around and some of them hit some of Charles’ men, likewise, the same happened to more of Longman's men. It was a bloody battle, but both Vera and James were trying their best not to get hit until Vera decided to aim for the main target, Longman, which she spotted, somewhere around the battle ground. Longman was aiming for Charles’ heart, to finish him up once and for all. But fortunately, she was able to get to him before he pulled the trigger. She kicked his balls and then while he bent to take in the pain, she used that opportunity and then shot him on both legs and his side stomach as well. “Aarrrrgh!” He grunted out loud in pain. “Tell your men to stop or the next place I'm going to shoot you in will be your heart; where you were aiming for at Charles.” She said, confidently. Longman looked up at her face in pain and could tell from her eyes that she was going to definitely do as she just said.“Okay…okay.” Longman managed to rise to his feet, and then Vera shot the ceiling, just to get everyone's attention. “Stop.” Longman said weakly, and then gave a sign which made the men to drop their guns and surrender. Charles was glad about Vera's move and complimented her after the cops had been called on Longman and his men, and they had taken them away “You did really well. I'm proud of you.” He complimented Vera with joy in his heart. “Always at your service.” she responded, feeling joy beam in her heart. She was glad that she was able to do something that probably made Charles to see her as that woman he could confide in, again. The woman and her kid were set loose and were also advised to move far away as there are some people Longman has offended and they might want to take revenge now that he is behind bars. Everything ended positively and they all went to their various homes to wash up and rest. ~A few days later~ Everyone had totally forgotten about Longman and his family and they were all back to normal duties. “Wow. So, this is what his place looks like.” James marveled as they looked around Andrew's technological products. Charles had told them how he met Andrew and what he he had done for him so far, except for the fact that he has a system in his head. That part, he still wanted to keep a secret. “Nice to meet you.” Andrew said politely as he shook both James and Vera's hand. “Nice to meet you too.” They responded heartily. “Wow. You've got really nice and amazing products and it's so mind-blowing to know that you're the one who created all these, all by yourself.” James said, still looking stoked. “Yeah, thanks.” Andrew smiled widely, not knowing what to say to all those compliments. “Won't you like to work in our company or sort? I mean your talent is so rare to find.” James said, still looking amazed as his eyes scanned around the products. Andrew chuckled and then moved closer to him.“I have some more mind-blowing things for you to see.” Andrew said, trying to distract him from hearing an answer from him. “Alright then.” Charles also went along with them and Vera was left alone in that particular room. She kept on walking and staring at each product until she got to a door. The note on it was ONLY AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL CAN GO IN. Normally, she would have turned around and go on to check other products, but she got so curious and really wanted to know what was there. Vera pushed open the door gently and as she walked in and shut the door, breeze blew her air, but she knew it wasn't possible for breeze to be in here, so she turned around and to her greatest surprise, she saw something that looked more like a portal. “A time machine.” Vera was stoked and her mouth couldn't close up as she couldn't believe her eyes. “Oh, gosh. I wish James could see this right now. He's going to pass out.” she spoke, with an excited smile that revealed her good set of teeth. As she moved closer to it, she stumbled upon something and for support, she tried to hold something. Unknowingly, her hand was heading straight to the time machine. Her hand was inside before she could realize that she was being sucked into the time machine. “Ahhhh!” She screamed out loud as she fell into a long tunnel that seemed to be made of clouds and she saw diagrams that looked more like the structure of a DNA. From clouds, the tunnel changed appearance and looked more like she was in a tunnel, filled with red paste that didn't seem to stick on her. Then when she noticed she was about reaching the end, she screamed and then fell, but passed out. After about thirty minutes, she came back to consciousness, but when she opened her eyes, she was in a totally different world and her mind seemed to sync with it like she knew this place, like she had been here her whole life. Currently, she had the mind that took her back and forth, making her remember flashes of her memory at the world she came from. She was going to feel like this was her wolf as Andrew didn't make an ordinary time machine, but an extra ordinary one that did a lot to the mind.It was now more like her mind had split worlds for her. VERA'S POV "Hey, it's your turn. Come on, outside." That word made nervousness, flow in my veins. Right here, my freedom was going to be gone, forever. I walked up to the stage, and stood, fiddling with my hands, and my hands were shaking. In the crowd, there were ordinary people, and Mafia Lords. Mafia Lords ruled the people, because they were feared, and they had more power, and influence. "Now, we start our bidding from 1 million dollars." The auctioneer announced. Then it dawned on me, what was really happening. I was really going to be sold to anyone who had the highest amount to bid. Why would I be sold, like I am some commodity? Fear gripped me, seeing the stares and glares, around me. I clinged to my gown, which was rippled, and a bit transparent. Then the atmosphere changed. The crowd seemed excited. "$2 million." I heard a woman, announce. "$5 million." A man shouted. "$5.5 million." Another, said. I gasped in fear. My eyes were certainly giving out how scared I was, to be auctioned. Sweats broke out from every part of my body, and I could barely look into the eyes of anyone. It seemed my fear, excited everyone. "50" I heard a cold voice. Silence reigned as everyone's head, turned in the direction of the voice. It was Mafia Lord Daniel "S…sir, you mean $50 million?" The auctioneer asked, looking shocked. "$50 million." Lord Daniel responded. The crowd exclaimed in amusement. And I was shocked. I had never imagined that anyone would bid for a woman, with an amount that high. "Anyone else?" The auctioneer asked, in discomfort, scared that the Mafia Lord could burst out in anger, asking why he was still calling bids again. There was silence. No one spoke out. There was no one who would dare bid higher than Mafia Lord Daniel. He was the ultimate leader, and the most feared, out of all the Mafia Lords."Going once, Going twice. Sold! The winner of this bid, is Mafia Lord Daniel!" The auctioneer, announced. Right there, I was sold out to my worst nightmare, Mafia Lord Daniel. My world, turned dark, and fear gripped me. Why did I have to be so unlucky? His right hand man, Kavon, who was known to be fierce, came over to take me away. I stared at the auctioneer as I was led, out. He had sent me to a dark world, where I didn't know what would become of me. I was driven to Lord Daniel's mansion, and was led to a room. "This is your room. If you act rash, you will have yourself to blame for it. And change into any of the clothes in the wardrobe. When the boss is around, he will see you." He said, then went out of the room. Just as people had said, he was uptight, scary, stern, and always stared, with no expression on his face. I dreaded seeing Lord Daniel, more. The thought of him, calling me out, made me shiver. And I hoped that I would never have to see him. I looked around the room, it was small, but manageable. Then I sighed. "Father." I said, with tears in my eyes. ~ I heard a knock on my door, and it was hard for me to gulp down my saliva. "Who's there?" I managed to ask. "It's me, Cecilia." I felt relief, fill my heart, and my tensed bones, were relieved as well. Then I stood up to open the door. "Good evening. First and foremost, I will advise you, never to lock your door. Lord Daniel hates it when you do that, in his mansion. He likes to come in, and go out, whenever." "Oh, I see. Th…thank you." I muttered. "By the way, I am Cecilia. I am a maid, in this mansion, and I am here to tell you that dinner is served." She informed, with a slight smile. I felt relieved a bit, seeing someone who could smile, in the mansion, and I didn't feel alone, seeing the potential of a friend, in her. I followed her to the dining table, and sat down, unable to eat. "Lord Daniel doesn't like when one wastes food. You can't do as you like, here. So, it's best if you eat up, so you do not get on his nerves, so soon." She said.I nodded my head, and dipped the spoon into the soup. I had no appetite, but then, with one taste of the soup, I wanted to keep eating, and I felt better, while eating. "One more tip. I'll advise that you take a look around the mansion, before you are told, who you are, and what purpose you will be serving, in this mansion. If you are going to be a maid like I am, you won't have that freedom to lurk around. So, take advantage of Lord Daniel's absence, right now. Bye, I have to go." Cecilia said, then left. I wished she wouldn't leave. Her presence made me feel better, and relieved, and now that she was gone, I was filled with fear. The mansion was quiet, and a single pin could be heard if it fell. After I managed to eat up the food, I walked around the quiet mansion as Celilia had advised me to. There was a pool, a large TV, in the sitting room, and a room which seemed like it was used for meetings. I was truly in a billionaire's mansion, and every thing in here, spelt huge money. I got to a part of the mansion, and looked down at the stairs. It probably led to the basement, and I didn't need to go there. Just as I turned to move, I tripped, and my phone fell down the stairs. I quickly ran downstairs to take it, before anyone would find out that I had been gone for too long. I picked up my phone, but then, I heard muffled sounds, coming from the basement, so out of curiosity, I opened the door, and to my shock, I saw a lady, tied up. She was covered in blood. I gasped, in fear, and then I walked towards her. "Are you okay?" I asked. But she made muffled sounds, and I reached out my hand, slowly, to remove the gag in her mouth, and she gasped for breath, after I removed it. Then I waited until she calmed down. After she caught her breath, she chuckled, staring at me, from head to toe. "I guess you are new." She scoffed. "Yes. I am." "You look too innocent. Why would Daniel want you?" I wondered who she was to him, for her to call him by his name, but I could not ask her. "Ahh…I see. He probably wants to use you to execute his plan, perfectly." "What… what do you mean?" "He is planning a war, against the other Mafia Lords, and that is a rough game, my dear. And you will lose your life, because you aren't tough enough." She smirked.