It's somewhat understandable why would Aris Salvadge give me the invitation to the Z'nA. I remember, this club being the sensation of the year, everyone -no matter from business or Hollywood- wanted to be there on its opening night this Saturday. It was acknowledged as the aggrandizing and charismatic of the city among the famous fifty or something nightclubs of the Z'nA Proprietorships throughout dominating the country as well as few branches in other countries. The sole owner and representative of Z'nA is none other than Zyair Ahlstrom, he was called many names, but the one mostly used was the Devil of night. Bizarre, I know.

Like the backward algorithm of alphabets in his name, he too is a against-the-tide-of-things kinda person and roguish at that. No news, no paparazzi, no picture of him could be found anywhere, presumably only a few rare know his name, or who's the owner of Z'nA nightclub braches. One second in front of the world's eyes, in the other nothing, and no one would ever be able to find anything about him. Each time someone asks his name, each time his name changes. In front of thousands of eyes, his identity is hidden, paparazzi linger around his clubs to have one glimpse of him, he will walk right through them and they wouldn't even know.

Ahlstrom family comes from an old heritage of people that did a lot of illegal things; drugs, smuggling, mafia, and a lot of others, everything his ancestors have done. The change came when the reign of the family fell in the hands of the grandfather of Zyair Ahlstrom, he completely turned the tables of everything and converted every illegal work into legal, black into white money. The grandfather pulled out the roots that were so deep in the underworld of their family, washed them clean, and it became known that from then on the association of the underworld in Ahlstrom became forbidden and unbreakable law. Their illegally earned wealth was scattered whole around the world but he turned their wealth into legitimate Industries and trading Incorporations, building an Empire.

Ahlstrom's family history's known by the world, yet anyone could hardly find any news about them. They have been rarely seen on news and by any means refused to or no one could find the point where their wealth stands in the scale of riches'. I don't know how grandfather Ahlstrom did it, but he used every means to whitewash his family's name, from the lives of the people they destroyed or killed, and succeeded.

Zyair Ahlstrom will be announced as the sole heir of all the Ahlstrom heritage and business about two and a half years later. I have heard, the centuries-old lineage of their family consists of countless valuable things, but one could only imagine as none has seen it. His family background could be considered the reason he kept his identity hidden from the whole world, it can be assumed that his being an heir was enough for him to lose his life, as the families they destroyed have buried generations of hatred in their hearts for Ahlstrom's. Neither was the heir of Ahlstrom or the owner of Z'nA -no one knew both were the same- ever seen nor heard of. But after being announced as the heir, his face will be exposed to the world as a holder of Ahlstrom's.

I don't know how his friendship with Aris Salvadge started, but I think they go way back to even the friendship with Nial Delton. My past-self foolishness' made me follow Aris Salvadge everywhere, of course, the club was not the exception. I used every means to get an entry into that club, I spent thousands to buy one entry pass.

Zyair Ahlstrom's a man of no emotions, nothing can move him, he cares about no laws, fears, and regards none, and everyone should steer clear of such a person. Well, my past self didn't quite actually understand this until I pestered the only person, outside his family, he regarded as family.

After about one and half a year of seeing me lingering around his friend everywhere like a fly, he took notice of me. I still remember the day my past twenty-three something years old self was at his club, my gaze flickering from time to time toward the upper floor's exclusive rooms, to have one glimpse of the man I was there for. That was when I realized a little tap on my shoulder and for the first time, I faced him, his face that was nothing less handsome than the man I was there for made me hold my breath.

He flashed his utterly fake yet charming smile brightly at me, flirted with me, made me drink the wine he offered me. For that half an hour, I found my whole existence and all the things inside or around me lost in his charm, his gorgeous smile, the eyes were shining with my reflection in them, his laid back and harmonious self. I didn't know who he was, where he came from, neither I asked nor he told.

The moment ended, I left the club with a silly smile on my face and the next thing I knew was waking up in a dark room with my legs, arms, and whole body tied to quite an uncomfortable and hard wooden chair.

I remained tied on that chair for five days, five long days of me crying, yelling, begging to release me, give me food, give me water. Only the third day, when I woke up from my slumber, there was some water on the table, which I had to drink with quite a struggle with my body ties and everything. It was like a drop to the thirst equal to a river. On the fifth day, when I felt that any time I will lose the last will I had in me, the door opened. He stepped inside through the darkness and turning the lights on, smiled brightly at me —the same way the night he called me gorgeous at his club.

He told me what his name was, who he was. After a word or two his introduction ended, and in the end, asked me to guess why he was telling me all of that, something that no futile person in the world knows. To which I had no life in me to respond so I only could hear him. He was challenging me, even provoking me to go ahead and tell the world, everyone, even cops, that Zyair Ahlstrom kidnaped me for five days. He said he doesn't like killing pathetic people like me but loves to see them struggling to live.

I didn't respond to his degrading words and only mumbled a why —why did he bring me here, why did he do this to me. To which his laughter was loud and words were clear and taunting; I should stop polluting the air of his club, so, his friend could breathe pollution-free air. It was not hard for my mind to guess who his friend was, as he was the only person I visited the club for. His threat was clear if I didn't follow his words; next time instead of darkness there will men with me in the room, men who would like to do a lot of things to me.

I would have called his efforts of starving me and humiliating me worth it if it knocked some sense in past-me but nah, nope, no.

Well, I did stay away from his club, but my will to give up on Aris Salvadge was quite strong, which after this incident broke to half but not wholly. Ah, that also didn't last long, it shattered to pieces in the following months.

-Sigh- With some unexpected situations, comes the things I long ago disregarded as useless and didn't bother to think over them, even though I know no matter how much indifferent I'm now, bearing that five days were not easy.

I should hate him for what torture he made me go through, yet I can't bring myself hate anyone else, expect what I was, I hate myself for being that way. Maybe I deserved what happened to me, maybe I didn't but I don't pity myself or blame others. Because I know I ruined myself and everything around me just in the wish of something better when I had everything in my hands.

With a slight shake of my head, I jerked away from the vile thoughts, I moved my eyes away from the card in my hand, and my gaze flickered toward the outside of the window. Not wanting my thoughts to go any deeper, I tried to divert them.

Now come to think, during the whole ride I haven't heard a single sound from Olivia and Ben. With this new thought in my mind, I raised my eyes toward Ben, who was driving the car, and, Olivia who was seated on the passenger seat. Both were strangely silent with not even the slightest of bickering passing between them.

"What happened to you two?"

At my words, both exchanged glances and then Olivia poked her head back, asking me in a quite docile voice, "Boss, don't you think Mr. Nicholas Salvadge is a kind-looking man?"

Though confused at his untimely question, nonetheless, I unhesitantly nodded, "Indeed."

With a shake of her head, she continued, "His son is nothing like him, I felt like I would cough out blood if he accidentally looked my way. He's handsome, but in a not-so-inviting way." Her tone turned to a whisper and with a shuddering action, she ended her analysis.

"Boss, don't mind her she's just intimated. She thought he was there to denounce her because of her unruly tongue!" Ben chimed in, without looking away from the road, with clear amusement in his tone.

"No, Boss, I'm not!" In the next second, she yelled and whipped her head toward Ben, slapping his arm she accused him of lying, "Why would I need to apprehend someone, as long as I work for Boss, I fear none!"

Olivia yelled with so much determination and trust that for a second, it made me pause in whatever next my mind wandering off to. When Ben agreed with her words, like a little child seeking permission for his favorite candy, she once again looked at me with a big smile and confirmed, "Right Boss?"

Seeing her expression, before I could comprehend, I was already nodding at her words. Her smile widened and she victoriously looked at Ben, who kept his eyes on the road the whole time. Twenty-eight, Olivia's the youngest and most bubbly of my team, so, from time to time we expect this kind of goofiness from her. Shaking my head at her actions, I commented no further and questioned, "Ben, do we have any meeting or appointment this Saturday night?"

In an instant, I got an affirming nod along with a 'no' from him.

"Mm, how long till we reach the restaurant?"

"Five minutes, Boss."

Nodding as I moved my gaze away from him, my eyes fluttered toward the card and a slight smile crept on my lips. The time has changed, no longer the matters of other lives are in the hands of the ones who think they hold everything in their palms. I'm no coward, I have long ago learned to look in the eyes of challenges, so, taking a step back is something I don't even consider.

The thought of walking all over Allea Ciarve is as far as disrupting a single strand of my hair.