Chapter 1 Chapter 1 - sold

“You can be auctioned tonight at the Nightingale club to earn some money to pay for your late father’s debt, baby girl,” Dario Stephanie, the Italian Mafia Don cooed in Ariana’s ears, she shook from fear, taking a step away, tears streamed down her cheeks. The man had just tortured and killed her father in front of her and now, he wanted her to pay for his debt. Ariana wasn’t stupid. Wiping her tears, she looked him proudly in the eyes. “No. You already killed your debtor. If my father was alive, I would have done it but you already killed him so his debt should be canceled.” Dario grimaced and his countenance was deadly, as he gripped her throat. Ariana was out of breath and defenseless but her head remained high, as tears continued to stream down her cheeks. Her eyes were still haughty and she didn’t bat an eyelash. Even if she got away from Dario, she wouldn’t be able to escape from his bodyguards. It was the only reason why she didn’t try to defend herself. “I can kill you too, find your brother, and do the same. Till I wipe his entire generation, his debt remains unpaid,” Dario spat coldly, looking her in the eyes and choking her harder. Ariana’s best friend Juliet threw herself at Dario’s feet and began to plead on Ariana’s behalf “Please let her go, let’s talk things through.” His grip loosened a little but he didn't let her go. Ariana began coughing violently. “Please let her go, we shall find a way to pay you,” Juliet continued pleading tearfully. Dario’s gaze lowered to her. “Santiago’s daughter. You should find out how your mother died and stay out of this.” Juliet froze but he ignored her and he looked at Ariana sharply. “I want my two million dollars within 24 hours.” He let go of her throat and took two steps backward. “Boys, clean up and let’s go,” he said and walked out of the blood-soaked mansion. When he reached the door, he turned around and said, “don’t worry. If you make more than two million tonight, you’ll keep the extra. I’m not greedy.”“You don’t have to do this Ariana,” Juliet rose to her feet, hugged Ariana, and comforted her while Dario’s bodyguards began to wrap her father’s dead body. “Then show me another way,” Ariana cried, her hands tightening around Juliet, as her father’s body was carried away. “He killed dad. He’ll do the same to my brother and me.” Juliet recalled that he mentioned her mother. She just had to ask her father about it when she got home. For now, Ariana was her only concern. “But what if you don’t get the money?” She asked Ariana. Ariana thought about her superstar mum but the woman pretended to not know her the last time she went to see her. She was on her own. She spoke with resolve, “Then I’ll keep trying. I’ll do it again and again till I pay off my father’s debt.” Since Juliet had no means of coughing out two million, she reluctantly agreed. “Alright. There aren't many people auctioned tonight so we can arrange for you to go last.”“What difference will it make?” Ariana asked. She knew she was going to lose her dignity but it was better than losing her kid brother in boarding school. “If you’re auctioned last, then a lot of those stupid billionaires will bid more since there wouldn’t be any more to choose from.”“Cool,” Ariana agreed. Juliet’s words made sense because if there were varieties, the billionaires wouldn’t want to waste all their money on one. They would also compare and contrast. The worse part, they hated virgins as such, she was already on the losing side. Most virgins were auctioned for not more than two hundred thousand because of their lack of experience. It would be a miracle for her to get two million tonight but she had a plan. If she survived tonight, she could treat herself and come back to be auctioned again. At that time, she would be able to earn two million or more. Dario should understand if she explained to him. “You know it’s going to hurt right?” Juliet asked, reminding her that it was going to be her first time. Ariana cherished her virginity a lot and wanted to give it to her boyfriend after marriage but he dumped her upon finding out about her father’s gambling habits, afraid that Ariana would make him a walking money bank. “Does anything hurt more than what he did to my dad?”“I understand,” Juliet forced a smile and said. It was easy for her to understand that the pain of losing her first time wouldn’t be as much as the pain she felt for losing her father. He was a scumbag who gambled her life away, forcing her to drop out of college and take on jobs in the club to take care of her brother and pay the mortgage. Nevertheless, she still loved him. A few hours later, Ariana and Juliet arrived at the club. They were on their way to the changing room when a male voice asked behind them. “What are you girls doing here? Isn’t it your day off?” Chad, the supervisor of the girls’ gaze, swiped between them, and worry covered his face. “Are you alright Ariana?”“No, I want to be auctioned tonight,” Ariana said with determination. Chad’s gaze turned ghastly. Ariana was proud and strong. She was a waiter and bartender so how could she want to be auctioned when she could stand up to any and everyone? If she was auctioned like the prostitutes, it would break her. “What? Why?”“She needs the money Chad,” Juliet said. Chad didn’t think it was the right way for her to make money. Most of the girls auctioned used varieties of drugs to help them to go through with it but Ariana was different. “Listen, girls, even the professional prostitutes do not find it easy when auctioned. Some are hospitalized for weeks and some even die. Some of these billionaires are sex maniacs. Don’t even think about this again,” he warned and turned to leave when Ariana grabbed him by the shoulder. “I said, I want to do it.” She was so determined that he lost the vocabulary to discourage her. He had done his part. “If you say so but don’t say that I didn’t warn you.” He turned to the corner and called one of the girls in charge of costumes and instructed, “Get her ready for auction.”“She wants to go last,” Juliet interrupted, seeing how eager the girl was to get Ariana ready for tonight. “There is just one person being auctioned tonight. Her,” Chad said bitterly. Ariana’s stomach boiled from anxiety as she was led to the changing room by the girl. The scanty shiny dress and heavy make up they put on her made her what she never thought she’d be, a whore. When they were done, she didn’t look like herself anymore. She was nervous while she was led to the cage, where the metals were so cold that her half naked body shivered. The closing sound of the cage sealed her fate, as the cage was pulled with a thick silver chain and hung in the ceiling with bright lights like a chandelier. She could see and hear cheers beneath her that sent her heart racing and shame cruised through her. She closed her eyes to avoid them. After tonight, it will be over. The cold breeze made her shiver, she curled herself into a ball. The roaring of mindless billionaires sent her mind ablaze, as the lights dimmed. The music was toned down and the MC took the microphone. The man holding the chain through his Bluetooth, received a call. The caller gave him a deadly warning. “No matter who bids for her, she must fall to her death.”“Don Dario?” The man asked, baffled. Dario was a ruthless Italian mafia don. When messed with, your whole family would make up for it. In Ariana’s situation, he wasn’t only in for the money but had evil intentions because of his grudge with Ariana’s father. “Yes. I have already transferred a million into your account,” Dario said coldly. “Alright,” the man said before the call ended. The MC’s voice and low background music was the only thing heard through the dimmed lights. “Earlier, we said there was no auction tonight but there’s been a change of plan. We have one commodity of pleasure tonight,” he smirked. Ariana cried at the MC’s words. She never thought to be addressed that way in her life. The mindless billionaires roared with laughter and began to make fun of her. “What is the starting price?” One of them said over the cordless microphones installed in their tables at their VIP lounges. Only their voices could be heard. The crowd in the club were both rich and ordinary men but the billionaires had their special lounges. “For a virgin, Hundred thousand dollars,” the MC said. The crowd in the auditorium frowned and cooed at the word virgin. They didn’t like to see blood and virgins weren’t good in bed. However, the billionaires still bargained. “One fifty,” one of the billionaires laughed and said. Ariana knew that she was being mocked and felt even more ashamed. “Two hundred,” another one bidded. Ariana could faintly guess that tonight wasn’t going to be good. Though prepared, she was still afraid. “Four hundred,” a third billionaire proposed and the auditorium fell silent. It seemed that no one was willing to go further than that and Ariana lost hope. “Four hundred thousand dollars. Anyone else? Don’t forget that she is the only commodity for tonight,” The MC said, ready to close the bargain. “Eight hundred thousand dollars,” a fourth billionaire spoke through the cordless microphone. The MC was elated and asked, “Anyone else wants to raise the bid?” The auditorium was silent and no one bidded anymore. Ariana knew that her fate was sealed, as the MC began to round things up. "Eight hundred thousand dollars going once, going twice, going thri-“ “Five million dollars,” a domineering robotic voice cut through, echoing through the club. The sound of footsteps was heard and bright lights were turned on. “The masked man,” everyone began to give way, as they gasped under their breath and shivered.

Chapter 2 CHAPTER 2 - Can I see your face?

Most people had heard about the masked man and only saw his pictures in the news. None had seen him in person. It was rumored that he was soulless and blood followed him everywhere he went. If he was here, then it was going to be chaos. Some people had already begun to make their way out of the club secretly but others wanted to see what would happen or why he bidded so much for a virgin. Maybe he was insane. Ariana opened her eyes at the sound of the voice. She thought her fate was sealed with eight hundred thousand and she needed to be auctioned again. This timely intervention was unexpected but her hope returned. Even if the man would be a sex maniac, the fact that she wouldn’t have to be auctioned again nor work in the club again was enough consolation. “Five million,” the MC was excited. The bidder would have to pay thirty percent of the amount bided to the management of the club so this was a good catch since twenty percent would be deducted from the victim's earnings as well. This was the best they’ve had for auctioning any virgin. “Yes, five million going once, going twice, going thrice. Congratulations, Mr….you just won a virgin,” the MC said quickly. He was afraid of the man and wanted to hasten things and leave. “Let her go,” the masked man said coldly, expecting the cage to be lowered. He hated to see women treated without dignity. It wasn’t as if he liked them but he couldn’t bear to see them hurt. Women and children were his breaking point. The MC signaled the man holding the chain to lower the cage but no one expected the cage to open, while it was still hanging in the air. Everything happened fast but the masked man reacted faster at the sound of a shrill, running to the bottom of the cage and ducking in time to make his body a cushion for the one falling. Ariana fell on something hard and strong arms wrapped around her waist, while she coughed and shivered from fright. She wasn't hurt in any way, just beyond shocked. Seeing what had happened and being gripped with fear, the man holding the chain took to his heels, as the masked man roared, “Stop him!” The man was quickly apprehended by security men while the masked man helped Ariana up from the floor. She was still shivering and clueless as to what just happened till Juliet wrapped a warm towel around her. The masked man walked up to the man, who was pleading with the security men. His communication gadget was intercepted and Dario said through his Bluetooth, “If you dare to mention my name, I will wipe out your entire family.” The man knew that his end had come, as he was thrown violently on the floor in front of the masked man. “I’m sorry please, it was an accident,” he pleaded on his knees. “Then I’m also sorry,” the masked man said. The man on the floor was confused but the understanding set in when the masked man ordered, “Put him in the cage.” The man was horrified and continued to plead, thinking that he was going to be auctioned when the masked man instructed, “lift the cage.” The cage was lifted with chains to the ceiling when the final order came, “open the cage.” As soon as the cage opened, the man came flying down but unfortunately, there was no one to cushion him when he hit the hard tiled floor, his head smashed into the ground. Blood oozed out like water and everyone was terrified. It was true indeed. Blood followed the soulless man everywhere he went. “He’s dead,” one of the security men reported before being asked. “Clear up the mess and ban auctions. I will talk to your manager tomorrow,” the masked man said in his usual robotic voice. The mask was made with a voice filter that hid the man’s real voice. Most of the billionaires were upset because the auction was being banned but dared not voice their displeasure. Almost everyone had heard about the masked man and how stone-hearted he was. He carried hell with him wherever he went. He wasn’t an easy target because no one knew his real identity. As the tapping sound of footsteps began to fade when the man dressed in black from head to toe was walking away, people could finally breathe again. Ariana slowly regained herself when she was prepared to be sent to the man who purchased her. Not only did he buy her at an outrageous price but he also saved her life. Now, she had a little above two million, which she could start a business or invest in after paying off Dario and the club’s share of her earning. She had already signed for everything she made to be sent to Dario before the auction, never thinking that something like this was going to happen, and not knowing Dario’s real intentions. “Can you arrange for the difference to be transferred into my bank account?” She asked Juliet when she came out of the shower while drying her hair. The makeup from before was too heavy and she felt so cold that she needed a hot shower. “Of course, I will take care of everything. Are you ready?” Juliet asked while choosing lingerie for her. “I think so,” Ariana said while covering herself with a robe. “Good luck then,” Juliet said and left while Ariana was escorted by the costume girl to the room of the man who just purchased and saved her. The large presidential suite seemed scary to Ariana because she was going to lose her first time. In the same sense, she wouldn’t have been alive at the moment if this man hadn't appeared. He might be dangerous but she owed him everything and would gladly endure whatever he would do to her. She didn’t know how long she waited but slowly fell asleep on the couch. She was just afraid of laying on the bed. Familiar tapping sound of classic leather shoes jolted her awake before the light was turned on. The masked man was about to take off his mask when he felt a strange presence. Turning around, he saw a strange face. Without the heavy makeup, Ariana looked pure but carried her usual proud look. The masked man was surprised to see a woman in his room because he never arranged for one. “What are you doing here?” He asked in a robotic voice. Ariana was confused but explained, “You purchased me for five million.” The masked man began to understand that he had forgotten the auction rules. Maybe it was because he hated such events. He was there on a different agenda but when he saw the cage being lifted in the air, his agenda changed instantly and he wanted to help her. “Oh. You are free. Go and live your life.” Ariana was even more dumbfounded. “You mean?” He was standing close to the door and she was by the sofa. She wished to see the face behind the mask. “I mean I’m not going to do anything to you. Today is your lucky day, now off you go,” the robotic voice, not the most pleasant, sounded again, dismissing her. As good as it seemed, Ariana felt uncomfortable and displeased. She felt that she owed him too much and couldn’t leave without giving anything in return. “I want to pay my debt. You purchased me so I’m yours,” she removed the long robe, exposing the transparent lingerie she wore. The masked man turned his back to her and roared, “Don’t make me regret it young woman, get out.” His harsh tone made her embarrassed and her face flushed. Her eyes were glassy and her voice teary, she accused him, “You are worse than the monsters. It would have been better if you treated me like a whore because this….this is even more demeaning.” The masked man turned around, walked up to her, picked up her robe, and covered her form. “Was I wrong to give you back your life?” He asked her. Ariana was still teary as she stared longingly at the black mask that did an excellent job of hiding the man’s facial features. “Yes. Because everyday, it would ring in my head that I owe you,” she said haughtily. The man was confused but didn’t regret saving her. “No. I will never make you feel that way. You might not even see me again,” he said and led her to the door. Before he opened it, Ariana’s hand pressed against his hand on the door knob which was covered with a black glove. “Can I see your face?” She asked pleadingly.

Chapter 3 Chapter 3 - Why did you save my life?

Since the voice was robotic, she couldn't discern the anger buried in it. “Aren’t you asking for too much?” Her head was still lifted high, her look haughty. “If you won’t take what belongs to you, then give me the privilege of knowing the man who saved my life,” she spoke in a polite pleading tone and his heart seemed to have softened towards her. “Will it make any difference?” He asked. “You have no idea,” Ariana responded while looking at him pleadingly. A moment of silence ensued and she knew the man was thinking about her request. Suddenly, he warned her, “If you tell anyone, I will kill you myself.” Ariana smiled and vowed, “I’ll rather die than offend you.” The man seemed satisfied with her response, turned his back to her, removed his mask, then turned to face her. She was shocked to see that the face behind the mask was the most beautiful one she ever saw but his eyes were so dark and piercing, she felt scared. His hair was long, heavy, black, and curly, almost falling on his shoulders. She extended her hand and touched his cheek but he quickly took a step back. She wasn’t offended and said, “You are handsome. You shouldn’t hide your face.” The man removed his black leather jacket and walked past her. “There is a reason for everything I do. You should go now.” Surprisingly, he didn’t sound robotic anymore. His deep velvety voice sent strange chills through her bones. It wasn’t a scary one but she couldn’t make out what it was. “Why did you save my life?” Her question made him stop in his tracks but his back was still tuned to her. She couldn’t understand why he was suddenly avoiding her gaze. Was it because she touched him? His tone was indifferent, “It’s just my nature. Nothing special. You should be thankful that I got there in time.” Ariana forced a smile and tried her luck again. “But I can’t leave. May I know your name?” He sat on the couch and began to remove his shoes. “You are getting on my nerves,” he said irritably. Ariana guessed that he misunderstood and didn’t want to offend him. “You don’t understand. If I leave now, I will be interrogated and your money refunded.” The man had never been in an auction before and never took the time to read the rules before purchasing her. It seemed that they were stuck together tonight. “Why did you allow yourself to be auctioned?” He asked without looking at her. He walked over to the wine cabinet and poured himself a glass of Hennessy, gulping it down in an instant. “I didn’t have a choice but why do you refuse to take what you paid for?” Ariana walked around and sat on the sofa. The man seemed to have understood the reason why she had to spend the night with him. “Everyone has a choice. I am getting married soon so I can't sleep with you because of money. Value yourself.” Ariana found his words hurtful though his tone was polite. He was faithful to his woman and thought she didn’t value herself. A lone tear fell on her cheek. She didn’t know if he saw it or not but he said again with his back turned to her, “Sleep on the bed. I have things to do.” He instantly left for another room. Ariana could only feel her heart thump at the man who was like a King. He carried dignity and power and was also fearful. He wasn’t going to touch her but she wanted to talk to him more. Therefore, she waited and waited but he didn’t come out till she fell asleep. The man came out and took a closer look at the silhouette on the bed. Her brunette hair was long and wavy and she smelt like a rose garden. She sucked her thumb like a child and curled as if she was feeling cold. The bow shape of her upper lip was tempting and her pointed nose alluring. He recalled those green eyes that were very hard to resist. He pushed locks of her hair behind her ear and looked at her for a long time. He never met a woman so proud and haughty, even when in distress. This girl spoke her mind without fear of him. What he couldn’t understand was that strange thing he felt when she touched his face. He never felt like that when his sister or mother touched him. He never even felt that way when Miranda, his betrothed hugged him. There was something about this girl but he didn’t have the luxury of time to find out what it was. He pulled a duvet and covered her slender body, before switching off the light and going back to the next room as before, locking it securely. When Ariana woke up the next morning, the room was quiet and she felt warm, realizing that someone had covered her with a duvet. Could it be him? She looked around and went to knock on the door she saw him enter last night but there was no response. She turned the knob and it was locked. There was no sign of him. Maybe he left while she was sleeping. Disappointed, she made her way out of his room where Juliet was waiting for her at the door. “Are you alright?” Juliet asked worriedly. Before Ariana opened her mouth, an angry female voice bellowed. “You freak. Seth let the cage lose accidentally and is dead because of you.” Karen, one of the bartenders, was very upset and saddened over the loss of her boyfriend, blaming Ariana for it. Ariana had forgotten the events of last night with that man’s image registered in her mind but the reminder only brought back her deal with Dario and she knew she had to sort things out and leave this town for a place where she wasn’t known. Everyone would blame her for Seth’s death if she doesn't leave. “She didn’t kill him,” Juliet said in Ariana’s defense. She hadn’t gone home throughout the night, waiting for Ariana. “But he died because of her,” the girl insisted and kept accusing Ariana while Juliet pulled her away. The girl followed and kept berating behind them that Juliet stopped, turned to her, and asked sarcastically, “Why don’t you go and tell the masked man?”“You…” the girl choked with tears and Ariana was about to stop and comfort her but Juliet pulled her away and said, “something bad has happened.” In another room, the masked man was watching the cameras and made a call. “I’m coming out. Wipe the images.” After getting a firm response, he closed his laptop and left the room. Then he entered another on the same corridor and was met with an urgent voice. “Caddaric, we have to go now.”“Not yet, Carter, I have things to do,” Caddaric grimaced and said. Carter was his cousin and so was Colton. The men had some similarities but had grown differently, due to their upbringing. The traditional Blades looked more alike but these ones had their parents marry out of love. As such, they didn't have the exact resemblance of the true Blades. Their hairs, for instance, were lighter shades and so were their eye colors. Caddaric was the only one who seemed to wholly resemble his father and looked like a true Blade. While in the academy, Caddaric took up deadly jobs as a teenager and was well-paid for them. In his quest to be more powerful than his dad, he used the proceeds to set up businesses, one of which was the club in which Ariana was being auctioned. He was upset that such things happened in his club. The only people who knew his secret identity were his father and two cousins. Neither his mother nor sister knew about it. “But today is the day of our introduction to the press,” Colton reminded him while putting on his black suit. They were supposed to appear professional. “I know. It won’t take time.” Caddaric pulled out his phone and made a call. “To my office now,” he instructed and began walking to the door. Everyone would think that the masked man left and not know that he was the same person. The idea crossed his mind at the age of twelve when his sister began to fear him because of how ruthless he was during training. As such, he appeared as a gentleman before her and his ruthlessness was shown behind the mask. “Are you coming?” He asked impassively when he reached the door. “Sure,” his two cousins said and followed him. By the time they reached his office, a man in his late forties was waiting for him. Caddaric went to his file cabinet, picked a document, and threw it on the table. The man’s eyes widened. “You are taking everything back?”“Yes. Sign it,” Caddaric said coldly. At first, he didn’t intend to put the club under his name but after what he witnessed last night, he knew that urgent changes had to be made. “You don’t want me as a manager?” The man spoke as if he was slapped in the face. “After turning my club into a demeaning place where women are auctioned like commodities, no,” Caddaric responded curtly. The man wasn’t afraid of Caddaric. For as long as he knew, Caddaric was just a twenty-something-year-old boy with a money overdose. “But they aren’t forced,” he defended. “There isn’t supposed to be an option like that. Auctioning women is gross disrespect to their gender,” Caddaric said sternly, the man seemed frightened. When did the kid grow up? At thirteen, Caddaric placed an advertisement for a club manager. The man arrived at the interview and thought it was a joke when he saw the boy posing as a man. But when Caddaric put his card on the table, the man couldn’t resist. He wanted the club to be in the man’s name. Since then, he made millions from the club and became powerful. Now Caddaric was taking everything from him because of auctioning women? “They keep eighty percent of the money,” the man said. The women who were auctioned made a lot of money within a short time. It was the quickest way and also a win-win situation. “I don’t care. Your services are no longer needed,” Caddaric dismissed him, saddened that the man had no respect for women. If auctioning humans was so lucrative, then why weren’t men auctioned too? There must be wealthy women who would be willing to pay. “What will you do? You have the money but do you have the skill to manage this club?” Castro, the club manager asked daringly. He had no idea who Caddaric was. Carter and Colton were offended by the question, about to put him in his place when Caddaric asked, “Your skill almost killed a woman if a masked man hadn’t appeared to save her. One of your staff was murdered. Will you face the authorities to clear your name?” The man paled at the question. In short, if the authorities got involved, the club would be shut down. “I’ll sign the document.” After the manager left, Caddaric turned to Carter. “Can you help me to get a new manager?”“Of course,” Carter said. Caddaric was supposed to manage the Blade Towers, which would not allow him the privilege of managing his secret businesses. Though the two cousins were just knowing that he owed the club, they weren’t upset. “That means we should be on our way,“ Colton said. Just as Caddaric stepped out of the office, he bumped into Ariana. She had paled and looked disturbed. Caddaric felt strange.

Chapter 4 Chapter 4 - I am proud of my son, Caddaric

Ariana, who was in the company of Juliet, was swarmed with complicated emotions, seeing the three men coming from the other direction. She wanted to talk to him but recalled that the masked man was the one who saved her. This man didn’t tell her his name and warned her to not expose his secret identity. If she did anything to show that she knew him, it would create suspicions. Wiping her tears with the back of her hand and with her head lifted high, she grabbed Juliet by the arm and pushed her towards the stairs, knowing that the men were going walking towards the elevator. Caddaric, who was worried about her and confused as to whether to ask her reason for crying, thought that she was avoiding him and felt pained altogether. A part of him wanted to go after her but he was already late for his introduction ceremony. Throughout the drive, it was hard to get Ariana’s red eyes out of his mind. When they arrived at the Blade Towers, it was swarmed with media reps. However, they never gave any answers and squeezed their way through them to the elevator. When they reached the conference room with the help of the bodyguards, not only their parents and siblings were there but also, their betrothals were waiting for them. Caddaric's father was sitting at the head of the semi-rectangular conference table, which shone under the lights from how polished it was. Due to her father’s eye problem, he wore his usual sunglasses with his legs crossed. The media wasn't allowed to broadcast yet so they waited behind the door. Caddaric's mother, Jenna was sitting on the right-hand side of her husband while Cassandra, his sister, sat on the opposite side. Carter and Colton were welcomed by their parents. Miranda, Cadaric’s betrothed, sat beside Cassandra. Two other women from the Wreath family waited for Colton and Carter too. The Blade family elders, the Wreath family, some directors, and top managers of the Blade Towers were also in attendance. As soon as the three men walked through the door, Miranda flung herself over Cadarric. He was tall, 6 feet, two inches, and she, 5 feet. She pressed her head against his chest and looked at him with red teary eyes. "I searched for you after the graduation party but you had left. Where did you go?" she pouted and asked. Caddaric felt irritated by her childishness and before he responded, Cassandra pushed Miranda away and hugged him. "You are late and Dad is pissed." Miranda didn’t try to fight for Caddaric’s attention with his sister. She already knew how deep their bond is, swallowing the jealousy cruising through her. Caddaric looked at his dad, then his mum. Jenna stood up and hugged him proudly. The last time she saw her son was about nineteen years ago when his sister Casandra was born. Last night at the party, he was lost before she got close. He had grown into the exact copy of his father, harnessing his strength and seemingly none of his weaknesses. For instance, while his father couldn’t stand bright lights, Caddaric soared in them. His father had a hard time showing his emotions but not Caddaric. However, no one knew that Caddaric was eviler than his father. It was even more dangerous because his father was already known and feared for his ruthlessness but Caddaric appeared like a Prince Charming but would kill with his fake identity. To his mother, he was gentle but only the men knew what he was capable of. Lastly, Caddaric had a soft side for women and would protect them, making them fall in love with him but his heart never gave in to love. He hated the word. Whereas, his father only loved one woman, Jenna. With time, he fell in love with another woman - Cassandra, his daughter. "Cadda, your father doesn't joke with his time,” Jenna said while dragging him to his seat. Last night, they had a great time together but Caddaric and his cousins disappeared before things got interesting. No one expected them to be late for the most important occasion of all. "I know mum, I was caught up in something important,” He looked apologetically around and took his seat beside his father, where his mother was sitting before. His father, Casper Blade, signaled for the media to come in, meeting them halfway. When Caddaric left last night, he thought the young man hated parties but arriving late for such an important event was uncalled for. Casper wasn’t going to forgive him. Caddaric was upset but looked on indifferently. He needed to speak to his father before the announcement but since the man was equally upset, he didn't give him a listening ear before addressing the media in a domineering tone. "It's good to have you all here. My words are few. My daughter, Cassandra Blade, will be the acting CEO of Blade Towers until her elder brother, Caddaric Blade, completes his assignment. When that is done, the wedding will be discussed as well." The announcement was like a drop of a bomb. Caddaric seemed emotionless so no one knew what was going on in his mind. Everyone was bewildered and Cassandra was upset. "I have something to say," she voiced out to get the media's attention but her father cut her off. "What I said is final. I am proud of my son, Caddaric Blade." He held out his hand and Caddaric stood up and walked proudly towards him. He showed no form of offense for what his father said earlier and seems to agree to it all. Casper handed him the microphone and he spoke boldly. "It's just as my father has said. My sister will be in charge of the affairs of Blade Towers since I have a lot on my plate at the moment." Cassandra was as white as snow. She met a man last night but he left so early. She intended to pursue him since the man seemed afraid of her because of her family. With such a huge responsibility, she won’t have time for anything. Was her father punishing her or Caddaric? It seemed unfair. "Mr. Blade,” one of the media reps called out. Both Caddaric and Casper turned in the direction of the voice. The rep instantly rephrased, “Junior. Are you covering up for your father?" Both men in black understood that the question was for Caddaric. It was good that his father grew some silver hairs on his head. If not, someone might think that they were twins. The sunglasses also did a great job of differentiating them, coupled with Caddaric’s long, thick and heavy hair. "What my father said is final. You should all leave now,” he said calmly but sternly. The media was in an uproar. They came because of Caddaric and not Cassandra. Miranda was saddened by the turn of events but Cassandra felt worse. The Blade seniors were confused and couldn't speak. Grandpa Rex, who was the leader of the elders, had aged beautifully and was assisted by Casper at the Blade academy. He calmed the Blade elders while trying to clear the confusion in the mind of the media. After all, they were being broadcasted live. "Every Blade heir has at least three months to prepare for their marriage, as well as taking over the company. If Casper has an assignment for his son, what has that got to do with us?" He asked the other Blade elders whilst addressing the media. He saw in the academy how Casper was extremely hard on his son when he accepted the duty of helping to train in the academy five years ago. His wife Jenna, helped to manage Blade Towers when he was away. She had her own company too but made the sacrifice. The Blade elders were not in agreement and one of them by name Phillip said, "Do you want history to repeat itself? Caddaric met Miranda twice while in the academy and already decided to marry her so it shouldn't be delayed. You know the blood of these youngsters runs." He was drawing their attention to Casper and Jenna, and how they fell in love when Casper’s evil grandfather gave him deadly tasks. He hated Casper for marrying for love, loving that Caddaric was more cooperative. Rex was awed by the news. "Caddaric, is elder Phillip telling the truth?" Everyone seemed interested in the answer and silently awaited his response. Miranda was curious to know if Caddaric would change his mind as his father did. "Yes. I met Miranda when she found Cassandra’s missing boot and brought it to her. I already saw her name and picture from the Blade diaries before then that she was betrothed to me from birth and I also accepted her. My father's decision changes nothing between us,” he announced firmly. Relief sighs followed his words and the atmosphere warmed. Jenna looked at her husband and he was calm. She could tell that the man was up to something. Rex was pleased with Caddaric’s response and announced dutifully, "Let it be known to the media that Caddaric will assume his rightful position as the CEO of Blade Towers after completing the assignment given to him by his father, Casper Blade." Miranda wasn’t happy with the turn of events. She thought Caddaric would be given his rightful position and their marriage planned instantly but his father had changed everything. Was it because Caddaric was late? He didn’t seem to care anyway. Miranda was upset and knew she had to discuss this with Caddaric. The media seemed satisfied with the news and added a few words to the live coverage before ending it. At the Club's lobby, Ariana watched the announcement with Juliet. She felt a strange pain in her heart but also an unknown fear. No wonder Caddaric was the masked man. Ruthlessness runs in his blood. Atleast, she knew his name but also knew that she had to quench whatever fire was being started in her heart. Caddaric wasn't from an ordinary family and though a former mafia Don's daughter, it would be safer to be away from him. She hadn't realized how paled she was from the news, while some of the workers at the club began to gossip. "I saw this man in the club's hotel. What was he doing here? The Blades don't like places like this.""You should be careful if he is a Blade. He might just be a devil like his dad.""I don't think so. He looks kind. Didn't you see how he related to his sister? His father is emotionless. Caddaric is different.""All Blades are the same. They marry from a stereotyped family and give birth to look alike children.""But his father married the woman he loved. Caddaric's mother isn't from the Wreath family." Hearing that Caddaric's mother wasn't from the Wreath family, Ariana gained a little hope. However, with Juliet's revelation, everything changed.

Chapter 5 Chapter 5 - Do you think that i’ll fall in love with a woman as you did?

"Miranda's mother was Caddaric's father's betrothed before. Unlike her mother, Miranda already won Caddaric's heart while she was in school. He already promised to marry her and the Blades do not go back on their words," Juliet said seriously, trying to debunk the girls having eyes for the heir of the Blade Towers. Unknown to her, Ariana was equally disturbed but there were pending things for her to think about at the moment, such as finding out Dario’s whereabouts. Since she didn’t believe that she could make a lot of money to pay him off, she had directly filled in his account details, and all her money less the club charges had been paid to him. It was the reason why she was teary this morning. The lobby was quiet because most of the girls were crushing on Caddaric but it seemed that there wasn't hope at all. "How do you know all this?" One of the girls asked Juliet. "Have you forgotten whose daughter I am?” How could they forget that she was Santiago’s daughter? Santiago was a mafia kingpin in Mexico. Juliet was just stubborn, loved the club, and hated bodyguards. Her father ceased her allowances when she dropped out of school. It was the reason why she worked at the club. Yet still, everyone knew that should she change, her father would gladly take her back. “I have to go home and rest before the night. Don’t forget our shift at the casino too,” Ariana said, uneasy with the information released. “Don’t worry, I’ll be with you.” Juliet saw that her best friend was in a bad mood but could only attribute it to the fact that Dario ran away with her money. They had to find him and take back the two point something million if not, Ariana would have to continue working at the club and casino to pay for her mortgage and kid brother’s fees. Back at the conference room at the Blade Towers, important matters were being discussed off-camera. After the discussions, the directors and managers left but Miranda remained. She wanted to speak with Caddaric, who in the end had a meeting with his dad. Everyone excused them except Hunter, his father’s most trusted bodyguard, and confidante. “So dad, what is this assignment you are talking about?” Caddaric asked curiously. He was happy that Cassandra was in charge of the Blade Towers for a while. It would allow him enough time to change his businesses into his name. His father’s punishment seemed to him like a blessing and he knew that whatever his father assigned him to do, it was because he trusted that Caddaric could handle it. “I’m surprised that you didn’t disapprove of my letting your sister take over the company for a while,” Casper said impassively, sat back, and crossed his legs. Caddaric sat down and faced him. “I know that you have good reasons. It would keep her busy. I saw her flirting with a man last night and it wasn’t the way a person born of the Blades should behave,” Caddaric revealed but he wasn’t the only smart one. “I saw it too and it’s one of the reasons for my decision,” Casper agreed. They were overly protective of Cassandra, making her feel as if the airs around her were choked with boredom. “What is the other?” Caddaric asked, not surprised at his father’s wisdom. Casper was silent for a while and said, “There is a criminal on the loose, his identity unknown.”“Invisible, I’ve heard about him,” Caddaric concluded for him. Among the mafia organizations, a lot of names were feared but the ones greatly feared were those of the masked man and Invisible. “Good. You should find and stop him. You know how we do it,” Casper said coldly. In other words, Caddaric had to kill invisible to become the most feared when it’s revealed that he was the masked man. Casper would never allow anyone to be more feared than himself except his son. “That’s ridiculous. If anyone knew who he was, then he should have been arrested by now. How do you expect me to stop a man without an identity?” Caddaric saw it as a mission impossible. No one knew what Invisible looked like. When he attacked, it was flawless and no one knew if he operated alone or had a backup. For four years, no one knew his identity and no one could locate him. As such, they came up with the name Invisible. “That’s the reason why it’s your assignment. If he isn’t stopped, you would have a lot of work to do, watching your back all the time. I heard he’s looking for the man behind the mask,” Casper said calmly. He knew that if Caddaric didn't stop Invisible, then Invisible would stop the masked man, who was still Caddaric. “You think he can defeat me?” Caddaric couldn’t imagine losing a fight to anyone and asked. “No, but he can cause a lot of fear among women and children,” Casper touched his soft spot. Living with his mother for four years before being opportune to meet his dad and join the Blades academy, Caddaric had bonded with her mum, being protective of her. When his sister was born, he would escape from the academy to see her on every one of her birthdays till she joined the academy where he protected her every time and helped her to survive. He was also protective of the few women and children who joined the academy. When his father became a trainer in the academy because Rex was growing old, he was amazed by this trait in his son but never complimented him for it. “I will do it but you didn’t have to put my wedding on hold. I already decided to marry Miranda,” Caddaric said, a little annoyed. He wanted to restore the Blades to their former glory, where they married from just one family but his father wanted to amend more rules. This was the conflict between the father and son. “I’m only taking away distractions. I saw how irritated you were when she complained about your absence. Are you ready to live with it for the rest of your life? At first, it would have been easy because the wicked Blade elders would have eliminated them a few years after they gave birth but it isn’t so anymore. Things have been put in perspective so there’s no way out.” Casper wanted his son to experience what he had with his mother but Caddaric had a mind of his own. His calm expression turned ferocious and his tone frosty. “Do you think that I’ll fall in love with a woman as you did? I am a true Blade dad, the only thing that made you weaker than me was the sacrifices you made for mum. You shouldn’t have done that.” Caddaric never got over his father taking the whip to marry his mother. It was talked about at the academy frequently, making him ashamed. Meanwhile, Casper was proud of what he did and didn’t take offense. “You know what son, I want you to be happy. All the power, wealth, and ruthlessness, are far from giving you happiness. Caddaric was even more upset. “If that happiness means being weak, then I don’t want it.” The corner of Casper’s lip curled up in the form of a mockery. Hunter had informed him about a woman Caddaric purchased and rescued in the club. He also heard that the woman slept in Caddaric’s hotel room. Casper didn’t say anymore to not let him know that he was being spied on. “We shall see but why don’t you get a haircut? You look like my grandpa.” Hunter chuckled at Casper’s words, recalling the grandpa Casper talked about. The length of Caddaric’s hair was nowhere near that of the late old man but Casper couldn’t stand it. Luckily, Caddaric never wanted his hair to be so long and said, “I intend to.” He stood up, ready to leave when Casper said, “Bring Invisible to his knees. Only then, will you marry Miranda and take back your company.”“I will bring him to you,” Caddaric vowed and as soon as he turned to the door, his mother was standing there, looking sad. He didn’t know how much the woman heard but couldn’t bring himself to feel guilty about it. His mother was strong and intelligent but she made his father weak. “Mum.”“Cadda. Do you hate me?” Jenna couldn’t hide the pain in her voice. For over twenty years, Caddaric still harbored a grudge against her. It made her weak on her knees. “No. It’s just a pain that you made dad weak after all he did for you. You two could have still lived together without marriage and saved him from…”“Enough! Now get out, Caddaric.”  Casper roared. He was angry. He didn’t mind the words Caddaric hurled at him but if he tried it with his mother, Casper would not accept it.” “Love is a weakness dad,” Caddaric looked at his father sadly and said before walking out of the conference room. “Ignore his words,” Casper walked up to Jenna, pulled her into his arms, and said. Jenna couldn’t hide the pain she felt. Caddaric grew up with so much love so why was it hard for him to allow his heart to understand that side? “I thought he had changed but he’s still cold-hearted.”“He’ll change Jen, all he needs is a little adventure. He has been caged by the Blades and it’s time for him to see the world for what it is,” Casper said confidently. Jenna knew that the man knew what he was doing and asked, “Was that your reason for giving him the assignment?”“What do you think?” Casper winked and smiled a little. When he was with Jenna, his emotions were all intact. “I can’t stand the Wreaths, knowing what they are capable of and how they killed the woman my father loved. My mother might be one of them but it changes nothing. Caddaric should experience the world.”“And what if he still doesn’t change?” Jenna was still pessimistic, as she hugged him tighter and asked. “I’ll just know that my part is done. However, I might make things a little difficult for him,” Casper assured her. He was the only one who could control Caddaric but only did so subtly. “Thanks, Casp, I love you,” Jenna tiptoed and kissed him. They never had enough of each other. “I know, and I love you too,” Casper smiled a little after she pulled away and said. In front of the conference room, Miranda refused to let go of Caddaric. “Why did you accept to go on an assignment? Don’t you miss me? I thought we were supposed to get married?” She asked with pleading eyes but Caddaric was annoyed by her Clinginess and nagging. He said indifferently, “I also have to work. You have to know that I’m not a man who would sit by your side like a premium husband. I have a lot of responsibilities,” he applied a little force and peeled himself from her embrace, creating a gap between them. Since he was a child, he never liked bodily contact. Miranda was displeased with his action and felt the need to ask, “But you love me right?” At the mention of the word love, Caddaric’s expression was frosty and his response chilled her.

Chapter 6 Chapter 6 - Caddaric’s anxiety

“I don’t mince words, Miranda. If you want to marry for love, then I’m not the right person for you. You have three days to make up your mind and when you decide, Cassandra will bring you to me,” he said coldly and began to walk away. Miranda was anxious. Why was he offended by her question? She had someone who loved her as much as she loved him but chose to marry Caddaric to please her family. Now it seemed to her that her marriage wasn’t going to be a happy one and she couldn’t marry the man she loved because he wasn’t a Blade. Her family might even disown her if she tried to consider it. “I can’t call you?” She asked behind him when Colton and Carter joined them. “You have my number but I can’t do pep talks or Love chats as ordinary lovers do, I’m sorry. Our marriage is supposed to be a responsibility and a means to secure an heir,” Caddaric turned around and said. Miranda should have known this already so why was she asking for more? She had paled in that, there was no color on her beautiful face. Caddaric was almost at the elevator when his father called after him. “You can’t take Colton and Carter. They are meant to protect the heir. Since your sister is acting on your behalf, they should be with her,” Casper said seriously. He was hitting two birds with one stone. The most trusted of the Blade bodyguards for the heir were Carter and Colton. That’s what they were trained for. Caddaric was displeased. Carter and Colton weren’t just his cousins and bodyguards but also his best friends. They had his back through the academy, just as he had theirs. If he wasn’t the masked man, then he was with them so this seemed like bad news. “There are equally good bodyguards, any of them can protect Cassa,” he explained. He knew that his father had specially trained bodyguards, some of whom weren’t even from the Blade family. “I know but these are the best. Don’t forget that I won’t always be around. The new trainees in the academy need me and your sister needs protection since you can’t be there for her,” Casper said. For his sister, Caddaric would do anything. But Casper intended to keep his best friends away from him to make him feel the loneliness that comes when you don’t have a trusted person around you. Caddaric was disturbed. His sister needed protection but he needed his best friends to be with him. No one understood him like they did. Also, Carter was his hacker while Colton was his secretary. How could he work without either of them, especially with his chain of secret businesses? Carter and Colton wanted to be with Caddaric but cared about his sister too. They had to find a way. “What about uncle Hunter,” Carter asked. “He could step in for us for the short time we’d be away.”“Hunter isn’t a Blade bodyguard. He earned his position by loyalty and devotion. He can only work for me,” Casper said. Caddaric knew there wasn’t a way out. If his father wanted something, he already thought about all the possible ways and sealed them all. He just had to succumb to not being with his two cousins. “Alright, you two should stay and take care of my sister. I will manage on my own,” Caddaric said to Carter and Colton. Casper was satisfied with his decision and led his two bodyguards away. Caddaric had a lot to do but first went for a haircut before returning to the club purposefully to see Ariana. He also had to change a few things since he fired the manager. He had called the assistant manager to put things in perspective before his arrival and all workers in the club were supposed to be there. The few people in higher positions had been privy to hear that Caddaric owned the club and were both shocked and confused. For as long as anyone knew, the guy had been kept away in a place called an academy so how could he own a club? Also, weren’t the Blades reserved and ruthless people? They hated the noise and all but Caddaric seemed different. All the gossip stopped as soon as he entered the large hall where the workers were gathered. From his haircut and the black suit he wore, he looked so exquisite but his eyes were dark and scary. The assistant manager had always been reserved, focusing on the administrative stuff and not on people. As such, he was lost for words. Chad filled in for him and made the announcement. “Mr. Blade is the owner of the club and he has decided to manage affairs until he employs a new manager.” No one responded but the looks on their faces showed that they understood everything quite well. Caddaric took a step forward and his eyes roamed at a glance. The person he was looking for wasn’t there and he didn’t have her contact number. He didn’t even know her name. From how poised he was, no one could guess that his heart was distressed. “There are a few rules from today onwards,” Caddaric said in his deep velvety tone, gaining everyone’s attention. They thought that he was going to make things difficult for them but when they heard the rules, they felt rather grateful. “Because of what happened last night, auctioning women is banned in this club.” There was complete silence and only confusion on the faces of the about twenty people there. He continued, “Secondly, sexual harassment is a crime. Anyone including customers or staff who harrases any woman sexually, will face the law.” The ladies smiled at the news. This was one of the biggest problems they faced. Sometimes, those who weren’t sex workers were forced to service a billionaire for as long as he could pay. Caddaric was an angel. From his two rules, they relaxed, knowing that better things would follow. “Thirdly, women with kids will be given a two hour reduction from their usual working hours, my treat.” The single women in the club were dumbfounded that the man cared about them but the men felt left out. Luckily, Caddaric was still not done. “Finally, I will take a second look at all remunerations and increments will be communicated to you through formal letters.” The news was like honey dripping from the sky. Most of the girls with kids struggled to meet up appointments in their children’s school and those two hours were going to help a lot. They also hadn’t received any increment for two years and had told management but nothing had been done about it. Mr. Blade seemed like a kind man. “Thank you Mr. Blade,” one of the workers yelled. Other voices followed instantly and soon, hands began to jam together for him at the sweet news, as their clap resounded with deafening cheers. Caddaric’s expression was stern and unresponsive. Knowing that the Blades hardly showed emotions, they didn’t think much about it. The man cared about them and that was enough. However, Caddaric was far from that. His mind was troubled. Ariana was teary and avoided him when he saw her this morning. Now she wasn’t here. Fearing that something must have happened to her, he asked Chad, “Are these all the workers?” Chad, who wasn’t expecting Caddaric to speak to him casually, was taken aback but instantly responded respectfully, “No Mr Blade, some of them are off duty and others have their shifts in the night. We shall communicate it to them when they come.” Caddaric was still not satisfied and didn’t want to assume that Ariana wasn’t here because of her shift and asked directly, “So, the girl who was auctioned last night. Is she alright?” Hearing him mention the girl who was auctioned, most people’s ears peaked but the two men spoke undertone so no one heard their words clearly. “Yes Mr. Blade. Her shift is at night and I know she'll be here.” From the way Chad gave the assurance as if he knew Ariana in and out, Caddaric was gauche and asked, “What makes you so sure?” Chad didn’t read between the lines and said in a hush tone, “Because she seems desperate for money. Caddaric’s brows knitted a little bit; he was soon as emotionless looking as before. “Is that why she was auctioned?” He asked seriously. He didn’t know Ariana and the challenges she faced so he didn’t judge her. “Yes. I tried to discourage her but she insisted on it. I think it was because of her father’s gambling. Perhaps he owed some people and she wanted to pay them off.” Caddaric slowly understood. She was suffering because of an irresponsible father and was willing to sell her dignity. Whereas, he was still uneasy from how Chad seemed to know everything about her. Were they in some kind of relationship? He wanted to know. “You seem to know a lot about her.” From the change in Caddaric’s tone, Chad guessed that the man misunderstood and corrected himself. “I know a few things about all my workers but I’m gay so it’s far from sensual. As for Ariana, I simply guessed because she provided the account number of one of the Mafia Dons. She definitely must have been paying her father’s debt.” Caddaric felt strangely relieved. “I see. Put everything in order. We shall have a meeting when I return.”“Alright.” After Caddaric left, Chad dismissed everyone. Caddaric decided to visit his Casinos and come back later to see Ariana. He didn’t know why but just knew that he had to see her to make sure that she was fine. As for finding Invisible, he knew that he would need a team but had to put things in perspective before he began the search. He drove in his black Rolls Royce Ghost and zoomed off. Going about without his two favorite cousins felt weird but as the masked man, he always operated alone so it was easy for him to adjust. As soon as he entered the casino, he was surprised to see a bartender who looked too familiar. She was smiling flirtatiously, her head lifted proudly as she poured drinks for a group of guys, who were comfortably chatting and flirting with her. There was no sign of sorrow in her eyes and she seemed to be in a good mood. Caddaric’s blood boiled. That smile should be reserved for him alone and not just anyone. His teeth gritted and his appearance ghastly, while he approached them in slow steady steps. Author's note: If you like the story so far, then please let me know by rating it in the comment section on the author page. Please remember to vote with gems as well. Thanks a lot.