Kieran read the letter:
'There is an important life-changing offer waiting for you. Come to the port at Luverthmoth. Postcode is RTC 8WP. No matter the conclusion, you're returning home with no less than $5000.'
Kieran tilted his head, staring at the paper and smiling vibrantly. "The money here is tempting..." was all he said, giggling as he hurriedly placed everything on the table.
He then picked up his phone and headed to a three-member WhatsApp group - The Three Stars. It's for him and his two BFFs.
Kieran typed, "Hey, y'all. How are you filthy brats doing? I have gat something to ask. If a complete stranger appears at your doorstep one day, having a good heart, and asks you to meet up somewhere for..." But at that point, his fingers slowly retracted from the screen and he deleted the message.
Why? Both friends of his were either a journalist or a fashion designer. He was the only one who's somehow always free and has little on his plate. So, he won't want to disturb them with every trivial matter in his life, as they once complained he did.
But, as God would have it, his phone rang with a call from Zyn. His second best friend. Kieran almost answered the call in a hurry before remembering he had to sound his best for her. He cleared his throat, and even though it was unnecessary, Kieran also adjusted his collars.
Zyn just happened to have this charm on him.
Kieran answered, "Hey," he greeted in a soft tone, grinning. "How are you, Princess Zyn?"
"Tch, as if you ever cared," Zyn scoffed. "When last have you called this friend of yours? A month, was it?"
"What are you talking about?" Kieran asked rhetorically, still smiling even though he had everything to argue with. "You clearly warned everyone you are on a new project and no one should disturb you. That was on Christmas Eve, wasn't it?"
"Ah... right," Zyn replied with a forced clear of her throat. Then she said, "Anyway, I called to wish you a happy birthday. Many more years to celebrate, Kieran. You're the greatest jerk I have ever met and... there's nothing good about you, but every human deserves a birthday wish.... No?"
Kieran swallowed, wrinkling his nose in guilt already. He nodded. "You're right in any way you put it. I was the guy who broke your heart, so it's okay."
They were best friends, and yes, they had once dated.
"Have you got hoes again? Going to... fuck more of them tonight?" Zyn asked. Kieran had grown familiar with that question and tone ever since they broke up in high school.
But Kieran had a different mission today. He replied as he turned the letter non-stop on the table, "I don't think so. Because I might be close to winning a lot-"
"What a jerk," was all Zyn said before hanging up. The disconnecting sound shrieked in Kieran's ears, and he looked at the screen to confirm she really had hung up.
"Ah... should I have said I was getting hoes, then?"
With a swift leg movement, Kieran reached into his bedroom. A medium bed lay in the centre with a tall wardrobe sitting next to it. Nothing else important was around, except for the trophies on the small cupboard in the corner.
Boxer of the year, God's Fist, Best Student of the Week and so many more - Kieran was a boxer with a lot of achievements. But personal reasons caused him to quit it.
Personal reasons he doesn't want to talk about with anyone.
Soon, Kieran got to the ground floor of the flat, dressed casually. A blue jean. White snickers. And a red unbuttoned shirt worn over a white round neck. Kieran boarded the bus from the Wavermoth District to the train station, then Luvermoth. It took him four hours.
But instead of a mansion or any grand building Kieran expected, the postcode led him to a remote coastal dock. A black-coated muscular man greeted him and guided him onto a speedboat. In a while, they arrived at a private island where a white mansion sat comfortably like the richie who would own it.
Kieran stared, grinning. "What the fuck! Wait... who owns this?"
But the man steered left towards a glimmering yacht docked nearby. "The boss is waiting for you there, Sir Kieran."
Kieran had something to ask him until he heard him say his name. Kieran leaned in. "Do you know me?"
The man looked at him, mouth opening and closing halfway, as though he was stopping himself from revealing a secret. "The meeting will be on the yacht. Those guys over there will guide you there, so don't worry about finding your way inside."
Kieran stared at the distant men he was talking about. They flanked the yacht's main entrance, screaming professionalism and years and years of physical training.
Kieran leaned back, crossed his arms and looked back at the mansion, then the yacht. He said, smiling as he did, "Imagine if I were to be employed as a guard here and got to live on these babies every day. Ah, damn... and, the bitches here must be sweet as..."
The man cleared his throat.
"Oh, my bad."
Soon as he got on the yacht, the men led him inside and they stopped before a golden-plated door. The guys bowed to Kieran before leaving. Kieran knew he had to act on his own here, so he breathed in and out to calm himself down and knocked on the door gently.
A raspy voice asked him in and he did. Kieran's legs trembled walking into the room. But he stopped mid-step in shock as he saw the man. A large one in his late forties smoking a cigar on a swivel chair, whose kempt hair and quality suits made him look younger.
Kieran pointed at him, his mouth wide in shock. "You... aren't you... t-that... Oh, I'm even pointing at you. Please forgive my manners!" He threw his arm down and bowed straight away. "Nice to meet you, Mr Holland! I'm Kieran Hayes...."
"... Kieran Hayes," the man's raspy voice cut in, taking another puff of his cigar. "Do you take sugar?"
Kieran looked up with widened eyes. "Yes?"
How could he believe his sight? He was right before the most wealthy business tycoon in the entire city. The CEO of Holland Corporation! Rumours say Mr. Holland even had unlimited access to money. Like he had a money-printing machine or something - but those were just rumours.
Kieran couldn't help his heart from beating so fast.
"And if you take cookies too, I have got many of them with me."