The Devil's Harem

At the airport,

“Uummhhh... That was tiring,” stretching her arms, a girl said as she stepped out of the airport and stopped. Another girl also came and stopped beside her, looking around for someone.

As the two girls stood alongside each other, the men passing by could not help but steal second looks at them. Wearing long, loose skirts with floral patterns and straw hats to protect themselves from the blazing sun, the two girls looked amazing. Too bad that they were wearing masks so they could not see their faces, but one could not deny that their body must be amazing.

“Where is my brother?” The girl on the left asked.

The other girl looked behind and, as if searching for someone, said, “He was picking up the luggage. He must be out soon.”

“Ugghh... That good for nothing kid,” the first girl said, irritated, “Doesn’t he know that it’s harmful to beautiful girls like us to stand in this burning sun?”

.....

“Are you sure it’s alright to have him lift all that luggage?” The other girl asked.

“Don’t try to pamper him, Jessica,” the girl said as she impatiently waited outside.

The girls were Jessica and Veronica. They have just landed in Ullu, the land of five seas for their trip planned by Jessica’s grandfather. In popular belief, Ullu is thought to be the place where the water of the surrounding five seas meets. This was their trip, and apart from Veronica’s brother, who was their porter, no one was there with them, not even Jessica’s secretary, Amanda or Veronica’s manager.

“But he is just a kid,” Jessica tried to stand for Veronica’s brother.

“Ohh... Ho... Ho... Don’t be delusional... He is anything but a kid,” Veronica quickly refuted when she heard Jessica, “Just a few days back, when I went to his room, he was...”

“He is here...” Jessica interrupted Veronica. She was glad that Veronica’s brother walked out at the right time. She didn’t want to know what he was doing alone in his room.

Hearing Jessica, Veronica also looked back and saw a boy coming out of the airport’s exit pushing a luggage cart. Draped in a black leather jacket over his white t-shirt and a black hat, the boy looked young.

“Hurry up, you lay ass bum...” Veronica waved her hand as he yelled for the boy to hurry up.

The boy, when heard Veronica, pushed the cart and hurriedly made his way toward them.

What took you so long?” Veronica asked as she smacked the back of his head, “Don’t you know how hot it is outside?”

“C’mon, don’t be so hard on him,” Jessica said as she took the boy’s side, “Can you call the person I gave you the contact of? He should be here with our ride,” Jessica asked the boy.

The boy nodded and pulled out his phone, and dialled a number. With that, he also took out his mask, and if Alex was here, he would have recognised the boy in one go. It was Abir, the one Alex and Daniel helped ditch the prison. He was Veronica’s brother.

Abir walked a bit away from the two girls and talked with the person they were supposed to meet. In no more than a couple of minutes, they had the keys in their hand to their rented Audi RS7.

“Come on, boy, be quick. We are not staying the night here,” after the man left, handing over the keys to them, Veronica ordered Abir. She was the first to sit at the back, followed by Jessica, who gave Abir a look but chose not to help either.

Abir shook his head with a smile and quickly put the bags in the car. He was not very keen on joining Veronica and Jessica on this trip, but he could not help it, his sister had her ways to make people do her bidding. He knew that Veronica didn’t need him on this trip as her brother but as her errand boy, the role he has been playing for so many years that it has now become his second nature.

With Abir driving the car, the three of them soon reached the hotel. Walking to the reception, Jessica took out her passport and gave it to the receptionist.

“There should be a reservation under the name of Jessica, Jessica Wilson,” Jessica told the lady at the reception.

“Just a moment, mam,” the lady politely replied and turned her eyes towards her screen.

While Jessica was handling their reservation, Veronica was busy going through her phone and Abir, on the other hand, was appreciating the hotel. With sky-high ceilings and large chandeliers hanging down, the hotel was designed on the concept of classic European style with modern amenities.

As the trio was waiting for the lady behind the reservation to handle their reservation. Jessica heard a familiar voice.

“Dad, how could you forget to book your own room?” Jessica heard someone say.

When Jessica turned to look at the source of the voice, she saw a man laughing awkwardly, “Hahaha... Looks like I screwed up again.”

Surprised, Anger began to slowly build up in Jessica. The man in front of her was her arch-nemesis, Alex, the man she least expected to cross paths with.

“Excuse me,” annoyed by his father’s laid back attitude, Alex could only turn towards the lady at the reception, “Don’t you have any other room? Price is no problem.”

Seeing such a handsome face upfront, looking at her helplessly, the receptionist wanted to invite him to stay with her. But she could only apologise in regret, “I am sorry, sir,” the receptionist said, shaking her head, “It is the peak of the season. All other rooms have already been booked.”

“Is that so?” Alex felt dejected, hearing the lady. He turned towards his father, “How about you stay with me in my room?”

“No way... Not a chance,” George rejected right away, “Wouldn’t it be embarrassing for me if you were to bring a girl to your room?” George said, acting embarrassed, not paying attention to those present there.

Apart from Alex and George, Matthew was also present with a few of the employees from their company. When they heard George, they could not hold back their giggles.

“DAD! At least think before you say something...” Alex cried out and rushed towards his father, putting his hand over George’s mouth, trying to stop him from saying more of his pervy stuff.

Just as Alex was about to say something, his gaze fell upon the person behind George. His eyes almost popped when he saw Jessica, who was also looking at them with her gaze full of surprise.

Ignoring his father completely, pointing his finger at Jessica, he said aloud, “You... You... What are you doing here? Are you stalking me? Can’t you let me be in peace?” Alex asked, annoyed to see her face.

Jessica was left speechless when she heard Alex, “Who would want to follow you?” She rebuked. .c

“I won’t mind following him,” Veronica said, walking out from behind Jessica.

“No one will think you are a mute if you stay shut for a while,” Jessica was already at her wit’s after meeting Alex, but now even her friend was making things difficult for her.

Veronica giggled when she saw the plight on Jessica’s face. Though what she said was to annoy Jessica, she had this tiny hope that Alex might agree with her.

But Alex completely ignored her. He was about to further argue with Jessica, but before he could say something else, he was smacked on the back of his head by George.

“How barbaric?” George said, “How can you have the heart to argue with such a beautiful lady over here?” George chided Alex. Then he turned towards Jessica, “My apologies Miss Wilson. Looks like I need to beat some manners into this brat.”

Getting smacked, Alex looked at his father in resentment. He was sure that George had identified Jessica, and with his history of holding her in high regard, Alex knew that he was going to do everything in his capacity to flatter her.

But if George were to side with Jessica, he would waste this opportunity to challenge Jessica. He had already lost all the face in front of her. Can he still confront her unopposed regime over the entertainment industry in the city?

George, on the other hand, ignored his son completely. He took out his card and handed it over to Jessica.

Jessica took the card from George, “George Rutherford, CEO, AR Entertainment, so you were the one behind that master plan?” Jessica said as she gave the card a glance.

“Master plan? What master plan?” George looked confused when he heard Jessica.

“Please don’t act modestly... I know you sent your son to my company for him to poach our artist, didn’t you?” Jessica asked.

“Hahaha...” George laughed out loud, “So that’s what you are talking about. Alex did tell me about this a few days back... I can assure you, it was all a misunderstanding,” Geroge tried to assure Jessica.

But Jessica was far from believing him, “Or is it that your small company wants to compete with the big fishes now?”

George did not reply but smiled, hearing Jessica. He was not going to stoop low and argue with a kid. But Alex was not so tolerant.

“You think you have become some big shot, hun...? Don’t you know how to talk with your elders? I told you I have got nothing to do with your celebrities but no... You just won’t believe me... Now, whatever happens hereafter, is on you... I will make sure to leave Theation in the dust.” Saying this, Alex walked past Jessica and stood in front of Abir.

“You know me, right?” Alex asked, looking straight into Abir’s eyes.

When he heard Alex, Abir hesitated before he looked around. When he saw Jessica behind Alex, she was looking in their direction, glaring at them. Abir took his sweet time trying to think of a way out before he decided to go with the flow, and he nodded.

“Then how about you join AR Entertainment? We are not that big of a company compared to Theation, and we have never thought of managing artists. But there is always a first. Let me promise you, I will spend all the resources I have to make sure that your career won’t suffer one bit,” Alex offered Abir, “All you have to do is say yes.”

It was a naked and blatant provocation. All those present besides George from AR Entertainment were shocked. Of course, they knew who Abir was. He was one of the rising stars in the industry, and with the recent episode with him, his popularity has been on the rise steadily. To poach him directly in front of the big boss needed some real guts.

Not only those with Alex but Jessica and Abir were stumped as well. It was safe to say that apart from George, Matthew and Veronica, everyone else was stupified on their spot.

While Abir was hesitant to reply, Veronica again pitched in and said, ” I can join if you meet my conditions.”

* * * * *