1 Empires

What do you get when you combine a socialite, a dreamer, a son of a banker, a thief, and a devil? Well, by all accounts, if nothing else, you get one hell of a story.

The city of New York is unlike any other. The food is better… The air is crisp, and on any given day… A scandal could erupt. This is not the tale of a hero or a knight. No beasts will be slain. There is no kingdom to be saved.

The thing that stands out most about the city that never sleeps... It is, ironically, the people that come here to chase dreams. Whether it be Broadway or Wall Street. People come to the Big Apple to make it big.

Our first inside of the world comes in the form of a dreamer. His name, Donald Scott, and he arrived in the city much like everyone else. With a suitcase in hand and dreams to be the next great American novelist. Our sandy-haired Fitzgerald wannabe knew no one in the city and had nowhere to go.

You have heard the story before... A big fish in a midwestern town comes to the city in hopes of achieving greatness. So, what does our good friend do when he arrives in the city? He had a total of one thousand, six hundred and forty-two dollars on him. Graduation presents no less.

In desperate times, we seek the comfort of anyone that will listen. Beware any person that will look to make a profit off your misery. But hold in high praise, the person that will help you no matter his part in the end game.

A banker's son was a nineteen-year-old boy just looking to get out of his father's footsteps. Raven black hair that, when the light of the sun hit it, seemed to glisten. He was nothing if not a handsome man. A smile that brought a flutter to any young unsuspecting girl's heart.

It was perhaps a chance if you believe that outlook, that our dreamer and our son of a banker would meet on this fateful day in August.

Don stepped off the subway and walked onto the big jungle that was the city. The first time you see it, you are in awe. Moments pass, and you notice that you are still gazing up, in the middle of the walkway, at the big buildings, but you can't help it.

When he finally snapped out of the tourist trance, he started to navigate the cities endless maze. With his suede brown jacket and his straight cut khakis, he wandered the city in search of a home.

On the other side of town, Jake, our banker's son. He was waking up in the too late morning. The sun had already been in the sky for quite some time. Another night of effortless partying and meaningless sex. It takes its toll. But, at the age of nineteen, you bounce back quickly.

He sat up, his brain in a fog as he grasped his head, trying to find relief. After rubbing the haze out of his eyes, he turned his head back to the other side of the bed. Some random girl from the party... Or did he meet up with her after? It doesn't matter… The mornings are always the same. He would rise out of bed. Take his twenty-two-minute shower. Brush his teeth for exactly thirty-five seconds. Making sure to get every tooth and back of the throat. He would then make a coffee pot with eight scoops of grounds and ten ounces of water.

It was a rare occasion that he saw the girl even leave the apartment. Usually, they came to their senses and left while he was in the bathroom. So, he was accustomed to having breakfast alone. On this day, Don and Jake were destined to meet; he had breakfast with the girl last night.

He placed his plate on the table with one fork, one spoon, and one cup of coffee. Scrambled eggs, bacon, and hash browns, his morning tradition. He went to sit down when he heard the bedroom door close shut.

"Hello." The young blonde said, carrying her high heels in one hand and the oversized purse in the other. You could see the fear in Jake's eyes. He searched his brain for her name. He couldn't recall... "Jess." She said as she walked over to the counter and grabbed a ceramic cup. She walked over and poured herself a piping hot cup of coffee. "Good." She said as she took a sip.

Jake still had not said one word. Somehow to this girl, he didn't need to. She was doing all the talking. Jess made her way over to the table and sat across from him. "Surprised I'm still here?" she said. Jake just shook his head and focused his gaze on her eyes. Her baby blue eyes.

Jess chuckled and dropped her purse and high heels on the floor. She got up out of the chair and made her way to Jake. She straddled herself around him, leaned his head back, and ran her fingers through his hair. "Thanks for the coffee." She said as she got back to her own feet. She started to put on her shoes. "You are leaving?" Jake asked. As he asked it, he questioned himself.

She shot him those baby blue eyes that probably could get her anything she wanted. She chuckled and grinned. "This is the moment you think you fall in love with me." Jake looked at her, embarrassed. He had never been put in his place like this before.

"No. Just what if I want to see you again?" Was he really asking this? Who was this girl? Where did he pick her up at? It sure couldn't have been that party.

"You won't want to see me again, Hun." She finished putting on her heels. She got up and started to make her way towards the door. Jake got up to intercept her. He grabbed her by the wrists and held them in front of her.

"I'll take my wallet back." He said. "Keep the cash. I need everything else." He handed her the money and let her wrists go. "See, I told you, you wouldn't want to see me again." She said as she shot him those blue eyes. He put on a grin of his own. "I didn't say that." She smiled. "Are you sure you want to see me again?" Jake nodded his head. "Well then, here is your watch." She said as she pulled out a gold Rolex and handed it to him. Jake started to laugh. "Anything else?" She shook her head. It seems the tables have turned on who was in control of this conversation.

"How do I get a hold of you." He said as he opened the door for her. She walked out of the door and into the hall. She stopped and turned around. "New Haven Café." She turned back around and started walking again. "What about it?!?" Jake screamed into the empty hall. But she never turned back around. That is how the son of the banker met the thief.