1 FIRST MEET

𝙃𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙖𝙝'𝙨 𝙋𝙊𝙑:

I gently opened the curtains and the morning sun rays almost stung my eyes. It was 10:57 am in California, Los Angeles.

It's a city where young girls come here in the hopes of becoming an actress. I was no actress but I believed in the power of words and poetry. I wanted to be a writer. But I am currently working in a bookstore and working on my first novel.

"Still daydreaming ???? It's already morning, Come on Hannah ", my friend and roommate Cece said to me.

I looked behind and scowled at her. She is my very good friend and roommate since I moved here. She helped me financially and emotionally. She is always against me becoming a writer and desperately tries everything to make me change my career.

But for me passion and love are everything.

" Oh come on it's Sunday, let me just enjoy one day alone. " I yelled.

Cece just looked down and said, "I need you to meet a guy".

"Look Cece, I don't want to date anyone. I just broke up with Harry. I'm still not over it. ", I said and slightly got hurt inside on the mention of Harry.

Harry was my English professor at my college. He was ten years older than me, but I found a lot of things in common with him. We both were interested in writing.

We both discussed poetry most of the time. We both were doing a paper together and I went to his house for that discussion. One thing led to another and we ended up having sex.

After that, we started dating for a year and broke up six months ago. Because he got a job offer in London and had to break up with me as he thought that long-distance doesn't work.

It broke my heart and ever since that I stopped dating anyone else. But now Cece wants me to meet a guy.

" He is my boss and he is interested in working with you. So he wants to meet you tomorrow night. "

It was confusing. Because I'm just working on my first book and it's not even completed. How could her boss be interested in me without even reading my completed work?

" Stop kidding. I didn't even complete my work. " I blurted out.

" Hannah, it doesn't matter. You are going to meet him tomorrow night. You can make a deal with him in exchange. "

I can feel the anger rising in me. She wants me to entertain him for a night so that he could give me work?

"I'm not going to sleep with a man just for a job. And how dare you suggest things like this. "

She gazed at me in disapproval. " You might get to write a script for his next movie. Seriously you will regret missing this chance. "

" I said I don't want it. And I need to go grocery shopping. I'm leaving now. ", I said and was ready to go out.

Mostly I wanted to go out because I don't want to have this conversation with Cece again.

" Wait, I'm coming with you too", she said and followed me to the door. Cece is an adamant girl. She pushes everyone to their breaking point.

I was walking on the pavement and Cece came along with me. I didn't want to have the same discussion again and again.

" Hannah, you need to listen to me."

" I don't have to listen... " I didn't get to finish the sentence as I tripped over a can and was about to fall.

But a strong arm caught me by the waist. It can't be Cece as she doesn't have this much strength in her arms. I looked up and was amazed by the guy who was holding me.

He was such a handsome guy with the perfect jawline and his eyes were so intense. He looked six feet tall and had broad shoulders. His personality was attractive as well as intimidating at the same time.

I was speechless, I wasn't normally like this who would stare at strangers.

" Are you okay there? ", Cece asked me. I nodded at her. I couldn't speak because he was still holding my waist.

"Hannah, meet my boss Liam Eaton"

She said and I was shocked and surprised at the same time.

She wants me to meet this hot guy?

Liam Eaton is one of the most desirable men in LA. He is the top movie producer in Holloywood right now. 

Liam Eaton is offering me a job in exchange for a one-night stand?

But he is very desirable and can get any girl he needs including a Hollywood actress.

I noticed that someone was taking pictures of us. And some other people arrived with cameras and a mic in their hands. They were paparazzi. They started asking absurd questions.

" Sir, is this young lady the one who you are dating right now? "

I was shocked. Does this guy think I'm dating Liam? I'm just meeting him now.

" I think I need to leave", I said to no one in particular and left the scene immediately. I didn't wait for Cece to come with me.

I could hear the paparazzi still questioning Liam and he was answering something politely.

I just walked and walked away from there until I reached the grocery store.

At that moment I didn't know that my life would change completely forever.

𝙇𝙞𝙖𝙢'𝙨 𝙋𝙊𝙑:

It took me about half an hour to escape the media. I got inside and glanced at my driver. " Take me to Spearmint club, soon. Make sure paparazzi don't follow us. "

He nodded and started driving. It is exhausting to have someone follow you everywhere. Managing my business and hiding my real identity is a challenge nowadays.

I reached my strip club Spearmint in no time. I got out of my limo and my assistant Ricky was waiting for me. He is one of my most loyal members right now.

" They are already waiting for you, master. But we got them covered. Girls are entertaining them ." he said.

That's the reason why I'm keeping this meeting in my strip club. It's my tactics to put my allies in a weaker position and converting the situation to my advantage.

I got inside the VIP lounge. My Mexican manufacturers were enjoying the dance given by my girls.

When I entered, I signaled all the girls to leave. A tattooed guy gave his number to a girl and asked her to call him later. Finally, when all the girls left the lounge, Ricky closed the door so that no one else could hear our conversation.

" Hola, I'm Ricardo. ", said the tattooed guy.

" Yea, it's been a pleasure meeting you. And please go on. " I said hoping he would get on straight to the point. I hate when people beat about the bush.

He paused for a moment and started speaking. " We need 40% of the profit. As you know, right now we are getting 20 and it's not working out for us. "

I shook my head in disapproval. " I can't run a drug empire by giving you that much. You are sending me tampered shipments for the last few days and we are down right now. "

" We sent the shipments right. It gets tampered within your borders. So you are going to pay for the losses. "

I clenched my fists as my temper started to rise. " It's the assassins who are doing this. This is happening in so many territories and we have to end them. This is not the time to fight among ourselves over profits. "

" You are right about assassins. But you are the last living Eaton and your empire is getting weak now. So it's best if you compromise a little."

That was the last string. I got and took out my gun. I pointed it to his head and was ready to blow out his brains. " Do you still call me weak? '", I yelled.

He started panting. "It was just an opinion. I didn't mean it to offend you. "

I lowered my gun from him and took a deep breath. " I'm willing to give you thirty only if you increase your shipments. "

Ricardo studied me for a moment. " But it's impossible for you to protect your shipments. "

" I'll make sure shipments are well protected. And you need to check from your side for spies. Otherwise, they can't track the exact route like they have been doing now."

He wasn't completely convinced. " But these are difficult times..... "

I interrupted quickly. " Difficult times can always turn around and this is one the time where we need to stay united against our common enemy. We need each other support as much as we deny it. So it's best if we just focus on our actual mission."

" What about the assassins?" he asked.

" I have a plan for that. I'm sure that I'll capture the leader of assassins within few days."

" Okay man, we got a deal. And next time please don't threaten me with a gun. It's not cool man." he said.

I smirked at him. He got up and left the lounge along with his aides.

" Master, you handled it well. You did it even better than your brother Chris," said Ricky with amusement.

" They are making loads and loads of product every day and they are desperately finding ways of selling them. If we agree to sell more of their products, they will agree to anything."

Money is a common friend of every person. If we use it to our advantage, everyone gets benefited.