P O I S O N

1. Riot

12 A.M. New York City

"Come on Hailz, we're barley gonna catch a cab" I shouted at my friend Hailey, we finished our night shift at the café.

"Coming, it's late anyway, I know for a fact that we're going to walk after all."

She walked out of the staff room, adjusting her shirt and making sure she has everything in her bag.

"We might be lucky tonight, you don't know!" I said with a slight hope.

"Sadly, luck doesn't exist for us." She chuckled and I shrugged waking past her.

"Jasper, we're leaving" I shouted once again, no doubts my voice is gone by the end of the night.

Jasper is the owner of this place, who happened to be my friend. We met back in college; he was kind enough to offer me a job after I dropped out of college. He knew about my mother illness and how it was hard for her to pay for my tuition fees and her medications as well. I had to stop, even if it meant for me to give up my dream, for her eyes only.

There are moments in our lives that define us–that push us, sometimes kicking and screaming, to be the person we are or to realize the person we could be.

As a mother, of course she wasn't pleased with my decision, but she knew I had made up my mind and there's no way I'd put myself above her. My mother sacrificed so much for me, she raised me all by her own, took me to school, cooked me a dinner and sang me to sleep. I never got the chance to meet my father; he died a couple of months before I was born.

I've always had a hard time watching my friends talking and arguing about their parents. My childhood grief was like a chronic pain.

The early loss of my father made me more resilient, responsible and independent. My mom tried to fill the void and the hurt. She is a safe haven for me.

"Do you need a ride home? I can drop you both on my way. " He said. Hailey was about to say yes to him, but she quickly glanced at me and I shook my head no, she seemed to get the idea so she stayed silent, good for her. I smirked.

"Uh..no thank you, I think we're good to go" I politely declined him. While we were on our way out Haiz muttered, "do you know how many times I've dreamed about getting in his car? I mean, hello who would shut down a ride in a Bentley for god's sake?" I chuckled at her childish behavior. "Poor girl problems. " I was just about to pull the door open for us, but a man storming our way pushed me back. "Sir, we're closing sor..." I didn't even get to finish my sentence. " Fuck off, I don't care." He walked away, and I was amazed by his behavior.

What the hell?

He shouted like the crazy man he is. "Jasper, where the fuck are you?" He started searching around the place for Jasper for god knows what, knocking on his way the tables and everything else would come in his way. Glasses shattered all around the floor, the place is becoming messier by the seconds. Who's this mad man and what does he want? Kept ringing in my head. I felt my pulse quicken and my heart race.

Jasper was walking down the stairs two steps at a time. "What the hell is going on ? Someone calls the police. " He shouted, angry. I was fumbling with my phone trying to-dial the police number the police number as fast as I could.

"Believe me Jasper, if I was you I'd never wish to call the police, unless you wanted to get arre.."

He chuckled bitterly. I could see something different flashing in Jasper's eyes as if the realization just hit him.

"Malik" he said between his gritted teeth. He walked down until they were face to face. "What do you want?" He asked the man who I just discovered his name. Malik.

"You know damn well what I want." He answered.

"I told you, we're working on getting everything back on track." Jasper seemed tense.

"Look, I don't have time for you to feed me shit," he grabbed Jasper by his collar. "Get your guys on working faster. We're talking about million of dollars." He left him down his voice became raspy.

Jasper bunched him in the face; I was surprised to witness him to do so. Malik smirked. "Really? That's all you could do?"

"Oh, I could do much, much worse. " Jasper was angry to the point where he might explode at any minute. "Just remember we are in this together. If one got away, the other says goodbye"

His gaze swept along me, his eyes burning holes into me with dusky fires. A restrained smile titled his lips. Something about him felt so intimidating. He was clearly enjoying the terror he was causing, not necessary to prove that his behavior was so violent.

I took my time looking back at him, I don't know what he's about, but he's so beautiful I must be insane. I shifted my weight feeling uncomfortable, he sensed that and smirked, a hand brushed through his hair while he was making his way to the door.

"Thursday." Was the last word he spoke before he left.

I looked at Hailey, uneasy look was upon her face, she must be frightened by the whole situation and I don't blame her.

Jasper came rushing to us, "sorry ladies, you weren't meant to see all of this." His voice rasped.

"What was it all about?" Hailey asked. He stared at her; I can sense there's something off about all of this.

"You're not in some deep shit..." I muttered and he tensed at my words.

"It's nothing you need to worry about, just some business stuff, it happens all the time." He shrugged, trying to play it cool, but I know better. For now I'll leave him to it.

"Perfect night ending. " haliz sighed and gathered her stuff again ready to leave.

"You girls go, I'll take care of the mess. "

"Goodnight, Jasper. " and with that we walked away. I might be out of the place, but the thoughts of what just happened won't leave my head.  

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Hellooo again, it's been so long :)

anyways, here's my new story I'm so excited for this journey.

hope you all like it, please share your thoughts.

till next time. xxx

oh, show me some love, ya know what I mean. ;)