City Z was nothing like Noah had imagined.
It was louder.
Bigger.
And considerably less welcoming.
Noah stood at the edge of the crowded train station, staring at the endless stream of people moving around him.
He adjusted his hands around the suitcase and looked down at the small piece of paper in his hand.
City Z.
He had finally made it.
"Okay," he muttered to himself. "New city. New job. New life and definitely away from his aunty who had no idea he was here.
He took a breath.
"Hopefully better food too."
A woman bumped into his shoulder as she hurried past.
"Sorry!"
Noah barely had time to respond before someone else brushed against him from behind.
He turned.
Nothing.
His eyes narrowed.
Something felt wrong.
He reached for his suitcase.
His hand met nothing.
Noah froze.
He looked down.
The suitcase was gone.
"…You're kidding me."
He spun around, searching the crowd.
A man in a dark jacket was already disappearing through the station exit, dragging Noah's suitcase behind him.
"Oh, absolutely not."
Noah took off after him.
"HEY!"
The man glanced back.
Then ran faster.
Noah followed.
"That's my suitcase!"
The thief disappeared into a narrow street.
Noah turned the corner after him, only to find himself in an unfamiliar part of the city.
He stopped.
"…Great."
He looked around.
Empty streets.
Dim buildings.
No thief.
No suitcase.
And definitely no idea where he was.
"Brilliant first day, Noah."
A noise behind him made him turn.
Five men stood at the entrance of the alley.
One of them smiled.
"Looking for something?"
Noah's expression changed.
"Actually, yes."
He glanced around.
"My suitcase."
The men laughed.
One stepped forward.
"You should've stayed at the station."he said clearly the thief.
Noah sighed.
"Yeah. I'm starting to realize that."
The man lunged.
Noah moved before he could reach him.
He stepped aside, caught the man's arm and shoved him away.
The others immediately moved.
Noah's eyes widened.
"Oh, come on."
He ran.
..........
Meanwhile...
A black car sped through another part of the city.
Inside sat a man who looked completely out of place in the chaos surrounding him.
Even in the dim interior of the car, his features were impossible to miss. His face was sharply defined, with a chiseled jawline, a straight nose, and deep, watchful eyes that seemed to notice everything. His neatly styled dark hair fell effortlessly into place, while his perfectly tailored suit only added to his intimidating presence.
He sat comfortably in the back seat, scrolling through documents on his phone as though the chaos outside had nothing to do with him.
His assistant glanced at him through the rearview mirror before quickly looking back at the road.
"Sir, we're almost—"
THUD!
The car suddenly jerked to a stop.
The assistant's hands tightened around the steering wheel.
"What the—"
He looked ahead.
Someone had just collided with the front of the car.
A young man stumbled backward, nearly losing his balance.
"Fuck this day," he muttered.
The assistant immediately opened his door and stepped out.
"Hey! Are you okay? Do you need to go to the hospital?."
The stranger looked up at him, breathing heavily.
"I'm sorry. I—"
His words died when he glanced over his shoulder only to see those five men closing in on him.
The assistant followed his gaze.
His expression changed.
"Who are those people?"
The stranger didn't answer.
Instead, he looked directly at him.
"Just help me."
The driver hesitated...
Before he could say anything, the back window slowly rolled down.
The man inside the car finally looked up from his phone.
His eyes settled on the stranger.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then, calmly—
"Both of you, get in."
The stranger didn't need to be told twice.
He rushed into the car.
The assistant jumped back into the driver's seat and slammed the door shut.
"Go!"
The car sped away.
Inside, the stranger leaned against the seat, trying to catch his breath. He looked back once, the men were already disappearing into the distance.
The man beside him remained surprisingly calm.
He slowly lowered his phone.
For the first time, their eyes met.
The stranger froze.
Up close, the man's features were even more striking.
Sharp, chiseled features.
A defined jaw.
Dark, observant eyes.
There was something intimidating about him.
Something that made the stranger instinctively sit a little straighter.
And yet...
There was something strangely enticing about him too.
The stranger quickly looked away.
Okay.
Definitely not a normal person.
The man raised an eyebrow.
"You have something to say?"
The stranger blinked.
"No."
"Then why were you staring?"
"I wasn't."
"You were."
"I was looking at the seat."
The assistant almost laughed.
The man in the back simply stared at him for another second.
Then he returned his attention to his phone.
"What's your name?"
The stranger hesitated.
"Noah."
"Who are you?" He queried
"Someone who just saved you " he replied as a matter of fact.
Noah stared at him like he was crazy
A pause
"Adrian " he casually said, still focused on his phone.
Noah studied him. There was something strangely familiar about his face. But he couldn't place it.
Suddenly Adrian glanced up at him again
"Noah Reyes?"
Noah frowned. "How'd you know that?"
Adrian looked at him properly this time and suddenly something clicked. His eyes widened slightly "No way."
Noah stared " what?"
Adrian expression went back to normal " it really is you"
"Do I know you?"
Adrian gave a quiet laugh" you don't remember me?"
Noah searched his face. Nothing!!.
Adrian turned and faced the document in his phone. "That's fair, it's been a long time."
Noah frowned staring blankly at him like he was talking bubberish which he most definitely is.
Adrian simply ignored him.
.........
Twenty minutes later, the car pulled into a quiet compound.
Noah looked around "This isn't a hotel."
"No" Adrian stepped out " my guesthouse."
Noah looked around the so called guesthouse that looked like an exclusive five star hotel "Your guesthouse?"
Adrian kept walking ahead" It has several rooms, pick any of your choice."
Noah faced him like a mother who was about to reprimand her child " with this coldness, I'm sure you're still single."
Adrian looked at him " you have alot of nerve"
"Indeed I do"
"…"
......
Neither of them noticed the dark vehicle parked several streets away. Inside it was one of the men from earlier with a phone to his ear. "His with someone."
A pause..
" No we don't know who."
Another pause came. The mans' expression darkened " I'm sorry boss."