Chapter 10: The Beginning

Fiona's memory isn't the best. She easily forgets things, especially after drinking and sex. The drinking habit started when Fiona's ex—one of her editors at a publishing house had asked her to have fun. Since then Fiona also began to understand the true meaning of having fun.

The nightlife begins to become Fiona's close friend. That is before Fiona only knew sports and food were fun activities, now she is starting to know many common things that have been obscured by darkness.

Beer, alcohol, cigarettes, and sex.

Fiona felt like she had found a treasure for the first time and she felt like she had entered a new life since meeting them all. Apart from the library, the bar was the place Fiona frequented the most.

According to her, the sensations when drinking and having sex are the same sensations as when she is writing. When our subconscious controls the world, magic happens.

Everything feels lighter, easier, and more enjoyable. That's also why Fiona asked Tasya to find a house that could be rented near a bar and library. This house is strategic enough to be close between the two. Unfortunately, it actually made Fiona trapped in something.

Fiona still remembers the first time she arrived at the airport and walked into her new home. Nia was busy packing up things while Fiona was taking a walk around town. The bustle of the city greeted Fiona in a light mood. While letting go of homesickness—because it had been nearly twenty years since she had not seen this city where she had once stopped, accidentally, while walking around, she found a small bar standing in the corner of an alley.

Seeing the bar, of course Fiona's heart was happy. She immediately entered and found a familiar and close atmosphere that attacked her heart. The bar is quite big. They don't have a stage where the DJ plays music. There is only one classic radio machine that plays old American LPs from the 80s. As soon as she sniffed the aroma of beer and alcohol, Fiona's salivation increased.

She ordered a bottle of beer and sat down at a circular table in the middle of the room. The bar was a little dim. Only filled with yellow lights in some corners. Around the bar counter, scattered tables filled with several people.

In a corner, Fiona remembered she saw someone.

A middle-aged man—maybe in his 30 or 40. Wears a neat suit and smokes a cigar. Fiona could remember because the man was looking at her as if to say hello. Because she was stared at, Fiona lifted her buttocks and left the bar.

She didn't think she was actually tagged.

But, did that man have anything to do with Leonard?

Why would Leonard do all this to Fiona?

After thinking that, Fiona couldn't calm herself down. It seemed impossible to ask Leonard about that man.

During the day, when Fiona has trouble focusing on working on her script, she tries to read a book borrowed from the library yesterday. She had sent a message to Kian but avoided Leonard's incoming calls.

She was sick of that guy. The reason is, three times she fell in his arms. And three times too, Fiona's virginity was saved.

From the bedroom door, Nia knocked softly. "Fi, I am going to the supermarket. Do you want to get something?"

On the sidelines of her anxiety, Fiona got up while closing the laptop. "I'm coming with you!"

Nia frowned faintly. "Well, that’s uncommon. Do you need refreshing time? Wasn't it yesterday?"

Usually, Nia knows that Fiona leaves the house just to look for ideas. Except to the bar every night. Fiona glanced at the woman silently. While changing clothes, she asked, "Yesterday you forgot to lock the door."

"Oh, I didn't forget. You have guests. Mr. Leonard's. Because I was already sleepy, I wanted to wait, but Mr. Leonard said he would wait for you so I don't need to lock the door. Who is Mr. Leonard anyway?"

Nia's question caused the awkwardness to spread. When Fiona put on a sports bra and layered it with a cropped hoodie, she reflected. "Nobody."

Nia just smiled silently. If Fiona didn't want to explain, it was certain that the person was one of the acquaintances at the bar. But Nia didn't ask more. Both of them went to the supermarket.

Actually, Fiona's goal was just to get her attention away from Leonard's shadow. For some reason, the surge of pleasure that Leonard gave her left an impression without Fiona noticing. She hates it and is curious at the same time. Usually, when a guy is so lustful, he will definitely do it. But why has Leonard always held back three times?

Fiona wasn't sorry, she just suspected that Leonard's connection with the man at the bar was becoming clearer.

The supermarket is not far from the residence. Fiona and Nia walked with the trolley. Casually, she put some of her favorite snacks and milk to stock up on at home.

After shopping, Fiona treated Nia to eat at a small but luxurious restaurant. Nia had refused but Fiona kept insisting. While waiting for food orders, suddenly from the entrance, a group of men appeared—about five people dressed all in black and fierce faces.

Fiona was on guard for a moment. The five men approached the cashier and spoke in low tones.

One of the men was wearing a baseball cap. From his posture, Fiona somehow felt familiar.

"It's been a week. Pay, or die?"

Fiona was surprised. He glanced at the cash register. One of the men pointed a gun. Unknowingly, she had grabbed Nia's hand.

Nia whispered, "What happened? What do they want?"

Some visitors look scared, and some look normal. Fiona was also confused. But seeing the firearm, she didn't dare to move.

"Are they thugs?" Fiona asked in a whisper. Among the five men, four of them wore a jacket with a gold tiger logo on it. Somehow the logo reminded her of the jacket worn by the male assistant she met at the bar that time.

From the cashier, they received a wad of banknotes. The cashier gave up while scared. After getting the money, the five men left and the restaurant turned liquid.

When their orders came, Fiona immediately asked. "Miss, who were they?"

The maid glanced outside. Her face contorted in dismay. But she whispered softly into Fiona's ear. "They're Tiger Sun. One of the mafia groups that have territory here. It's normal to ask for taxes."

Mafia?

While swallowing the food, Fiona's mind was spinning.

So the jacket symbol is a sign of a mafia group? Then, the man at the bar is also a member?

***