Chapter 1
The engine hummed under Alan's hands, a low vibration so subtle it was now less a sound, more a feeling; a comfortable pulse against his fingertips as he was parked along a quiet roadside, slightly away from the main, buzzing thoroughfare. He shifted slightly in the leather driver's seat, one arm resting out the window, gaze drifting from the stream of passing cars to the empty horizon beyond.
The city was just that – always so loud, so full of life, so restless. Traffic horns blared, conversations overlapped into a meaningless, energetic hum.
Alan let out a long breath. Twenty-seven. Retired.
It was funny to think about. Everyone his age was just getting their feet wet – climbing corporate ladders, earning degrees, building things from the ground up. Alan, meanwhile, had lived a life that would fill ten lifetimes over when he was in the army. Now? Now he drove luxury sedans for women who wouldn't remember his name tomorrow.
A tiny smirk touched his lips.
"Yeah… life's a bitch sometimes."
His eyes drifted to the rearview mirror-though, for now, there was no one in the back seat. Only himself; a sharp jawline, tired eyes, the kind of face that didn't quite match his serene surroundings. Utterly alert.
"Guess the Special Forces never really leave you… huh?" he murmured softly to himself. "It just… steps away for a while." He tapped the steering wheel lightly.
'If I never went to the army… what then?' Wall Street came to mind. Suits. Money. Noise of a different kind.
He chuckled quietly. "Would've been a menace there." Back in college, he hadn't been exactly low-key. Good looks, athletic, confident-the kind of guy who didn't even have to try. "Lots of side-chicks," he mumbled, shaking his head with that small grin. "What a life."
But the smile faded as quickly as it had appeared. Even in that fantasy life, there was something missing. He couldn't put his finger on it. Or maybe that was just who he was now.
A sharp rapping on the glass jolted him back to the present. Alan's eyes snapped to the window, sharp and focused-instinct taking over before conscious thought could even register. His posture snapped rigid for a microsecond. He looked around, then relaxed. Just a passerby. "Still got it," he muttered under his breath.
He glanced at his watch.
His client was late. Again.
Alan sighed, glancing at the empty leather seat. "Models..." he mumbled. "Never just late. Always fashionably late." He adjusted his collar, settling back into his driver's stance, his mind no longer completely still.
The back door of the limo sprang open with a gush of laughter before Alan could even get out of his seat.
"Finally, some fresh air!" one of them cried, sliding in like she owned the plush interior.
"Girl, you've only been out of the car for like-two minutes," another replied, settling in behind her. Soon, all six were inside.
The car instantly filled with perfume, chatter, and a vibrant energy that contrasted sharply with the quiet stillness Alan had occupied just moments before. He shifted the rearview mirror. Six women. Not his usual clientele. Not the impossibly young, fresh-faced models he usually chauffeured around. These women looked older-mid-twenties, maybe approaching thirty. A different kind of confident. Less polished. More… real. New, or perhaps, not desperate enough to need the spotlight?
"Okay, wait-before we go... Did anyone bring the champagne?" one asked.
"Tessa, I already told you, it's not that kind of an event," another responded.
"Every event is that kind of an event if you believe hard enough." A burst of laughter followed.
Alan started the engine smoothly, merging seamlessly into the flow of traffic without interrupting their chatter.
"Driver," a voice called casually. He glanced at the mirror. It was the woman in the center-composed, poised, with dark skin, sharp eyes, and a gentle smile.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Route's been sent, right?"
"Yes."
"Good." She leaned back, and the conversation immediately flowed as if Alan didn't exist. He preferred it that way, yet his eyes still flicked to the mirror occasionally, not staring, just... Observing. Tessa seemed to be that loud, bubbly type, the girl who was always the center of attention. The calm one… that looked like the leader. Nadia, perhaps? Or something similar. The other girls seemed to revolve around her. Then there was the quiet one by the window… Lila, maybe. Gazing at the city as if she were miles away. The rest – Jade, Monica, Renee – their voices blending into a delightful cacophony. These girls didn't seem like they needed this job, and that made it… interesting.
"... I swear, if this brand tries to lowball us, I'm walking," Jade said.
"You say that every time," Monica shot back.
"And I mean it every time."
"Sure you do." Another wave of laughter. Alan's lips twitched.
Then-
"You always this quiet, or is it just us?" The question cut through the noise.
Alan didn't answer immediately.
"Driver," the voice pressed again, sharper this time. Alan glanced in the mirror. It was Jade. Her eyes were already locked on his. "Just focused on the road," he replied calmly.
She tilted her head, studying him. Then smirked. "Mm, or just listening in?"
Tessa leaned forward instantly. "Ooooh, he is kinda quiet-quiet. The observant type."
"That's not observant," Jade said flatly. "That's creepy." The word hung in the air. A few of the others giggled-not maliciously, but with the casual amusement of a lively conversation.
But Jade didn't laugh. She continued to stare at him. "You've been watching us in the mirror since we got in," she added.
Alan met her gaze, a quick, steady look. "No, ma'am," he said evenly. "Just checking the surroundings. Habit."
"Habit," she repeated, unimpressed. "Right."
Nadia finally spoke, her voice calm but firm. "That's enough, Jade."
Jade shrugged. "What? I'm just saying, he's been staring."
"Say it nicer."
"I am being nice."
"No, you're not."
A moment of silence stretched between them before Tessa clapped her hands together. "Okay! Let's not start fighting before we even get there. Save all the drama for the cameras."
The tension broke. Conversation resumed, slightly subdued this time. Alan kept his eyes forward, his expression neutral, his hands steady on the wheel. He absorbed every nuance-the tone of their voices, their body language, the subtle shifts in the car's atmosphere. Jade's gaze lingered a fraction of a second too long before she finally looked away. Alan was used to that; he'd been called worse things, far worse things. So "creepy"? It didn't mean much. Still... He angled the mirror down slightly. Not because of her, just... No need to stir the pot. Outside, the city continued its ceaseless hum. Inside the limousine, the noise had returned.