The Black Scorpion
Ch. 1

A handsome man wearing a black suit and sunglasses came out of a new Porsche. He walked into an elite office building with definite steps. While passing through the receptionist of the building, he was greeted by a young man and woman behind the reception desk.

"Good morning, Mr. Aaric," said the man and woman at the same time.

The man whom Aaric addressed did not turn his head at all and continued to walk through the small gate whose access had been opened by his trusted bodyguard. It looks arrogant and annoying but that's Aaric Laurent, the son of the conglomerate and the sole heir to the Laurent family assets. Both of his parents died at the age of Aaric who was twenty-four years old, where he had just graduated from college. Fortunately during college he often helped his father manage all the companies and assets he owned so that when both parents died without a known cause, he could take over easily.

His bodyguard opened a private elevator that would take the man to his office on the highest floor, twenty-five. The bodyguard held the elevator door so that Aaric could enter and he followed later. The elevator went straight to the twenty-fifth floor without stopping on any more floors.

"Nikolai, at noon do not forget to pick up Abel and Damien," Aaric said while in the elevator.

"Well," said the bodyguard in a stern voice without looking at his master.

After the elevator reached the twenty-fifth floor, Aaric immediately came out and sat on the seat that had been his throne for the past eight years and removed his sunglasses. Behind his chair stood sturdy glass windows without gaps so that whenever he felt saturated, he could look at the expanse of buildings and flickering city lights at night. Just as Aaric was sitting on his butt, the door of the room opened without any knocking and a man who was no less handsome than the man entered.

"Aaric, my man. When did you arrive?" ask the man guiltlessly and sit his ass on the sofa in the room.

"Can't you knock first?" aaric asked in a cold and piercing tone.

"Sorry man. I haven't seen you for a month so I miss meeting you right away" replied the man in a flirtatious voice in his last sentence.

Aaric immediately picked up the pen that was on his desk and threw it at the man, holding a laugh. The man swiftly caught the throw from Aaric then they looked at it for a moment and then laughed out loud at the same time.

"The basis of man is immoral" said Aaric on the sidelines of his laughter.

"But this immoral man is your best friend, right?" the man said without shame.

"I admit you're the best and most loyal friend, the Bellagio. How was your honeymoon with Sophia? You're asking for a month's leave for the honeymoon, aren't you?"

"I told you to call me Gio. I don't like long, complicated names like that."

Aaric just laughed at Gio's rebuttal and the man continued his words.

"Well, Sophia and I had the most beautiful honeymoon ever. And you know that we spend most of our honeymoon in our room and lovemaking? On her return from France, Sophia became pregnant. Tokcer right?" said Gio while grinning showing his neat white teeth.

"Good then" said Aaric indifferently.

"You're not planning on getting married?" ask Gio seriously.

"Most women I meet just want my treasure. I was lazy to follow them. They just want to be Miss Laurent without taking on their responsibilities, especially in taking care of my two children, Abellard and Damien."

"Nephew exactly."

"Yes, anyway."

The two handsome men were silent for a moment and Aaric's memory flew to the time when his younger brother was acting up to produce Abellard and Damien, two nieces who were nurtured like their own children, exactly a year after the departure of their parents.

Flashback...

"Aaric, I have something to talk to you about" said one woman in a trembling voice.

"What's up, Maria?" aaric was confused.

"I.i.m..." Maria could not continue her words.

Aaric grabbed the body of Mary, his younger sister, who was already shaking withstanding the cries.

"What's wrong? Tell me, " said Aaric, gently stroking Maria's fine hair.

"I'm pregnant" said Maria as she hiccupped.

Aaric's body immediately stiffened and his jaw hardened when he heard the sentence slide from the lips of the younger brother who was always guarded by him after the death of their parents.

"Whatdidyou say? Who did it?" aaric asked with a heavy voice holding back the anger.

"I don't know the guy's name. I only know her face" answered Maria still crying.

"Tell me everything."

"A month ago, Anna invited me to her birthday party at an elite club. At that time only me, Anna and some other female friends of Anna were present. We party drunk and play Truth or Dare. Long story short, when it was my turn to take the challenge, they gave the challenge to find a man and kiss hot with him in front of them. I found the man and did as they asked, but it turned out that the man had other intentions. He asked permission from Anna and the others to take me home. Instead of going home, the man took me to a hotel near the club. I didn't know we were going to the hotel because we were talking in front of a minimarket while drinking mineral water. After drinking that mineral water, my body felt hot and excited. Then the man took me to the hotel and I indulged in my lust and slept with him. I thought I wouldn't get pregnant because I used to take contraceptives, but I also forgot that a week earlier I had stopped taking them because I wasn't feeling well. Just three days ago I realized I was pregnant. I'm sorry I let you down, Aaric."

Aaric could only clench his hands and forgive his sister until nine months later, Maria gave birth to twins without a father. A week after the birth of the twins, Maria died due to the condition of her body weakened after giving birth so that the twins were cared for by Aaric until now.

Flashback...

Remembering the incident at that time made Aaric's emotions re-engaged. Before Maria died, Aaric had promised her sister to find the man who had used her. Aaric's daydream was suddenly cut off as the door of the room reopened and two loud noises filled the room.

"DAD," choked two similarly-faced boys who had just entered the room.

Seriate...