I wanted to bang my head onto my glass desk. Nobody could do anything right in the damn place.

Due to some idiot's mistake, an entire batch of AI watches had to be recalled. The watches were apparently missing the screen. So Hale Tech had just shipped a bunch of leather straps.

I freaking love my job.

I called the product supervisor and gave him a piece of my mind. "They seem to have vanished, sir," the man said defending himself.

I ended the call by briefly threatening to fire him.

I spun my chair around to face the floor-to-ceiling window behind my desk. The skyline of Gercalais City was full of high-rise buildings, but none reached the height of the building in which I was standing.

I need a drink. With this job, I always did. People my age never shouldered such responsibilities, why did I have to? I should be out partying, or getting drunk.

I strolled over to the other side of my unnecessarily enormous office where a table with an assortment of alcoholic drinks perched. I chose one an poured myself a half a glass.

As I sipped on it, I heard a sharp knock on the door. "Come in," I answered. A tall man with blond hair like mine entered the room.

"Drinking, son?" Father pointed out.

"Just a glass." I poured one for him and sat back down at my desk. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

He walked over to the window. "I miss this view," he said, his one hand in his pocket.

Cut the bullshit, old man. "It is splendid. But I rather prefer the one from my bedroom window."

He laughed. "Those slums?"

"Not every house smaller than yours is a slum, Father." I finished the rest on my drink. "You said the same thing about my place when I bought it."

"Nasty Street is no place for the son of a Head Director."

"It's Nashtier. And it isn't all bad, Father. The people are wealthy, just not as much as you."

"Us," he corrected. "Don't forget, you are still a Hale, son."

Sometimes I wish I wasn't.

He swirled the drink around in the glass before draining it. I rose and stood beside him. The afternoon sun shone into my eyes. I took a step back and waited for Father to speak.

"I don't think you're only here to admire the view," I said, breaking the unbearable silence.

He waited a few moments before answering. "You know damn well why I'm here, boy." His voice was barely a whisper, laced with an underlying threat.

I tried not to show my discomfort. He knows. "I don't understand."

"Then allow me to make it clear for you, boy. I told you to pull out of MaxCorp. You disobeyed me. The money is being wasted, Ryan. Stop the donations now," he ordered.

I don't know from where the confidence arose, but I was sick of him thinking he could boss me around. "Or what, Father?" I taunted, my tone matching his. "I think you forget that I'm an adult, no longer the little boy you once knew. And I run things here."

He glared at me. "Don't forget," he said through gritted teeth, "I own Hale Tech. One board of directors meeting is all it will take to kick you out.

"You gave me the responsibility of running Hale Tech," I responded, my voice rising. "For two years I've been running around, trying to straighten the messes that you created right here, in this office. All I have been doing is busting my ass getting this company back in profit." I leaned on my desk, crossing my hands. "So intimidate me all you want Father, but if it's a coin toss, I think we both know who the board will side with."

He stormed off without another word.

I called my secretary, Heather, to inform her that I would be out the rest of the day, instructing her to reschedule my appointments for the next day.

Ross, my driver, abandoned his sandwich in the cafeteria as he saw me exit the elevator. I waved him away. "Just give me the keys."

I pulled out of the parking lot with the top down and drove out of town, to Outer City. The skyscrapers became smaller and smaller behind me and petite, quiet suburban houses replaced the hustle-bustle of the city. I turned left to a street slightly wider than the rest, where the fences were painted light green instead of white.

I counted the house numbers down till I reached the right one. 57... 56... 55... 54!

I pulled over in front of the house and pressed a button on the screen on my dashboard. "Calling?" the AI asked.

"Zay Devereaux."

"Calling Zay Devereaux."

After a few rings, a voice answered, "I see you. Be out in minute."

"Exactly a minute. You know what happens after," I said with a laugh.

I counted down sixty seconds on my watch and then honked the car horn repeatedly till I saw him stepping out the door.

"My sister was sleeping, you little shit," he said as he jumped in without opening the door.

I took a U-turn and sped back to the city. "You have shaving cream on your ear."

He grabbed a tissue and wiped it off. "Sweet ride, by the way. You rich people get everything you want."

"Come on, that isn't fair." I stopped at a red light.

"Are we picking up Evelyn?" he asked.

"Yes. Better call her beforehand, or we'll be waiting forever."

Zay used the AI to call Evie. "I'll be ready by the time you reach."

We reached the nicer part of town, where all the important people lived. Highfield. I drove past the gates of my father's old mansion, the place where he lived before becoming the Head Director, where I spent the first three years of my life.

Scott Zelner had an impressive place. Not much of it was visible through the gates and the canopy surrounding it, yet I could tell. Beside the gates, the words Zelner Manor were engraved into the wall in shining letters.

Over the past month, Zay, Evelyn and I had grown close as friends. She had apologised for the conversation we had had back when we first met, but I knew she didn't regret it. We were her escape from her father. We met up almost every other day, either at my house or at Zay's. It was surprisingly easy to talk to each other. Besides, none of us had any other friends.

Zay's watch beeped twice. "It's her," he said. "'At the back gate', she says."

I circled around the compound to the back where she was waiting. She was dressed in a simple white T-shirt and camo pants. Her shoelaces were undone. "I had to sneak away, Dad isn't letting me leave the house," she said as she jumped in.

"Evelyn!" Scott Zelner's voice roared from the house.

"Shit! Ryan, go!" She ducked down between the seats as I put my foot on the accelerator.

She sat up straight as soon as she was sure that we were a safe distance from the house. "I'm gonna pay for that later," she mumbled. She stretched her legs and tied the shoelaces. "So," she began, "where are we volunteering this time?"

"The homeless shelter down on 4th Street. We can still make the lunch shift," I replied.

Zay was especially happy with my decision. He loved that place. His mother had spent four years there before she had earned enough to buy a house. He was practically bouncing in his seat like a child by the time we reached. I left my blazer and tie in the car and locked it. As soon we walked into the kitchen, the supervisor rushed to meet us. She was a plump woman in her fifties who was especially affectionate towards us.

She showered us with hugs and kisses. "It's so good to see you kids again!" she exclaimed. "Zay, growing stronger, I see." She poked his muscles. "Ally, you look prettier than the last time I saw you. And Ron, still as handsome as I remember." She pinched my cheeks.

Evelyn and I had to use fake names. If they knew our real names, it was only a short jump to Zelner and Hale. They already knew we were privileged. If the word spread that we were volunteers, the media would be all over us. So Evelyn Zelner became Ally Lynch and Ryan Hale became Ron Worthy.

She grabbed three aprons and told us to put them on before assigning us our stations. Evie and I were serving potatoes and spaghetti respectively, while Zay was to help in the kitchen.

Volunteer work calmed me down, took my mind off the rush and pressure of my life and cheered me up. I loved meeting the people and listening to them talk. Being born in a rich and privileged family, this was the least I could do. It used to be just me and Zay at first, before we befriended Evie and made her a part of our little group. She jumped at the idea of helping others when we first invited her to join us.

I never did realise how she became so close as a friend. We ran into her at the library multiple times, where she recommended us her favourite books. Before we knew it, the three of us were picking out books for each other to read, soon becoming close friends. We now spent more time doing random things together than at our houses.

I served the last plate. As soon as I turned around, Zay threw a fistful of mashed potatoes at my face. "Ryan, look out!" said Evie, a second too late.

"I have to go back to work, punk!" I picked out chunks of potatoes from my hair. "I don't get Sundays off."

"Sorry," said Zay with a big grin on his face. Clearly not sorry.

We helped the staff clean up the kitchen and the cafeteria as the people we done eating. I scrubbed the dishes, my mind wandering back to my office, to the argument I had with Father. Have I made a mistake?

Lately, it was becoming harder for me to keep my patience with him. My goals used to be oriented around making him proud, but I now found myself drifting further and further away from him. Father and I never had the best relationship; I had spent most of my life scared of his anger. Yet I wanted to make him proud.

But now... things were different. I didn't think I could even stand being around him anymore.

"So what's going on with you?" asked Evie, leaning against the counter on my right.

"What? Nothing," I replied, avoiding eye contact.

"Oh come on, buddy. We know," said Zay sitting on the counter on my left.

I could never hide anything from him. I narrated the incidents from the afternoon. "Well, well," he said when I was done, "this calls for a celebration. You finally stood up to the old man."

I let out a small laugh and finished up my work. We bid goodbye to the kitchen staff and climbed back into the car. "Where to now?" I asked. "I have some time before I head back." I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel.

"I have to go back," Evie said in a low voice.

Zay and I looked at her with concern. "Will you be okay?" he asked.

"I guess so."

"He'll hit you again, won't he?"

She suddenly became interested in her shoes. "If he's in a bad mood."

"Why don't you move out?"

"He- he doesn't let me. That Shellie isn't of much help either. She says that he's doing it for my good whenever I try to talk to her. I think she's afraid that his anger would be directed at her if I'm not around."

"Forget her then!" Zay exclaimed. "Maybe... you could come live with one of us? I've been searching for a place." He looked at me for confirmation. I nodded.

"Maybe you could both come live with me. I have a couple extra rooms," I suggested.

"Fine with me. I've bunked over at Ryan's often, and it's closer to work too," Zay said.

Evelyn seemed unsure. "My stuff is back at Zelner Manor."

Zay snickered. "Like you don't know how to sneak into the place."

"True." She shrugged. "But still, living with a couple of boys... " She paused. "... is better than living with an abusive maniac, I suppose."

"Don't worry Evie, we'll give you your space," I promised.

Evelyn sat up straight and brushed her hair out of her face. "Okay. Let's do it. I trust you."

***

Zay offered to help Evie sneak her things out while I finished the day's work at Hale Tech. As I wrapped up, Heather opened the door. "There's someone to meet you."

"It's late, Heather. I have to go. Tell them to come back tomorrow."

"You'll want to take this. It's Leah Carter. She's right outside."

"Wait!" I whisper-shouted, suddenly afraid the Director would hear me. "What does Leah Carter want with me?"

"How am I supposed to know that?" she hissed back. "I'm sending her in."

Leah Carter was a smartly dressed woman, with dark brown hair that was tied neatly in a bun. She had an air of control and superiority around her, and I was beginning to see why she had become successful in a political career at such a young age. I stood up from my seat and shook her hand. "Please have a seat."

"I'm just going to cut straight to it," she said. "I need your help."

"What can I do for you, Miss Director?" I asked incredulously.

"Do you have any idea what your father is planning back at directory house?"

"Me? I don't. I thought the discussions were confidential."

"They are. Yet I am going to trust you with something, as I know you will have the same opinion about it as I do. Is this conversation recorded?"

"Uh, no."

"Then listen closely. It is imperative you don't tell anyone about this." She filled me in about the details of the latest Directorial meeting. She spoke quickly and in short, clipped sentences. I felt a growing unease at the pit of my stomach as she continued.

"And I need your help in shutting it down," she finished.

I was speechless for a minute. "But why me?" I managed.

"Because I know you would care. No one else will, as long as Gercalais is safe."

"And what if I decide to tell my father about our talk?"

She smiled. "Being a Director, I have an extensive network of spies. I know about the little falling out you had with Owen Hale today. I know you won't snitch."

"Well you're right," I admitted. "But I don't think I have much to offer."

"Influence and power, Ryan. You control the biggest company in the City. You are more influential than you think. I need you to pull some strings and find Maxinova's daughter. She will know something we don't."

"I have some spies in MaxCorp. They say she's missing. I would be too, if I had killed my father."

"It wasn't her. Scott Zelner had Maxinova killed and pushed the blame on a thirteen year old. We have to find her before Vinn Maxinova's followers do."

"His followers?" I asked.

"The people he helped in Western Province. They promised that they'd do anything for him after he saved their families from starvation. From the moment the news leaked that the girl was the murderer, they are out for her blood."

I took a moment to consider this. "You have more power than I do."

"If the Directory finds out I'm conspiring against them, I'd get kicked out and behind bars faster than you can blink." She leaned to the front of her seat. "I'll feed you information from the inside, you need to carry out the instructions on the outside. We must stop Project Cloud, and expose your father and Scott Zelner with proof."

"What about the other Directors?" I asked.

"I admit I don't know how Jayson Hall and Dr. Quintana feel about this. But I'm afraid to broach the subject with them. One false step and they would know. We will just have to assume that they agree with your father wholeheartedly." She rose. "Try and find more information about the girl, and also Vinn Maxinova's successor Janet Fawn. I'll be in touch."

We shook hands again. As I watched her leave, the uneasy feeling in my stomach returned. I swivelled in my chair to face the window.

Looking out at the skyline of Gercalais City, I realised that my life had just turned crazier than before.

***

Ta-daa! Man, I love writing Ryan. I admit I have a bit of a crush on him.

I'm happy to inform y'all that the first chapter of The Crown of Ishtar is almost ready, so you can expect it soon.

And as always, don't forget to vote, comment and share!

Until next time, I bid you adieu.