"Who's this!?"
Nier said, his voice echoing through the intercom. Causing Daniel to speak up.
"Mr. Augustus it me Daniel, I also have Neil and Sam with me too."
"Yeah, yeah, but why did you bring so much people with you for?"
Nier’s voice crackled back, his tone dripping with annoyance, each word heavy with a subtle menace that made the boys flinch.
Imani's eyes narrowed, her hand snapping to her hip as she pushed past Daniel, her nose ring glinting under the evening sun.
"Hold up, who you talking to like that?"
She snapped into the intercom, her voice bold and edged with irritation.
"You invited my kid, so you're dealing with me too, Mr. Big Shot."
Tanya’s lips twitched, her arms folded tightly under her chest, her glasses catching the light as she gave Imani an approving nod. Marcy, leaning against the wall with her phone in hand, smirked, muttering.
"Oh, this is gonna be good."
Sam and Neil shuffled nervously, exchanging glances, their fear of Nier's true nature was making their stomachs churn. As Sam whispered.
"Mom, don’t piss him off…
"Shut up boy no one is talking to you."
"Boy, hush. Nobody talkin to you."
"Ah... Yes mam."
Sam said with his head down. On the other hand, she began to speak some more.
"Look, I ain't tryna be out here either, but you gotta understand, you offered my son a job. What kinda work a rich dude like you even need him for? Don't you got people for that already? Sigh You just gonna stay quiet, huh? And what, we doin here? An interview through an intercom now? Open the damn gate man."
"Woman has anyone ever told you that you talk way too much? How do you expect me to reply to you if your the only one speaking, sigh... Whatever, I am going to open the gate, just walked in and meet me by the main door."
With that Nier cut off leaving Imani and the rest to wait. Imani's seeing this started to get riled up as she said.
"What an asshole."
"Ok, ok Imani just calm down, I expected his attitude would be like this."
Tanya tried to make Imani keep her cool, on the other hand, they soon turn their heads, when they heard the turning mechanism that close the iron gate preventing anyone from seeing how the other side look.
Greeeeee...
The chains echoes as the massive gates of Nier’s estate hummed, a low, mechanical purr that sent a shiver through the group.
Imani snorted, her hand still on her hip, but her gaze flickered to the gate, unease mixing with curiosity. The boys, Daniel, Sam, and Neil, stood rigid, their nerves frayed from the memory of Nier.
Before anyone could speak, the gates swung open, revealing a long, black-stone driveway flanked by hedges so perfect it made even expensive drives ways look cheap in comparison.
Soft, amber lights glow along the ground, guiding the path like a runway. The villa loomed in the distance, its black steel and glass facade glinting under the sun, a monument to excess that made Marcy's earlier comment about the land’s size feel like an understatement.
And the loudest one there was the first to react.
"Holy…
Imani trailed off, her tough exterior cracking as she took in the sheer scale.
"This ain't a house. It is a damn fortress."
Tanya adjusted her glasses, her lips pressing into a thin line.
"I know his family is rich but jesus. How does one man need all this?"
She muttered, though her voice betrayed a flicker of envy, her eyes tracing the sleek lines of the villa. Marcy, phone already in hand, angled for a discreet photo, whispering to herself.
"This is going viral. My followers are gonna lose it."
Daniel nudged Sam, his voice low.
"Um bro am I seeing things or was his Villa like this yesterday or am I seeing things?"
Sam swallowed, his eyes darting to Neil, who just shrugged, trying to play it cool despite the sweat beading on his forehead.
"Let's just… see what he wants."
Neil said, but his voice wavered, Nier was an existence he deeply feared.
As they walked up the driveway, the air seemed to thicken, a strange pressure settling over them. Kaly's barrier, invisible but potent, began to work its magic.
Tanya felt a pang in her chest, a sudden, sharp longing for a life where she didn't have to pinch every penny. Imani’s on the other hand pulse quickened, her usual defiance softening into an unfamiliar pull toward the villa's and property allure.
Marcy’s ambition on the other hand surged, her mind racing with visions of sponsorships and fame tied to this mysterious, rich recluse.
The boys, on the hand was unaffected,.more weary than excited.
But as they approach the Villa the first thing that caught the group attention was the large garage doors, slightly ajar, revealing the many bikes and cars within.
Inside, a Bugatti Chiron gleamed, its curves flanked by a Lamborghini Aventador and a Rolls-Royce Phantom.
A row of matte-black ninja bikes stood side by side, they look basically brand new.
Despite none of them never seeing him ride any of these car's, or bikes.
But rather a simple SUV.
They even saw a large luxury bus, and van within.
"Those bikes…
Imani breathed, her nose ring catching the light as she tilted her head.
"Together they are easily worth more than my whole damn house."
Tanya's eyes widened, her arms unfolding as she calculated the cost.
"I wasn't expecting this."
She said, but her voice lacked its usual edge, replaced by a quiet awe. Marcy on the other hand was snapping another photo, as she muttered.
"I need to get in on this. He has gotta be looking for a business partner."
"Marcy don't get ahead of yourself."
Daniel said.
To which Marcy replied.
"Don't tell me what to do, beside I am sure he won't be too pissed about our past intrusion, we didn't even intrude upon his main residents."
Daniel sighed as he said.
"You don't know that."
On the other hand a massive double doors of the villa loomed ahead, carved with intricate patterns, as they parted silently, and and that's when they meet the tall man.
He had his usual stoic expression.
As he looked at the group and said.
"I honestly didn't expect a whole parade. But it is what it is I guess."
Nier said, his voice casual but annoyed.
"Anyways just come in already. Don't just stand there staring like you've never seen a house before."
Tanya bristled at his tone, but the barrier's influence dulled her usual sharpness, replacing it with a reluctant curiosity.
She was a woman of Hispanic origin.
Imani on the other hand smirked, her eyes lingering on Nier a little too long, a flush creeping up her neck. As she rubbed the back of her head. Looking at her Nier notice the low blond color afro cut.
And he found kind of hot.
Marcy tilted her head, sizing him up like a prize, her smirk mirroring his. The boys hesitated, Daniel whispering to Sam,
"He doesn't look happy."
Nier turned, gesturing for them to follow. The foyer opened, as the made their way inside into the upstairs living room, and the group froze, their breaths catching in their lungs.
Black marble floors gleamed under a twisted crystal chandelier that cast fractured light across the room. A polished bar stretched along one wall, bottles of rare liquor glowing like jewels.
Behind it, a massive aquarium shimmered, hammerheads and blacktip sharks gliding through clear water, their eyes glinting with shocked at the sight.
On the rug, a massive albino tiger stirred, its black stripes stark against its white fur. It lifted its head, locking eyes with Nier before lowering it in a bow, ignoring the others.
"What the fuck?"
Marcy blurted, her phone slipping from her hand as she stared at the tiger.
"Is that… real?"
Nier chuckled, sipping his drink, as he poured a bottle of scotch, on ice and amber in color before they arrived here.
"As real as me and you, don't worry, Jinx doesn't bit, don't you Jinx."
He said, bending lower to pet the tiger, who enjoyed his touch, before getting back up.
His tone was casual, but the glint in his eye made it clear he enjoyed their shock expression.
Tanya's hand went to her chest, her mind reeling at the cost of it all, the chandelier, the bar, the tiger.
"This… this is beyond excessive."
She said, but her voice trembled, the barrier stoking a gnawing envy. She pictured her cramped house, the bills piling up, and felt a stab of resentment she couldn't shake.
Imani, drawn to the bar, ran a finger along its edge, her usual bravado replaced by a quiet awe.
"You live like this every day?"
She asked, her voice softer than she meant.
Nier met her gaze, his smile widening just enough to make her heart skip.
"Pretty much."
He said, pouring a glass of something golden, and handing it to her.
"Despite your earlier bitching, I am not unmannerly. Either way, you look like a whiskey girl."
Imani took the glass, her fingers brushing his, and a jolt ran through her.
She didn't know how to reply.
Should she curse back for him kind of calling him, a bitch, or should she just take it and move on, and just be nice.
The answer was clear.
"How did you know?"
She asked, trying to sound cool but failing as her cheeks warmed.
Marcy, recovering, sauntered closer, her eyes flicking between Nier and the tiger.
"So, Mr. Augustus."
She said, her voice dripping with charm.
"You ever think about sponsoring some… creative projects? I've got a big following you see."
She batted her lashes, but Nier just raised an eyebrow, and answered normally not interested to be honest.
"Trouble, aren't you?"
He said, sidestepping her advance.
"Well no, anyways your not here for a tour, I wasn't even expecting you guys to come."
The boys hung back, their unease growing. Sam whispered to Neil.
"I know this was a bad idea."
Neil nodded, his gut churning. Daniel's eyes darted to the aquarium, shocked, and confused, was this really how the rich live.
"Was this really how the rich live, he basically in a whole different world from us common folks."
Nier set his glass down, leaning against the bar.
"So, Tanya."
He said, his voice smooth but pointed.
"You're here as a concern parent I presume. Relax. I don't bite… unless you asked."
He winked, and Tanya flushed, caught off guard his flirting. Still she began to speak up.
"What is this job you're offering?"
She asked, forcing her voice to be steady.
"And why my son?"