The Gangster's Heart

Hashmi's face was aglow with a warm smile as he reminisced about his past memories with Nushrat. His eyes sparkled with mirth, and his entire demeanor radiated joy. But his reverie was short-lived, as Elliot's voice cut through the air, snapping him back to reality.

"What's the matter? Are you smiling so much?" Elliot asked, his voice tinged with a hint of amusement.

Hashmi's smile faltered for a moment before he regained his composure. "Nothing, man. I was just thinking... you should also find some nice girl who can take care of you." He said it with a chuckle, but his eyes betrayed a deeper concern for his friend.

Elliot, however, remained stoic, his expression unreadable. He didn't respond, and the conversation died down.

The two friends headed to the office of Amyra Real Estate, where they were scheduled to meet with a wealthy merchant named Dimitri. The meeting was supposed to be a routine one, but things took a turn when Dimitri suddenly retracted his offer to sell his land.

It turned out that Dimitri had been playing a clever game all along. He had initially agreed to sell his land for a certain amount, but when he realized that Elliot and Hashmi were the ones who were interested in buying it, he raised his prices.

Elliot's eyes narrowed as he listened to Dimitri's demands. He could sense the greed emanating from the merchant, and it made his blood boil. Without hesitation, he gave a nod to Hashmi, and the two of them set to work, using their cunning and business acumen to negotiate with Dimitri.

As the meeting drew to a close, Elliot felt a sense of satisfaction wash over him. He had gotten what he wanted, and he had done it without compromising his values.

But as he stepped out of the office, he was hit with a wave of exhaustion. It was a different kind of tiredness, one that seemed to seep into his very bones. He felt drained, depleted, and demoralized.

Elliot's driver, Tim, noticed the change in his boss's demeanor and quickly sprang into action. "Wait just 15 minutes, sir. I'll bring the car around," he said, his voice soft and soothing.

But Elliot didn't wait. He walked out of the office, his expensive Armani suit a stark contrast to the turmoil that was brewing inside him. The girls around him couldn't help but stare, drawn in by his chiseled features and piercing eyes.

But as they approached him, they were met with an aura of intensity that was almost palpable. It was as if Elliot was surrounded by an invisible force field, one that repelled anyone who dared to get too close.

The girls retreated, their faces flushed with embarrassment. They didn't know what to make of Elliot's behavior, but they knew enough to steer clear of him.

As Elliot stood there, lost in thought, he was oblivious to the commotion he had caused. He was trapped in his own little world, a world that was filled with pain, anger, and regret.

Elliot's eyes narrowed slightly as he gazed at his phone, his fingers scrolling through the messages with a practiced ease. The sounds of the city swirled around him - the hum of cars, the chatter of pedestrians, the wail of sirens in the distance. But Elliot's focus was solely on his phone, his expression a mask of calm detachment.

That was when he heard her voice, a soft and gentle voice that cut through the noise of the city like a warm breeze on a summer's day. "Hey, I can't see. Please remove from the front." Elliot's eyes flickered upwards, his gaze falling upon a girl whose appearance was... unusual.

Her hair was tied in a bun, but it looked like it had been put together in a hurry. Strands of hair were escaping from the bun, and her hair looked tangled and scattered, like a bird's nest after a storm. Her round glasses perched on the end of her nose, giving her a slightly quirky look, like a librarian who had just been startled by a loud noise. Although she didn't look ugly, there was something about her that seemed... off.

She was wearing a loose top with one arm falling down, revealing a hint of her shoulder. The fabric was a soft, pastel pink, and it seemed to glow in the sunlight, like a flower blooming in the desert. Her jeans were sleek, but they seemed to be a bit too tight, accentuating her curves in a way that seemed almost accidental, like a painter who had stumbled upon a new technique. The way she held her bag was strange, as if she was struggling to carry it, yet she picked it up easily and crossed the road, her eyes fixed on Elliot.

"Today's people..." she muttered to herself, shaking her head. Elliot watched her, his expression unreadable, like a statue carved from stone. He didn't like her actions, which seemed clumsy and awkward, like a puppy learning to walk. But there was something about her that was... intriguing.

Elliot stood there, his eyes fixed on his phone, trying to ignore the girl. But she seemed to be drawing attention to herself, her actions so clumsy and awkward that they were almost... endearing. Like a child who was learning to ride a bike, she seemed to be stumbling from one mistake to another, yet she never seemed to give up.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, looking up at Elliot. "My name is Haven. What is your name?" Elliot was taken aback by her directness. Everyone in the city knew him, and it was impossible that this girl didn't know him. He stared at her, his expression unreadable, like a mask carved from stone. But Haven just smiled and waited for his response, her eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint.

Elliot was shocked. No one had ever approached him like that before. He was used to people treating him with deference, with respect. But Haven seemed to be oblivious to his status, his power. She just looked at him with a curious expression, like a child who was trying to figure out a puzzle.

"How hot is it today?" she asked, fanning herself with her hand. "God! It should rain..." Elliot watched her, his expression still unreadable. He was used to people trying to ingratiate themselves with him, but Haven seemed to be different. She wasn't trying to impress him; she was just being herself.

As she tried to touch Elliot, he withdrew his hand, his expression cold. "Oh! So you are feeling hot too. I got it." Haven smiled and nodded, as if she understood exactly what Elliot was thinking.

If Haven tried to handle her luggage properly, sometimes the top would get high. If she tried to handle her hair, then the laptop bag would get crooked. Seeing her behaving like a clumsy person like this, Elliot took a few steps back from her.

"I think my bus has arrived," she said, looking up at the bus stop. "Oh no! I'm going to be late!" Haven started to run, her legs getting tangled in each other. She stumbled and fell, her hands and feet splayed out in all directions.

"Survived... Survived..." she muttered to herself, standing up and shaking her hands and feet. "Thank God! If it doesn't take much..." She ran towards the bus, her bag bouncing behind her.

Elliot watched her go, a mixture of confusion and amusement on his face. He had never seen a girl like Haven before. She was clumsy, awkward, and completely unaware of her surroundings. But there was something about her that was... endearing.