Hax cursed, slamming his mug down on the sleek marble contour of his multi purpose desk in front of him. The room was shrouded in the dark for he'd stayed after hours, as if anyone cared why. He hasn't slept for days since his investors were all threatening withdrawal, demanding for funds, he was bluffing about. His big marketing strategy had failed him, when it was supposed to bring his sales sky high. Wine testing's were more worth than their gain. They'd emptied up three weeks of supply from passersby, hoping to get one small shot without paying a dime, and they did. Talk about false advertising, like he'd ever trust some crackhead like Knites again.

He almost burst out laughing at the pure stupidity of it all. Leaning his head against the back of his black swivel chair, covering his face with one hand. This was fun. Real competition. He hadn't felt it in years. Not that Knites wouldn't be easily swayed to bow down to him, all he had to do was make a stand.

Hax pulled forwards, staring as the stocks crashed down, line by line, one by one. The lights reflecting off his glasses but trapping on his hair, making the blond locks shift partially white. Then he whipped on his dark brown coat, fixing his gold tie. If there was one thing he wouldn't allow tonight, it was the downfall of his company. Just sit there and watch as the CMT stripped him of his money? He wasn't a child! Balling out his eyes when things didn't run his way.

He'd always thought of Knites as a friend, their two organizations as allies, but he'd let him come too close, break down too many walls. And the best part, is the fact that he thinks he's won, Hax couldn't help but smile, before his fingers slipped around the edge of the door frame. If there was one virtue of being a pessimist, it was that you never truly trusted anyone, you always prepared for the worst. Oh good friend, come foe. Don't you know who I am?

He'd come in as a guest. Surely Knites still thought of him as one. That would be an asset if were caught. But he wouldn't be. He was too smooth, to good at too many things. All he had to do was step out of his black Porsche, and the girls were already fawning all over him.

Hax drew one hand through his perfectly manicured hair, then shot the girls a wink. They practically fainted. He chuckled, then again, he didn't blame them, who could possibly resist him? ;) He felt a flash of regret as he slide the black mask over his sharp features.

Hax cracked his back, then entered through one of the side doors. The CMT event was pretty much a party, in celebration of their new found success. Filled with casual customers, regulars, members and investors, all a little tipsy from their over consummation of their own dull products.

The plan was simple, find Knites, expose him, steal his investors, and leave. He'd swipe all their endeavors, just in one night, leaving them helpless, with only lint in their pockets. Swerving around two intimate females, he bumped into a waiter, holding a tray with three brimmed glass flutes. The liquids sloshed as he tried in vain to keep them in balance, but they toppled in his direction and spilled all over his tux. The glasses clanking and shattering on the concrete flooring

"Oh God!! I'm so sorry!" Hax amended sheepishly, patting down the waiters shirt in hopes of removing some of the excess droplets.

He immediately batted his hand away, "no need..." the waiter grunted, crouching down to pick up the broken shards. He was obviously in a terrible mood, and Hax had made it worse.

Noting this, he tip-toed around the mess and blended back into the scene. With the roaring chatter and the ear-splitting music, he was sure no one had noticed his stunt, and even if they had, no one would care through the chaos around him.

Hax made his way to the only free room he could find, the bathroom, relieved it was vacant. It was filled with strawberry flavored vape smoke. But at least it was empty. The hubbub of the party outside muffled as he shut the door gently behind him, the pulled the mask down from his face. He took a few breaths, he had to admit it was uncomfortably humid in the building. A bead of sweat dripped down his face. He shifted over to the sink, turned on the tap, then splashed water onto his cheeks. Then looked up into the mirror, admiring himself. His light ocean blue eyes, the blond stands of hair that brushed against his wet, glowing forehead. He smiled, and almost got blinded by the sheer gleam of his own pearly white teeth.

It took him a long moment to finally break away from the medusa he saw in that mirror, and to remember what he'd come here for. Thrusting his hand into his leather pocket, he dug around until his fingers came into contact with the edge of a thin rectangular surface. He'd stolen that waiters keycard, and now he was skimming through its credentials. It wasn't at that high of a ranking, but Hax was certain it would be able to grant him entry into the lounge. How? Because he was destined for greatness, everyone knew it, even the gods!

The was no flaw in his plan, no stone overlooked. People were like sheep. Just get one rolling and the others would follow. Knites might be one of the wolves, but Hax? Hax was the Shepheard, and people like Knites, only existed to do as he commanded. Tonight he would regain his empire, in fact, he had no doubt of it.

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Knites laughed, as he and his investors, Lucy, Kain, Gilbert, and Dean played beer pong on the pool table in the lounge. He'd worked so hard for this day, but he knew in his heart, that he wouldn't have made it anywhere without the people at his sides right now. No matter how foolish they became drunk.

"HECK YEAH!! Three in one BABY!!" Kain waved his arms in the air, then skipped over to dab him up, but almost toppled over by the mere act of winding up his flimsy arm.

The rest of the investors cackled as Knites reached out with his two against Kain's shoulders, steading him. Sitting up, he thrust him down into his seat, "I think you've had enough for today." Miss one more, and he might really crashing into something.

Knites swiped the ping pong ball from him, leaning close, his tie kissing the fabric of the table, so he could see the cup from over the top of the ball. It swayed partially, it's edges blurred, due to the alcohol he'd already consumed. Taking a breath, he braised himself to toss it. Just as it slips off the tips of his nails, the doors to the lounge burst open. Startled, he curled his hands at the last second, sending the ball off course, falling short of its goal. "Who is it?" Knites let the frustration sour his words. Though, he could tell who the intruder was, just by the shadow that settled over the room.

"You know who I am."

Hax, the stubborn idiot, the chest of misfortune. His old coworker. How could he forget? Every hour he'd spent trading beside him felt like twice the work, since, besides making profit, he had to feed this mans ego, or he'd be turned away without any credit, not that in the end he hadn't. Couldn't Knites leaving be closure enough? Why was he here?

"What do you want?" Knites sighed, pulling back from the table, and instead, making his way over to the coffee table in the corner of the room, which held the shots of champagne. Maybe he finally wanted to admit how much Knites had helped him! How much he appreciated him, that he felt lost and needed his help.

Behind him, Lucy took her turn.

"I'll admit, this has been fun! Just came to remind you Knites that, I expect you to be at the office at 9am tomorrow. There's a lot of work to be done, and I know, with my guidance, you will somehow prevail." In the room, everyone had grown silent, Lucy dropped the ball.

Hax shot them all a pitying smile, letting out a slow breath of air, then swaying on his heels slightly, with his hands stuck in his pockets, "Oh! And to the rest of you. I'll make the very generous offer that, if you invest twice what you had before, you can rejoin the team. Chop Chop! Get your phones out!"

Knites gave him a slow blink.

Dean looked up from where he was stretched out on the bean bag, "You realize... none of us like you... right?"

There was a beat of silence.

Hax looked around the room, with genuine confusion in his eyes. "Are you all blind? Can you not see true potential??"

No one spoke.

Hax cocked his head back, chuckling to himself, then stared back at them.

Knites couldn't understand what was so funny.

"So... wait! Lemme get this straight..." He looked down now, his wide grin still infecting the whole of his face. "You seriously think this worm is gonna get you somewhere?!" He pointed a finger at Knites, laughing so hard now that he keeled over in two, one hand on his knee. "This good for nothing rat?!?"

Knites couldn't ignore the pang that filled his heart. Even after the way Hax had treated him, abused his throughout the years, there was still a small part of him that wanted validation from him. He wanted so badly to kill that version of himself.

Gilbert instinctively stood in front of Knites, shielding him. "Knites does ten times the work you did, and at least he pays us." He paced forwards until his face was only an inch away from Hax's, "if you want us back so bad, then pay us in advance. Or at least show us the money."

Hax leaned in closer, his eyes alighting in fire, his voice menacingly deep. "I don't have to prove myself to anyone. Especially you ill-bread rodents."

The alcohol in the air was suddenly extremely abundant.

"Will you two STOP IT!" Lucy demanded. She'd somehow materialized next to them, and was now pushing them apart. "Hax, we'll think about it, now just get out of here!"

Hax stepped back, keeping his blue diamond gaze fixed on Knites cool coffee eyes, an arrogant smirk consuming his mouth. Then he rolled his eyes, and left without looked back, his shoulders loose.

Knites let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, then sunk to the floor, his hands still clutching the edge of the pool table.

"Knites?" It was Dean. He had crouched down next to him, one arm wrapped awkwardly around his shoulders. "Don't worry about him! Tonight's your night."

"Yeah!" Lucy agreed, stealing the bean bag, "I was lying, I hate that guy!"

"You said it." Gilbert backed up, through gulps of more champagne.

Somewhere in the back, Kain was snoring.

Knites regained his reserve, then pushed himself back up. "Thanks guys."