The house in Bukit Timah

[Realtimequote]

No updates today?

[flyaway]

" to get hot nurse, you must be patient"

Quite apt in our current times.

Originally Posted by Realtimequote

No updates today?

[ilikeoldchangke]

Guo : I don’t give a fuck who they are !!!

Backing up immediately, I prayed that the Rajahs would do something.

They did say they take care of their guest right ? I just need them to buy me enough time to slip away.
I have no interest in getting drag into a prolonged conflict.

I would have expected the Rajahs to take Guo’s men down fast and without mercy but that was not the case.

An invisible boundary sliced across the coffee shop with the Rajahs being the wall separating Yiling and I from Guo and his men.
Guo led the charge, grabbing a chair and trying to go for one of the Rajahs while the rest of his men spread out, encircling half the coffee shop as the rest of the patrons flee the impending chaos.

Everything was happening at the same time as the Rajahs engaged Guo and his men but not head on. I could see all of them were avoiding throwing the first punch or strike.

Like the retracting spoke of a closing umbrella, the Rajahs closed ranks, trying to fend off the attack from Guo’s men.
A couple of them were even taking a beating from Guo’s men, trying to cower and protect themselves from the barrage of kicks and punches.

Guo missed 2 Rajahs in a row as they sidestepped his strikes, opening up a direct route towards Yiling and me.

Guo : get them !!! get them all !!!!


Outnumbered and out flanked, the Rajahs were surrounded in no time and it was clear they were playing defence for now.

The Rajahs kept most of Guo’s men at bay while Guo continued charging towards me.

Guo flipped a makeshift table filled with pre packed bags of chilli sauce from the nearby chicken rice stall at me as the stall owner screamed at him for wasting a few hours work. Yiling and I stepped back and I kicked a few plastic chairs towards Guo as he threw a tray of utensils at us.



I pushed and threw whatever I could get my hands on. From pails filled with used dishes to trays with half eaten food left by the fleeing patrons.

Guo blocked and threw whatever he could back at me.

There was a loud thud and without warning, the coffee shop went dead. The lights, the fans, everything that depending on electricity had it’s lifeline cut off.

It’s like someone flicking a switch, activating something that should have been left dormant. It’s bright day light, they are not cutting off the electricity for no reason.

It was then I noticed all the cameras up on the pillars and ceiling.


The Rajahs may be violent men but they are not stupid.

All they needed was a few seconds of footage to prove that they were the ones being attacked.

Guo slipped and fell on a dish of half eaten noodles, cursing and slamming his body onto a stool on the way down.


As Guo fell, I turned and saw the encircled Rajahs rose up as one, fighting their way out of the circle of fist.
A Rajah punched his way up, striking the chin of a unsuspecting attacker and blood immediately started flowing as he staggered backwards and collapsed onto his bottom while clutching his jaw.

Another Rajah jumped out from behind the drinks stall, throwing a carton a green tea at Leon who narrowly escaped by shoving his friend in front of him.

James : It’s our chance to run… go.. go… go….


Guo got up and I narrowly missed a wild grab by him as Yiling yanked me backwards.

Guo’s attempt to come for me was stopped by another Rajah who dove towards him, sending him towards the glass display of a Indian rojak stall.
Metal tongs and gravy bowls scattered to the ground as Yiling and I continued backing away.

I barely pushed Yiling away when Leon bulldozed me against a small popiah stall. Grabbing his hair I slammed his head against the glass before trying to dunk him in the boiling pot of turnips.



He resisted only to shove his right hand into the piping hot stove, screaming as his left hand pulverised the stack of cold popiah skin.

I pushed him back and saw my chance to escape.

Taking one last look at the coffee shop before I ducked out the back door, I realised this was not even a fight. It was a massacre.

The almost kiddish manner in which Guo’s men are hitting and fighting were no match for the Rajah’s violence.
A hard headbutt left both a Rajah and his target bleeding, while Guo’s men whimpered in pain and backed off, the Rajah, bleeding on his forehead and nose continue hammering his target.

The others too ignored the punches and kicks raining on them by the superior numbers and all 6 picked one target each and focused on him.

It was a horrible sight as Guo’s men went from trying to hit the Rajahs hammering their friends to trying to get their friends away from the Rajahs.
The Rajahs may be injured and bruised, almost all are bleeding but they are focused.


Focused on the one poor sod that they got their hands on.
One thing is for sure, the others can run, but the 6 that got pinned and marked by the Rajahs, the only way they are getting away from the coffee shop is on an ambulance.

I could hear sirens in the background and I quickly pulled Yiling and ran.

Jackson : run… run…run……. we can’t stay here….

Holding onto Yiling’s hand, I ran towards my place while leaving the Rajahs behind to clear up the mess.


I’m probably going to have a lot of explaining to do and I’ll worry about it when it happens.

Yiling and I slowed to a walk as we turned toward my place and walked towards the lift lobby.

I asked her to remove her mask and windbreaker. Yiling pulled them off and disposed them into a bin.

Several police cars raced along the road towards the coffee shop and I could see 2 ambulance following closely behind. This is bad.

Just as I was about to head into the lift, I saw Guo again. Pushing Yiling in, I shouted for her to go hide.

Jackson : I’ll contact you…. Go !...


Guo’s bleeding profusely on his head and face and he was charging towards us.

Without hesitating, I ran at him head on. Our bodies collided, bruising muscles and flesh as we rained blows on each other.

I never expected Yiling to come back out.


She ran behind Guo and attempted to put him in a lock but Guo managed to break free, flailing his huge arms around wildly. I tackled him back onto the ground when Yiling shouted;

Yiling : enough !!!

Guo shove me away as he staggered to get off the floor.

He looked at Yiling with his eyes wide apart, unable to believe what his eyes are telling him.

Yiling : My sister is gone…. Teng will never find her….


Guo : you….. you……!! What the fuck….!!! you….

Yiling : Tell Teng my sister has all the videos he kept in his place…… his entire fucking porn collection……. All the girls he fucked…… we’ll see who has more to lose…. if those get out….let’s not forget he tried to rape my sister !

Guo breathed heavily as he glared at the both of us.

Guo : Teng will not let this go……he will not…

Jackson : do we look like we care….

Guo smirked and chuckled, as if he knew something we didn’t.


Guo : My employer is a vengeful man…..he won’t take this lying down…..

Yiling : Your employer is a sick man…..

Guo : unfortunately for you all…… you have no idea how sick he is…. And how sick he is going to become….

Jackson : fuck off…..


Guo levelled his eyes at Yiling and me while keeping a smug look on his bloodied face, slowly backing away while still keeping the threatening expression.

Guo : Teng will destroy you …. he will destroy you….. he will destroy the fucking Rajahs……. You have no idea what is coming…. all of you… hahaha…. You have no fucking idea….

I wiped blood off the side of my lips from a cut I suffered inside my mouth as I showed Guo the middle finger.



Guo : ignorant fools……we’ll see who has the last laugh at the end of the day…. you will never be safe…. You will never have a good night sleep…. You will spend the rest of your life fearing for the day we come for you….

Jackson : then let’s not wait… come for me… now…. I’m right here…

Guo laughed and spat a mouthful of blood stained saliva on the floor before turning and running away in the opposite direction of the coffee shop. It’s clear he just abandoned his men.


Turning to Yiling, I asked if she was hurt and she told me she’s fine.

Jackson : what now…? He just threatened us….. and the Rajahs…. Haha … is he for real ?

Yiling : let’s wait a bit for things to calm down before we go back to the castle….

Jackson : My place is upstairs…. Let’s go up and wait a bit….

Taking the lift up, I was surprised Yiling knew which unit I was staying in.

Jackson : How did you know which unit I’m staying at… ??

Yiling : you think I would hire you without first making sure I know everything about you ??

I unlocked the door and Yiling asked me about the Rajahs.

Yiling : How did you know they would help us… ?

Jackson : I didn’t know for sure… it was a gamble….

Yiling : how so ?



I explained that they have been following me on and off ever since the auction, and since they invited me to their family day, I was deemed as a guest of theirs. I explained to Yiling that Nate told me Rajahs always takes care of their guests.

Jackson : I don’t know what they are up to but they didn’t really bothered me until I saw them at the coffee shop…

Yiling : Oh ??

Jackson : That’s my neighbourhood coffeeshop….they were literally camping there…. So I confronted them…. Only to realise….

I opened the door for Yiling to step in while I looked up and down the corridor to make sure the coast is clear.

Jackson : to realise that the Rajahs owned the whole coffee shop….


Yiling : Rajah holdings owns a vast business empire….

Jackson : Not as big as La Bella Vita….

Yiling smiled before commenting that the Rajahs have their hands in more legitimate business than the shady ones.

Yiling : whereas for us… it’s the other way around….

[ilikeoldchangke]

I shut the door behind us and engaged the bolt.

The cool interior of the house felt familiar and comfortable. The smell, the sight, everything reminded me of my childhood and my growing up years.
It’s been a while since I last brought a girl up to my place.

The last time I did it was back when I was in school and my grandpa was out working.
A tingling sense of excitement is coursing through my veins.

Yiling was looking at me and I was staring at her. There’s a lot of things going through my head and the one at the top of the list was that we just survived a harrowing experience.

You can even say it’s a life and death situation.

I could feel an erection building as I looked at Yiling’s slender body. The clothes she was wearing is almost like a 2nd skin.

I felt the moment is right and if I don’t take my chance, I might not get another again.

I pulled Yiling over to me.

Yiling : Jackson no… !...

She spun and I cornered her against the door. My body pressed against hers and our face was almost touching.

I could feel her heavy breath on my face and my hands went for her waist.

Our eyes met again and there was that slight hesitation, that moment of sweetness with both parties unsure if we want to go down this road.

Suddenly I saw the change in Yiling’s eyes.

Her eyes tracked to her right and widened immediately before she pushed me back.

Yiling : Jackson !! no..!

I staggered backwards and I could see Yiling checking and adjusting her clothes and her hair before giving an awkward smile at me.

Or rather, behind me.

I turned around to see my grandfather clad in shorts and singlet, an old straw fan in one hand and a half eaten bun in another.

Jackson : Jesus….

Grandpa : No…..not Jesus…… it’s your grandfather…



…………………………………………………………



10 minutes and after some bickering in the room with my grandpa why didn’t he tell me he’s coming back and why are the lights off when he is in, the 3 of us settled down on the old dining table as a awkward silence descended on everyone.

My grandfather had hitch a ride back from one of the nursing home staff who was coming into Singapore for a holiday.
He wanted to surprise me.

My grandpa kept smiling at Yiling while Yiling nudged me with her knees under the table while giving me the look as If telling me to clear the air up.

Jackson : Ah gong…. This… this is Yiling… she is my boss….

Grandpa : hello… hello…. Nice to meet you…. Hahah… please take care of my grandson…



Yiling : definitely… definitely…. I will don’t worry….

My grandpa started asking about Yiling’s age, and whether she is seeing anyone.

Jackson : Ah gong… stop it… you’re making people uncomfortable…. She is my boss… !

I stood up and announced that we’re going but my grandfather asked us to stay as long as we like.


Grandpa : no… no… no… it’s ok… you all stay… I’ll go… you all young people need to alone time…. I understand…

Jackson : oh my god…. Ah gong… stop it….


Grandpa : I’ll go down to the coffee shop and have a drink…

Jackson : No… no.. the coffee shop is closed…. There was an accident…

Grandpa : Oh… it was fine earlier this morning when I bought breakfast……

Jackson : the accident just happened… you probably should not go there…..

Trying to get away from my grandfather and his nonstop questions felt harder than getting away from Guo and his men.

Grandpa : Jackson …. No need to come back so early tonight ok…. I can settle my own dinner…. Go ahead and do your work or…. Or whatever it is…

Jackson : don’t be an ass ah gong….


Grandpa : Si Ginna !!.. you see la… you see la…. raise him so big…. Talk like that to me….

I could see my grandfather directing that statement at Yiling and she gave me the dirty look.

Yiling : Tsk ! Jackson … don’t be rude…

Jackson : He’s being irritating…

Grandpa : I mean it… no need to worry about me…. tonight I go find friends…. The house is empty….

Jackson : Ok that’s it… we’re leaving…


Yiling and I did not speak until we got into a cab back towards Bukit Timah.

Jackson : I’m… I’m sorry…… err…. If my grandpa made you feel uncomfortable….

Yiling smiled awkwardly before turning away to face the front.


Yiling : it’s ok…. No problem… just a misunderstanding….

I cursed under my breath, who knows what could have happened if my grandpa came back a day later.

Yiling called her sister but she didn’t answer and I could see her staring at the phone every 5 minutes.

I could see her visibly relieved when a message came through.

Yiling : My sis just updated me on her whereabouts….. she’s ok…. Going to board the private jet now….


My phone rang just as we alighted at the foot of Binjai Hill road.

It was Rachel.

Rachel : What the fuck Jackson ….? What the fuck did you get my men into… ?

Jackson : Hi …hi Rachel…. i… errmmm… I owe you an explanation…. It’s a little complicated….

Rachel started cursing and screaming at me over the phone and I gave her a short explanation without revealing too many details.

Jackson : sorry… I was in a bit of a bind and I was desperate….. I’m sorry I got your men into trouble….


Her rants went on for a couple of minutes and I could tell from her tone that she’s upset that she has to clean up this mess. There was none of the neutral niceties she displayed when she invited me to her family day.

Jackson : I’m really sorry…. I’ll apologise in person…. When we meet…

Rachel : you’re going to owe me big time for this Jackson….

Jackson : Again.. I’m sorry…. I’ll….. I’ll make it up to you… I promise…. I’ll do your garden landscape if you like….


Rachel : A debt to the Rajahs Jackson ….. is not easily repaid…. I hope you remember that….

I swore I heard what amount to as a smirk just before she hung up. It’s as if she was secretly delighted that I’m going to owe her for the favour her men did for me.

The line disconnected and I stared at the phone for a couple of seconds, trying to cop a feel of the situation I got myself into.
I’m not a superstitious person but when I’m on the receiving end of warnings, it gets my hair standing.

Not a feeling that I like.


First Guo warned me of what seemed to be an impending apocalypse, one that I’m inclined to believe it’s bullshit but a warning nevertheless.
Then Rachel warned me about a debt to the Rajahs which she sounded like she’s glad to see me in.

They say bad things come in threes.

As we approached the castle gate, I could see Kamal waiting for Yiling at the main door.

Yiling : What did Rachel want… ?


Jackson : Nothing… she scolded me…. for obvious reason…

Yiling : What else…. ? tell her we’ll bear the cost for the inconvenience…. I’m sure she will be glad to send us the invoice….

Jackson : are you serious…?

Yiling : We got those men hurt…. It’s only right we pay for their medical claims…. Yes… tell her…

Jackson : Oh… ok…

Kamal : Boss…. Need to talk to you in the study… Jackson ….! What happened to you…. Kena beaten up ah !.. ahhaha

Jackson : I fell…

Kamal : Yah right….need to go sick bay or not ???

Jackson : I’m fine…


Just before Yiling left with Kamal, she walked over and whispered for me not to say a word to anyone about what happened.

Yiling : I will get Calvin to clean up the site…

Jackson : Ok… sure…



I went back to the farmhouse and took a walk around the garden to see what needs to be done.

It doesn’t look like Yiling has anything more for me and I have no intention of staying over now that my grandpa is back.

I’m going to bring him out for dinner before talking to him about going to the doctor. I’m sure he misses the regular food haunts we used to go to when he was still in Singapore.

I did some work at the farmhouse before taking a shower.

Before I kept the dirty clothes I changed out of in the bag, I pulled out the photo of Teng I stole from the study.

I looked at the photo again to be sure I was not mistaken.

Before my mind could drift further as I stare at the photo, there came the sound of light rapid knocking on the door. I quickly stuffed the photo into my pants pocket before opening the door.

It was Seven with his towel in hand. He gestured and told me he’s going to take a shower and I asked him to go ahead.


Jackson : I’m not staying over tonight….Grandpa’s back from Malaysia… remember to switch off the lights…


Seven rubbed his bald head and gave me the thumbs up sign with a grin.

As he walked away towards the bathroom, I turned and looked at his hand.

There was no tattoo on his arm nor his legs. I don’t remember seeing him topless before, I can’t be sure if there is a tattoo on his body.

[ilikeoldchangke]

6.30pm


I took a slow walk out instead of calling for a taxi to come in before I wanted some alone time to think.
As much as I hate to admit it, Guo’s threat is bothering me.

It’s not so much of the threat itself, it’s the way he says it.

It didn’t sound like an empty threat. The manner in which he described his employer too, it sounded creepy.

I looked up and down the empty road before pulling out my phone.

I decided to give Rachel a call and see if she answers.

Jackson : Hey….

Rachel : What do you want… ?

Jackson : I…I just want to apologise properly…. For the trouble I caused…. I mean it…

Rachel remained quiet on the line, it’s like she knew I was not done with my apology.

Jackson : It must not be a easy mess to clean up…. But I hope… I hope your men are ok…

Rachel : family Jackson …. All Rajahs….. are family….

Jackson : I’m sorry… I hope they are ok…. And ermm… Yiling has agreed to cover the cost of your…. Family’s treatment….

Rachel : do I look like I can’t afford to pay for their medical needs ? !! you dick…

Jackson : No of course not… errrr….. i… ermm…

I paused, unsure what is the proper thing to say. I mean, how the fuck do you apologise to the head of what is supposedly a triad about getting her men in trouble ? They don’t teach this in school for sure.

Jackson : I’m sincerely sorry…. I was desperate…. And… I rolled the dice with your men at the coffee shop…. I would like to apologise to them in person if you are ok….

Rachel : They are all in the police station…. My lawyers are still working to get them out…

Jackson : Oh shit… that just made me feel worse…

Rachel : Jackson …. You have to understand….half the men in Rajah holdings …. Have a history….a past that this society cannot accept…. And when caught in a situation like what happened this morning…..

Jackson : I’m sorry….shit… i… I didn’t think…


Rachel : I know you have a clean sheet…. But the next time you want to do things like this… please consider that men with a checkered past don’t get let off with a warning or a slap on their hand…. Not even if they are trying to protect themselves….

I nodded as I stepped off the pavement to avoid a helper walking 2 dogs before realising Rachel could not see my nod.

Jackson : Ok… .. i…ermm… I just want to say what happened…. Weighs heavily on me… and….. maybe if given the chance… I promise…. I will make it up to you…. In whatever way I can….

Rachel’s tone seemed to have soften a notch after my call and I never expected her to ask me out for a drink.

Rachel : come have a drink with me then…. I’m sure it’s not too much to ask for considering what we’ve done for you this morning…

I stopped walking and hesitated.

I was looking forward to bring my grandfather out.


Rachel : Why… ? am I asking for too much… ?

Jackson : No… no… not at all… err… so where do you want to drink.. ?

Rachel : come over to my office…. We have a fully stocked bar over here…

Jackson : where is your office ?


Rachel says she will text me the details and hung up. 30 seconds later, I received the address of Rachel’s office. It’s a industrial building in Tai seng.
I hailed a cab and soon arrived at the industrial area. It’s a 6 storey building with the word RH in silver prominently displayed at the top.

From the outside, it looked like any other industrial building in the area but upon closer inspection, you could tell something is different about this one.

The security guard booth is comfortable large, fully air conditioned and it sits 3 men. Instead of your usual security guard uniform, the men wore a black t-shirt with the logo of Rajah holdings on it.

I took a peek at their hands out of curiosity.

Only 1 of them have the phoenix tattoo on hand.


While other industrial building have the usual carpark barriers, the Rajah’s building has proper crash barriers installed on the ground.
I’m talking military grade shit. Bollards that can pop out and rip your car into shreds. The fence around the compound looks plain and it blends in easily into the surrounding. Unless you look carefully, not many will notice the number of cameras mounted on the columns of the building itself.


I reckon it covers all blind spot, providing the person behind the screen a unobstructed view of the surroundings.

The ground floor of Rajah Holdings holds a rough and unfinished model of a Phoenix. It’s made using scraps, different metal parts of vehicles and bits of wood. It looked like the artist abandoned the work halfway but you could just tell it’s a phoenix.
Taking the lift up to the top floor, I tried to prepare myself mentally for the evening.

I didn’t tell anyone I’m here and if they decided to do something crazy to me, I’m on my own.


The moment the door opened, I could feel myself regretting the decision to come here. I should probably have told Yiling or at least Declan about this.
Come to think about it, I doubt any Rajah would just waltz into the estate unless he’s high.

A small glass lobby separated me from the rest of the open rooftop.
The outdoor roof immediately reminded me of a prison yard you see in movies. There are almost a dozen of Rajahs working out on the benches and machines.


There’s half a basketball court and a few others are shooting hoops.

As I stepped out of the glass lobby, several loud clanks of weights dropping heavier than it was intended to rang out. Men stopped working out and they were all staring at me.

I should have thought this through more. I just caused their friends to end up in the police station that morning, a couple of months back, I practically trashed them at their annual auction.

Towards the end of the rooftop, I could see a outdoor bar with it’s own shelter.


Sitting on the stool with her legs crossed was Rachel.
She’s dressed in a power work suit with tapered fitting pants and I could see her blazer resting on the bar top. Her white blouse brought out the youthful curves of her body and she sipped what I think is a margarita while looking over at me.

It’s about 30m or so from the lobby where I was to the bar at the other end of the roof top.

Already I could see a few Rajahs walking slowly towards me.

I’m scared, piss scared in fact. I could feel the hostility in the air. I bit down on my teeth and I soldiered on.


With each step, I brushed past sweaty testosterone oozing men working out after the end of a day.
With each step, I gently nudged and pushed my way forward.
No one gave way willingly.

I had to look them in the eye and nudge pass the bodies as I move along.
It’s a delicate balance.
Too soft a nudge, I would be stuck in place, and that’s the last thing I want.

Too hard a nudge deemed aggressive, I might probably end up at the bottom of the building.

The more I move forward towards a smiling Rachel swirling her drink, the more bodies came forward to block me.


It’s like moving through a crowded dance floor with no music and no girls.

It would appear as if I had balls of steel but it was the complete opposite in fact. My balls probably had shrunk so small it disappeared.

Eventually I got to the point where I could not longer move forward.

Barely 3 metres away from Rachel, a mass of bodies blocked me from moving.

Jackson : Is this the way you treat your guest… ?


I directed that at Rachel and her men parted ways a little to give her a direct line of sight at me.

Rachel : We seldom have guest Jackson ….. so you would have to pardon their manners….

A look at her men was all Rachel need for them to move aside.

It’s unbelievable the kind of power she wielded at such a young age.

Gesturing to the bar with her manicured fingers, she gave me a smile as if asking me to take my pick.

Jackson : Just a ice cold beer please….


The bartender served me the beer and excused himself from the bar. Rachel turned her body seductively to face me, her crossed leg with her pointed heel dangled barely centimetres away from my knee.

Rachel : Does your boss you’re here… ?

Jackson : No… no one does…


Rachel chuckled.

Rachel : so no one will know… if you don’t go back ?

Jackson : I hope that doesn’t happen.

Rachel : Hope is a dangerous thing…


I raised my glass at Rachel and she flirted with her eyes for a couple of seconds before angling her head slightly and touching her glass against mine.

Jackson : Sorry…. For the inconvenience I’ve caused……

I asked Rachel why did she invite me to her company’s family day.

Jackson : why… why me…

Rachel : you are talented…. Funny…. And a little dumb….

Jackson : really… everyone says that…

Rachel laughed.



Rachel : the talented part… ?

Jackson : No.. the dumb part…

She chuckled louder. Young girls are more easily amused.

She composed herself and changed her choice of vocabulary.

Rachel : ok…. On a serious note….. You strike me…. as… sincere….. and trustworthy….

Jackson : Really ? thank you…

Rachel : you’re welcome…. What is your first impression of me… ?



Right about then I could see 2 familiar faces arriving. They took a seat at a table a few feet away.

Rachel’s personal guards.

Rachel saw that my attention was distracted and she gestured over to them.

[ilikeoldchangke]

Rachel : My brothers…. Henry… and Hal ….. big age gap….but they take care of me….

Jackson : I’ve met them at the dinner…..

Looking at Rachel’s heavily tattooed brother, I could not resist asking her about it.

Jackson : how….. does the tattoo work… ? what does it mean….? Why some of them have it on their hand…. Some on their necks….

Rachel raised an eyebrow as if I asked something funny.

Jackson : do all Rajahs need to get tattoos… ?

Rachel : hahhaa… no…

Rachel put her glass down and looked up into the evening sky for a moment before telling me what I wanted to know.

Rajah Holdings is a vast business empire with it’s fingers dipping into many different industries. Not all employees are Rajahs and you don’t need to be a Rajah in order to work for them.


Rachel : but we take care of our own…. A lot more…. in ways you cannot possibly imagine….

Jackson : I see….

The tattoos are a generation marker. A rank or sort.
Those with them near the head, they are 2nd gen Rajahs, those with the most experience and clocked the most mileage.

Rachel : There are not many 2nd gen Rajahs left…. A lot are dead or in jail…

3rd generation Rajahs are a little more discreet as visible tattoos are frowned upon, but that did not stop many of them from getting inked.

Rachel : 3rd gen tattoo are smaller, and easily concealed. Usually on the body, the top of their feet…. Or on the shoulders…..

Jackson : what about those on the hands…. ?


Rachel : those are mostly millennials......new age Rajahs….. not afraid to show and flaunt their affiliation…. But just so you know…. I don’t accept every Tom, Dick and Harry into the family…. You got to proof your worth….. in fact….there are strict rules…

Jackson : I see….

Rachel : there are some Rajahs without tattoos but the values in which they live by….. are the same….

Jackson : and what are those…. ?


Rachel : well…. One of them is….You cannot force us to do things we don’t want to……Rajahs don’t bend…

Jackson : ok…. You mean to say you guys are stubborn….

Rachel : hahahah…. Well… in way.. yes…. Very…..very stubborn…. Hahha….anyway…..


Rachel finished her drink before wiping her lips with a napkin, leaving a seductive stain of her lipstick on it.

Rachel turned her head and pulled back her hair, bringing her head really close to me. I could see her brothers eyeing my every move.

Rachel was so close, that I could smell the shampoo from her lovely locks.

She showed me a intricately tattooed ‘R’ at the back of her ear. It’s like an artwork, written by some calligraphy master.

Rachel : This is the mark…. Of those who have contributed and work with the 1st gen Rajahs…….very very rare…. Even rarer for us to show it… hahah…

Jackson : That is…. Really nice….


The 1st gen Rajahs are mostly retired or dead. Those that are alive no longer touch the company matters.

Rachel, together with her brothers and a team of consultants who are all descendent of the 1st generation of company founders, manage the organisation.

Rachel laughed in a teasing manner before asking is she is making me uncomfortable.

Rachel : are you…. Uncomfortable with close body contact… ? hahah… would you like a tattoo ? …. We own 2 parlours in town…. I can get you one for free….


Jackson : err no thank you….

I asked Rachel how does one enter the organisation.

Rachel : send in your resume… hahah

Jackson : come on… be serious… hahaha

Rachel : like I said… anyone can work for us…. To be part of the family…. It’s a different matter…


She dragged her index finger along the back of my palm and I quickly retracted my hand.

By the end of our 2nd drink, Rachel was getting a little more touchy and I did everything I could to try and keep a respectful distance.

Eventually she wanted a change of location to have dinner, but first she needed to grab her purse in her office.
We took the lift down one level into a corporate looking environment. Nothing out of the blue.

It’s pretty much a normal office and I could see some employees working late at their terminals.


Rachel offered me a seat in the office but left the door open.

Jackson : so I reckon…. You can’t quit the organisation…. Once you joined ??

Rachel : Don’t be so draconian… you want to leave… there’s nothing I can do to stop you….but if you do shit in our name or tarnish the organisation…. Well…. I don’t know what happens… my brothers usually takes care of things like that….

Jackson : I see…

Rachel : Many have left over the years…. People move on…. Some went overseas….. some migrated for a greener pasture…. And……….. some….. join a rival gang……


Rachel paused for that to sink in as she looked at me, no doubt sore about the fact that Seven is now working with Yiling.

Rachel : they may no longer have anything to do with the organisation but many remain a true Rajah at heart….till the end….

Jackson : That’s…. really nice….

Rachel : Yiling is lucky to have an employee like you…. I’m just going to grab my bag and phone and we can go….can’t seem to find my wallet….

Jackson : It’s ok… I’ll buy you dinner…

Rachel looked up from her drawer and gave me a seductive smile.

Rachel : really ? …. You’re buying me dinner… ? hahaha… don’t regret…

Jackson : why not….? what do you want to eat… ?

I left the office with Rachel and we took the lift down to the carpark.
Her brothers are already there waiting for her by their cars.


Rachel : ok… I know besides coming to apologise… there is something else you want…. the men that attacked us…

Jackson : yes… that is something that i…

Rachel : ok…. You can have them…. I’ll send them over to the estate tomorrow…. We’re done with them….


My eyes and ears lit up when Rachel said it so casually.

Jackson : Really ? … just like that… ?

Rachel : yeah….

Jackson : cool…. Thank you…. Errr… so…. Did they say why they attacked you… and us…it’s so out of the blue…..

Rachel avoided the question in the same manner Yiling does whenever I asked her about it.

Rachel : it’s….. none of your concern….plenty of crazy people around these days…. Anyway…. The Rajahs’ family day will be held on St John’s island…. Going to be a hell of a party….

Jackson : cool…. I’ll be there…

Rachel : Are you seeing anyone Jackson …. ?

I wasn’t expecting a question like that from Rachel and it caught me by surprise.


Jackson : err… why do you ask… ?

Rachel : because I’m going to marry you…

I looked at her in disbelief.

Jackson : Are you out of your mind…. ? You don’t even know me…. !

Rachel : I know you more than you know yourself Jackson …haha…

She proceeded to link arms with me in a joking manner and I tried to pull myself away from her.

Jackson : please don’t joke Rachel… your brothers are staring at me…

Rachel : They can’t wait for me to be married….hahah…. that way they can wash their hands off me… hahah…


I was struggling with a delirious and laughing Rachel when my phone rang.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone and the photo I stole from Teng’s place dropped out of my pocket.

It was my grandfather.

I answered it but before I could hear him say anything, the line went dead.

It’s like he hung up the moment I answered it.



I tried to dial his number as Rachel bent down to pick up the photo.

My grandpa’s phone rang a few times but he rejected my call.

When I tried again, his phone was off.

I tried several times as I looked at Rachel who was holding onto the photo and staring at it.

I stopped trying after a minute and asked Rachel what’s wrong.


Jackson : Are you ok… ? what’s wrong…

When Rachel looked up at me, her flirtatious behaviour is gone.
She’s not longer smiling, and you could tell the playing mood is gone.

The atmosphere in the carpark has changed.

Her brothers, sensing a change in mood walked over and took the photo from Rachel.

Upon seeing the photo, I could see the anger and fire in their eyes.

The one with the funny fingers spoke first.

Henry : where did you get this !!! where ! ?


Jackson : I stole it off the study of…. Of a man.….when I was…. When I was doing something….. work related……. Why… ?

Hal turned the photo to check the date it was taken and he showed it to Rachel.

Something don’t feel right to me.

Jackson : You….. you know Teng….. ?

[ilikeoldchangke]

And the replies I got sent cold chills of shiver deep into my spine, compounding with the weird phone call I just received from my grandfather, I was doing all I can to stop my body from shaking.

Rachel : No……I don’t know Teng……. .but i know Owen….


The mere recollection of that name sent images flooding into my head, cycling back years into the past and to the time when that man first appeared in front of me.
I don’t know why but my throat felt dry when Rachel uttered that name. It’s as if the name itself is capable of bring along some natural calamity, but this was a man from the past.
A distant past. I’ve never seen him again since that time when I was in the army. I took the photo because I remembered his face.

Jackson : h….. ho…..how…. ?

Rachel : because he’s the one behind the attacks….

My phone started ringing again. It’s my grandpa but when I answered the call, I was greeted by a different voice.

Guo : Hi Jackson…


Upon hearing Guo’s voice, something in my head snapped. I erupted and I lost my cool when I realised what is happening.

Jackson : What the… fuck !!!...DON’T YOU FUCKING TOUCH MY GRANDFATHER !!!! I’ll fuck you up …. Don’t you fucking dare.. !!!

I screamed into the phone so abruptly that Henry and Hal pulled Rachel behind them and I could see a few other Rajahs running into the carpark.

Jackson : GUO !!! GUO!! FUCK YOU… WHERE IS MY GRANDFATHER…. ?

Guo : you took someone very dear to my boss…. It’s only fair he does the same to you…..

Jackson : I’ll fucking kill you I swear to god I will kill you you piece of shit.,.. !!!


Guo sniggered over the phone, taking his time to answer me, displaying his superiority amidst the situation. He knew he had me.

Rachel pushed past her brothers and gestured to my phone and I knew she wanted me to put it on speaker.

Guo : you know… the past few weeks…. Has been particularly difficult for my employer…..

Jackson : I’m not fucking interested in your life story…. WHERE THE FUCK IS MY GRANDFATHER…!

Guo ignored me and continued talking.


Guo : My boss has been deliberating over a proposal so absurd and unthinkable….and he struggled….. to make up his mind…. But thanks to you Jackson…. Thanks to you and your friends…. And the stunts you pulled….he finally made up his mind….

Jackson : I don’t give a fuck what your boss thinks… or what you think…. WHERE THE FUCK IS MY GRANDFATHER…. PUT HIM ON THE LINE NOW !!!!

Guo chuckled and laughed on the other end of the line.

Guo : You must think you are safe right now…….deep inside the Rajah building…. but you can’t be more wrong. ….haha


I immediately swung around and so did the rest of the Rajahs in the carpark. Henry was trying to pull Rachel away and leave.

Guo : I just have a message from my boss for you and the Rajahs……………

There was a loud crash and the sound of metal smashing against metal boomed and echoed throughout the carpark.


Rachel and her brothers started running towards the entrance and I followed closely behind them.

I could hear screams from bystanders across the street as I took in the sight of the cement truck that had lodged itself into the security guard booth with half of it’s axel mangled by the crash barrier.

Guo : Teng………….... sends his regards….

Rachel looked on in horror as blood seeped out from the security guard booth I just walked by a couple of hours ago.

Henry : get back into the building….. Hal !!... get Rachel back to the office… !!


There was another roar of a heavy engine as a refuse truck mounted the kerb and sliced through the soft turfing of the area in front of the building.

Jackson : stay back !!! stay back !!!

I shouted to 2 Rajahs who were trying to put out a small fire by the cement truck with fire extinguishers.

They barely dove out of the way when the refuse truck mounted a tiled signage, sailed through the air for a second or so before ripping a large hole in the perimeter fence of the building.


The cabin where the driver was in smashed onto the ground and the windscreen shattered.
I could see the driver bleeding and smiling as if he was high on drugs. He was trying to climb out of the truck but before he could do so, a 3rd vehicle took the same path through the grass, rammed head on into the back of the refuse truck, sending metal scrapping along the ground with sparks flying a metre high and mowing the bleeding driver into pulp.

The deafening crash of metal against concrete almost ruptured my eardrums as I gripped onto the phone and I ran back down the basement carpark.

This is madness.


The 3rd vehicle is a bus and I could see men alighting from it.

They were laughing and egging each other on as they jumped out of the bus, many of them still laughing despite suffering injuries from the crash.

I shouted into the phone for Guo but it was already dead.

Another bus arrived and this one did not crash into anything. There was no need to. I saw a familiar face, Leon. Not only that, I saw faces from the dinner a couple of months ago.

Men from the Malu Malu

Elmo with his head of red hair was shouting for men to disembark from the bus.



I retreated into the carpark with the rest of the Rajahs and by then more of them had gathered in the basement.

As the intruders flooded into the basement, I estimated there must be at least 80 of them. Almost all of them were armed. I could hear several of the men speaking in some weird native language similar to the men I’ve heard at the nursing home.

Rachel : How dare they !!! HOW DARE THEY DO THIS !!!!

Henry : leave by the side entrance….. GO !! HAL …take her !

Rachel : NO!!! I will not….!!! fucking bastards !!!

Henry : leave now !!!

An older man appeared from behind the approaching men and Rachel shouted at him.

Rachel : RUSSELL YOU PIECE OF SHIT !!! FINALLY CRAWLING OUR OF YOUR HOLE you FUCK !!!

Russell, I remember the name. He’s supposedly the godfather of the Malu Malu base on what Yiling told me.

Russell : you know your biggest mistake Rachel ? …… not knowing what’s good for you……You should have taken the offer Rachel….


Rachel : Fuck you !!

Russell : You’re not leaving this compound tonight Rachel……. Before I kill you…. I’m going to rip your clothes off piece by piece…..And when I’m done fucking every tight hole of yours….…. I’m going to throw you to my men…. Hahahah….

Russell rallied his men and shouted ;

Russell : Tonight ….. The Rajah’s reign will end….


…………………………………………

[badboy]

Seems like the Malu Malu are Teng's men

Blood is so gng to flow at the Rajah's..



Badboy

[Tai_zi21]

Now waiting patiently for the next part.... getting real interesting in every single part of ur stories

Now as usual I hope they kill Teng and Guo damn it

[p0rn5tar]

Oh my gawd. I just F**king choot siao.

[emptypocks]

Really loving the updates. But have a hunch that Rachel and yiling probably may end up getting raped at some point of the story, as like in the other stories of ilock where the female leads get into that sort of trouble. Not complaining but just a hunch.

Thanks ilock for the really amazing stories!

[husky1shepherd4]

i think jackson gonna have a hard time paying rajah

will W.chin save the day?

[madmen11]

Thank you bro ilock!

Intense.

[sennheiser]

Owen works for welly chin.

Teng knows Owen. Hmm..

[btblue8]

Riveting! Didn't expect to warm up to Rachel, only for this to happen!