Boss Xand

Winsley City 07:15H

The morning traffic was light enough as Dragon pulled up into the basement parking of his penthouse. Going up to his floor through the elevator, he leaned back on its walls and closed his eyes. He began to feel the overwhelming fatigue from last night's adrenaline rush.

There were a lot on his plate at the moment that he felt the desire to just escape for the day. However, he knew that thousands of people were his responsibility now. He could not afford to waste a day away since Baylis Empire was continuously growing each day.

The elevator dinged and opened its doors at the same time Dragon opened his tired eyes. He pushed himself out and walked to his door. He keyed in his security code and strode to his apartment. Setting the keys by the side table, he ruffled his hair and started to head to the bathroom, hoping a shower might help him wash away his fatigue.

While in the shower, his mind drifted on the recent healthy arguments that his team aired during their post-mission assessment. He realized that in a few years, all of them had gotten better in analysing people, situations and cases. They did not only depend on him as their leader, but they also developed confidence amongst themselves. He then silently decided to let them handle things their own way when it comes to their missions.

He quickly finished his shower. Drying himself with a towel, he entered his walk-in closet and changed into crisp business suit.

"Time to switch back into my other life," he muttered with a sigh as he headed out.

Dragon's real name was Xander Baylis, aka Boss Xand, the leader and founder of a mercenary group they pridefully called HIRED: Handsome, Intensely Ravishing and Extremely Dangerous. It's not unfounded though. All five of them attracts women (and even men) of all shapes and ages anywhere they go. They have their own unique charms that they sometimes use for their advantage.

HIRED was formed from a series of circumstances where eventually, NIA started to take notice of their "adventures."

NIA realized that instead of havoc, they were rather "helping" the agency to uncover secrets that even them were incapable of doing.

Since then, NIA would contract them for covert surveillance, rescue missions, and even deal with prominent personalities who turned out villains in their country.

However, not all contracted missions were accepted by him. After all, being one of the legendary businessmen, Xander still prioritizes his time with his empire.

With Shania Cray's case, however, Dragon did not hesitate to accept, for reasons only he would know.

Bottomline, they do missions just for the sake of adventures and the thrill. Although for Xander, he uses this advantage for his business strategies resulting in his Baylis Empire to contribute ten percent of the country's GDP (1).

Xander used to be in the Marines, but he got out early when his parents passed away. He inherited his father's company and turned it into a huge business empire that it is now. At thirty-two, he was the CEO of Baylis Empire Group, a company that excels in various industries such as electronics, cyber security, IT software and telecommunications.

Xander exited the lobby of his penthouse where his driver was waiting with his luxurious silver Maybach S600.

When the driver saw him walk out of the lobby, he immediately opened the passenger's door. "Good morning, Mr. Baylis."

Xander nodded his head in acknowledgment.

Mr. Cheah was already an old grandfather. He started working with Baylis family since Xander's grandfather younger years.

Once they pulled into the traffic, Xander's phone started ringing and he saw that it was his assistant calling. He answered immediately.

"Jake, what's today's shedule?"

"Sir, you have a 10 o'clock meeting with Sunpower Group. Your next meeting will be with Han Luo Logistics in the afternoon at 2 o'clock." Jake Cassio, the person on the other line immediately responded. Jake jad just graduated when he entered Baylis Empire as a simple clerk. After a couple of years, his honed ability and incredible sense of attention to details prompted Xander to train him as his assistant.

"Is it a good thing that I only have two meetings today?" Though he sounded lightly on the line, he was beginning to harbor suspicions to his assistant.

He could not help it. That was what he learned from his years of experience in the Marines. Although Jake was trained in his company, it didn't give him assurance that he can earn the guy's loyalty. For he'd seen people who could bend their own principles in front of wealth.

Jake paused before he nervously answered, "W-well, I put your lunch meeting with Senator Yves on tentative. I remember your earlier instructions to me on scheduling these meetings with political leaders."

"Very well. What did she say about her agenda?" Xander was satisfied with his assistant's reply, although he was dreading to meet the senator.

"She said something about putting up a vocational training instituion for juveniles and she was looking for private businesses to form a Public-Private Venture."

"Did she send a proposal?"

"I am expecting their office to send one this morning."

"Alright. Please make me coffee soon as I get there. Thanks, Jake." With that, he hung up and ordered his driver to speed up.

Weaving through the highway, Xander began to reminisce his endeavors.

Baylis Empire headquarters occupy the upper half of Ibeji Towers. Inspired by African mythology, Ibeji Towers is a pair of one-hundred and twenty-storey skyscraper. Built in a span of five years, both Taiwo and Kahinde(2) towers were carefully twisted at 360° angle that seemed like a pair of whirlwinds. Both spinning tall and powerful as they pointed towards the sky with their mirror-like glass exterior and steel frameworks aesthetically designed to survive a 9.5 magnitude earthquake.

When Xander had just gotten the torch of Baylis Empire, he came across the virtual design of an architect. Seeing the magnificence it can bring to his Baylis Empire, he immediately bought it and commissioned the said architect together with world reknowned engineers to construct the towers.

This was his very first property development project for the company. His monicker: "the whirlinds of life."

For him, in order to reach the top, one would be led to whirlwinds of life that would sharpen him up until finally reaching one's goal, destination and even purpose.

By the time his reminiscing ended, they were already pulling up into the entrance of Baylis Empire Headquarters. He then got out of the car.

Looking up from the ground where he was standing, Xander always felt an indescribable pride swelling in his soul whenever he sees the magnificence of Ibeji Towers.

After a beat, he walked past the lobby towards his private elevator that would lead him to his office.