'Business is slow today.'

The 25 year old man thought as he made a left turn on the next avenue. The taxi he manned was old and run down. Manufactured in the 1980's, still used up to the present. Lucky for him, he had the touch of a mechanical god. Though it seemed a touch too much of cockiness, but that's how he is.

A man with confidence is a woman's man.

But too much will surely cost him his pay of the day.

He made sure he kept his mouth tight shut when passengers of the opposite sex climbs aboard his no good excuse for a taxi.

'A taxi driver.' the man mused. 'who would've thought i would end up in such a predicament?'

Raised by his mother and left behind by his useless bastard of a father, He had to grow up making big sacrifices for the 'greater good'. As a child, he barely had the good stuff.

Only went to school in a minimum amount of time before dropping out due to financial problems. He was never good with people. (Or "organic life forms", he so liked to call them.)

Rather than playing with kids of his age, he would tinker with his Lego's instead. Enjoying the way he built different objects, Dis-assembling and re-assembling them again and again. Trying to figure out their functions and their 'watcha-ma-call its'.

At least with them, he knew how they worked.

But with humans, he didn't.

His mother, a mechanical engineer, owned a small warehouse where she worked and built her latest projects. There, he would spend all his time fixing some of the broken machinery crowding the place. Sometimes, he would actually 'make' something.

For that, his mother was extremely proud. Fail or succeed.

Up to the age of puberty and pimples, he secluded himself of any interactions with people. Especially those who were constantly around him.

He just kept himself locked up in his own little workshop in the basement or his mothers warehouse. Tinkering away with his world of machinery and screws. Because of that, people thought of him as a freak. A weirdo who didn't feel any emotion or epiphany.

But he did. And man, how it hurts.

Though the cold treatment everybody gave him, he always had that cheerful demeanor that confused everyone around him. But they didn't bother dwelling into it much further.

After all, who would give a second glance to a lowly repair boy such as he?

He acted like any normal teenage boy would: He pulled pranks on teachers, flirted with hot girls who were way out of his league, joked around with his peers and laughed along with them.

But, during those years of trying to be normal, he didn't feel like one.

He was alone.

Dropping out of high school at the age of 18, he had to sustain his small family's well fair. He had to be the man of the house now and let his mom take a break. Being the oldest of two. Responsibility quickly went to him.

And he had no choice.

And so, that is how he ended up as a lowly taxi driver. With only 10 to 50 dollars as his pay per day. And that's only in minimum wage. His aunt would sent them some money. But it'll only last for one month. Their aunt has never actually given a shit about them. She only acknowledged them when their mother died in a warehouse fire. She was trapped.

And his aunt blamed him for her death.

He was crushed by his mothers death. But he had to move on.

Moving on. That's the only way to stay ahead of the sadness.

It was him and his 10 year old brother, Harley, left. And he couldn't stand another important person in his life gone.

Because of me.

"Valdez.." someone called.

His train of thoughts was broken due to the walkie-talkie that was attached to his headboard. The call came from it.

"Hey, Jake. Whatcha need from the Mcshizzle dragon?" he joked.

Jake Mason. His colleague and sorta acquaintance. They got to know each other in the training camp for future taxi drivers. Which confuses him to no extent as to why they have that. And also, why he attended it in the first place.

He heard jake utter something that was close to a 'kill me'.

"Valdez, if you expect me to call you that, then you better count your crazy stars."

Leo laughed.

"I cant count 'em, man. They're too many."

"Right.."

"So, what do i owe you the pleasure?" He said in his best British accent. Which wasnt much. He made another turn, looking for passengers. The streets of upper east side New York was surprisingly slow and deserted. Which was nearly impossible for a city such as the great NEW YORK.

And that's when Leo realized it was 1 in the morning.

Which of course, the time when people are in their houses. Deep in sleep, ready to wake up the next day to continue their daily routine.

While he and, what seemed to be, Jake were the only taxi drivers left for the night.

Right?

"I'm hitting some shut eye for tonight. Think you can handle the night shift without me?" Leo heard jake said. With a little mockery that wasn't left unheard of.

Leo groaned inwardly. Great. Now, he literally was the only one left. And if he wasn't good with being alone, he might have begged jake to stay with him for a little while longer. Which still seemed unlikely without him being used to loneliness.

He just nodded. "Yeah, sure. See ya tomorrow buddy."

"Great. 'Night bro." and the other line clicked shut.

Leo groaned. He tightened his hold on the steering wheel.

Come on, Valdez. You can do this. Just one more passenger and you'll be home free. He thought.

He scavaged the streets of New York for a passerby who needed a ride. But he quickly avoided those who looked and wanted to mug him and steal the cab.

His hope and patience was running thin. Maybe he should just call it a day. He made a pretty good earning anyway. And Harley must be waiting for him. He should also give consideration to Mrs. Rodriquez. Their next door neighbor who was willing enough to watch over Harley while Leo was off to work. Mrs. Rodriquez was of Spanish blood (obviously) and she has 3 sons who were old enough to have jobs and live their lives out of New York. So, she has alot of spare time on her sleeve. And she is very independent, considering that she was going to be 69 next month. Which reminded Leo that he should be buying her a present soon.

But not to pricey. He still has harley and him to feed. And the gasoline for his daily drive. And Harley's school supplies for which he'll need for his first day in school next month. And for their future expenses too.

Leo banged his head on the steering wheel. What was he going to do? His daily earn can't cover all those up. Not when his earn per day was 10 to 50 bucks. That doesn't even cover half of the expenses he needs to spend in a year.

He was going to die if this keeps up. They'll be broke. Harley will stop school and be forced to earn a living-

NO. He will not allow that. He will not let Harley experience the things he went through. His brother will have a normal life. Even if it cost Leo his own.

Leo was about to turn back and call it a night. When he saw a woman standing on the pavement of the building a few meters from where the cab was parked.

He grinned wildly. Finally! Leo caught himself on his rear-view mirror. He looked like a rapist ready to pounce on the woman.

He shook his head, tried to tone down on his excitement and hit the gas.

As the closer he got to the place where the woman stood. He noticed her head bobbing from left to right. Looking for a cab.

When her obsidian eyes laid upon him, his heart did a flip. She was beautiful alright. A woman of class, he called her. Glossy hair as black as a ravens mane tied on a braid and hung lightly on her shoulder. She wore a business woman's attire, but instead of the black Capri pants; she wore a tight pencil skirt that really defined her legs. For which Leo had to avert his attention from. He was certainly not that kind of man. Tons of papers were balanced on both of her arms in front of her. A brown satchel hung on her shoulder.

For Leo, she was the definition of perfection.

He stopped the taxi in front of her.

He kept his gaze on the road. For he feared, if he looked at her, he might never look away. He heard the opening of the backseat door, the sound of leather being rubbed against fabric, papers laid upon the seat next to her and the closing of the door.

A pregnant silence held in the air. Both did not speak. He thought, for her, she was waiting for him to ask where to go. But for him, he was just scared that when he'll speak, he'll sound like a mouse caught in the act of stealing cheese. He might squeak.

"Where t-to, miss?" he choked.

He mentally slapped himself. Smooth move Valdez.

But the woman took no notice of the man's strangled voice, instead she answered;Voice as smooth as silver:

"At Green hills residence."

Leo took note the control she had on her voice. It didn't quiver, it didn't show any emotion at all. A voice of royalty. It was punctured. Accurate. Held with pride and dignity. Ferocity.

This woman was rich. Even the place she lived was exclusive.

Green hills residence was one the most exclusive neighborhood in New York. Can only be found on the Upper east side. Where the rich and famous reside.

Leo took in a deep breath. He readied the engine. Though the woman showed no sign of interest or emotion for him or what-so-ever. That didn't mean he wasn't interested on her.

Yeah, she was rich. So what? He didn't care much for money, not unless he needed it badly. And he was no gold digger.

The woman herself caught his attention. And he wanted to learn more about her. But not right now. It was too soon. He'll find out eventually.

But when?

He took another deep breath as he started to make his way towards his destination.

This was going to be one long trip.