LOGINCold glares settled on Derek as he entered without rushing in. He knew the directors and major shareholders hated waiting, especially waiting for someone younger than them.Derek wasn't exactly young but compared to Alonso and the others, he was young. Too young. And that was one of his greatest achievements. That was one of his weapons against those old men. The main reason why he did almost everything Alonso did was to prove a point to him and his father. He made sure he entered every room his father desperately wished to enter. Also he started all the businesses his father couldn't start. He lived his father's dreams. Looking at it from the surface, one would think he was an ambitious son. Derek wasn't. If anything, his ambitions were fueled by revenge and disdain towards his father.The long wooden table stretched through the center of the boardroom, surrounded by men dressed in power, tailored suits, sharp expressions, and quiet ambition. The air smelled of their expensive co
“Frenzo? What the fuck is that bastard doing on my property?” Derek snarled. He was standing in the middle of his study, his phone pressed tightly to his ear, his expression growing darker with every word that came through.“What do you mean he’s there?” Derek asked again.Over the phone, the man sounded breathless.“He just showed up and he’s causing a scene.”Derek’s jaw tightened.“Handle it.”“We tried,” the man replied instantly. Derek’s eyes narrowed.“And?”“He’s not listening. He’s… he’s not acting normal.”Derek’s grip on the phone tightened.“What does that mean?”Before the man could fully respond, a voice echoed through the line.Frenzo was laughing out loud like crazy. The sound was distant but it was clear enough for Derek to picture how he was acting. The madness in his voice was unmistakable.“Is that him?” Paulo asked, stepping closer.Derek didn’t answer because before he could, another burst of laughter came through the phone. It was wild, and unrestrained, then
Raine adjusted faster than anyone expected. Too fast, if Paulo was being honest. She wasn't acting like a guest, and that alone irritated Paulo.Within days, she had found her way around the house, moving through the halls like she had always belonged there, speaking easily with the staff, blending into the routine without hesitation.The only place she hadn't seen is the secret club and if Paulo wasn't careful with her, she would find it in no time. “She’s too comfortable,” he muttered, watching from across the room as Raine laughed with one of the house attendants.Derek didn’t look up from the file in his hand. He wasn't bothered about her presence as long as she is not disturbing his business. “She’s not causing problems,” Derek replied, brushing his complaint aside. “That’s not the point,” Paulo insisted. Derek flipped a page calmly, ignoring Paulo's rants. To him, Paulo was just overreacting. “Your view and mine are clearly different. If she hasn't done anything wrong, let
As Paulo drove through the quiet night streets, his eyes kept glancing to the back through the rear mirror. He didn't say anything else to Derek. He just kept praying that nothing went wrong with Raine. Because if anything went wrong, he would make sure Derek learned never to trust strangers. Meanwhile Derek sat comfortably at the back, clearly aware of Paulo's anger but he didn't seem bothered.He saw Raine as something new and amusing. Like something he could use to test Paulo's patience for the fun of it. And Raine, unaware of the silent tension between both men, sat beside Derek, relaxed in a way that didn’t quite match her current situation. She leaned slightly against the seat, looking out the window for a moment before turning her attention back to Derek.“Do you find me crazy?” she asked lightly.Derek glanced at her without replying. “Do you often pick up strangers?” She asked. Derek sighed, already regretting why he helped her. “No, I don't pick up strangers, especially
If Paulo could get paid for the rage he was feeling, he would make over a grand. Each step he took with the strange woman made him boil. In his entire life, no one had ever accused him of something that outrageous. The woman really violated his morals and decency.Even if he had slept with any woman, which he hadn't in a while because he had been occupied with work, he would have made sure they had a mutual agreement signed on paper. By the time they stepped out of the bar, the night air felt cool but the tension from inside didn't feel the same.Paulo walked ahead, his steps were impatient, like he was trying to leave the entire situation behind him as quickly as possible.Derek followed at a steady pace. He didn't believe the woman's story. In fact, if there was anything, Derek knew the woman was up to something. He knew Paulo like the back of his hands. He knew Paulo was careful unlike him. He knew Paulo would never sleep with a lousy person like her. But he still asked her to fo
Despite sitting in the bar, Derek still couldn't believe that he was there. Unlike other bars, the place was alive in its own way. It was the kind of place where your authority and power becomes useless if you need it. Derek sat at a corner table, his posture remained relaxed but his eyes were alert. He didn’t like the situation, he didn't like the place, he didn't like being called out, he didn't like attending meetings he didn't initiate, especially when the man thought he had leverage. Across from him, the commissioner settled in after making him wait for minutes. “I'm sorry for making you wait,” the old man said, smiling too easily for someone in his position.“You shouldn't apologize for things you did intentionally,” Derek said calmly but the man understood his tone.“I appreciate you coming,” the commissioner said, pretending not to hear Derek's comment. “I don't appreciate an impromptu invitation,” Derek said. “I'll keep that in mind,” the commissioner said, still smiling
“Madam Stygian called,” Paulo said. Derek stood by the large window in his study, a glass of dark liquor resting loosely in his hand. His eyes were distant, fixed on nothing in particular.“And?” He asked with a bored tone. “She said you weren't answering your phone,” Paulo said, crossing his arm
The news about his grandmother had ruined his mood completely. He was in the middle of reviewing some accounts when Paulo rushed in that day, explaining that the old woman had fainted and that paramedics had taken her away. For a moment, Derek had felt something close to panic as a tight, unfamil
Night had settled quietly over the mansion when Lewis woke up from his nap. It wasn't his intention to fall asleep but the gawking eyes watching him shot invisible lasers of sleeping pills. He noticed that the house that had been filled with footsteps and voices during the day was now silent. What
There's no threat Lewis hasn't tried. There's no excuse he hasn't given. But nothing worked on Paulo. It was as if Paulo had become temporarily deaf to his voice. Finally, the black car slowed as the tall gates of the mansion slid open. The place was enormous, far bigger than Lewis's imagination.







