chapter 4

Derek's abandoned warehouse sat on the edge of the city. The smell of dust and old cartons filled the space. The windows were high and narrow, letting in thin strips of light that barely touched the concrete floor.

Everything echoed in there. Footsteps, breath, even silence. And Derek liked it that way. This was where he handled judgement that required privacy.

Paulo stood near, his arms folded behind him. Two other men lingered at the entrance. Between Derek and Paulo, sat a man who had made the greatest mistake of his life.

He was tied to the chair and fear filled the man's swollen eyes as he glanced between Derek and Paulo.

Derek stepped forward slowly, his shoes scraping lightly against the concrete floor. His usual frown etched on his face as his jaw tightened.

Paulo had already done enough to make the message clear. The man’s face was swollen slightly. One eye was almost close, and dried blood glued at the corner of his mouth.

Derek stopped a few feet away.

“You know who I am,” Derek said calmly.

The man nodded quickly. “Yes.”

“And you know why you’re here.”

Another nod but it was slower this time.

Derek tilted his head slightly, studying him like he was trying to remember something. Then recognition flickered in his eyes.

“You’ve been to the club,” Derek said.

The man swallowed. “Yes.”

Derek’s gaze hardened.

He remembered him now. Not the name. He never remembered their names, but their faces were remarkable, just like this one.

“Why,” he asked quietly, “did you write those lies?”

“They weren’t lies,” the man said before he could stop himself.

Immediately, Paulo stepped forward, but Derek raised a hand slightly to stop him.

The man winced, bracing himself as if he was expecting another hit. But no hit came. Instead, Derek crouched down slowly so they were eye level.

“They weren't lies,” Derek continued. “You seem to know a lot of truth about me, then.”

The man’s breathing quickened. “Just enough.”

Derek’s eyes sharpened instantly. “Just enough?”

The man looked away.

Derek’s voice dropped lower. “Look at me.”

He did.

“I'm not really in the mood for a fast judgment. So I want to have a chat with you. Why did you do it?”

The man didn't respond. He just winced in pain.

“Answer me,” Derek demanded.

“I was paid to bring dirt on you,” the man said quickly.

Silence echoed for a fleeting second before Derek responded.

“By whom?” He asked.

“I don't know the person. He contacted me online.”

“How much were you paid?”

The man hesitated.

Paulo stepped forward again, his impatience visible.

“I’m not in the mood to repeat myself,” Derek said with a dangerously calm voice.

“Enough,” the man whispered.

Derek studied him carefully. “Enough to buy you a space in the cemetery?”

Despite being tied to a chair, his body still trembled in fear.

Derek straightened slowly to his full height, his eyes still fixed on the man.

“How do you want your body in the casket?” Derek asked.

The man shifted in fear, the sound of the chair crapping the group echoed through the warehouse.

Derek continued. “Do you want your limbs separated from your body?”

“Please, don't kill me. I only did it because I needed the money,” he cried

Derek didn’t blink. “Didn’t you get paid from the same club you described on the internet?” he asked.

The man laughed weakly, the sound cracking in the large space. The sound angered Derek that he almost gave him a punch but he controlled himself. He didn't want blood on his ice rings.

“You posted details about my private business,” Derek said evenly. “You exposed something that does not concern the public.”

“You exposed me first,” the man snapped suddenly, emotion breaking through.

Paulo moved again, but Derek stopped him with a look.

“How?” Derek asked, genuinely interested in his response.

The man’s voice shook, but he kept going. “You bring people in. You make them feel special for one night. Then you discard them like trash.”

Derek’s expression didn’t change. “You knew what it was before you came,” he said.

“I thought I did,” the man replied bitterly. “Until you discarded me too.”

Silence fell upon the warehouse again.

Derek was extremely angry now. He felt irritated at his emotional expectations.

“You said you were paid,” Derek said flatly. “So this is about your personal grudge.”

“Money motivated me to use my passion,” the man admitted. “But I didn’t lie about anything.”

Derek scoffed. “You'd wished you did.”

The man’s voice softened. “You can't kill me.”

Derek stared at him as if he were speaking a language he didn’t understand.

“Why?” Derek asked. “What exactly made you think I haven't prepared a place for your lifeless body?”

The man’s shoulders dropped slightly. “The post,” he said quickly as if he just remembered it. “I'm the only one who can bring it down… completely.”

Now, it was Derek's turn to laugh. He let out a loud and humourless laugh that vibrated the space. Then slowly, he walked around him, his hands folded behind him

“Paulo,” Derek called suddenly.

“Boss,” Paulo answered.

“Did you hear him?” Derek asked.

“I think he is mistaken, boss,” Paulo answered. “The post has been taken down permanently and the account has been blocked.”

Derek stopped in front of the man. “Did you hear that?.”

The man hesitated as a fresh wave of fear settled heavily on him. “You can't do that. The account is highly encrypted.” His voice shook in fear.

“You want to know what else was supposed to be encrypted?” Derek asked. “My club.”

At this point, the man was already regretting why you posted about Derek.

“Please,” the man cried. “Don't kill me. I have a daughter.”

Derek didn't blink. Instead, he said. “You think kids would work on me?”

“Please” he cried again. “Give me a chance to undo my mistake. I'll do whatever you ask me to do.”

Derek's eyes widened in a dramatic way. “That's so desperate of you,” he said with a fake smile. “But I don't work with people twice and I don't forgive people who talk about my shit in public.”

“Please, my daughter is sick,” the man cried.

Derek crouched in front of him again. “You should have thought about that before.”

“I needed the money for her treatment,” the man whispered.

“Fine,” Derek said softly, “Let’s make a deal.”

The man’s breathing relaxed a little. “I’m ready to do anything for you,” he said quickly.

“Is that a promise?” Derek asked, mockingly.

“Yes,” he nodded.

Derek stood up once more and looked at Paulo. “Did you hear him?”

Paulo nodded. “Yes, boss.”

He turned to the man again. “I like having witnesses, at least one when making a deal, especially a deal with an enemy. So Paulo here would bear you and I witness.”

The man nodded.

Derek looked down at the man and for a moment, there was silence. The man’s earlier fear had drained and was replaced with desperation and little hope.

“You would send your daughter to a foster home.” Derek said slowly.

The man's eyes widened in shock. Even Paulo had the same expression. No one was expecting Derek to make that kind of request.

“What? Why?” the man stammered.

“You said you would do anything. Are you changing your mind now?”

“No, but that's not…” he started but Derek cut him off.

“No buts,” Derek said. “You already promised and I have a witness.”

The man blinked in confusion. “Please, you can't do that.”

“I can and I'll do that immediately,” Derek said before turning to Paulo. “Find his daughter and take her to the agency. She is better off as an orphan than to have a failure like him as a father.”

“No… please…. No” the man screamed on top of his lungs.

But Derek was already on the move, walking towards the exit of the warehouse.