SEBASTIAN’S POV
I sat there, feeling the tension thickening in the room. The board members, all dressed in their tailored suits, exchanged glances, their expressions hardening. They were growing impatient. One of them cleared his throat, breaking the silence.
“The phone is a distraction,” someone finally muttered.
I clenched my jaw, resisting the urge to snap back. It was tempting, very tempting, to get up and walk out. But I couldn’t. Not today. Not here. My entire future hinged on these people. If I didn’t win them over, everything I’d been working for would crumble.
I shifted in my seat, gripping the armrests of my chair tighter. My phone buzzed again, a sharp reminder of the chaos outside this room, but I ignored it. A sigh escaped me as I reached into my pocket, pulling out the phone. For a moment, my thumb hovered over the power button. I didn’t want to do this.
Finally, I pressed down, turning it off. The screen went dark, and I placed it face down on the table in front of me. The board members exchanged a few nods, their unspoken approval hanging in the air. The tension eased ever so slightly, though it still gnawed at me.
The meeting dragged on after that, each minute feeling like an eternity. I tried to focus on their discussions, on the contracts and financials that were critical to securing this deal.
But my mind was elsewhere, back to the messages and calls I had missed. I could feel something lurking-something that couldn’t be ignored for long.
When the meeting finally ended, I didn’t wait for the usual pleasantries. I was up from my seat in an instant, snatching my phone off the table.
I nodded at a few of the members, masking my impatience with a smile that I’m sure was strained. My legs carried me out of the conference room before I even realised I was moving.
Once I was clear of the room, I fumbled with the phone, pressing the power button repeatedly. As it came back to life, I could already see the flood of missed calls and messages.
Damn it.
—
The screen lit up, revealing more notifications than I had anticipated. Missed calls, unread texts, all from Victor. Victor never called unless something went wrong. My heart thudded in my chest, but I couldn’t panic. Not here, not in front of the eyes that were always watching me.
I quickened my pace as I exited the building, heading straight for the parking garage.
Victor was loyal, but he was reckless. A loose cannon, really. I’d told him time and again that no move should be made without consulting me first.
Yet here I was, staring at the result of his impatience. Something had gone wrong. And I wasn’t there to control it.
I reached my car, yanked the door open, and slipped inside. The second I closed the door, I called him back, waiting impatiently as the line rang.
—
“What the hell happened?” I barked the moment Victor picked up.
There was silence on the other end of the line for a moment, too long of a moment. I could hear him breathing, and it was clear he was choosing his words carefully.
—
“It’s under control,” Victor finally said, but his tone told me everything I needed to know. Nothing was under control.
I exhaled sharply, gripping the steering wheel with my free hand. “What did you do?” I asked through gritted teeth.
Victor hesitated. “There was…an issue with the delivery. But I handled it.”
I closed my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Handled it? Victor, you better start talking before I lose my patience. What did you do?”
“I, uh, took care of the guys who tried to double-cross us. They won’t be an issue anymore.”
Silence filled the car as I absorbed his words. This wasn’t the first time Victor had taken matters into his own hands, and I had a feeling it wouldn’t be the last. His version of ‘taking care’ usually meant bodies and bodies meant complications.
“And what about the shipment?” I asked, my voice dangerously low.
“It’s safe. But… we might have a few loose ends.”
Of course. There were always loose ends with Victor. He had a way of creating messes that I was left to clean up.
“Listen to me,” I said, my voice a controlled calm. “I’m on my way. Do nothing until I get there. Understand?
Victor gave a curt reply, and I ended the call. I tossed the phone onto the passenger seat and rested my head against the steering wheel for a moment. Everything was falling apart faster than I could manage it. The board meeting had been necessary, but now I had another fire to put out.
The contract I was after wasn’t just a business deal, it was a way out. A way to transition from the shadows into legitimate power. But Victor was the kind of chaos that could drag me right back down if I wasn’t careful. I needed him to hold it together, and more than that, I needed to keep him under control.
Starting the engine, I pulled out of the garage and into the afternoon traffic. My mind was already racing through the possibilities of what I would find when I got to Victor. Loose ends. I hated those words. They usually meant more blood had to be spilled, and right now, the last thing I needed was attention on us.
My phone vibrated again on the seat beside me, but I didn’t pick it up. Whatever it was, it could wait until I had a clearer picture. The city blurred past as I drove, the weight of everything pressing down on me.
I could feel the walls closing in. But no matter how tight the squeeze, I couldn’t let it show. Not to Victor, not to the board, not to anyone.
I had come too far to lose everything now.
When I finally arrived at the warehouse, the tension in the air was palpable. Victor stood by the loading docks, pacing like a caged animal. His eyes snapped to me the moment I stepped out of the car. His face was flushed, a sheen of sweat glistening under the afternoon sun.
He walked toward me quickly, but I raised a hand to stop him. I wasn’t in the mood for his explanations not yet. First, I needed to see what I was dealing with.
“Show me,” I said simply, my voice cold and detached.
Victor hesitated for a split second before nodding and leading me inside. The warehouse was dimly lit, the smell of oil and metal hanging heavy in the air. We walked in silence, the sound of our footsteps echoing against the concrete floors.
When we reached the back, I saw the three bodies slumped against the wall, blood pooling beneath them. Victor hadn’t lied. He’d handled it, alright.
“Loose ends?” I asked, glancing at him.
He ran a hand through his hair, clearly on edge. “One of them got away. But I’ve got people looking for him.”
I cursed under my breath. A loose end like that could lead to questions, to investigations. It was a risk we couldn’t afford. I stared at the bodies for a moment, my mind working through the next steps.
“Clean this up,” I said, my voice ice cold. “And find the one who got away. I want him found before he can talk to anyone.”
Victor nodded, though I could see the unease in his eyes. I wasn’t sure if it was fear of what would happen next or fear of disappointing me again. Either way, he knew the stakes were high.
As I turned to leave, I paused, glancing back at him.
“Victor,” I said, my tone low. “Next time, you wait for my call. Understood?”
He swallowed hard and nodded.
I didn’t wait for his reply. I was already out the door, the weight of the situation pressing down on me. This life, the one I was trying so hard to control, was always slipping through my fingers.
But I couldn’t let it go.
Not yet.
Not ever.
As I drove away, the city lights flickering in the distance, I knew one thing for certain-this was far from over.