“Sister!” A young man dashed into the apartment, his breath ragged and his eyes widening as he spotted Diana packing her things.
He marched forward and asked, “What are you doing?”
“Leaving,” Diana responded, throwing an empty bag at him. She ordered, “Pack your things too.”
“What?! What’s going on? What happened to me years ago is now in the media. Everything I’ve been working for is going down the drain. I might be expelled from college for something I don’t even know about. I was framed with drugs, sis…”
“Can you stop whining and pack your things?” Diana snapped, taking a deep breath. “Don’t worry, I’ll explain everything. Just do as I say.”
Her brother finally nodded.
___
“We couldn’t find Diana. It seems she knew we were coming for her and left her apartment.”
Nathan scoffed and shot a glare at Flynn, whose arm was wrapped in a bandage.
Again! His plan was exposed and ruined. How? Nathan’s face slowly contorted into a serious expression as something struck his mind.
“You were drugged when Paisley was taken, huh?” Nathan approached Flynn, his scrutinizing eyes forcing Flynn to take a step backward.
Nathan began to search him. He checked all his pockets, and his gaze settled on Flynn’s hair. His hand reached for it, and then-boom!-he found it.
A tiny device, its color matching Flynn’s hair. He gestured for Flynn to be quiet and turned to walk back to his window.
“Tatiana,” he mentioned.
___
Tatiana’s brow creased upon hearing her name. He found out quicker than she had expected.
Jolene was with her, hearing everything too.
Diana and her brother were present as well, both trembling.
An unknown number called Tatiana’s phone. Definitely Nathan. She swiped green and sank back into her chair.
“Hello?” Her voice sounded neutral as she answered.
“What a nice way of playing games, Tatiana. I had the urge to find out who could possibly be behind this, and my mind went to you. Did my bitch tell you? How I ordered Zero to brutalize your sister and send her to hell? I’m sure she did.”
Tatiana tried to compose her emotions and stayed quiet.
“Scared?” Nathan’s annoying voice sounded on the other end. “Do you really think I won’t have a plan B? I was already planning to attack you whether you were the one behind Paisley’s incident or not. I want you, Tatiana, and I’ll have you. You can call it obsession; I don’t fucking care.”
“You’re the stupidest person I’ve ever met,” Tatiana shook her head, her eyes shifting to the figure who was also in the room.
“Oh, watch me. Your sister was quite disobedient, just like you. She dared me, and I taught her a lesson. Do you really think Diana’s record on me would actually take me down?” Nathan chuckled and continued, “While you’re busy sticking your hand into the wrong cookie jar, you abandoned your son, Dylan, Tatiana…”
Tatiana’s expression didn’t change, and she didn’t speak a word. She heard a beep sound in the background.
“You heard that? It’s a notification that I’ve got your son. You mentioned I’d be doomed if I met Dylan’s father. Let’s see how true those words are. I dare him to show how powerful he is and not lurk in the shadows. Or perhaps he is a man who doesn’t even care about you. I can’t wait to see how you’ll crawl your way to me, begging me to stop, Tatiana…”
With that, the call ended.
When it did, the man who had been quiet in the room with a domineering aura stood up slowly.
Diana and her brother had actually been trembling because of his presence the whole time. His gaze was sharp, and the anger emanating from him was palpable.
Diana had heard rumors of Tatiana bearing a child for a secret lover. Who would have thought the man was…
The one and only Cassius King!
He approached the table and did a shocking thing. He kissed Tatiana’s cheek.
Even Tatiana didn’t expect this action from him, but she smiled.
“I’ll be back,” he whispered, casting one last glance at the others before leaving the room.
“Aww, big boss is so romantic! You guys should get married already!” Jolene squealed, and Tatiana blushed.
Gosh! Maybe Cassius was right about her blushing too much.
“This is a dream, right?” Diana’s brother whispered in a low voice for his sister to hear. Diana slowly nodded. Never had she thought she’d get to see Cassius King.
Oh, Nathan Redmond is screwed. Did he know who he just challenged in terms of power?
___
‘Little Man, you’ll be quite stressed today. But whatever happens, stay silent and trust me.’
Dylan recalled Cassius’s words from this morning before heading to school. Strangely, he felt sleepy during school, and when he woke up, he found himself surrounded by several strange men in black.
‘Definitely a stress. I wonder what’s happening,’ Dylan thought to himself, looking around. He looked innocent as he waited.
The place was like an unfinished building.
A man he recognized was among them-the strange man from the other day who claimed to be his father. He had a small smirk on his lips as he smoked a cigarette. He tried to look composed, but Dylan could see the subtle fear in his eyes.
“Aren’t you going to say anything? A normal child would be bawling their eyes out by now. You’re just like your mother-composed even if a storm is right before you,” Nathan chuckled lightly and leaned forward. “Who’s your father, little one?”
When the boy didn’t reply, Nathan continued, “Your father can’t help you, not with me surrounding you with armed men who would put a bullet in your skull if he tries to act like a hero.” Nathan chuckled.
‘Don’t talk, Dylan. Keep your cool. Father will come,’ Dylan assured himself as Nathan’s words began to anger him.
As if God answered his prayers, Dylan spotted the man in the room. Seriously, how did he walk in without anyone noticing?
‘So cool,’ Dylan thought.
Nathan frowned and traced Dylan’s gaze. A shockwave of realization hit him as he recognized the new figure in the room. He wasn’t wearing any mask…
The only time he had seen this man was at functions and on television. He envied him so much because of the power he possessed-the ability to turn the entertainment world upside down if he wanted to.
Cassius King… was right there, standing before him.
“Mr. King? What are you doing here?” For a breathless moment, Nathan forgot what was happening around him. The man’s cold gaze pierced through him…
When reality crashed upon Nathan, he looked back at Dylan, then at Cassius. He looked at Dylan again and returned his gaze to Cassius. He repeated this action several times, each time his heart racing like crazy. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
No. No. No. No. Just hell no.
He mumbled, “Oh fuck…”
Nathan was still trembling when Cassius’s powerful, cold voice broke the silence.
“Do you know what power is?” Cassius smirked like a devil and raised his hand.
“Allow me to show you,” Cassius snapped his fingers, and the men in the room raised their guns.
They aimed at different parts of Nathan’s body.
The men in the room were his? How?
Cassius neared him and let out a low, cold laugh. “One snap of my fingers, and your miserable life is in my hands.”
Cassius raised his hand again, and Nathan broke into another cold sweat. His eyes widened, knowing what the next snap of fingers would mean.
“And another snap, and you’d have every part of your skin designed with bullets…”
Cassius grinned, pressing his fingers together.