Subtle Threat

Unknown POV

For a while, the reporters in the conference room remained glued to their respective seats. None of them could believe what just happened. How could the Flameheart chairman use them just to convey a message to a woman? What exactly did he take them for?

Most of the reporters were ruffled by his arrogant nature. To make it worse, the whole interview was broadcast live, nationwide, on all the major platforms. They all felt the scorn and mockery in the esteemed chairman's voice.

Although some were just workers, most of the reporters here were the owners who had come in person to cover the story. They could not stomach it. As they left the majestic Flameheart Towers, they were disgruntled. They swore to bring him down.

However, one man remained quiet amidst all these discussions. He was deep in thought. This man was Dante Graham. He could not help but feel troubled. When the Flameheart chairman looked at him, he felt as if he was a predator eyeing his prey.

Although he pulled a brave front and asked his questions, he was, in reality, scared stiff. When the Flameheart conveyed his message, he could not help but shudder. In his heart of hearts, he felt as if there was a very subtle threat in his message. The most daunting thing was that it felt as if the message was directed at him.

Dante raked his brains, trying to think back to see if he ever crossed this dreaded mogul's path but nothing came up. Frustrated, he got into his car, completely ignoring the other reporters. He needed some time alone. He needed to think.

Flameheart's message was like an encrypted code to him that he needed to decipher. Even though he spoke of a woman, he also stated that he was like a Phoenix rising from the ashes. Who the hell is he? No matter how Dante tried, he still could not shake off the feeling of imminent danger.

Before he could drive off, another car blocked his path. He peeked and noticed that it was none other than that shrewd lady, Donna. He cursed under his breath before alighting from the car.

"To what do I honor this pleasure, Miss Kays?"

"Cut the sarcasm, Dante. We both know that I am your least favorite person. I just have one question for you. Did you, at one point, cross Chairman Flameheart's path? I know how despicable you can be, so spit it. What did you do to the chairman?"

Donna was unrelenting in her attack and Dante was rendered speechless. He was awed by her ability to read situations but he felt wronged. As far as he remembers, he never once dealt with the formidable chairman. Then why did the chairman target him? Even he had no answer for that.

Sighing heavily, Dante leaned on his car and lit a cigarette. "Miss Donna, even though I have no idea what I did, I am sure the chairman holds some kind of grudge against me. Unless I touched a distant relative of his..."

Dante trailed off and Donna scrutinized him. She concluded that he was being truthful and she turned to leave. When she got near her car, she turned and decided to warm Dante.

"Consider this as me just being humane. I did some digging on the chairman and what I found was not pretty. The guy is ruthless and he kills without mercy. What he abhors the most are people who exploit women and children.

He is the one who single-handedly cleared up the Hans empire. All because he discovered that they were into human trafficking. I suggest you lie low for now. You might have to consider closing down your brothel now that he has decided to set base here in Sunshine City."

Dante was flustered. He thought that he covered his traces well but Donna seemed to know everything. Driving off, he decided to go report to his father. Senior Graham was also the chairman of the Elite Alliance, of Sunshine City. Anyone who understood, would know that to succeed in this city, one has to be under their protection.

Dante wanted his father to make things difficult for Flameheart to operate his business in their city. The feeling of being oppressed did not sit well with him.

Meanwhile in the far land of Sussexville****

Athena was flustered after watching the evening news. As their time zones are different, it was nighttime in Sussexville. She had been spacing out since her daughter brought up the man on the news.

Immediately, she switched on her 85" TV to watch the prime news. And she was just in time to hear Dante's questions and the Flameheart chairman's response. She did not know whether to laugh or cry at the turn out of events.

She recalled that on that fateful day, she did not scrutinize that boy's features. When those goons came to take him, Dante was also there but she was too tired and sleepy. All she remembers are the boy's eyes and the pain buried deep within them when he made a promise to return for her.

She had been defeated but when she learned she had fallen pregnant, she made a choice to keep her babies. The truth is, subconsciously she hoped that the boy would keep his promise. She needed him to be stronger and return for her.

Athena had made a vow when she was younger. She had vowed that she would only allow one man to see her nakedness. For her, relationships were sacred. True to her word, she has never allowed another man to touch her since.

She busied herself with work and building a name for herself. Even though she tried, she could not supress the happiness swirling in her heart. She understood the message quite well. The scrawny boy adorned in rags has risen to a rich and formidable man, swimming in riches. And he only returned for her.

After a lot of deliberation, she decided not to hurry back to Sunshine City. She did not want to appear helpless. After all, he had promised to find her. Why should she make it easy for him? There was still time. Besides, she had decided to return home in the next six months during the festive holidays. That is what she will do. Unless of course, Flameheart found her earlier.

Leaning back into her plush couch, Athena laughed gleefully. She knew that her time has come. She will show everyone that they glorified her in their bid to taint her. She gained more than she lost.

The kids looked at her baffled but did not say anything.

At the majestic Flameheart Towers, Dean paced around his office lost in thought. He could not help but laugh at how shameless people were.

Gunther had told him that over a hundred women from all walks of life and of all shapes and sizes, had gathered at the front desk requesting to see him.

Sitting in front of his CCTV monitor, he just scoffed. None of them was the woman he wanted to see. He refused to see any of them. He realized that it might take time, but soon he will find the one to whom his heart belonged. After all, she was his fated soulmate and bore his mark.