Dane lingered by the window, his gaze lost in the cityscape below like a silent predator surveying his territory.
His eyes held an icy detachment when he finally turned away from the view, making his way toward the exit of his corporate fortress.
His guards stood alert before the door, their bodies tensed at his approach. Even after years of service and familiarity, they could never shake off the aura of intimidation that clung to Dane like a second skin.
"Report!" he commanded, his voice cold and unyielding as winter frost.
He didn't need to ask; it was merely a formality.
"We have him, sir," came the steady reply from Chris, his right-hand man.
Dane acknowledged with a curt nod before sweeping past them without another word.
His face was an unreadable mask as he stepped into the elevator with an air of impending doom hanging heavily around him.
The doors closed behind him and he descended into the bowels of his empire accompanied by a select few of his loyal soldiers.
Outside, Chris hurriedly swung open the rear door of their vehicle for Dane to enter while taking up residence in the front passenger seat beside their driver.
For several minutes during their drive through the city's underbelly, there was nothing but silence—a silence so profound that it felt like a living entity within itself.
"What's with the task I assigned you?" Dane suddenly broke through this silence.
"We followed her as per your instructions," Chris replied promptly.
Dane sank deeper into the plush leather seat as if trying to physically distance himself from reality – or perhaps just from Chris' words.
His eyes were aflame with fury; each flicker seemed to be wrestling with some unseen specter of freedom.
An eerie smirk suddenly danced at the corner of his lips. It was sinister yet strangely compelling.
His fist clenched tightly until it paled in comparison to the surrounding darkness.
His breathing became ragged and uneven as tension coiled within him like a spring ready to snap.
His hatred was tangible, radiating off him in waves that were impossible to ignore. He was on the brink of achieving his goal; he just needed a bit more time.
Their destination was an abandoned warehouse, one of many scattered across the globe that served as a front for Dane's illicit operations.
From the outside, the warehouse looked run-down and forgotten, which was a perfect disguise. But inside, it was furnished with state-of-the-art technology and top-tier brands from around the world.
Security was tight. Men lurked in every shadowy corner, their eyes constantly scanning for threats. Even birds dared not fly overhead for fear of being shot down by sharpshooters perched on rooftops. It was as if nature herself had been forbidden from coming too close to these unholy grounds.
As soon as the sleek black sedan came to a halt, Chris sprang into action.
His heart pounded in his chest like a wild drum as he fumbled with the door handle, his nerves dancing in anticipation of Dane's intimidating presence.
The moment Dane stepped out of the car, it was as if a dormant volcano had erupted. His aura transformed from a flickering flame into an all-consuming inferno.
They moved towards the warehouse, their footsteps echoing ominously against the cold concrete with ten loyal henchmen trailing behind them.
Upon reaching their destination, Dane eased himself onto a plush black leather chair. His polished shoes rested on the table before him as if claiming ownership.
From his peripheral vision, he noticed a pitiful figure kneeling in abject terror and humiliation.
A smirk tugged at Dane's lips as he savored this display of power and fear.
"Please sir," John's voice wavered with desperation. "Don't kill me... I have—"
"Silence!" Dane's interruption sliced through the air like a blade.
He reclined further into his chair and rested his head comfortably against its cushioned backrest while closing his eyes leisurely.
"You have families who need your financial support? Isn't that right, John?" His voice was smooth but carried an undercurrent of lethal threat.
John nodded frantically as though hoping Dane could sense it despite having his eyes shut.
Dane hummed nonchalantly before straightening up and removing his feet from the table.
His sudden eye-opening sent chills down John's spine. They were piercing and held terrifying sparks that made John feel as though he was staring death in its face.
Dane rose smoothly from his chair and closed in on John with predatory grace. "When you betrayed my trust and abandoned our your tasks," he began icily, "You signed your own death warrant. I am merely the executor."
"Pl-"
John's pleas were cut short as bullets found their home in his heart.
He collapsed on the cold floor, life seeping out of him until his gaze became hollow.
Dane slid his weapon back into its holster with practiced ease and turned to leave. His composure remained unshaken despite the numerous blood on his hands. This was a chilling display of his ruthlessness.
His men knew better than to follow this time.
His departure was swift and silent. He disappeared into the night in one of his ludicrously expensive sports cars.
Upon arriving at his barely lit apartment - just how he preferred it - he shed off his black shirt and tossed it carelessly on the sofa.
Then he poured himself a glass of fine whiskey and ambled towards the balcony, relishing in its smoky burn.
As he sipped from his glass, he took in the sprawling cityscape laid bare under the moonlight.
The cool breeze toyed with his hair and caressed his bare chest, adding an ethereal touch to his devilishly handsome features.
The shrill ring of the doorbell echoed through the apartment barely a minute later.
A wicked grin spread across his face as he glanced at his watch – midnight had struck precisely on cue.
He strode back inside, pouring another glass of whiskey before making his way toward the door to greet whoever dared to visit at this hour.
"Good evening, sir!" Joey greeted with a bright smile, watching his retreating to the sanctuary of his balcony, the spot where he had previously been stationed after letting his guest in while clutching a glass of whiskey as though it were a lifeline.
Joey was treated with such indifference that he didn't even deign to cast her a fleeting glance.
The echo of her stilettos against the cold marble floor filled the air as she positioned herself behind the heartless demon who promised an experience unlike any she would ever know.
"Go make yourself presentable!" Dane's voice was a commanding growl, barely concealing his impatience.
Joey swallowed hard before flashing him an uncertain smile. "Yes, sir!" She spun on her heel and hurried back inside with feigned confidence.
The hallway seemed to stretch on forever, daunting in its unfamiliarity. It was her first time in this place and she felt like an intruder in this world of luxury.
She longed to ask which bathroom to use but fear held her tongue captive. She didn't want to irritate him further. So she chose a door at random only to find it locked from within.
After several failed attempts and growing anxiety gnawing at her insides, Joey finally found an unlocked door.
As she nudged it open, her breath hitched at the sight that greeted her. The walls were pristine white canvas for black illustrations and bold lines that seemed to tell untold stories.
The room's furnishings were predominantly dark red - so deep it spoke volumes about the clandestine activities that occurred within these walls.
While Joey marveled at the decadence surrounding her, Dane drained his glass of whiskey with one fluid gulp and sauntered into his plush living room.
He glanced at his wristwatch—it was half past midnight already—before making his way back towards the bar for another drink.
His fingers curled around his glass before making his way toward the bedroom.
Joey was adorned in a red bondage bikini with a garter belt that barely concealed her curves as she perched provocatively on the edge of the plush bed.Her makeup was a work of art, with smoky eyes and audacious matte red lipstick that demanded attention.Her hair was artfully tousled into an updo that exuded a sense of wild abandon.Draped around her neck was an extravagantly expensive choker necklace, adding an air of luxury to her ensemble.Her feet were accentuated with black stilettos, their red soles hinting at a daring persona.As Dane entered the room, Joey rose from her seated position.Her eyes glinted with desire yet held a trace of apprehension as they roamed over his well-defined chest muscles.A surge of fear prickled through her when she met his gaze that brewed with a stormy sea of anger and malice.Her breath hitched in anticipation as Dane prowled towards her, his lips curling into an ominous smirk."Sir—" Joey's voice wavered, breaking off into a gasp when Dane unex
Scarlet's eyes fluttered open as the first rays of dawn peeked through her window.She let out a big yawn and stretched her arms over her head, squinting at the clock across the room. It was seven o'clock - an early start to another bustling day at the hospital where she worked as a doctor.Her fingers rubbed at the sleep in her eyes before she pushed back the plush duvet and rose from her bed with a languid stretch.After luxuriating under the steamy cascade of water, letting it unknot the knots of stress in her shoulders, she stepped out and toweled off.She got dressed for work and stepped out into the hallway. Her older brother Michael's room was right across from hers.Scarlet stopped outside his door, wondering if he was home and awake as well before rapping lightly on the polished wood surface with her knuckles."Come in!" came his muffled reply from within.A soft smile graced Scarlet's lips as she nudged the door open and stepped inside the very masculine yet luxurious bedroo
~Dane Creighton's Mansion~Mrs. Creighton sat elegantly on the velvet chaise lounge, her slender fingers delicately turning the pages of a leather-bound book.The lenses of her tortoiseshell reading glasses reflected the plush living room bathed in a warm glow as she lost herself in the story's world.The tranquil atmosphere was suddenly shattered by the sound of muffled sobs approaching.Mrs. Creighton peered over her glasses just as a young maid burst through the door, her uniform clinging to her trembling frame.Tears streamed down the girl's flushed cheeks as she hiccuped between ragged breaths."Clara, dear, what's the matter?" Mrs. Creighton set her book aside, maternal concern etching her brow.The maid, Clara, could barely form a coherent sentence through her hysterics. "M-Madam...the young master...he..." She dissolved into a fresh wave of sobs.Mrs. Creighton's expression hardened as realization dawned. This wasn't the first time her son had terrorized the staff.She rose gra
Scarlet made her way to the riverside restaurant where Lincoln had been patiently awaiting her arrival. As soon as she spotted his tall, familiar figure standing outside with hands casually tucked into the pockets of his tailored slacks, she applied the brakes.The powerful Lamborghini purred to a stop right in front of him.Lincoln immediately closed the distance with long, purposeful strides, concern etching his handsome features.He reached to help Scarlet out of the low-slung car, his hands gentle but insistent as they grasped her shoulders, giving her body an anxious once-over to check for any signs of injury."Are you alright, sweetheart? Were you hurt at all in the accident? God, I knew I should have come pick you myself instead of letting you drive," he fretted, the tense lines around his eyes and mouth showing just how worried he'd been.Scarlet flashed him a reassuring smile and shook her head.She reached up to press her palms against his stubbled cheeks in a soothing gestu
A heavy sense of unease surrounded a sleek black car, followed closely by two similar vehicles until they stopped in front of the grand gates of a tall skyscraper.Big men in sharp black suits got out of the other cars and lined up behind the lead vehicle like soldiers.The driver rushed to open the back door for the man inside.First, a pair of long legs stepped out, wearing shoes so shiny they reflected the city around them. Then, a tall man emerged, dressed in a suit that looked like it was made from gold threadsHis hair was jet black and perfectly styled, though a few rebellious strands fell across his forehead.His eyes were a steely gray, sharp and intense, with brows that arched dramatically against his skin.He smoothed out his suit as he walked towards the building entrance.A slight smirk appeared on his lips—hardly noticeable but definitely there."Good morning, sir!" His employees greeted him in unison, bowing their heads respectfully.Some of them were barely able to sta