"So, what are you going to do, Justine?"Madam Black looked from family to foe. Claire, Simon, and Mardo were eagerly anticipating some strong response, based on how they were looking at her with wide impatient eyes. She looked back at Benjamin, still dumbfounded."What do you want?" she asked him."Want? Well, Mrs Caroline may be exaggerating things slightly there, so I don't blame you for thinking that way. This isn't some threat, or even Blackmail, Ma'am. In fact, it's quite the opposite. We're here out of respect, and professional courtesy, as Amber had deduced that maybe the board might have not told you." Benjamin rose."And now you know. We'll work with Mrs Caroline to send out figures first thing on Monday morning. It should be a good deal to think over the weekend.""Why are you doing this?" cut in Claire. For a long time, even since the bank incident, she had not been able to look him directly in the eyes. But now she did.Her eyes are weak and dull, thought Benjamin, before
Benjamin turned over the phone and unlocked it. A video was already playing on the home screen. It was a hospital setting, which immediately set off different alarms in Benjamin's head.It was a private ward, and Benjamin recognized the pattern of the windows, the wall colors, and some brand-new equipment by the patient's bedside, which looked a lot like the pictures of hospital machines Amber had once shown to him for approval.The video was in Medhill Hospital. The patient was a still, petite figure with long straight hair that had to be combed for her every morning because she was incapable of waking up to do it herself. It was Ivy Wallouby."I trust you need no further explanation," asked James Black. Benjamin looked up at him with eyes of controlled fury."I'll kill you" he stated, not as a threat, but a prognostication of what was to come."I don't doubt that you would if you could, that is. But I hope this puts everything into perspective. Now, are you willing to hear what I ha
The man returned to observing the calm waves of the beach, even though Benjamin was now only inches away, looking down on him.Is this Bastard going to make me talk first? frowned Benjamin. He cleared his throat. "You were looking for me?" he started but decided that was too polite. "What the fuck do you want?" he added.The man pointed to his left. "Take a seat. You're in my sun.""What seat?" barked Benjamin, but he was stunned to see, by the man's left, almost touching his shoulders, an identical beach chair. That's Impossible. There was only one plastic chair on this entire Beach! I was sure of that just a few seconds ago.The man gestured again: "Aren't you going to sit?""No, thanks. I'd rather stand."There was no further communication from the 'GrandMaster', until Benjamin decided, reluctantly, to take the Beach chair. Activating [Enhanced Body] first."Now talk" commanded Benjamin."You've done well to make it this far. To be honest, it was pretty touch and go there for a lon
"Huh?" muttered James. "The hell?"But Benjamin looked up to find Black's easygoing face had turned grave. He almost resembled his wife."I'm not sure I understand what you're saying, Benjamin," answered Mr. Black.Ahh, I see."Thank you for confirming it. I've had a hard time trying to decide if what that bastard told me was the truth, or not. Goodbye." dismissed Benjamin.In an instant, Black appeared before him, his hands crushing Benjamin's wrists to take hold of the pen."You should've just listened, and taken the easy way out, Benjamin," said Black softly.[Notice: [Enhanced Body] compromised.]Benjamin screamed in pain as Black wretched the pen from his fingers, but all too suddenly, Black's movements stopped. His eyes swayed from Benjamin to his stomach.There was a red swelling around a spot where It looked like his intestines had caved. A fatal swelling. James Black removed his hand slowly after delivering a deadly punch to his father's guts. Blood streamed from Black's mout
It was a long exhausting flight, and the first order of business was to stop by the University and see the fruits of JMONEY's work. He rode in one of the SUVs, and sure enough, he could see mayhem from even the gate."I'm sorry, Sir. The University can't grant entry to any visitors at the moment. For your own safety." said one of the University's security."Is there something wrong, Officer?" asked Benjamin."We have a few troublemakers we're dealing with. That's all.""Then it's fine, you can let me in" Benjamin used [Bow Down To Me]."Understood, Sir." Benjamin watched as they drove past broken windows, strewn toilet paper on the lawn, black graffiti on beige-white buildings, and a bunch of boys in ski masks running with metal bats. He dialed Michael and JMONEY's numbers. "Come to the dorms."Holy Shit" whispered JMONEY as he entered the air-conditioned Range Rover. Michael entered the front seat, with similar exclamations."What's the status report?" questioned Benjamin."The sta
“Shhh. Here he comes now.”A Man looking to be about 25 of age enters the drawing room of Black Manor, with a ragged backpack slunk over his shoulders.The maids went mute and began to pretend they were cleaning. They had been discussing the pathetic and destitute nature of this man that had just walked in.“Good Afternoon” he greeted.Of course, they ignored him. The man’s name was Benjamin Black, and although the maids couldn’t gossip about him to his face, that was were his privileges ended. His level was almost like the maids themselves.“Er...Has anyone seen Claire?” He asked politely. Claire was Benjamin’s Wife. He had married her 3 years prior before moving to her maternal household.“What gives you the right to ask where my daughter is?!” His Mother-In-Law had entered the room. A short, fat and heavily made up woman, with a scowl as despicable and detestable as that of a mangy dog’s.“I’m just looking for my wife” the man responded. He had practiced keeping his composure for ov
“Claire! I’m still waiting for the Whiskey.” the man said.“Coming, Dear!” yelled a woman’s voice back, presumably from the bar behind the living room.God, No! That wasn’t Claire’s voice was it? Was this a dream?Benjamin promptly came back downstairs. As soon as he touched the landing, he felt his phone vibrate.He took it out to see it was a message from his bank.“DEBIT AMT:$20,000 ACC:233**********54 DESC: WITHDRAWAL/ATM DATE:15/06/23”“What?!” he yelled! The man in the ante-room only raised an eyebrow.$20,000. That was his entire life savings! He had started saving religiously since he lost his Mother at 15. After doing odd jobs, here and there, before meeting Claire, his savings were about a measly $900.However, after he married, he created a joint account with Claire, where they each contributed equally, with Benjamin going to the local university and then working in a fast food joint overnight.But what was the meaning of this?Claire came out of the revolving door that led to
“What the hell?!”Benjamin swung his head around to see who was speaking. After turning around twice, it was obvious that he was alone on the entrance pavement.“Hello?”“System Initializing…” The voice seemed to come from everywhere, and nowhere at once this time.The tone was difficult to describe, but if you had to manage-“Error. Unknown response.” Now it seemed to come from both ears. Benjamin’s knees began to knock. A voice without a body. Had he lost his mind sitting on that pavement? Did his worries really make his mind snap?“Mr Benjamin.” One of the Mansion guards had approached him.“You’re needed inside.”“Ahh. There he is. The man of the hour!” yelled Simon. This was almost too enjoyable. They were inside the Living Room, while Claire was outside cuddling up with Mr Mardo by the pool. Simon and Joanne Black were sitting on the soft vegan-leather sofas facing Benjamin.Joanne was wearing her glasses, scrolling through social media on her phone.“Please-” Simon motioned to an em