The Incredible Anderson Denfield: path to power

11

“I don’t know what you’re implying, Alex,” Raymond said slowly. “But I can’t contradict decisions made at the highest level. If the detectives have evidence against you, it’s not my place to intervene.”

Alex smiled, a slow, deliberate grin that crept across his face as he rolled his fingers over the small round clock on Raymond’s desk. The ticking filled the silence, an odd contrast to the tension that thickened the air. The room felt still, all eyes on him—Jenna, the detectives, even Raymond—all waiting for the next move.

Raymond didn’t flinch. He remained seated, his gaze steady on Alex, but his irritation was growing. He didn’t quite understand what Alex was doing, but he knew it wasn’t good.

The seconds ticked by. The air grew heavier. Alex wasn’t in any rush, as though he knew something the rest didn’t. He was letting the silence stretch, turning it into a kind of pressure that only he seemed to control.

Raymond sighed, shifting in his seat. His patience was starting to wear thin. He broke the silence first,“Take him away and do your jobs,” he said, addressing the detectives.

They stepped forward, ready to make their move, but as soon as they moved to grab Alex, he raised a hand. His smile remained—steady, almost too calm—stopping them in their tracks.

Raymond's irritation sharpened, his voice cutting through the tension. “What now, Alex?”

Alex leaned in slightly, still with that unsettling smile.

“What if the higher-ups who made the decisions revoked their orders themselves?”

Raymond stared at him for a moment, then, unable to help it, burst into laughter.

He leaned back in his chair, shaking his head. "You’ve got to be kidding me, Alex,” he said between chuckles. “You really think the people at the top are just going to reverse their decision because of some vague threat you’re tossing around?”

Alex didn’t flinch. The detectives exchanged an uneasy look, but they didn’t move. They were waiting to see what would come next.

Raymond’s laughter died out, and he leaned back in his chair again.

“Just take him out,” Raymond waved his hand dismissively at the detectives. He was done playing Alex’s game.

"Wait," Alex shouted and the detectives stopped.

Alex placed both hands on the desk, leaning in slightly as he stared at Raymond "Take your call,"

Raymond raised an eyebrow, momentarily thrown off guard. He looked at his phone, which was sitting on the desk in front of him. There was no incoming call. Just the silent screen staring back at him.

This really angered him.

"I SAID TAKE HIM A—" Raymond's voice was interrupted by the sudden rings of his cellphone.

Raymond's brow furrowed as he glanced at the phone. The sudden ringing had thrown him off, but what truly unsettled him was the name flashing on the screen: Eduardo, his boss

Alex watched him with a knowing smile, as if he already knew what was coming.

He quietly picked the call

Raymond’s brow furrowed as he glanced at the phone. The sudden ringing had thrown him off, but what truly unsettled him was the name flashing on the screen: Eduardo, his boss and Anderson's second-in-command.

Alex watched him with a knowing smile, as if he already knew what was coming.

Raymond quietly picked up the call, his heart racing.

“Hello, sir,” he said, his voice tight.

“Good,” Eduardo’s voice came through, smooth and cold. “I need you to drop the charges on Alex Kurt immediately, and the contract must be awarded to him.”

Raymond’s mind went blank. He had expected many things, but not this. His throat tightened. “What? What do you mean, sir?”

“Is your ears blocked? I said drop the investigation on Alex and the contract must be his!” Eduardo’s voice rose, sharp and commanding.

Raymond’s eyes flicked up to Alex, who stood there, still smiling, the satisfaction in his gaze unmistakable.

Eduardo never called or showed up even once. And for the first tine he called, it was about a total stranger .

Raymond’s voice trembled slightly as he tried to protest, “But the big boss ordered it—”

“Do you want to get fired?” Eduardo’s voice cut through “Seems like you don’t value your job at all! I gave you an order, and you’re saying something else?”

Raymond felt a chill run down his spine. He swallowed hard, realizing just how out of his depth he was.

“I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t mean it that way,” Raymond quickly corrected himself, the weight of his mistake sinking in. Eduardo wasn’t someone to be questioned. He was Anderson’s right-hand man, and his decisions had the full force of Anderson’s approval.

“Good,” Eduardo responded, his tone softening slightly, but still carrying that same dangerous edge. “Now, follow my orders without delay.”

Raymond’s heart pounded in his chest as he struggled to steady his breathing. He could feel the tension in the air, the pressure mounting. He couldn’t back out now. He couldn’t afford to lose his position, not after everything he had worked for.

“I’ll follow your orders without delay, sir,” Raymond said, his voice firm, though he could feel the unease creeping in.

“Good,” Eduardo continued, his voice taking on a more casual tone now. “And besides, I’ve been seeing your monthly reports, and I can say you’re doing a very good job.”

Raymond’s stomach churned, though he forced a tight smile. “Thank you, sir.”

The call ended abruptly, leaving Raymond staring at the phone, his thoughts swirling. The weight of Eduardo’s words still hung in the air, but there was no time to process them. The detectives were all watching him expectantly.

The room fell into silence as Raymond gently sighed.

Deep down, Raymond knew that something wasn’t right.

But he had no choice but to comply with the order—no matter how wrong it felt.

Raymond straightened up, his voice cold and authoritative “We are dropping all charges against him with immediate effect,” he said, his eyes sweeping over the detectives who seemed just as stunned by the sudden shift.