Home / Urban / The Rise Of Jonathan Hazel / CH. 3 (A signet of power)
CH. 3 (A signet of power)
Author: Vicky Wright
last update2024-12-01 23:17:00

“Are you ready to confess or do we still need to take this interrogation session further?” The tall man with a scar on his face who'd become Jonathan’s kinsman of pain, asked as he forced his fist onto Jonathan’s already bleeding face.

Jonathan groaned and spat blood.

“You – you've been asking me that –” he coughed and spat more blood as his head lolled forward. “– that question f– for the past t– two days. And j– just like before… I don’t know what you are talking about!” Jonathan yelled the last sentence with all the strength he could pull out of his already mutilated body.

He felt pain and anger at the fact that he was going through so much pain for something he knew nothing of.

“Fine.” The senior police officer turned around and picked up a damp towel from the table, wiping his bloody fists. “You leave me no choice.”

He rushed hastily out of the room, frustration carved in the hunch of his shoulders.

Immediately he left, Jonathan burst into tears. How could this be happening? How can someone sleep and wake up in captivity and torture? He really hated his life. Why did bad things always happen to him? He had been a good person all his life but each time bad things kept happening to him.

He had been tortured brutally since the moment his eyes had opened. His last memory had been of collapsing onto the pavement, after he was thrown out by the Jackson’s security guards.

He'd been beaten so much that his vision had become very blurry and the pain in his head was too intense for him to bear.

He was innocent of the crime he had been accused of! He hadn't participated in the vandalism on the Hazel’s property! As a matter of fact, it was after he woke up that he learnt that one of the most highly priced properties belonging to the Hazels had been vandalized.

And according to the information that he had heard upon regaining his consciousness, one of the most respected stewards of the Hazel Empire was coming to the police station and to finalize the case against him for vandalizing such a highly priced property.

At that point, Jonathan knew that there was no hope for him, and that he was going to die there. He thought to himself as the tears continued to stream down his face. There was no way he was going to get out of this. The Hazels were not a family to mess with, and now that he was involved with them, he knew it was the end for him.

He was still there wondering what will happen to him next when the door opened and the senior officer who walked out earlier, entered, accompanied by another man who had a weird look and a very bright smile on. 

His name, Harrison Stones.

“Why was the man smiling?”

Chills ran the length of Jonathan’s spine. That smile was obviously not because his situation was comical.

“Oh confess already!” The weird-looking man exclaimed in a cheery tone. Then he grinned even wider and took a sip from his Starbucks coffee.

“I’m not sure if your body can take what’s about to hit it so this is what will happen. I'll ask my question once. And I only want the correct answer. If you remain stubborn by giving me the wrong answers, this session is going to be extended and –” he smiled broadly, his eyes hard as stone “– the intensity is going to be so much more.” The man warned. His scary smile still in place.

He turned around to set his coffee down.

“But first, how about an introduction? I'll go first. My name’s Harrison Stones, but you can just call me, Mr. Stones.” What's your name?”

Drawing on the very last dregs of his strength, Jonathan tried his best to be audible as he said,

“Jon– My… name is Jonathan.” 

He adjusted his knees. The knees that'd been hit multiple times with spanners yesterday. The pain was unbearable.

“Good boy! Jonathan is such a nice name but… it isn’t befitting for a vandal like you. Nevertheless, we just made progress, and see, nobody was hurt! This is what I was talking about! You work with me, and I’ll work with you too. You are happy, I am happy. And let’s not forget my friend over there is happy too.” He pointed at the senior officer.

He paused then walked to the window. Then turned around sharply. His smile gone and his face as hard as a rock.

The tension in the room suddenly skyrocketed and Jonathan squirmed in his seat, wondering what evil was going to befall him now.

He was so soaked with sweat that he was sure the officers thought the tears streaming down his face were sweat as well. He could barely raise his head to look at Mr. Stones’ suddenly silent form.

He moved forward and bent low, his face only a few inches away from Jonathan. He was so close that he could hear the sound of every breath he took in.

“Now for the moment of truce. Where are the other guys with whom you vandalized the Hazel property with two nights ago?”

Mr. Stones’ voice was all seriousness and for a moment Jonathan wished he'd actually vandalized this property so he could tell them and the torture would stop.

But he was innocent! And that was the truth!

“Please!” He sobbed. “I didn’t accompany anyone to vandalize any property.”

Mr. Stones sighed.

“Officer, roll in the tray. I’m no longer interested in being nice,” he said quietly to the senior officer.

The senior officer jumped up immediately and was out of the room in a second.

“P– please,” Jonathan begged. But Mr. Stones said nothing.

The senior officer returned almost immediately,

“The Police Chief has arrived and he's requested for him to be brought out for inspection,” he announced, referring to Jonathan.

“Damn. You’re lucky. But trust me it's not going to last for long. As soon as he’s done, it's me and you again.” Mr. Stones snickered.

The senior officer unchained Jonathan and dragged him up.

“Let’s go!” He yelled as Jonathan crumbled to the floor, unable to stand. He pulled him up viciously and dragged him out of the room. “This is going to be quick. And don't you dare create a scene.” He warned.

“Is this the man who vandalized the Hazel’s property?” The Chief demanded.

“Yes sir!” the senior officer affirmed, throwing a salute.  

“Your hands above your head,” The Chief requested, looking directly at Jonathan in the eye.

Jonathan responded by weakly raising his hands. His head bent forward, and his vision blurred.

The Chief's mood changed seconds after. He looked into Jonathan’s face searchingly. Then peered at the tattoo on his left shoulder, seeing that Jonathan was only wearing a singlet.

It was a signet well-crafted beyond an ordinary tattoo.

Jonathan had had it all his life. He'd never known what it was or meant, it'd only made him look cool but currently, all he could hope for was that the tattoo would not cause him any more suffering.

But things took a sudden odd turn when the Chief, his eyes wide in shock, took some steps back and saluted Jonathan. The officers not knowing why their boss saluted a prisoner accused of vandalism joined in confusion to salute Jonathan.

“What was happening?” Jonathan could only wonder.

Related Chapters

  • The Rise Of Jonathan Hazel   CH. 4 (The Home coming)

    Jonathan couldn’t comprehend what had just happened; all he could process at that moment was the unexpected journey that he and the police chief had set on immediately after he'd been discharged from the hospital he was rushed to.His wounds had been treated and he'd eaten a decent meal for the first time in days. He was so confused he was on high alert. What could be going on? Was this going to be another form of torture? Were they fattening him up for the slaughter?“Young Master Jonathan, do you need anything, and are you in any pain?” The Chief asked, turning away from the steering wheel for a second.“There will be a doctor on ground immediately we arrive and you will be tended to more closely.” The Chief added.Jonathan was still trying to adjust to the situation before him so it wasn't out of disrespect that he turned his face away to the window.“Where are we headed, sir Chief?” He asked cautiously.“Call me Chief.” The chief replied, trying to be as cordial as possible.“We a

  • The Rise Of Jonathan Hazel   CH. 5 (Last will and testament)

    “Jonathan it's such a shame that I couldn’t be there to welcome you myself but life has always been so fair to me I don’t mind it playing a smart one on me and making me absent at this time. But enough about me. I’m sure everything still seems very confusing. Especially your identity.”The man cleared his throat.“You are Jonathan Hazel the child of my first son Robert Hazel. I’m sure you are confused as to why you never met me or knew anything of this life before. It is because your mother chose to raise you out of the family.“Your father, my late son died from a tragic plane crash a year after you were born and your mother who had never been a fan of the problems that came with being a member of such a widely known family, more or less blamed the family for his death. She decided to take you far away from us to live out there with the rest of the world where you would be safe.“I didn’t rest, I sent out a search party to find her. We then came to an agreement. I didn’t want the las

  • The Rise Of Jonathan Hazel   CH. 6 (Final funeral rights)

    Elina and Nicholas laughed with her parents as they settled into a chair together, a bowl of popcorn between them, as they sat to watch the funeral program of the late William Hazel on television. Nicholas had eventually secured a spot for the Jackson’s just as he had promised, and the initiative would kick start once the late William Hazel was laid to rest.The funeral procession was nothing like Elina had ever seen in her life before. It was like the whole world had come together to pay their last respect to William Hazel, a testament to the fact that he was indeed, a powerful and influential man who was well known all over the world.The Presidents and Prime Ministers of over 15 countries were all present. Even members of the royal family from Britain along with other royal families across the globe were also present.“Golly goodness!” Elina sat up.“Damn…” Nicholas muttered.The death and burial of William Hazel was for sure going to be the talk of the world for months if not year

  • The Rise Of Jonathan Hazel   CH. 7 (Settling in to take charge)

    Jonathan was settling into his new life quite smoothly so far as he looked forward to the ceremony of his unveiling and the public announcement of the few companies that have been shortlisted to be beneficiaries of the Hazel Forbes Initiative.He'd been very busy familiarizing himself with everything he had inherited. Which was a lot of work seeing as he'd inherited a lot.He didn't intend to be a lazy and passive leader, he was going to be actively involved in everything going on in all of his companies as much as he could.Bernard Lampley had been with him every step of the way. He'd answered all of his questions and was doing an amazing job guiding Dexter on his journey.And Grandpa William hadn't lied, he was truly still with him. The man had left several videos, recordings, and handwritten files to aid Jonathan in his journey.They basically enumerated all the secrets to keeping the businesses thriving and only Bernard knew about them.Jonathan spent all his time in a study, list

  • The Rise Of Jonathan Hazel   CH. 8 (Humiliated in public)

    A shot of applause went up as it did for each family that arrived as Elina and her parents arrived at the entrance of the Hazel’s mansion. They smiled and made their way to their seats, Nicholas in tow with them.“You know, I’m still finding it hard to believe that the heir himself, had sent his limousine over to bring us down here. It feels like a dream come true!” Patricia chipped in as they settled down.“Well, we all Nicholas all of these. It was his influence that got us a spot in the Hazel’s Forbes Initiative,” Jacob grinned and raised a glass in salute.~~~~~~A knock sounded on the door as Jonathan stood before the mirror getting ready for the grand unveiling, and the shock he was about to subject the Jacksons to.“Come in.”It was Via.“Hey. I'm ready. And I just got word that most of the guests have arrived. I believe it's time for you to make your appearance.”“And the Jac–” Jonathan began asking as he turned around to face her but his breath caught in his throat.Via was d

  • The Rise Of Jonathan Hazel   CH. 9 (A desire to get back)

    "I have never been so humiliated in my life!" Jacob Jackson thundered as he and his family barged into the house. He threw his coat onto the floor, his face red with anger and embarrassment. The fact that they had gone to the ceremony in a beast limousine, and then had to return in a cab, had added more to the humiliation they had suffered at Jonathan’s hands."This wasn’t supposed to happen this way not after all the care we gave him, talk more of the support we showed him, your mother went to all lengths to make sure he got a job in that delivery company to show she cared, but he does this instead!" He continued his eyes red with anger and pain from the embarrassment.Elina and her mother sat quietly on the couch, Patricia embittered dried up her tears whilst shaking her head in disbelief. Elina lost in thoughts, her mind occupied as to how the Hazel’s heir turned out to be Jonathan, the man whom she had just thrown out of her house not long. She had never imagined it to be him re

  • The Rise Of Jonathan Hazel   CH. 10 (An invitation to dinner)

    "Good morning, Jonathan." Bernard greeted as he entered the office. "Morning, Bernard! Nice to see you this early morning. What’s my schedule for today, sir? He asked chuckling in between. "Well, sir you have a meeting with some of the members of the executives, unlike the last time we are getting detailed reports of the companies that each one of them is heading over, after which your schedule is free for the day. If you’d like me to add an activity to the schedule let me know sir." Bernard briefed him as they proceeded to leave for the car. "I think that's enough for one day. A man also needs his rest," Jonathan replied, and Bernard smiled as he opened the car door for Jonathan to step in. While in the car, Jonathan watched some clips from his grandfather. He stopped to pick up a call that came into his phone, "Hello Via! Good morning," he greeted, a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He turned to Bernard and noticed he was smiling, and his own smile widened. "H

  • The Rise Of Jonathan Hazel   CH. 11 (Plots and Schemes)

    Jonathan turned toward the small wooden dresser, where his neck tie lay waiting. Picking it up, he began to loop it around his collar, getting ready for the dinner party which Via had invited him to. Suddenly, the quiet creak of the door startled him. He looked up, just as the door swung open, and Eva stepped in, unannounced. She held a mischievous smile as her gaze swept over him, taking in the scene of his preparation."You look fabulous, where are you going?""Yeah for a dinner party between the Jackson’s and Turkey’s family and I happen to be Via’s date." Jonathan replied turning for her to get a good look at him."Do I look good or it’s too much?" He smiled, even if he already knew he was looking just perfect.“Nothing’s wrong with the outfit Jonathan you look perfect!" Eva replied returning the smile.Since Jonathan arrived at the Hazel’s mansion, Eva was the only one among his three cousins who really shared in the joy of being the heir to the Hazel’s empire. As for Peter and

Latest Chapter

  • CH. 52 (An unexpected invite)

    CHAPTER 52 "Bernard, I don't know how to handle this situation. Finding out about my dad's death makes me want to dig more into the past, I really want to know about this empire left to me.” Jonathan began as he and Bernard sat alone in the Jonathan’s office staring at the computer screen.They had both been together celebrating Jonathan’s engagement with Via. Other employees had also joined in the celebration each congratulating Jonathan and looking forward to the wedding.It was in the midst of the celebration, that Jonathan received an anonymous email in his computer. “The IAS are monitoring every of your movement, and they hold the missing piece of the puzzle regarding the death of your father.Immediately Jonathan received the email, he dismissed the rest of the employees, and, when he was alone with Bernard, he made him read the email.The two of them remained still wondering who could have sent the mail as the email address of the sender was hidden and couldn’t be trace—enough

  • CH. 51 (A surprise proposal)

    CHAPTER 51The restaurant was bathed in the soft, golden glow of candlelight, its elegant chandeliers casting flickering reflections across polished silverware and crystal glasses. The air carried the delicate aroma of gourmet dishes, blending with the gentle hum of conversation and the occasional clink of cutlery against fine china. It was an intimate setting—one of warmth and understated luxury—perfect for an evening neither Jonathan nor Via would ever forget.Jonathan sat across from Via, his sharp navy-blue suit accentuating his composed demeanor, though his fingers betrayed his nervous anticipation as they subtly drummed against the table. Via, resplendent in a flowing emerald dress that brought out the striking green in her eyes, noticed his slight restlessness but assumed it was merely lingering exhaustion from the past few months of struggle.Despite the troubles surrounding the Hazel’s empire, Jonathan had taken this time out to feel the love that only Via’s presence had to o

  • CH. 50 (A marriage deal)

    CHAPTER 50Elina sat in the dimly lit living room, her fingers curled tightly around the edge of the couch. The muted glow of the television flickered against the walls, but the images on the screen only added to the weight pressing against her chest. Beside her, her mother, Patricia, sat stiffly, her face pale and drawn as she watched the news unfold. It was a grim scene—headlines flashed across the screen, painting a sordid tale of betrayal and justice.Elina had tried to prepare herself for this moment, but no amount of preparation could soften the brutal truth. Her father was alive. Alive. After all those times of mourning him, believing the tragic lies fed to her, she now knew the truth. And not only was he alive, but he had been dragged into the headlines, arrested, and publicly shamed. Because of her mother.Feeling the walls close in on her, she reached for the remote and switched off the TV. The silence that followed was deafening. She turned slowly toward Patricia, her voice

  • Chapter 49 (Uncle Philip is back)

    Jonathan parked his car in front of his house, his mind still preoccupied with the IAS and the secrets that seemed to be buried beyond his reach. The weight of his father’s mysterious death, the hidden agendas surrounding Hazel Empire, and the silent war waged in the shadows gnawed at him. He knew he was on the verge of something huge, but at what cost?As he stepped inside, an unusual sight greeted him—his cousins, Ryan and Peter, sat in the living room, deep in conversation with a man he had never seen before. The air was thick with tension, and every instinct in Jonathan's body screamed that something was off.His eyes locked onto the stranger, who leaned back on the couch with an air of practiced ease, sipping what appeared to be whiskey from an expensive-looking glass.“Hey, guys. What's going on here?” Jonathan asked, his gaze shifting between his cousins and the man who had made himself at home in their house.Ryan barely spared him a glance, his expression unreadable, while Pe

  • CHAPTER 48 (Dropping charges)

    Elina anxiously by her mother's side at the hospital, relieved that she had regained consciousness. Wanting answers, she mustered the courage to ask her mother the burning question that had been haunting her. Why had she heard her dad's voice on her phone?With a mix of concern and confusion, Elina looked into her mother's eyes, waiting for an explanation. The room fell silent, the air heavy with anticipation, as her mother took a deep breath and began to speak.“I had only found out a week ago, Elina. I got a strange call from a number and it turned out to be your dad, I was surprised but then he asked me not to reveal this to anyone. He didn't tell me anything about his plan Elina, trust me.” She said her eyes teary, her voice cracked as she talked.Elina paced back and forth, her mind racing to process the shocking revelations. As she tried to gather her thoughts, her ringtone pierced through the air, snapping her back to reality. Startled, she quickly rummaged through her bag, ret

  • CHAPTER 47 (A cryptic message)

    Jonathan looked at Jacob, his eyes wide with disbelief. "How... how are you alive?" he stammered, unable to comprehend what he was seeing.Jacob smirked, avoiding the question entirely. "Well, well, well, look who we have here," he said, his voice dripping with a mix of amusement and triumph. “You've finally found me, Jonathan."Jonathan's heart raced as he tried to process Jacob's words. "Found you? What are you talking about?" he asked, his voice filled with a mixture of confusion and apprehension.“Yes you have, you found a dead man.” Jacob said, a grin across his face. Jacob's gaze hardened, and he took a step closer to Jonathan. "You think you can just come out of nowhere, take everything I have labored for all my years?" he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. "I'm the mystery man, Jonathan. I am the one behind everything that has befallen you, behind Via's gunshot, the rumors surrounding the Hazel Empire, and those cryptic messages you’ve been receiving."Jonathan's eyes wid

  • CH. 46 (Back from the dead)

    CHAPTER 46Peter and Ryan sat in Peter's room, the tension choking in the air. Ryan's frustration was evident as he slammed his hand on the desk, expressing his anger over not being appointed chairman. "I can't believe this! How could they overlook me for the chairman position? I've worked so hard for this company, and they just brush me aside like that!" Peter tried to calm his brother down, speaking in a soothing tone. "I understand you're upset, Ryan, but getting angry won't solve anything. We need to figure out our next steps and move forward from here. Now we know that Jonathan would be wary of us, we need to be cautious.” Just then, Eva, their sister, entered the room. Sensing the tense atmosphere, she inquired about the problem. "What's going on, gentlemen? Why the long faces?" Ryan quickly filled her in on the disappointing outcome of the meeting, his frustration evident in his voice. “It's your god forsaken cousin Jonathan, he bribed the executives to vote for him in his

  • CH. 45 (A call from a dead man)

    "Nicholas owns what again? How could this happen? What do you mean Elina? Why's he in possession of your all father's property that aren’t part of the properties limited to Skytop?” Patricia's voice had rose in panic, her tone laced with disbelief after she got to learn that the properties which Elina were talking about were not just those limited to the Skytop but everything that belonged to the Jacksons.Elina had reached out to touch her mother's hand, trying to calm her. "Mom, I told you he went to apologize to Jonathan yesterday, didn’t I? This was also part of what he was fighting for Mum. But we need to stay calm and figure this out together. Nicholas will be here tonight, and we can talk to him then."Patricia's panic had turned into anger as she stood up abruptly, her voice now filled with determination. "No, you need to bring him here right now. I need to speak with him immediately."Elina hesitated, unsure of how to handle her mother's sudden urgency. "But Mom, let's wait u

  • CH. 44 (The tiebreaking vote)

    As Jonathan entered the conference room, he could feel the tension in the air. The executives' expressions grim, and their disappointment evident on their faces as they glance in his direction. Jonathan takes a deep breath and tries to maintain a composed demeanor as he takes his seat at the table.The CFO cleared his throat and began the meeting, his voice carrying a weight of disapproval. "Good morning, everyone. We have gathered here today to discuss the recent developments in our company's performance," he says, his tone somber.Jonathan shifts uncomfortably in his seat, feeling the weight of their collective disappointment. He braced himself for what is to come, knowing that he will have to face the consequences of his actions.The assistant CFO speaks next, her voice sharp with reproach. "Jonathan, we had high expectations from you, but since you took over the Hazel Empire, the results have been far from satisfactory. Can you explain what went wrong?"Jonathan cleared his throat

Scan code to read on App