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Underestimated Retribution Chapter 23: Mark's After-Club-Feeling
The rhythmic thumping of the club's music resonated through Mark's chest, with a stark contrast to the anger that filled him a short while ago. He had expected the feeling of revenge to be more satisfying, but instead it felt hollow and empty.The air pulsed and crackled with whispers and nervous glances, accompanied by the occasional stare and pointed finger. Mark's eyes darted from side to side as he took in the atmosphere, gently sipping his cocktail from the wineglass he twirled carelessly in one hand. A satisfied smirk played across his lips. However, the arrogant swagger and air of finesse that he was expressing were long gone, replaced by a sense of unease and sheepish avoidance.Elena, her face was filled with rage, as she clutched her small purse with a white-knuckled grip, silently fuming. Unable to contain her rage any longer, she turned to face Bennet, who stood next to her."This is all your fault, Bennet". She spat. "All this wouldn't have happened if we had listened to
Underestimated Retribution Chapter 24: Company's Scandal
"We can't just sit here!" Elena finally exploded, her voice sharp with frustration. "That humiliation was totally unbearable!""What exactly do you propose we do?" Bennet countered, his voice tight. "March down to the company and demand our dignity back? You saw how everyone was looking at us. We're social pariahs now."A sly smile crept onto Margaret's face. "Actually, that might not be a bad idea."Both Elena and Bennet stared at her, surprised. "What are you on about, Mom?" Elena demanded.Margaret cackled, the sound devoid of humor. "Remember that old friend of mine, the one who used to work with Mark's father?"A flicker of recognition dawned on Elena's face. "Aunt Martha? The gossip columnist?""Exactly," Margaret confirmed, a glint in her eyes. "She has a way of twisting things… turning truth into scandalous fiction. With a little nudge, she can spin a good story about Mark's 'unhinged' behavior. Public opinion can be a fickle thing, you know."A slow smile spread across Elena'
Underestimated Retribution Chapter 25: Playing Chess
The ride home flew by so fast that Mark had to be wakened up by the time his limo arrived at the Darius estate. "Mr. Darius, we have arrived at the estate sir," Johnson, the driver, announced as he switched off the engine of the automobile."Oh, okay. Thank you, Johnson," he responded, wiping the remainder of whatever sleep still lingered in his eyes, then he came out of the car and began walking towards the entrance of his mansion.Walking back, the events of the evening's meeting kept pouring back into his mind. Initially overcome with anxiety and tension, Mark's eyes darted from side to side, taking in the room around him as the first round of questions started rolling in."Relax, son, you got this," Gabriel, his father, said reassuringly, placing a gentle arm on his shoulder. And as if he cast a magic spell, all the anxiety and tension he felt was gone in an instant."Now, young Mr. Darius, can you please give your account of what allegedly transpired between you and the group of
Underestimated Retribution Chapter 26: A New Resolve
"A picture," Sarah said, taking a deep breath. "It's by Elena and Bennet."Mark's eyes widened. "Elena? What is she doing in the picture?""She's leaving a motel," Sarah revealed cautiously. "With a young man."The air crackled with tension as Mark's expression hardened. This was a bombshell. "Are you sure it's not a mistake?""I don't think so," Sarah shook her head, pulling out her phone and showing him the picture. It was clear and undeniable.A sense of grim satisfaction washed over Mark. Elena and her cohorts had been trying to destroy him with lies, and now he had a weapon of his own. "This changes things," he said, a dangerous glint in his eyes.Meanwhile, across town at the Bennet residence, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Elena paced back and forth across the plush living room, her face contorted with anger."This is unbelievable!" she shrieked, throwing her hands up in the air. "How could that article not have worked how we expected it to? How is he still CEO?"Brown
Underestimated Retribution Chapter 27: Outburst At The Gala
Mark adjusted his tuxedo, the fine fabric shone in the thousands of lights that glittered from every corner of the room. The weight of the stress of weeks of tireless work was heavy on his shoulders. The barrage of press conferences which he had tackled with all the calmness and resolve that he could muster, and the countless employee meetings he had to attend to. Despite all the preparations though, via the late-night strategizing sessions with David, he still felt a sense of unease. Unbeknownst to him, the gala he had spent weeks planning and organizing held a cheeky surprise ahead for him.Smiling and exchanging pleasantries with the countless dignitaries and proposing toasts, Mark navigated his way through the sea of people with an air of confidence that he never knew he possessed and was determined to use the socialization as a means of escape from the apparent trouble he had been dealing with for the past few weeks.Across town, however, in the home of his adversaries, there rad
Underestimated Retribution Chapter 28: Outcome Of The Gala
"They plan on going with the offensive". David suggested. "They are going to paint you as the desperate one who is resorting to dirty tricks to maintain control, just for them to win public favor.Mark gritted his teeth. "They won't give up, will they?" Mark added, stroking his chin."No, Mark". David said firmly. "But neither would we. We have a plan of our own".Over the next few days, a silent war unfolded in the media. Whilst the former’s PR firm launched a smear campaign, painting Mark as a ruthless business executive willing to stoop to any level. They portrayed the leaked financial documents as fabricated lies.Mark, however, countered with a strategy of transparency. He held press conference after press conference, addressing the accusations head-on. He admitted to leaking the documents, but only after careful verification by a team of independent auditors."These documents raise serious questions about their past business practices," Mark declared, his voice firm. "The public
Underestimated Retribution Chapter 29: Toni's Sudden Disappearance
The air in the room shifted noticeably as Mark’s attention stood piqued by David’s latest revelation.“What do you mean ‘She's vanished’?” He asked again for good measure.“Mark, my friend, you know something about accusations, especially when they’re false, they happen to disappear into thin air once there’s a counteracting measure of good. People are easily moved by what they hear". David launched into a round of explanation as he settled comfortably into the seat across from Mark’s.“But that still doesn't shed any light on Toni’s disappearance". Mark maintained, his eyes still crinkled at the corners with confusion.“Well, clearly, she wasn’t working on her own, as I’m pretty sure you’re well aware of that, already. You see this game you’ve begun playing with your adversaries, it’ll be naive of you to think that they’re willing to play nice and fair.There’s only one thing to do: to be five steps ahead.” David took a pause and looked into Mark’s eyes, giving him time to process th
Underestimated Retribution Chapter 30: Urgent Meeting & Banters
Bennett sat in his office, swiveling on his executive seat as he nursed a glass of whiskey. Jennet and Brown sat across on the other side of his desk. Margaret and Elena who, for reasons as flimsy as going to the spa, weren’t physically present at the meeting. Bennet mentally rolled his eyes, bemoaning his ill-fate of being cursed by the sorriest lot of the bunch. What did I ever do, universe?He sighed and placed his now empty glass on the table for a refill. As he poured himself another drink, he could tell even without looking that Jennet’s wayward little bastard son followed the movement of his hands with hungry eyes.Bennet had already made it clear that not even a tiny drop of his liquor would touch the tongue of the unruly fellow. He was yet to see another human being like Brown, who, yet being so inadequate and incapable, felt entitled, and stupidly so. Men like him ought to be castrated and shipped off to an island somewhere far away from the rest of civilization. Of course,
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- Underestimated Retribution
CHAPTER 194: THE VERDICT
EPILOGUE : A YEAR LATER The courtroom was filled with apprehension and tension. From a mile away, one could observe and note the seriousness of the faces, how enraptured they seemed to be. The silence in the courtroom could be broken by just a pin drop, and everyone was rapt with attention, staring at the judge, the jury, the hideous criminal with beautiful eyes, slender waist, a beautiful body and the prettiest of faces, but with a heart darker than the devil's. The entire city was out for her, and everybody in the room was dying for justice to take its course. The entire courtroom was filled to the brim, and even from the outside, people were peering through the windows. It was the largest court in the city, but the turn up had been so massive that people had to look from the windows. That was the kind of reception that Karen Shapiro had garnered. A lot of people had heard her story, the murders she had committed, and how she had controlled the underworld of crime. She wa
- Underestimated Retribution
CHAPTER 193: THE PILL CALLED REGRET
In the days that followed, Jenett Darius felt as if she was living in a dream. She could barely respond to questions that were thrown her way, and she knew it made the chief of police genuinely worried because of the agreement she had made to testify against Karen Shapiro in the court. How was she going to be able to do that when her purpose of living was no more? When her son was no more, the child that she had birthed hadn't even lived to experience the remorse that she was feeling? The removal of the guilt that had filled her chest by turning herself in? On a sunny Monday morning, she was shocked to find the chief of police opening the door to her cell. She jolted awake, and so did Margaret Woods. She had barely spoken to Margaret since she had heard the news of her son's death, and all she had wanted was for death to snatch her too. But no matter how much she wished for it, it never seemed to come. Death knew that it wasn't time for her to go, and it was playing its part by r
- Underestimated Retribution
CHAPTER 192: AGAINST ALL ODDS
But Karen Shapiro was in no state to do what she had conjured in her mind. She was brought down by a simple Roundhouse kick, and her head was pinned to the floor as the cold metal of the handcuffs clamped on her wrists. Karen Shapiro was bundled back into her room, just like the common criminal she was. ********* When Mark Darius came to consciousness, he instantly found out that his side was hurting and that he was in a hospital. The dream he had been having was the same one that had tormented him during the previous nights, Karen Shapiro pursuing him endlessly with a knife, her screams making him terrified and making him perspire profusely. By the time he managed to sit up in the white, comfortable bed he was in, he was covered in a sheen of sweat. He also acknowledged immediately that the bed he was lying in wasn't his, and that his room didn't have a speck of blue in it. He had always been a green and orange color person from the start. And those were the colors that flound
- Underestimated Retribution
CHAPTER 191: GAME OVER
When Karen Shapiro came to consciousness, the first thing she recognized was the continuous beeping of the heart monitor machine next to her and the needle that was in her skin. Her head felt as if it had been pounded upon severally and her eyes wanted to close of their own accord. Where was she? What had happened to her? For all she knew about her being in a blue and white room that stank of drugs and antiseptic, she knew within her that she was missing something. Something was wrong. She wasn't supposed to be in the room that she was, and she knew it. But she couldn't place it. At that same moment, the door opened, revealing a nurse in a white uniform that bore kind, brown eyes. Her hair was covered with a nursing cap, and when she smiled, it was cheerful and broad, seeming to light up the whole room. It made Karen Shapiro smile slightly even though she clearly didn't want to, even though her head felt as if a thousand nails had been drilled into it. The nurse proceeded
- Underestimated Retribution
CHAPTER 190: A MOTHER'S TORMENT
Swallowing, he spoke those dreaded words that Jenett Darius heard in her nightmares for days, those words that seemed to stick in her mind, that had left a firm imprint in her soul. “I'm afraid your son has been found dead amongst the bodies of the dead in the aftermath of the Splendid bar shooting. He was alive when the ambulance left the bar, but he was confirmed dead on arrival at the hospital. He died from several gunshot wounds.” He paused, and Jenett Darius could only hear the blood pounding in her ears and the hammering of her chest. She couldn't believe it, she was hoping it wasn't true. But it was reality, the cuffs on her hands were real and the chief was still standing in front of her. “I'm sorry that I'm the one that has come to you bearing this sad news, Miss Jenett. I wish I could take it back, but it has already happened.” When she didn't speak, he ventured further, touching her lightly on the shoulder. It was clear that he wanted her to say something, to at least
- Underestimated Retribution
CHAPTER 189: THE AFTERMATH
As soon as he struck Karen Shapiro on the head with the heavy box, he knew that he had only a few seconds before he would totally black out. And that was why without wasting a precious second, Mark Darius made his way to the phone in Derek Campton's hand. Without skipping a beat, he dialed the popular emergency line, his hands trembling. The amount of blood he had lost was going to determine if he got to live or not, and Mark Darius knew that he had lost quite a lot of blood. “911, what's your emergency?” Smiling, Mark Darius was slowly embracing the darkness that was enveloping him. He was fighting to stay alive, he was fighting death, the darkness, and even though it looked bleak, he was sure that he was going to win. He was going to say his location before the darkness enveloped him completely. It had been quite a long day, and Mark Darius wanted nothing more than to lay down and rest. He had been fighting a battle which he didn't know how it was going to turn out, and t
- Underestimated Retribution
CHAPTER 188: THE CONFESSION
“I can drive you to the station. I believe one of the staff can help to look after Atticus. He's eating, and as far as food is involved, he's good to go.” Sergei stared at her, slightly worried. He was just a little bit different. Even in the urgency of the moment, he was rethinking things, making sure that he wasn't leaving out any detail. He was very observant, and she could see why Mark had maintained his service throughout the years. “Are you sure? You should rest, take a shower. I assure you that Mark will be alright. He knows how to take care of himself, fight his battles if you know what I mean.” She nodded, knowing that she would do anything to know that Mark was safe and sound. He had fought for Atticus, and it was up to her to do the same for him. She would gladly do it without blinking or hesitation. “I'm certain. I need to be sure that Mark is safe and that Karen hasn't killed him yet.” Sergei nodded, finally acknowledging her pleas to follow him. He had carefully c
- Underestimated Retribution
CHAPTER 187: LOOKING FOR MARK
She didn't know why, she couldn't fathom the reason. It was probably what she had deserved, but the fact that she had been so close to getting away hurt her everyday of her life. After she closed the box successfully, she turned around to see a smiling Mark Darius, the smaller of her boxes with its edges that were made of metal in his hands. And before she could move or raise her hands in defense, the box had been slammed on her head, sending her into a darkness she had never encountered throughout her life. ********** Farida Atticus stared at her son, then smiled. Out of everything that had happened to her in the past few weeks, he seemed to be the only good thing that had emerged from it all. For the fact that he had managed to come out of the devil's lair that was Karen Shapiro's home unshattered and unharmed, there was every reason for her to be happy. Yes, her life had been a mess because of love, but there was one thing Farida found herself acknowledging. She st
- Underestimated Retribution
CHAPTER 186: BEATING THE ODDS
But it was clear that Mark Darius was having none of it. His mind was made up, and he stared at her, his gun very much active in his hand. He was going to use it, no matter what she said. “I can give you the contract right now.” Mark Darius smiled instead, as if he knew of her plans to bolt and do something unpredictable like she had done a few minutes ago. He looked purely ready for her, her antics and whatever she was going to try next. “You should've thought about that before trying to shoot me, Karen Shapiro.” And with those words, he fired. It was a single shot, and the bullet pierced her upper arm in a jolt that sent her to the floor, holding her now bleeding hand. At that moment, Mark Darius let out a cry. He had fallen to the floor, and the gun was out of his hand. Staring at him in pain, Karen Shapiro could see that he was in pain. He was clutching his side, his knuckles completely white. Despite her bleeding arm, the sight of Mark Darius in pain seemed to give her st
