Mark watched with a mixture of amusement and disdain as Cooper carried out his orders, his lips curling up in a smirk. Cooper barked out commands to his men, his voice echoing through the room. "Clear the place out, boys! The big man wants the space to himself!" As the guards began to usher people out, Mark noticed one of them approach Cooper, his face set in skepticism. He whispered something in Cooper's ear, his words lost in the loud disco music. Mark's curiosity piqued, he wondered what the guard had said to Cooper, his eyes scanning the area as he searched for the flight of stairs leading to the VIP area above in the gallery. Whatever the guard said to Cooper, it clearly struck a nerve. Cooper's face turned beet red with rage as he grabbed the man by the collar of his shirt and suit, his stodgy hands clenched into fists. "Do I look like a clown to you, making little jokes?" He bellowed, his voice echoing through the room. "I've said what the bloody hell I said, so you don't sta
Jennet's footsteps echoed through her room as she paced back and forth, her mind racing with thoughts and worries. Her hand was pressed against her forehead, as if trying to massage away the tension that had been building up for days. She had been trying to reach Number One but he wasn't responding to her calls. She had pressured Bennet into giving her his contact information, but now it seemed like a dead end. The phone in her hand felt like a lifeline, but it was a lifeline that was rapidly fraying. She was tired of being kept in the dark, tired of not knowing what was happening with her son's case. The court was dragging its feet, and even if they did finally set a trial date, Jennet knew that the odds were stacked against them. There was no evidence to prove Brown's innocence, and she feared that he would be trapped in a system that seemed designed to keep him locked away. Jennet's fingers flew across the keypad as she dialed the number again, her frustration and anger growing
Mark stepped out of his car, the crunch of gravel beneath his feet echoing through the late afternoon air. He handed his briefcase to the waiting guard, a habitual gesture that had become second nature since the car bomb incident. The memory of that fateful day still lingered, a stark reminder of the risks that came with his wealth and status. Ever since then, Mark had taken extreme measures to ensure his safety. His car was now equipped with an advanced security system, designed to detect and prevent any potential threats. The system was state-of-the-art, capable of detecting even the slightest hint of a bomb or tampering. If a bomb had been wired to the door handle, the system would prevent him from opening the door, giving him precious time to react. As he walked towards his house, Mark was flanked by a team of guards, their eyes scanning the surroundings with a hawk's intensity. They were stationed at strategic points, ever vigilant for any suspicious movement or potential threa
As the evening wore on and the main course was finished, the host declared, "Now, gentlemen, feel free to indulge with the maid. She's as good as she looks!" Elena's eyes widened in alarm as she began to clear the table, her gaze darting to Mark in a silent plea for help. Enzo, in particular, seemed to take the host's words as an invitation, his eyes leering at Elena's body as he licked his lips in anticipation. Elena's discomfort was palpable, her movements stiff and hesitant as she replaced his dish with a dessert of velvet cake and cream topping. Mark ignored Elena's discomfort and said to the music machine, "Alexa, play us some upbeat music. We would like to party." While the music played in the background, Mark rose to his feet, lifting his glass up, and said, "Cheers to good business and more money." The men raised their glasses with a loud cheer, and while they were still standing, Enzo turned his attention to Elena, who was still picking up some plates at the table and repla
The memories flashed before Mark's eyes like a grim slideshow. Sarah, his loyal assistant, gunned down in cold blood. Johnson, his trusted driver, killed in a car bomb explosion. Stefan, the quiet janitor, discovered days after the first excavation, his lifeless body a haunting reminder of the danger that haunted Mark. Mark's grip on the steering wheel tightened as he thought of all those who had been hurt by his enemies. The anger and pain simmered just below the surface, fueling his resolve to make them pay gravely for their sins. Mark's gaze shifted to the passenger side, where his new bodyguard, Saint, sat watching him with an expressionless face. Mark couldn't help but think, what's with bodyguards and their weird names? As Mark deviated from the planned route, Saint raised an eyebrow. "Where are we headed, sir?" He asked, his deep voice firm but polite. Mark's smile grew wider. "I need to see my father," he said, a hint of excitement in his voice. As he drove, Mark's though
Elena sat on the couch, away from Mark, who was shedding tears, his pain was palpable. She could see the hurt went really deep, to his very soul. She wondered who could have committed such a heinous crime, killing the influential and almighty Gabriel Darius. The cruelty of it was unfathomable. For a brief moment, she suspected it might be the hand work of Number One, but she quickly dismissed the thought. Mark was inconsolable, refusing her attempts at comfort or words of solace. He had cancelled all his appointments for the day and ordered the premises to be closed to prevent anyone from coming in. Elena sat with him for a while longer, then rose up to answer her phone, which had begun ringing. She excused herself to take the call in her bedroom, leaving Mark alone with his grief. As she walked away, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease, wondering who could have done such a thing, and what their motives might be. The silence in the room was heavy, and Elena couldn't shake o
Elena walked tentatively along the corridors. It was afternoon, and Mark was downstairs in the mini bar. She had timed what she was about to do to coincide with the time when the guards were about to rotate their shift. She looked along the corridor and found no one standing guard. She hurried over to Mark's door and tried the handle, praying silently that it would be open. Luckily for her, it opened. She walked into the room and shut the door behind her. She hurried over to Mark's closet and hid the briefcase behind a shoe rack. She quickly and quietly stepped out. Once she got to the door, she immediately remembered something and turned back to the set of drawers in a corner of the room. She searched until she pulled out Mark's checkbook. She looked behind her to make sure she was still alone. She opened it and found the imprint of Mark's signature from a previous transaction. She imitated the style and it was a perfect replica. She smiled to herself in satisfaction. She had be
Mark let Saint drive him home, still reeling from his meeting with the funeral home to make preparations for his father's funeral. He couldn't believe he was talking about his father in the past tense, again. When he thought his father had died in the plane crash, he was devastated. But then his father came back, revealing he was never on the flight. Losing him for real now, to a stupid mistake, made him feel very angry. He wished he could find the lemonade seller who put coconut juice in his father's drink. A thought flashed through his mind, and he wondered if the act was perpetrated by an enemy. But then he remembered his father had gone to the spa; it was hardly possible. Yet, his enemies had shown just how dexterous they could be. As they approached his house, Mark's mind was drawn to the vehicle parked in front. He knew he was bound to receive visitors since his father had just died, and he had already met with the mayor at a restaurant. But he was not in the mood for any mor