Like playing chess

Like playing chess
Ethan snatched the phone from Dan and smiled devilishly before untying his feet.

"It seems like your cousin no longer wants anything to do with you, buddy."

Ethan chuckled and sat on the wooden desk in the middle.

"All thanks to you, Ethan. Can you just bring the laptop so I can get done with this?"

Dan said with an annoyed expression.

"Oh, so now you want to get to work, sweet. But make sure to unfold everything. No stone unturned. I honestly would hate to scratch that pale skin of yours."

Dan watched impatiently as Ethan waved the knife in the air like it was just a toy.

"Threats are not needed anymore. I know what to do to get you off my back."

Dan's jaw tightened, too many thoughts in his mind suddenly becoming overwhelming to him.

"I can see that, then you shall wait for Jasper to come forth with it. I am wishing you the best of luck with this. The good news is that you might get the royalties for your good job. Wanna see?"

Dan raised his head and gave a quick nod without thinking twice.

"If I am going to be abducted and kept hostage while being forced to expose my family, at least it is better if I get something in return." He chimed in, and Ethan laughed at his words.

Ethan tilted his head and grabbed the papers behind him on the desk, then playfully clicked the black ballpoint pen.

"I bet you would do anything for petty cash. Here is your contract. Read it and sign." He ordered.

"Can you at least give me some space?"

Dan frowned when he saw Ethan's deep gaze still lingered on him.

He raised both his hands in the air and slid off the desk.

"Your wish is my command. Take your time, and you can also grab the sweets from the desk.

I need a smoke, a break from seeing your face the whole day!" Ethan said with coldness in his voice.

"I need some food, you know?"

Ethan paused and turned around with raised eyebrows, silently questioning the man he had tortured for days.

"The last time I ate something real was when you gave me doughnuts for breakfast. I am sure Liam won't mind if I get real food, right?" He said nervously, with his left hand squeezing the corner of the contract.

"Actually, you are right. You only have us now. We only take care of our own... Any allergies I should know about?"

Ethan forced a smile with his other hand holding a doorknob.

"I don't have any."

Dan replied seriously.

"Sure."

Ethan walked out, closed the door, and locked it from outside.

The warehouse had a bathroom and a long sleeper couch inside, so he knew Dan would never encounter problems going to the restroom.

With Ethan now gone for errands, Dan studied the contract and smirked in satisfaction. The prize written there was triple the amount he used to make in journalism for months.

However, he sighed helplessly, with realization crossing his features.

"Liam Foster isn't that bad."

He mumbled to himself.

Well, Liam was indeed generous, because not everyone would pay the person who had betrayed them a dime for fulfilling their punishments.

"Good day, my friend."

Paul placed his iPad on Liam's desk and sat across from him, with an amused smirk on his face.

"Hello, Mr. Smith. Long time no see, huh?"

Liam leaned back on his chair and gave Paul a wary glance.

"I'm not sure if you hitting your head on the door has caused you amnesia or what, but I do recall meeting you at the hospital a day ago. Remember that?" Paul's brows knitted together as he waited for Liam's response.

"Oh, the day you almost chowed me alive. Honestly, I was shaking in my boots, my friend." Liam teased and chuckled along with Paul.

"No, I didn't. I was just thinking your idea of abducting the Preston idiot was dumb. Perhaps I should have checked with you first. My apologies."

Paul's expression grew firmer and more serious.

Liam narrowed his eyes at him, suspicion crossing his face as he stared at his friend, who had become a polite being out of nowhere.

"Am I mistaken or not, or did you really just apologize to me?" Liam asked in disbelief.

Paul nodded and grew solemn.

"Nope, cut the act, man. What do you want?"

Liam shot at Paul, his amusement now turned into a cool smirk.

Paul leaned over the table and smirked at Liam, who was still searching him for answers.

"I don't want anything from you, Foster. However, I have seen your determination to make our lives peaceful again, so I have deeply thought of sharing something with you, pal. What you did to the Prestons was the start, and I want to have more discussions regarding all the chaos."

Paul said with his head held high.

"Whatever it takes for their downfall. Tell me you have something in your mind."

Liam softened his expression, his eyes becoming more hopeful at what Paul was about to share with him.

"Like you have said in your article that Bruce Preston has gambled many things away. Well, you are looking at the owner of something great, except my plans are much greater than this," Paul announced gently.

Dumbfounded by the news, Liam stared deeper at Paul.

Silence settled across them as they exchanged a knowing glance. Their satisfied smirks curled in sync like they had just slaughtered a fat cow big men usually feared.

"Congratulations, mate. We should go celebrate when you have time."

Paul gave a soft nod at Liam's suggestion.

"That is not a bad idea at all. However, I have a request to make." Liam gestured for Paul to continue.

"I have a feeling that you are going to drag the pretty model and the rest of that family much sooner. Unfortunately, that would ruin the plans I have made. I suggest you pause on that because it is about to go down in a week. Here is your invitation, my friend. Rosina is not invited."

Paul slipped an invitation card out of his blazer pocket and handed it to Liam, who immediately read the contents.

"Shit, you two must have had a long talk here." Liam shrugged amusedly and put the card on the table.

On the invitation card, this was written:

You are cordially invited to Archibald's business dinner to celebrate a great expansion of the Foster Corporation running all around the continent. Making an appearance would make a huge difference.

"Not a long talk, but mutual understanding within a couple of minutes. This all was your brother's idea, by the way." Liam's heart fluttered at the news as he poured whiskey into two glasses, passing one to Paul with a proud smile.

"That suits him well. You know, this is like playing chess. Only wise people are required to sit at the table.I am pleased to be next to you both... not to forget how glad I am of the great deal you have. Cheers, mate!"

Liam and Paul raised and clicked their glasses.