Chapter 32 A Rival
The old warehouse was cold and gloomy. A single dim lamp swung slowly, adding a thrilling effect added with the air was thick with the smell of damp concrete.
Henry sat tied to a wooden chair, his body trembling. In front of him, a man with a face full of scars sat smoking a cigarette. His sharp eyes stared at Henry, gleaming with excitement yet dangerous.
"Henry, Henry, Henry," the Boss smiled, walking closer. His voice sounded friendly, but it was thick with menace. "You know why you're here, right?"
Henry nodded, his voice shaking. "I-I know, Sir. I just need time... I'll definitely pay my debt..."
The Boss raised an eyebrow, then exhaled cigarette smoke right into Henry's face. His face moved closer as his gaze sharpened. "I've given you months! What have you got, you bastard?! You ran away instead!"
"I didn't run, Sir! I swear!!" Henry panicked even more. "I was just... looking for money to pay!"
The Boss chuckled softly, filled with disbelief. He stepped back, took another drag from his cigarette, and blew a thick cloud of smoke into the air. "I'm tired of your same excuses, Henry. So, I'm asking now. What do you have to pay your debt?"
Henry fell silent, his body shaking badly. He knew the answer, but he hesitated to say it.
"Answer me, now!" the large Boss roared, the sound echoing through the warehouse. His eyes were red with threat. "Or I'll make sure you don't leave this place alive!"
"I-I have daughters, Sir!" Henry finally stammered out. He felt like he might lose control of his bladder from sheer terror.
The Boss squinted. "Daughters?"
Henry nodded quickly, noting the reaction. "Two, Sir! I have two daughters! If you want, take one of them. Or both, I don't care! As long as my debt is settled!"
The room fell silent. The Boss's men exchanged glances, as if they couldn't believe what they just heard.
The Boss appeared to think for a moment, then a thin smirk curled onto his face, turning into a short laugh. "I knew you were a piece of trash, Henry. But I didn't think you were this rotten. Willing to sell your own kids!"
Henry offered an awkward, nervous smile. Whether it was praise or sarcasm, he felt cornered.
The Boss walked up to him, patting his shoulder gently, but the pressure was clearly felt. "What are your daughters' names?"
"A-Audrey... and Agnes," Henry answered, his voice trembling.
"Hmm..." The Boss nodded, stroking his chin. "Interesting. But I need to see them first. Don't you dare give me damaged goods!"
"I can arrange that, Sir! I can set up a meeting!" Henry quickly promised, his eyes full of fear, but also a sliver of relief.
The Boss smiled again, but his expression was terrifying. "Alright. But remember, Henry. If you try to play games with me..." He leaned closer to Henry's face. "You will regret it."
Henry could only nod weakly, his body shaking violently again. Deep down, he knew his action was a huge sin, but he desperately wanted to survive this Boss, who was famous for making people disappear...
The buzz about the new specialized office space for the Paragon legal team seemed to become the hottest topic, spreading quickly throughout the MGC building.
From the reception desk to the 10th-floor pantry, almost every employee conversation mentioned the lawyers who would soon be temporarily settling in.
However, one name kept popping up, giving Elliot an increasing headache. Bruce Miller.
Since stepping foot into the building that morning, Elliot felt the office atmosphere was different.
Every time he walked down a hallway, whispers reached him. Specifically, the female employees were giggling and whispering, their faces beaming whenever Bruce's name was mentioned.
"Bruce is really handsome, isn't he?" the voice of a female employee accidentally caught Elliot's ear as he walked toward his office.
"I know! And they say he's super smart too. No wonder their legal team is successful everywhere," the other replied admiringly.
Elliot scoffed softly. His pace quickened, trying to ignore the conversation. But every corner of the office seemed filled with praise for the man who was now more popular than Elliot himself at MGC.
"What does that guy have that I don't?" Elliot muttered, taking long strides.
When Elliot reached his own office, Liam and Gus were already waiting with stacked documents. But even his two personal assistants weren't immune to the rumors.
He tried to ignore all the talk until Liam said something that triggered him. "But I think what's grabbing the most attention are the occupants. I heard one of them, Bruce Miller, is an old friend of Audrey's, right?"
Hearing that name, Elliot shot a sharp glare toward Liam . LIam immediately fell silent, realizing he had made a mistake, though he wasn't sure what part.
"Done talking?" Elliot asked flatly as he sat in his chair. His hands began flipping through the documents in front of him, though focusing was impossible.
Liam and Gus exchanged glances. The atmosphere in the room instantly shifted.
"Yes, Sir. Sorry," Liam replied nervously, quickly handing over their meeting materials.
Elliot let out a long sigh, trying to shift his focus. He signaled them to start the meeting. He desperately needed a distraction.
Unfortunately, he frequently made Liam and Gus repeat their presentations, confusing them with his unusual behavior.
When the meeting ended and Liam and Gus had left, Elliot sighed deeply, leaning back on the sofa. His mind was racing, relentlessly circling back to Bruce.
"Should I ask Audrey directly?" he muttered.
But he immediately shook his head, pushing the idea away. "Audrey will only get more suspicious if I ask her something so personal."
"Ah, damn it!" Elliot cursed softly, venting his frustration. He pressed his temples, trying to calm the turmoil in his chest. "Focus, Elliot! Don't act like an idiot!"
But the harder he tried, the more his mind was disrupted by the image of Bruce and the possibility that the man had a special connection with Audrey in the past.
Elliot paused, his eyebrows furrowed, as if an idea had just struck him. A few seconds later, he rose from the sofa with a quick motion, decided to find out himself.
Arriving at the place, only a few construction workers were there, carrying equipment, while the interior design of the new office space was clearly taking shape.
Unable to execute his plan, Elliot merely stood in the middle of the hallway, observing the surroundings with a somewhat vacant stare.
"Are you looking for someone, Mr. Harrington?" a female employee from the property team greeted, startling him slightly.
Elliot turned, his expression flat. "I... just wanted to ensure everything is on schedule."
"Oh, yes, Sir. So far, everything is running smoothly. The main room for the legal team will be finished next week," the woman replied with a polite smile.
Elliot nodded briefly, but his eyes kept scanning. Finally, his gaze landed on a room in the corner that seemed almost complete. On the door, he saw Bruce's name written on a temporary label.
A twisted feeling landed in Elliot's stomach. Seeing Bruce's name on that door felt like a territorial claim he couldn't challenge without revealing his own hand.
Although he knew that man would be working here, seeing his name physically made everything feel too real.
The thought of Audrey interacting even more frequently with Bruce began to make him burn with fury.
His jaw tightened slightly, staring intensely at the label. "Should I demand Paragon replace their team leader?"
"Mr. Harrington, are you asking me to leave?"