No One Should Know

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CHAPTER 27

The day had gone by quickly to let the night take the baton and carry on. In a room secluded from prying eyes, sat a man with features as handsome as it could be.

From the way he carried himself and the air around him, one would think he comes from a royal family.

But too bad, his good looks were hidden under the shadow cast on the room.

"You did quite a wonderful job, Mark. And for that, I shall bestow on you the reward I promised to give you," the man said in a calm voice with a mix of evil.

"I-I only did as directed, sir," Mark responded

Every fibre in his body shook with nervousness or should we call it fear? He has never seen the face of this man but something tells him to be afraid.

"Hahaha," a gentle and low chortle was heard from the man. "Such a good mouth you have."

Mark could only smile warily. His only wish was to get his reward and flee from the presence of the man.

"Give him the case," Mark heard the man's order. And following after were noises from footsteps approaching him.

Coming into view was a tall bulky man with an eye patch on his left eye. He had a scar running from his on top of his eye, under the patch down to his left cheek.

His face wore no expression.

"Here," his voice was gruff and deep.

Mark's eyes followed the man's line of sight to behold the open briefcase filled with money. Mark's eyes bulged. That briefcase could provide for him for the rest of his life.

"You like what you see, right? Take it. It's all yours."

Mark's hand shook as he reached out for the briefcase. But before even the tip of his fingers could touch it, the bulky man slammed the case shut and withdrew it.

"What..."

"There's a condition before you take that money, Mark," he heard the majestic man say.

"But I did all that you have asked," Mark's brow furrowed.

"I know. I know. However, there is one more that you must do."

"Which is?"

"To stay silent. No one should know about our little deal, Mark or there will be consequences."

"I won't say a single word to anyone," Mark affirmed.

"Very well then. You may leave with the case. This should be the last time you stand before my presence, understand?" The man bellowed.

"Y-Yes, sir," Mark nodded and collected the case.

"Now scram."

Mark hurried out of the room. He didn't want to spend any more seconds there after all. As soon as he was gone, the bulky man returned to standing by the side of the other man.

"Warrick" the man on the chair called.

"Yes, your highness," Warrick, the bulky man answered.

SLAM

"How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that in human land?" The man bellowed at him.

"Apologies, my lord. It was a slip of my tongue," Warrick was quick to get on a knee with his head lowered as he apologised.

"It appears I should have that tongue cut off then."

"But, my lord. If you do so, Warrick won't be able to properly work for you," Warrick tried to reason with his master.

"Hmm. Your tongue has saved you yet again. Get up. I'll overlook this now. The next time your head rolling on the floor will be the price you'll pay for such a mistake."

"I won't make that mistake again, my lord. Rest assured," Warrick said and stood back up.

"You had better. Now tell me. What has my dear brother been up to since his reawakening?" The man asked as he sat back with a glass of wine in his hand.

"There has not been much that he has done. He's in the disguise of a company's owner."

"A pathetic company owner?"

"Yes, my–"

"Hahahaha," the man burst out laughing. "A company owner. Is that how he has chosen to live and find his key source?" He asked after a long moment of mockery.

"It appears to be so, my lord," Warrick nodded in confirmation.

"Oh, Arsenio. You make me laugh. Hahaha," he took a little sip from the glass. "But too bad, that source you seek has been destroyed before you even knew it."

"Ahem! Aside from him, there's a message from your mother, my lord."

"Mother? What does it?"

"She wants to know when you're returning. The dark council members are pressuring her for answers as to regard the key source," Warrick reported.

"I thought I sent words for them to be patient? Yet they still dare to disturb my mother?"

"My lord, I think it's best to return quickly since the major purpose has been achieved. The queen is also very worried for you," Warrick whispered in the last sentence.

"Oh alright. Looks like I will just have to pay my dear brother a visit some other time then," the man sighed.

"It seems do, my lord."

"Fine. Prepare for us to leave. And have a few men here to watch him and report to me if he shows any signs to return," the man ordered.

"Yes, my lord. I shall go and get them done now. Please excuse me," Warrick did a quick bow before he left the man in the room.

Alone in the confines of the walls and the quietness that stayed with the darkness, the man let out a low sigh.

"Arsenio. I won't let you take what's mine. I won't let father choose you over me. Never."

Meanwhile, Arsenio had no idea what is being done behind the scenes. He was busier with going through the books Ryker had brought for him earlier.

"There's no good thing here. Pages of crap and bullsh*t," Arsenio angrily closed the book and lolled back into his swivel chair.

"What do you possess, little red? What draws me to you every time you're around?"