Raymond POV
His screams filled the room as I began torturing him leisurely with my knives.
Roman later returned with a brutal-looking man.
"Since you admire high society and wish for to be your plaything," I said, "I brought soone suitable for you, it would be entertaining if you showed how it is done."
What do want to do?, leave alone? I could hear his screams as the brutal man kept on tearing his clothes.
"No, no you can’t do this to ," he scread in fear, "please forgive I won’t do it again."
I turned to Roman. "Untie the influencer."
He stumbled forward, sobbing and shaking the entertainnt unfolding in front of him was too much for him to handle.
"Walk with ," I said.
"Yes... yes, sir."
Behind us, screams echoed as the brutal man slamd into the fool, I heard skin slapping together and screams of pain and muffled groans. as punishnt continued.
That was how lessons were taught, and people learn what I can do when they go against or betray .
"When he’s finished, hand him over to the police," I instructed. "Include every cri, every location of his business. Tell the police departnt, Mr Black gave him to them as a gift."
"Yes, sir," Roman replied.
_
Third person POV
Raymond wrapped everything up neatly and sent the influencer away with a strict warning. Before dismissing him, he casually inford the man that his expertise would be needed again soday and that he should wait patiently for his call. It wasn’t a request, it was a certainty.
Over the next few days, Raymond and Lena did not cross paths. His schedule was packed to the brim, etings overlapping, decisions stacking endlessly on his desk. Still, he did not forget her, not even for a mont.
The contract clearly stated that he was to assist Lena with her company, and Raymond was a man of his word.
Once he committed to sothing, he followed through thoroughly. He began by studying Smith Enterprise from the inside out: the company chart, stock listings, financial loopholes, and the intricate web of board mbers. He morized nas, family ties, alliances, and rivalries.
Nothing was overlooked.
Raymond had his own ways of obtaining information, thods that did not rely on formal channels. Secrets had a habit of finding him.
Out of generosity, or perhaps magnanimity, he decided to dangle his assistance before Lena, fully expecting her to accept.
To his mild surprise, she refused. She stated firmly that she wanted to run the company on her own, without relying on him.
Raymond already knew Evans would not let his recent humiliation slide. As the general manager and a strong candidate for the CEO position,
Evans held too much influence. Lena, inexperienced and isolated, would find it nearly impossible to fight him head-on.
Based on the information Raymond had received, Lena had almost relinquished control of the company to Evans. To the public eye and even within Smith Enterprise, Evans was already seen as the true boss.
He handled daily operations effortlessly while Lena remained a symbolic figurehead, carrying the title without real authority.
When Lena refused his help, Raymond did not get angry.
He simply smiled. His kitten still had much to learn, especially about how to use people to their fullest advantage.
"Why struggle," he had murmured calmly that morning as she left for work, "when you can easily lean on ?"
It ca as no surprise when her call finally ca.
Raymond was lounging comfortably in his office when his phone rang. He had known this mont would arrive. With Sylvia as Lena’s secretary, it was inevitable. Sylvia understood how high society functioned, she would never allow Lena to drown alone.
Raymond could have offered his help imdiately, without conditions. After all, he had already extended it once. But then a thought crossed his mind, one that made his lips curve upward in quiet amusent.
What better way to ensure Lena’s compliance in the bedroom than to turn the situation into a ga?
So he made his move.
He insisted that Lena give herself to him for one night in exchange for the help she desperately needed.
He hadn’t expected her to agree. There was a contract binding them, and she had every right to demand his assistance without offering anything in return. Yet she walked straight into his trap, unaware of how deeply the strings were tightening around her.
Still, Raymond resolved to teach her, slowly, deliberately. He would ensure she learned the basics of power and control, so others would no longer exploit her innocence.
Later that day, Raymond summoned Liam to his office.
"Are we ready to visit Smith Enterprise?" he asked calmly.
"Yes, sir. We have everything we need," Liam replied.
Raymond rose to his feet, a faint smile playing on his lips. He took his private elevator from the thirty-eighth floor down to the lobby, where his car was already waiting.
Monts later, the sleek black Maybach pulled away smoothly from Hyacinth Hove Limited, gliding through the city as it headed straight toward Smith Enterprise.
-
Lena waited for Raymond, but he never showed up. As the minutes dragged on, she began pacing around her office, worry etched clearly across her face. She tried, truly tried, to calm her racing thoughts, taking slow breaths the way she had taught herself over the years, but her nerves refused to settle. The unease clung to her chest like a weight she could not shake off.
Not long after, Sylvia stepped in to inform her that it was ti for the eting. Lena nodded, gathering the files on her desk with slightly trembling hands.
Before leaving, she paused and took a few deliberate breathing exercises, hoping to steady herself before walking into the conference hall where the eting was already being held.
Sylvia walked beside her as they made their way down the corridor. Lena almost asked if Sylvia had heard anything, if she knew whether Raymond was still coming, but she decided against it.
Asking would only confirm her anxiety, and she refused to let anyone see how unsettled she was.
The mont they entered the conference hall,
Lena felt it. The shift. People were clustered around Evans, their laughter and attention focused solely on him. Worse still, he was seated at the head of the table. Her seat. The realization made her jaw tighten, but she straightened her back and did what she was supposed to do.
"Hello everyone, welco to today’s eting."
The chatter died down instantly, all eyes turning toward her. For a brief mont, silence filled the room, heavy and uncomfortable, before everyone simply resud their discussions as though she hadn’t spoken at all.
Lena bit the inside of her mouth, forcing herself to remain composed. Sylvia leaned closer and whispered, "Ignore them. Let’s focus on why we’re here."
Summoning what remained of her dignity, Lena walked toward Evans, who had refused to acknowledge her presence since she arrived.
Even beneath layers of makeup, faint bruises were still visible on his face. One of his hands was wrapped in a cast, still broken. Beside him sat Ashley, leaning in slightly, her lips curved into a smile that carried unmistakable mockery in her eyes.
When it beca painfully clear that no one intended to listen to her or give her the respect she deserved, Lena turned and sat down in one of the empty chairs. Sylvia followed, visibly fuming. Lena quietly asked her to calm down, whispering that their ti would co.
Yet regret gnawed at her heart. Handing over her authority to Evans had led to this humiliation. She could hardly bla them, it had been a while since she attended these etings. She had allowed Evans to handle everything, believing it was natural since they were ant to beco husband and wife.
Downstairs, Raymond finally arrived.
The effect was imdiate.
The receptionist and employees who spotted him stumbled over their steps. So gasped openly, unable to close their mouths, while others stood frozen, caught between fear and awe. Raymond rely smiled. He was well aware of the effect he had on people and chose to ignore it.
He calmly asked the receptionist to take him to the conference hall, explaining that he was there for the general eting.
Still dazed, she nodded and led him toward the elevator. Inside, she pressed herself into a corner, barely breathing, too afraid to breath, too hard.
overwheld to rember any formal protocol. In her mind, this was Mr. Black. What protocols could possibly apply, it should be their honor that he decided to step foot in their company?
"This way, sir," she said softly.
Monts later, the elevator doors opened on the fifth floor, where the conference hall and Lena’s office were located.
Inside the hall, Evans stood up, and the room fell silent. He cleared his throat, ready to speak.
That was when the door opened. And he walked in.
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