Mr. Harrison's hands trembled as he took the file from the guard.
"Page one," Edward narrated. "Mr. Owens has... appropriated fifty-six million dollars since his introduction onto the board three years ago. Also since his introduction, he has been found to have committed about sixty-three crimes in his capacity. Included is the attempted bribery of government officials. Rape of several low-level female employees, and the murder of said employees, and tampering of witnesses. These are the largest issues on the list. I won't delve into the smaller, but equally damning matters."
Mr. Harrison read down the list. He felt disgusted at his colleague. He also felt confused about how Owner Bailey had known about all of this, yet had not done anything. However, before he could ask that, he went on. They flipped a few pages over to the next person. His crimes had been even more horrible. Molestation of children. Kidnapping. Drug trafficking...
On and on they went until all three of his colleagues were just as pale as the man on the floor. Each of them looked ready to lunge at the Owner Bailey but were kept in place by the sudden appearance of more guards. Each held pistols in their hands but kept them pointed down behind them. Mr. Harrison began to sweat. He wasn't a dirtbag like the others, but...
"Mr. Harrison," Edward smiled, for the first time since he began to read the file, and that made him dread whatever would come next. "Several parking tickets for blocking hydrants, none contested. Several code violations for having unsafe Christmas decorations, and having too many pets at your old home. Took a few company vehicles out without permission, but always returned them cleaned and refueled. Used a company credit card on an unauthorized transaction, but also repaid the funds back."
Mr. Harrison began to almost feel... Embarrassed. He had a slight doubt that, maybe, just maybe, all these crimes were fact. But Edward had listed all his transgressions down to the T... Did he even deserve to be in this room full of...
"Honestly, Mr. Harrison," Edward chuckled. "You've been the most mediocre member of the board. You haven't done anything outstanding, but you also haven't destroyed anything either. I like that. Steady and peaceful. That's quite the skill in of itself."
"T-Thank you?" Mr. Harrison's dread and embarrassment was slowly beginning to be overlayed with confusion. Was that a back-handed compliment...?
"This brings us to the reason we're all here tonight." Edward turned his attention to everyone. "To clean house. Starting with Mr. Owens."
Bang!
And Mr. Owen slumped over, joining bits of his brain on the floor.
∞♥∞
Jax's apartment was warm and welcoming. A contrast to his torn, drunken heart. His blurred eyes scanned over the still clean living room and kitchen. It had been three days since Maddin's funeral. Edward and he had spent most of their days drowning themselves in food and booze at the places Edward owned. However, tonight, Edward hadn't drunk a drop. Instead, he told Jax goodbye. Quite as rudely as it was abruptly.
"You use to be a boy I could see as my son, now you're just a disgrace." Edward's voice echoed in his ear. "I'm not going to be around any longer. Fix yourself, or just end it. This is goodbye, kid."
The apartment's lights were slightly blinding as he squinted to see. Anger boiled in his veins as he tossed the whiskey bottle in his hands. It didn't go far, and by chance, only landed on the never-used couch. He grew hotter as he was not gratified by the sound of glass breaking. He went forward to grab it and smash it by hand, but he smashed into the wooden coffee table.
"Fuck!" He cursed as he faces placed on the floorboards between the couch and table.
"Hey, Jax!" Cyril's voice chimed out. "Why aren't you answering my messages?!"
He stiffened at the voice and his eyes were wide.
"I've been trying to call you," She continued. "Dad said we have to talk about the new ex--"
The voice faded to the back of his mind as he thrashed about to get up. He knocked over the table in his drunken fit and his old Holo-Machine. It was something the size of an older laptop that projected the face of the caller. It landed right side up and he could see Cyril's beautiful Avatar leaning there with all her sass... The girl before he broke her... Before.
"Baby!" He pleaded as he crawled across the floor to the device as he tried to answer the call. It was... Not a call.
"Video message paused." The device said in its synthetic voice.
Jax only stared down at the familiar hologram. It... It was an old message. Dated a few years ago, when she was fifteen. He had forgotten that these messages existed. Only Cyril had his home phone number, aside from her parents, no one ever called or left messages. He felt warm at the memories of her love. The warmth of someone had truly cared about him... Not like that... Woman...
The one who bewitched him. The one who whispered in his ear that he had to think about that after.
Tears fell as rage and sadness swirled in his chest. One half wanted to scream and smash the machine that brought these memories to the surface. The other half was hurt at the thought of how he ruined it all; the one beautiful thing in his life. As odd as it was, Cyril had cared for him. Loved him. While she couldn't physically hold him, nor he hold her, it had still been true love. Broken because he wanted to fill the real touch of love.