"Sir, I have an update on the mugging case." Pattison came into the office a few minutes after their arrival.
"Yes?"
"We found the culprits."
"Who were they?"
"Just some thugs. They're not associated with anyone."
"Where are they now?"
"They were brought into the riverside police station."
"I want to see them." Mr Moore stood up making his way straight to the station.
After a quick conversation with the captain, he was let into the holding cell with the man that was considered the leader. The man was handcuffed to the table as Mr Moore sat down opposite of him.
"You've made the worst mistake in your life." Mr Moore spoke coldly.
The thug laughed. "At least I've enjoyed it. God, that chick was so fun. A bit of a shame that we didn't finish before someone showed up. But I'll find her and finish what I was planning one day. She looked quite appetising."
Mr Moore stood up and took a swing at him. He punched him with so much force that his nose crackled and blood splattered everywhere, including Mr Moore's white shirt. "No, you won't. I don't think you'll ever see light again."
Mr Moore grabbed the thug's head and smashed it against the table. The strength he had caused the thug's forehead to split and bleed even more profusely. After the second smash against the table, the man passed out. Mr Moore barely contained his rage. He was ready to murder him there and then, but he took a deep breath and left the room.
"Sir, are you okay?"
"Yes." Mr Moore barked at Pattison.
"There's blood on your shirt."
"Indeed." He walked past Pattison and left the police station.
As he came back into the office building, he saw Daniel quickly saying goodbye to Claire in the foyer and Claire walking towards the elevator. She's walked into one and as she looked up her eyes met Mr Moore's.
He walked into the elevator without the invitation. Besides, Claire was too frozen to move. The amount of blood on Mr Moore's shirt looked worrying, saying the least. Not to mention a splatter on his neck.
"The men who mugged you will never do such a thing again." He said coldly. Claire felt the chill go down her spine. For the first time, she turned around to face him whilst in the elevator. She wanted to ask but she didn't dare.
She took a tissue out of her handbag and passed it to Mr Moore just before the elevator stopped on her floor.
She slowly walked out, looking back at Mr Moore, who was equally shocked as her but for a different reason. He held the tissue without any movement. Zoe and Gina froze behind her, observing their friend leave a lift in shock, catching a glimpse of crimson red stains on Mr Moore's clothes.
Mr Moore gave Zoe a death stare, irritated by her wearing the navy blouse that was intended for Claire.
"Are you alright?" Gina and Zoe ran towards her as the door closed
"Yeah," Claire admitted. Her mouth was still open.
"Was that blood?"
"It smelled and looked like it." Claire nodded.
"It's not yours, is it?"
"No." She shook her head.
"Did he say something?"
"I-…" Claire stuttered. "I don't know." She decided not to share what Mr Moore said.
"I'll get you some chamomile tea. It's good for nerves." Gina offered.
"I'm alright. Curious and surprised, but alright."
"Do you think that he killed someone?" Zoe whispered. Claire looked at her and she realised that she didn't know the answer. His comment on the thugs that mugged her could indicate that he eradicated them. But she wasn't sure if he was more of a 'beating up people' or 'murder people' kind of a person.
"I don't know. I don't have time to question it right now." Claire said decisively, returning to her work. Daniel coming to her workplace was already a huge nuisance. He did take her out for lunch which she struggled to find an excuse for. He spent the last hour or so talking about himself again as Claire ate some well-cooked lunch, happy that it wasn't ramen for once. But this was as far as her enjoyment went. She saw the benefit of maintaining some form of friendship with the Jones family and she considered it to be just that.
But Mr Moore's rage didn't escape Claire. He wouldn't admit the reason for wanting to punish her as it was admitting his weakness. His pretend reason was the well-being of his business. The actual reasons extended from jealousy over Daniel and upset over Claire not accepting the blouses as compensation for the stupid damage he did. It was his stupid way of saying that he was sorry. But he was very good at ignoring the actual reasons, so good that he even made himself believe that it was purely business.
The next morning he made Pattison contact the judge and reduce the previously agreed 12-week extension that they were due to enter on Friday.
"Two weeks, and no more." Mr Moore ordered. Pattison was worried about the outcome of this task, but not for his own sake.
As the Friday came, exactly 4 weeks since the initial eviction notice was handed out, each resident in the estate was given a 2-week notice instead of the expected 12.
Claire was quick to find out as her dad called her in worry. She managed to calm him down and she reassured him that it must be a mistake. As soon as she put the phone down, she had a strong gut feeling that it wasn't a mistake and she knew exactly who was behind it.
She made her way to the forty-second floor and stormed past Pattison, straight into Mr Moore's office.
"You did it, didn't you?" she spat through her teeth.
"Did what?"
"You went behind everyone's backs and reduced the extension for the demolition in preparation for the Marble Project."
"I didn't go behind anyone's back. It was the judge's decision. It's your fault for thinking that the appeal will be accepted fully."
"No. The appeal was accepted fully. It's only today that the period of the extension has been reduced. So, tell me the truth?"
"You want to know the truth?" Mr Moore let out a short wicked laugh. "I don't care for your sentiments and those cockroaches. I want the Marble Project to go ahead as soon as possible." He stood up and walked around the desk to face her.
"Why did you change your mind?" Claire hissed.
"No, I've never changed my mind." He smiled in her face, enjoying her turmoil. "These people are like cockroaches, they get under my feet and I need to squash them. And you aren't any different. If you get under my feet, I'll squash you."
"You're an a*rsehole." She spat out in his face.
"Still better than being a cockroach."
"I will rather be a cockroach than be you." She hissed again. Mr Moore watched the anger he evoked. Claire lost the filter and was a step away from throwing profanities at him.
"Really? I can remove the eviction period altogether and get these people out tonight onto the streets."
"There are no words to describe your wickedness!" Claire yelled.
"Give it a go, come on, I'm sure you can come up with something." He provoked her further.
Pattison was unfortunate enough to walk in at that exact moment.
"You're a heartless b*stard! Son of b*tch!" She yelled loud enough that everyone in the office heard her through the door that Pattison just opened. She stormed out past Pattison, avoiding any curious gazes near Mr Moore's office.
She went back to her office and started to cry.