"Luck Is on your side today, Luke. I don't want to get my hands stained by your filthy blood. I will only send you back home and you better be obedient or I will make you die miserably!" Axel warned as he looked down at Luke who was now clutching his neck and gasping for air.
Luke didn't reply as he was still reeling from the shock of almost dying by axels hands.
"Camden", Axel called calmly. "Send Luke home immediately. I don't want to see him around me".
Camden appeared hesitant to follow axels order. "But… your grandfather…"
"Do as I say!" Axel growled, his aura blazing out of control and Camden was forced to compel.
"As you wish".
…
Hours later, Camden returned to Axel's office and for the first time in what seemed like ages, he knocked and only entered when he heard a low response from inside.
He walked into the sight of Axel sitting behind his desk as usual, in between his fingers was a pencil which glided lightly on the white piece of paper.
It had been a long time since Camden or anyone else saw Axel so focused on what he was drawing as Axel only draws to mark a significant event or wants to keep an important memory.
He was still emitting that bone-chilling aura that Camden was beginning to wonder what he was drawing.
Seeing him so focused, Camden thought of going and coming back later, preferably when Axel calms down and is back to normal.
"Why did you knock?" Axel's asked as Camden was about to turn around and leave the office. His eyes were still fixed on the paper and the pencil still moving smoothly on it. He was so focused on what he was drawing that he didn't even bother to look at Camden. "Did I scare you?"
"No– I mean yes– but no. I am just worried about what your grandfather would do if he find out.". Camden explained trying his best to hide his fear and worry.
"I will speak to my grandfather when the time comes. For now, you will take over Luke's position as the general manager".
"There is no way I'm doing that!" Camden blurted out before he even realized what he was saying and his heart almost stopped beating when Axel stopped drawing and raised his head to look at him. Once again, met with the freezer that Axel was turning into, Camden was forced to obey. "As you wish".
Axel sighed and dropped his pencil before leaning back into his seat. He pinched the skin between his brows as he inhaled multiple times, trying to get himself under control.
Camden was only following orders given by his grandfather and if Camden was to leave his side, Axel's grandfather was going to make him pay.
"I meant to say that you will take over Luke's position for now and if you find someone suitable, you can come back to my side ". Axel explained slowly and Camden relaxed seeing that Axel was not trying to send him away.
Seeing Camden breathe normally again, Axel picked up his pencil and continued drawing, and once again, a dead silence fell over the room. Even though his eyes were fixed on the paper in front of him, Axel could still feel Camden's burning gaze on him. Camden wanted to speak but he was having second thoughts about it.
Axel felt guilty watching Camden act like this. Camden was his closest aide and he speaks whenever he wants to but now, all thanks to Axel losing his cool and almost killing Luke, Camden was silent.
"Just say what you want to say". Axel asserted as he dropped his pencil and interlaced his fingers, his eyes slowly fixed on Camden, waiting for him to speak.
Camden felt pressured seeing Axel look at him like that but since Axel had asked, he was going to speak.
"What you said earlier… about Hannah being one of your people… do you mean it?" Or we're you just bluffing?
The last part was said in his mind but he still wanted to know Axel's answer.
"Yes". Axel answered without hesitation and Camden blinked multiple times. He almost rubbed his ears to make sure that he wasn't just hearing things. He thought that Axel was joking and was only trying to scare Luke but that didn't seem to be the case.
As it turns out, Hannah was now one of Axel's people… one of them…
Having gotten his answers, though still confused, Camden turned to leave but was stopped by Axel's voice behind him.
"Take a look at this". Camden whirled around in surprise. Surely Axel was not talking about the drawing, was he?
Axel never shows anyone his drawings and Camden had only seen a few by mistake or when Axel decided to show him which of course, was for work purposes.
When Camden looked at the paper, his breath caught in his throat and his face paled. He even looked whiter than the paper he was staring at!
In that white piece of paper, Axel had managed to capture the image of Luke being strangled. Though only the forearm and fingers of the person were showing, Camden knew that it was Axel. How could he not? He was present when everything happened!
Axel had also managed to capture every expression on Luke's face in that one single drawing and Camden suddenly felt like he was being transported back to that moment. He could even feel the cold from back then biting into his skin.
In all, though it was a masterpiece, it was truly horrifying to look at.
Just then, Axel looked at his watch and stood up. He saw that Camden was still glued to his drawing and a smile broke out on his lips. "You can keep it if you like it so much". Axel teased and Camden jolted. He attempted to push the paper away but refrained from doing so as he felt like he would be transported back to that scene in the conference room if he touched the paper so why on earth would he want to keep that horrendous piece of paper?
"I don't want it!" Camden half yelled and he even took two steps away from Axel's desk. Axel just chuckled. He picked up the paper and crumpled it in his hand surprising Camden again.
Even though it was a horrifying image, it was still a beautiful piece of work!
Axel saw the accusing glare that Camden threw at him and he shrugged, "What? I don't like Luke's face!"
Camden shook his head and ignored axels words seeing that he was back to normal. He noticed that Axel was preparing to leave so he asked, "Where are you going?"