"Where is she?" he bellowed in rage, his voice reverberating through the mansion, causing his men to quake in fear, unable to provide an answer.
"I will end every single one of you and deliver your lifeless bodies to your families if you don't tell me where she went," he threatened, his voice surprisingly calm but carrying an underlying cyclone of fury that sent shivers down their spines.
"She...she sneaked out, Boss, without anyone knowing," one of the men stuttered, catching the boss's attention.
He fixed his intense gaze on the man, slowly approaching him as fear gripped the trembling figure.
"What did you just say?" he inquired, his deep voice and grave expression intensifying the man's terror as he stood helplessly before him.
"Boss, she left without anyone's knowledge, but we will find her if you allow us," the man pleaded, attempting to reason with their boss.
"Raven," he called out, addressing one of his men from across the room.
"Yes, boss," Raven responded, his voice laced with a mix of apprehension and obedience.
"Take ten men and search for her. You have one hour. If she's not found, I'll personally enjoy separating your head from your body. Am I clear?" the boss demanded, his words dripping with a chilling threat.
"Yes, boss," Raven replied, and as the boss walked out of the room, a collective sigh of relief escaped his men, releasing the breath they hadn't realized they were holding.
Anna... that stubborn girl always defied him. Despite his warnings to never leave the house without permission or without his knowledge, she consistently took his words for granted. Well, he would make sure she learned a lesson she would never forget.
_______
"What would you like to order, sir?" she asked, holding a notepad and smiling warmly at the elderly man seated at the table in the cozy beanery.
"Oh, my dear lady, I'd like some mashed potatoes, grilled chicken with rice, and a bottle of beer to accompany it," the man replied, returning her smile.
"Thank you, sir. I'll be back in just a few minutes," she responded, gracefully walking back to the counter.
"Boss, we found her," Raven informed his boss over the phone.
"Where did you find her?" the boss's voice echoed on the other end of the line.
"At the beanery where she used to work," Raven reported.
"Good. Instruct the others to back off and you stay behind to bring her back when she's finished," the boss ordered.
"Alright, boss," Raven acknowledged before ending the call.
"Here's your bill, sir," she said, extending the piece of paper to the elderly man.
"Twenty dollars," she informed him.
"Alright," the man muttered, paying the bill and walking out of the beanery.
She swiftly returned to the counter, handed over the money, and removed her apron.
"We're closed for the day," she announced, placing a closed sign at the entrance before stepping out onto the street, hoping to hail a cab.
She was reluctantly returning to that hellish place when she could have easily escaped. But she knew he would find her no matter where she hid, making her life even more unbearable.
"Hello, mistress," a man greeted, waving his hand as he approached her.
She didn't recognize him, but the way he addressed her as "mistress" instantly made her realize he was one of his men.
"Boss ordered me to bring you back home," the man informed her.
What? He knew she had sneaked out? Fear gripped her as her eyes widened. He had warned her not to leave the house, or she would face the severe consequences of disobeying him.
He always found a way to punish her, subjecting her to rough, painful encounters that left her sore and in agony for days. She wasn't prepared to endure that pain tonight, especially after serving customers for hours.
"No, please... don't take me to him," she pleaded, her head shaking in denial, desperately trying to suppress memories of the excruciating torment she had endured during the past two weeks.
"I'm sorry, mistress, but it's an order," the man replied, gripping her hands tightly and forcefully leading her towards a waiting car despite her screams.
He pushed her into the car, and they sped off.
"Let me go!" she screamed as they arrived at the magnificent mansion. The glass door opened, and they entered, her captor still firmly holding her hands.
"We're here, boss," the man announced, his voice devoid of emotion, while her heart pounded in her chest as she beheld the most heartless man in the room, casually sipping his wine.
"Release her and leave," he commanded without even glancing in their direction.
The man let go of her, and she couldn't help but notice the sly smirk on his lips as he departed.
"Anna..." his cold voice called out, causing her to shudder and reluctantly meet his gaze.
"Yes?" she whispered fearfully, keeping her head lowered, unable to muster the courage to meet his eyes directly.
He set down his glass of wine, slowly advancing toward her. Each step he took backward only served to increase her apprehension until her back was against the door.
Now he stood close, right in front of her. His hand shot up, gripping her jaw harshly, tracing a chilling path down her face with his index finger. His gaze grew even more menacing, sending shivers down her spine.
Her heart raced, and her palms grew clammy with fear as he looked down at her with those piercing eyes.
"I warned you, didn't I?" he growled, his deep voice resonating with a dangerous intensity, causing goosebumps to rise on her neck and arms.
"Yes..." she nodded, her voice barely audible.
"And you took my words as mere threats, didn't you?" he questioned, his anger seeping through each word.
"No..." she shook her head, her voice trembling.
Without saying another word, he released his grip on her jaw and turned away, leaving her in a state of suspense.
"Antonio," he called out, summoning another one of his men.
"Yes, boss," Antonio responded, entering the room.
"Eliminate the manager of M&G and dispose of his body discreetly in the woods. Also, shut down the beanery. Do it tonight," he commanded, strolling back toward the couch.
"Yes, boss," Antonio acknowledged before promptly leaving the room.
Her eyes widened in shock, her body freezing in panic. She struggled to catch her breath, comprehending the gravity of what she had just heard.
He was going to murder her manager.