[POV: Nolan Carter]
"My, my, my, how can you be the family head when you can't even handle yourself in a bar fight, brother," that trash of a big brother, Kalin Carter, sneered at me. He always has to keep an eye on my every move, trying to make me feel threatened.
"That's for me to worry about, brother. Don't meddle in someone else's affairs," I snarled.
"Oh, but I'm not meddling in 'someone else's' affairs. I'm meddling in my own brother's," he replied with a sly grin.
"I need some privacy. Will you care to step out of my room?" I said, pointing at the door.
"Of course, take your time," he said, leaving the room with a slam of the door.
"Arghhh, you PRICK!" I screamed in frustration, throwing the glass on the bedside table across the room.
Never in my life, have I felt so defamed and ashamed in front of everyone. That son of a maggot dared to throw me out in front of everyone. I clenched my hair tightly just thinking about last night.
Suddenly, the lights went out, plunging the room into darkness. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as I heard a low, menacing voice behind me.
"You seek revenge?" the voice said, sending chills down my spine. I tried to stand up, but found myself unable to move.
"Don't bother. You won't be able to move," the voice said, as fear crept into my chest.
"Who are you?" I managed to ask, my voice trembling.
"Let's make a sweet deal," the voice said, a hint of amusement in his tone. "I'll bring you River's head, and in return, you'll provide me with steel supplies at production cost from Carter Steels. A small fixed amount, every month."
I hesitated. How could I trust this mysterious person?
"How do I trust you?" I asked, my voice shaking.
"Trust is overrated," the voice replied. "But if you're unable to hold up your end of the deal..."
Before he could finish, the lights flickered back on, and I spun around to see who was speaking to me. But there was no one there. The windows were closed from the inside, and the door was still locked.
"Guards! Guards!" I shouted, my heart pounding in my chest.
Four bodyguards rushed into the room, ready to defend me.
"Search the room and premises," I commanded, collapsing onto the floor. "Someone was here, now!"
--------[POV: River Hart]
For the past hour, we painstakingly deliberated on a perfect style for Cedric.
We meticulously picked out every article of clothing, starting with a T-shirt instead of a stuffy coat, then layering it with an open mustard shirt that complemented his build.
The mustard joggers and short boots completed the ensemble, topped off with a matching cap that mirrored my own.
After selecting the perfect outfit, we scoured through various optical stores to find the ideal specs. We finally settled on a sleek, squared shape in black and silver, which added a touch of sophistication to his overall look.
"You look quite fine now," I commented, grinning at him.
"Thank you, sir," he replied, giving a small nod.
"Alright, now that we've got you looking sharp, let's go check out our...burned work residence," I said, leading the way to the car.
Cedric got behind the wheel, while I settled into the passenger seat. The engine roared to life as we drove towards the smouldering building of Sightex.
Cedric and I arrived at the sight of the burnt down building of Sightex. The area was surrounded by flashing police lights and media vans, with people swarming around like bees around a hive.
As we approached, the air was thick with the smell of smoke and ash, and the faces of the crowd were twisted in shock and curiosity.
Cedric brought the car to a halt, his eyes darting around warily.
"I don't think you can enter the premises," he cautioned me.
"It's restricted due to ongoing investigation and media surveillance. Your name has been all over the news since this morning. They just need one photo to make you famous."
"How about a short interview?" I asked.
Cedric hesitated. "I cannot comment on that matter," he replied.
'Not me, yours idiot!', I thought with a grin.
I stepped out of the car, my eyes locked on the towering building that now lay in ruins. The chaos around me felt surreal, like a scene from a movie. But there was no script to follow, no director to guide my actions.
Ignoring the shouts of the police officers, I strode towards the yellow tape. The media reporters were on high alert, ready to pounce on any new information that might come their way.
And then, I saw her - Lyra Nightshade, the one who had set up a personal inquiry into the incident for me.
As I approached the scene, an employee who was there to observe the aftermath spotted me and called out, "Sir?"
A group of reporters quickly swarmed, whipping out their phones and laptops to search for information about me. They discovered that I was the owner of Sightex, and their excitement grew.
"I'll have a small talk with the officer, Cedric," I said, suppressing my presence as I crossed the barricade and stepped inside the building.
"Sir, don't leave me behind", Cedric said looking at the reporters running in his directions.
"Deal with it Cedric", I shouted back with a chuckle.
As I stepped inside the building, the chaos outside faded away, replaced by an eerie silence broken only by the crackling of flames and the occasional sound of falling debris.
The air was thick with the acrid smell of smoke and the heat was almost unbearable, but I pushed forward, my eyes scanning the devastation before me.
The once-bustling office space was now unrecognizable, reduced to rubble and ash. Desks and chairs were overturned and broken, papers and files scattered everywhere.
The ceiling had caved in at some places, exposing the twisted metal frame above.