Alexei
'Trust is like a mirror. It is a delicate thing and easily broken. Once broken, it is impossible to recover. You can repair the cracks, but the mirror will never look the same as it did before.'
I open my eyes and the room was a blur. I try to make sense of my surroundings, but it's hard to focus on the pounding in my head and the nausea in my stomach.
I try to sit up but a sharp pain shoots through my head and I lie back down on the pillows, grimacing from the pain.
A few seconds later, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching my room. The door swings open and a group of men clad in black and white suits with masks walks in. My room was filled with men. They are kneeling and bowing before me, acknowledging and honoring my status.
I sit up in bed and the men stand back up, still at my beck and call. The men are standing around my bed, a mix of faces and mannerisms, all waiting for my word. I scan their expressions, waiting for one of them to say something.
"My apologies for disturbing your rest, boss," One of them spoke with respect. "We heard that you were ill. We only want to make sure that you are well, and that everything is under control."
I grab at my head, trying to remember what happened. That headache is still pounding away, and it's making it hard to think.
I try to piece together the fragments of my memory, but it's a struggle. A hazy picture of the night before emerges, filled with parties and booze and...
I groan as the memory hits me and try to focus.
I can see myself in a crowd of people, holding a drink in my hand. I feel a sudden numbness spreading through my body.
I remember my drink being spiked with something suspicious. The taste was metallic and bitter, and my vision was blurry from the moment I drank it.
I remember feeling drowsy and nauseous.
My head continues to pound, and my mind feels numb and foggy, but I force myself to focus.
I look back at the memory and recall the betrayal.
I had been at a party arranged with an agreement of an alliance with another organization and there were my men at my back. I had been drinking but was still in control of the situation. My head had been clear, and I had kept a close eye on the surrounding men. But suddenly, my drink had spiked.
I was betrayed, my drink was spiked, and I was set up. I wasn't drunk, I was attacked.
The men had thought they could take me down with a spiked drink and a numbers advantage. But they had underestimated my abilities, even in my vulnerable state.
I may have been unable to move properly, but I was still conscious and capable of acting.
The men had expected me to collapse or die swiftly. It seemed that their betrayal wasn't simply motivated by personal gain. It appeared that there was a deeper agenda at play. The men had likely been bought over by the opposing organization with the intention of killing me and usurping power.
Damn it all to hell.
"We are the replacements, boss," The new men spoke in a calm and matter-of-fact tone, making it seem as though the situation was normal and under control. "The former men sold their loyalty for cheap dollars, and they were working for the other organization this whole time as rats."
"Apologies, boss. It appears that you were unconscious for some time, and during that time, we have taken the liberty to replace your former men with new men. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused." The leading one of the men spoke in a calm and neutral tone, giving off no hints of emotion.
"Who took the damn liberty to initiate the replacements for my former men?" I turned towards the new men with a cold tone.
The new men exchange glances and seemed a little nervous. One of them spoke up.
"The higher-ups. There had been a change in management. We are here under orders of the new management."
I find myself unable to trust these new men after the betrayal of my previous ones. They may be loyal to me now, but what if there is another betrayal?
Suspicion and distrust.
I keep my gaze sharp and my manner guarded, not giving them an inch of room. They are here to work for me, but that doesn't mean I have to like them or trust them.
"I want names of those fucking bastards and evidence. Leave no stone unturned. Leave no trail untouched. Leave no loose ends." I spoke with a sharp and harsh tone, my words carrying a cold edge to them.
"Bring back their heads as proof."
I gave them a cold, sharp glance at the new men and waited patiently for them to respond.
"Noted, boss." They all spoke in chorus.
I walk away from my bed and step away from the men surrounding me. The room is silent aside from my steps. I feel like I was just hit by a wrecking ball and my head is pounding in pain, which was made worse by the anger and frustration that I feel.
My mind was a mess, trying to piece together the fragments of what had happened.
I was betrayed by my own men, and now I have to deal with the fallout. The rage and heartbreak was deafening, yet I had to remain in control and keep myself calm.
The pain in my torso is still there, but I can feel the effects of the poison starting to wear off. The nausea and dizziness are starting to leave my body and the pain is becoming more tolerable.
I walked out of the room and into the halls, feeling the lingering tightness in my body but trying my best to maintain a composed facade.
I looked out my window and notice the snow falling. I observe the scene calmly and contemplate my next move. The cold weather makes me numb and sluggish, but my mind is finally clearing up.
I approached the window and looked outside, observing the snow-filled landscape. The white snow covers everything in sight.
It is a stark contrast to the darkness and chaos inside my mind.
The snow suddenly reminds me of... her
That woman's face is neutral, her expression cold and distant. Her eyes are piercing, like they are looking right through me. Her expression was calm and almost emotionless. A chilly glance of indifference, as if she was looking at something inconsequential that did not warrant her attention. Her facial expression spoke volumes, revealing her inner thoughts and attitude.
There is a sense of distance and detachment to her manner, as if she is completely unemotional and detached.
The woman's cold expression sticks in my mind and I can't help but feel uneasy about the encounter. It's as if it'll haunt me back with consequences if I don't deal with it as soon as possible.
She seemed so distant and detached, as if she had hidden agendas or dark intentions. I don't know her name or much about her, but there's something about her cold expression that intrigues me.
With a cold and authoritative tone, I call out for one of my men. I gave them every single detail of what I remembered from her. I ordered them to investigate as to what happened yesterday as I can't remember everything.
"Find me that woman's name. I want you to investigate and gather information on her... Bring her to me."
My men nodded and walked out of the room to fulfill my order. As I wait patiently for their return, my mind starts to wander back to the woman and I wonder about her intentions.
Was the encounter a coincidence or a set-up?
I'm starting to wonder whether this was purely an innocent reached a hand for a stranger or a damned staged performance. With so many bastards aiming for my neck, I'd break their necks first...