"Tell your Madam Zane that Project Asura will be given to Roy's Industries if I walk out of this building."
Roy declared. The man's eyes widened at Roy's words.
Suddenly, the man's phone buzzed with a new message. He swiftly pulled it out, scanned the screen, and then quickly apologized,
"My apologies for the earlier disrespect, sir. Would you mind accompanying me? Madam Zane wishes to speak with you."
The man's demeanor suggested they were far from ordinary. He exuded an air of pride yet spoke with a gentleness that managed to soothe Roy's nerves.
With a smirk, Roy followed the man, quipping,
"So, your boss does have some time on her hands, doesn't she?"
The man remained silent and continued to lead the way, his lack of response irking Roy.
As they ascended, Roy found himself admiring the grandeur of the architecture around him. Each pillar seemed to whisper tales of its own, and the intricate mosaic stairs leading to other floors evoked memories of his childhood mansion, stirring up long-forgotten recollections.
While Roy was lost in his thoughts, the man guided him towards the lift and pressed the button for the top floor.
Roy, still deep in thought, followed the man into the lift. The man silently selected the top floor. The lift ascended smoothly and almost noiselessly, adding to the enigmatic aura of the building.
Upon reaching their destination, Roy stepped into a barren corridor that stretched endlessly before him. The walls were bare except for a single door at the end, seemingly a gateway to something momentous.
The man swung the door open, and Roy trailed behind.
Once inside Zane's office, Roy was frisked for weapons by security. His eyes were drawn to a small portrait on the wall.
It depicted two women—one was his mother, and the other was the same woman from the portrait in the lobby, though she looked much younger in this image. They stood together, holding wine glasses, their expressions suggesting a close bond.
The room Roy found himself in was starkly minimalist, with expansive white walls devoid of any adornments. The only furniture was a large table surrounded by chairs. The room's emptiness was eerie.
The absence of personal touches or warmth made Roy feel uneasy, as if the room belonged to someone who had lost their essence, their soul.
The room seemed to echo with loss, a place where life once flourished but had since faded into an emotionless void.
"Sit down,"
A commanding female voice ordered Roy from behind a turned chair,
"Are you finding our hospitality to your liking, Mister Luke Dale?"
'She already knows my name!'
Roy thought to himself, a wide grin spreading across his face. He responded sarcastically,
"Well, I haven't been offered a drink yet, so I can't say I'm particularly enjoying it."
The chair swiveled around to reveal the woman from the portrait.
The woman, with her brown hair and lined face, wore petite glasses that gave her a sharp, discerning look. Her blue eyes, clear yet predatory, seemed to scrutinize everything with keen insight. Dressed in a light grey blazer and a knee-length skirt, she radiated confidence and authority. Her vibrant orange blouse added a dash of assertiveness to her professional attire.
This was Martha Zane. She responded to Roy's comments about the lack of hospitality with a stern smile,
"Good. You storm into my company, demand an audience with me, and expect a warm welcome. You must be quite audacious."
Martha crossed her legs, flicked her fingers dismissively, and ordered,
" I have no patience for crazy, so let's cut to the chase. What do you know about Project Asura, and where did you hear about it?"
Roy produced the file he had been hiding behind his back. He had retrieved the files from his room, where they had been neatly stacked in a rack.
Roy had meticulously planned his moves. He had prepared everything, including his files.
Zane, with a calm demeanor, opened the files, assuming they were counterfeit. She meticulously read through them, then in a composed tone, ordered the security to vacate the room.
Once the room was devoid of security personnel, Zane rose from her chair, her voice trembling with shock,
"You brat! Where did you find these files? Some of the reports are handwritten; I can tell from the handwriting. It's Reyman and Alicia Keaton's handwriting. Tell me."
Roy, a smirk playing on his lips, felt his plan finally set into motion. He arrogantly settled into the chair and retorted,
"Let's discuss business first, and then we can discuss the files later."
Zane, visibly irritated, resumed her seat and demanded with a hint of anger in her voice,
"What are your demands? What's your price?"
Roy rose from his seat, strolled towards the portrait of Zane and his mother, and stated,
"It's simple. I want your support to take down Roy's Industries."
Upon hearing Roy's words, Zane burst into hysterical laughter and sauntered towards him.
"I recall a young boy uttering these exact words 27 years ago. If my memory serves me right, he died pathetically on his way to his own execution out of sheer terror. What was his name again? I forgot."
"Roy Keaton. His name is Roy Keaton,"
Roy responded coldly, his fist clenched in anger at the portrayal of him as a coward.
Zane chuckled heartily and taunted Roy.
"Yes, yes. Now I remember. That's idi…"
Zane's smile faded as she caught sight of Roy's eyes and she murmured to herself,
'He is serious about destroying Roy's Industries. Who is this Luke kid? He has the same eyes as that Roy brat.'
With a steely gaze, Roy turned to Zane and declared,
"I give you every file related to the Asura project and even the Nano suits and bike project that were destroyed during Keaton's scandal. In return, I ask for your support, nothing more."
"Where did you get all these files? Who handed them to you?"
Zane's mind was a whirlpool of doubts as she probed for answers.
"You must remember Mathew, your former colleague when you worked with Alicia. I'm Mathew's son. He gave me these files before he died."
Roy fabricated a lie to knock her off her high horse.
Zane strained to recall the name Roy mentioned and muttered to herself,
"Mathew? Mathew?"
As Zane racked her brain to remember Mathew, Roy mused to himself,
'Think as much as you want. There was never a Mathew who worked with my mother. It's all made up. But I know you're going to pretend you know Mathew. No, you have to if you want these files. You hypocrite.'
Zane snapped her fingers, indicating that she had recollected the name, and responded,
"Mathew! I remember. He's that weirdo who always stalked Alicia. That pervert Mathew had a son? I was unaware, right?"
[HA… HA…]
The A.I. erupted into laughter in Roy's mind, its voice dripping with mockery.
Roy, seething with rage, shot back at Zane,
"Insulting a man's father to his face, you're quite the piece of work, aren't you?"