Chapter 2 Ruthless Axel

Chapter Two

Ruthless Axel

Danielle hurried Lila away to a quiet corner, her eyes brimming with pride. "Look at you, winning the most prestigious cooking contest and now hugging the CEO of Roberts Group! I'm so happy for you, Lila."

Lila brushed off the CEO part and focused on Danielle's praise for the competition, her heart swelling with gratitude. "This award is as much yours as mine, Danielle. Your support and encouragement made all the difference. Leaving your teaching job to join my team meant the world to me."

Ring! Ring!!

Danielle's phone interrupted their moment. Checking the caller ID, she answered with a smile. Lila watched as Danielle's excitement grew during the call, ending with a bright smile.

"Who was that?" Lila asked eagerly, catching Danielle's infectious excitement.

"It was my twin brother, Daniel," Danielle replied, chuckling softly.

Lila's curiosity peaked. "What did he say?"

Danielle teased her before revealing, "Well, guess what?"

Rolling her eyes playfully, Lila replied, "You know I'm terrible at guessing. Just spill it!"

They both laughed, and Danielle finally shared, "Daniel got us a spa coupon. Our appointment is tomorrow!"

Lila grinned, imagining Daniel's thoughtful gesture. "Your brother can be quite extravagant sometimes, but this is wonderful."

"This spa day is exactly what we need after these hectic days. I can't wait to relax with you tomorrow," Danielle said, squeezing Lila's shoulder affectionately.

"You know, sometimes I wish I could steal your brother away from you," Lila joked, prompting more laughter between them. "But having you is better."

"I know, right? My brother is one of a kind!" Danielle agreed, still smiling brightly.

"Enough chit-chat. I need to head home, shower, and prepare for tonight's dinner. See you later, and don't forget to bring Daniel along. He's part of the team!" Lila said, glancing down the hallway where the rest of their team was packing up.

"We're over here!" Danielle called out to their team, waving them over.

***

"Clear my schedule for the next two hours. We need to take care of some business," Axel instructed his assistant, Brian, as they entered his black Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII.

"Hunting?" Brian questioned, taking his place in the front seat beside the driver, eyeing Axel through the rearview mirror.

"To the building on the outskirts. Drive," Axel commanded, his tone brooking no argument.

The car glided smoothly through the streets, arriving at a nondescript three-story building an hour later. Brian hurried to open the door for Axel, who entered with purpose, Brian trailing nervously behind.

Passing through the grand hallway, Axel was greeted with deference by several burly men. One man, short with a long scar across his face, approached respectfully.

"Greetings, boss," the scarred man greeted, avoiding direct eye contact.

"Peter, did you secure him?" Axel asked, his gaze fixed on his phone.

"Yes, sir. He's in the inner room, causing quite a ruckus. But we've left him untouched, awaiting your orders," Peter replied dutifully.

"Good. Lead the way," Axel said, slipping his phone into his pocket.

Peter guided Axel through the building, Brian struggling to keep pace. Axel glanced back at Brian, his expression unreadable. "Thought we were in this together," Axel commented dryly, prompting Brian to straighten nervously.

"Yeah, of course, sir," Brian stammered, his anxiety palpable. "I just didn't expect... all of this," he gestured vaguely to the surroundings. "It's a lot to take in, Axel. You lead a complex life. I'm just trying to keep up."

Axel raised an eyebrow, his eyes flicking up to meet Brian's through the mirror. "Keep up? You've been dragging your feet since we arrived. What's going on, Brian? Are you having second thoughts?"

Brian shook his head vigorously. "No, sir, nothing like that. I just... I don't know what you're planning to do in there. You haven't filled me in on the details."

Axel snorted softly, his gaze returning to his phone. "You don't need to know the details, Brian. You just need to follow my lead. We're in this together, remember? Now, let's proceed."

He motioned for Peter to continue, leading them to a door at the end of the hallway. Brian grimaced inwardly, uneasy with the darker side of Axel's dealings. Axel was known for his ruthlessness, a trait Brian found unsettling. Yet, Axel had a magnetic charisma that drew people in, even as he delved into unsavory matters better suited to law enforcement.

Inside the room, a man was tied to a chair, apparently asleep. Four armed guards stood watch around him. Axel nodded, and icy water was splashed on the man's face, jolting him awake with a gasp.

Axel observed the man with cold detachment as he regained his senses and recognized Axel.

"President Blackwood," the man whispered, fear etched on his face. Axel nodded curtly, a calculating smile playing on his lips.

"Yes, that's me," Axel replied calmly, pulling up a chair to face the man directly.

The man visibly paled, realizing Axel wasn't here for idle conversation.

"Now, why don't you tell me why you felt compelled to embezzle such a substantial sum of public funds and orchestrate the death of the accountant who tried to expose you?" Axel inquired, tapping his fingers on the chair's armrest rhythmically.

The man's eyes darted nervously. "I-I don't know what you're talking about," he stammered, attempting to deny any wrongdoing.

Axel's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with a hint of sadistic amusement. "Very well. Peter, remove a finger," Axel ordered calmly, his gaze never leaving the man's face.

The man recoiled in horror, his denial wavering as the guards moved forward with a sharp blade. Brian watched, unable to tear his eyes away, his discomfort growing with each passing moment.

As the scene unfolded before him, Brian struggled to reconcile the cold, calculated Axel with the charismatic boss he admired. Axel's methods were harsh, a stark contrast to Brian's own gentle nature. Yet, here he was, complicit in Axel's actions, bound by loyalty and fear.

Axel observed the man's pain with detached interest, his mind focused on extracting the truth. The man's screams echoed off the walls, a chilling reminder of Axel's ruthlessness.

The man's resolve crumbled under Axel's unwavering gaze, his confession mingling with agonized cries. Axel listened, unmoved by the man's pleas for mercy. To Axel, the truth was paramount, regardless of the cost.

"Tomorrow, your body will be disposed of, and your fate will serve as a cautionary tale," Axel stated coldly, rising from his chair. Brian followed silently, his mind reeling from the brutality he had witnessed.

As they left the room, Axel's demeanor shifted back to business as usual. "Peter, take care of it," Axel instructed briskly, leaving no room for argument.

Brian followed Axel out of the building, his thoughts consumed by the events unfolding. Axel's world was a dangerous one, where loyalty came at a steep price. Brian knew he was in too deep to turn back now, his fate bound to Axel's ruthless ambitions.