"I won't try it again, Sir."
"It's boss… call him boss," Dickson corrected immediately.
"Boss," Alex forced the word out.
Raymond lazily stared at him. He blew invisible dust off his black-painted nails.
"Are you married, Alex?" he asked.
Alex nodded quickly "Yes, boss."
"I will respect you for that… by not killing you immediately but by crushing your head with my foot," Raymond said nonchalantly.
Alex swallowed the lump in his throat. He tried to speak, but the words refused to form.
"Dicky."
Raymond snapped his fingers. Dickson gently opened the bag they came with.
Alex's eyes fell on the content, a dagger, a knife, and a gun.
He gulped.
"Alexander," Raymond called lazily.
"Yes boss," the man shuddered.
"Do you want to die by my dagger, knife, or gunshot? The choice is yours. But before that… bring my money."
He blew another bubble from his gum.
Why did he borrow money from Raymond of all people? A man who kills without blinking.
"You're wasting my time, Alexander."
"I have an offer to make!" Alex blurted. "The money isn't complete yet,The business I invested in failed. Boss… just hear me out."
Raymond stared at him for a long moment, blowing dust off his nails again.
"What's the offer?"
"My daughter…" Alex muttered.
Raymond lazily looked up.
"Your daughter? Is the money inside your daughter?"
"No boss,I want you to keep her.Immediately the money is complete, I'll pay you and take her back. She's my precious gift… I cherish her a lot. Please don't kill me, take this offer."
"Are you trying to make another deal with me?" Raymond asked.
Alex nodded. Dickson already knew his boss would reject it.
Seconds passed.
"Let me see your daughter."
Dickson's eyes widened slightly, but it was almost unnoticeable.
Alex rushed out.
"Boss—"
"Chill Dicky," Raymond smirked. "The old man thinks he can play with me,Let me see his daughter first… it'll be fun watching her witness her father die by my dagger, knife, or gun."
Dickson relaxed.
***
CANDY'S ROOM
Candy stood before the mirror, staring at her reflection, yet she wasn't seeing herself.
At twenty years old, she had grown into a quiet, delicate young woman, but right now fear made her feel small. Her door opened abruptly.
"You didn't knock father," she frowned.
"I'm sorry, dear. The man is here. We have to go now… or he'll end me and everything in this mansion."He grabbed her hand.
"So you're sending me off to a monster?" she asked, pulling her hand slightly away.
She looked up at him, her eyes glossy.
"He isn't a monster towards women… especially not you, Angel. Do this for me. It's just for a little while. I'll come back for you once I gather his money,You know I love you, right?"
Candy hugged him tightly, tears slipping down.
"I don't want to go,I don't want to leave you,I don't want to live under the same roof as someone like him."
"It'll be fine," Alex whispered, rubbing her back. "I'll come back for you."
BACK TO THE LIVING ROOM*
Candy held onto her father's arm as they descended the stairs.
Dickson was the first to see them. He almost chuckled but swallowed it,Alex had truly dug his grave.
Raymond was busy blowing invisible dust off his nails, lazily chewing his gum.
"I'm here boss," Alex announced.
Raymond slowly looked up.
His gaze shifted from Alex… to the young woman clinging to his arm.
Candy felt his stare,Slowly she raised her head.Her breath hitched.
For the first time in her life, she saw a man as handsome as her father , no… even more striking.
But beauty didn't erase danger.
Was he the monster? Or the man standing beside him?
The other one was handsome too, but not like this one, the one chewing gum rudely with a sunshade on.She quickly lowered her eyes.
Raymond rested his fist under his chin.
"Never knew you had a skeleton in your wardrobe," he said lazily.
Alex blinked.
"Are all your maids this skinny? Or are you too stingy to feed them properly?"
Candy frowned instantly.
"I'm not a skeleton sir," she muttered.
"Is your maid talking back to me?" Raymond asked coldly.
"She isn't a maid," Alex corrected quickly. "She's my daughter… the one I'm offering to you."
The words settled in the air,Raymond's chewing slowed.
He shifted his gaze back to Candy.
This time, he removed the sunshade from his eyes.
Sharp silver monolid eyes stared at her.
He scanned her slowly — from head to toe.
Candy felt her throat dry,His eyes were beautiful.
A mocking chuckle escaped him as he blew another bubble,then it popped.
The amusement vanished and his gaze darkened instantly.
Excitement turned into pure, undiluted fury,
He stood up slowly.
"Alexander Chucks…" his voice dropped dangerously.
"Do you want to die by my dagger…"
He tilted his head.
"my knife…"
His fingers tapped the table once.
"or my gun?"