Rafael, flanked by his team, gazed through the one-way mirror at Francisco, the once untouchable tycoon now sitting alone in a chamber. The news of Francisco's arrest had spread like wildfire, echoing through the corridors of power and the business world. Every move, every word will be scrutinized in the coming days.
The chamber was designed for moments like these, with a large sealed mirror serving as a window into Francisco's world. He sat on a solitary chair, aware that countless eyes were watching his every move.
The weight of the evidence against him, embodied by the wounded Liam in a hospital bed under heavy security, loomed over the room.
Rafael, determined to extract the truth, turned to his team and declared, "I am going to talk to him."
As Rafael prepared to enter the chamber for the interrogation, Peter halted him with a suggestion that caught him off guard.
"Rafael, I think Hazel should go," Peter proposed, his eyes serious with intent.
Rafael's brows arched in surprise, a mixture of confusion and frustration evident on his face.
"Hazel!" he exclaimed, rejecting the idea outright.
The mere thought of Hazel facing Francisco, the man who had inflicted harm upon her, stirred Rafael's protective instincts.
"No, I won't let her go there," Rafael asserted, gritting his teeth. The anger he harbored towards Francisco for what he had done to Hazel simmered beneath the surface. The desire to confront the man who had caused pain to someone Rafael cared about fueled his resistance.
Ken, attempting to calm the situation, intervened, "It's our work, Rafael. Don't take it personally."
But Rafael was resolute.
"I said no. I want to show his limit," he declared, pulling away from Ken's attempt to pacify him. With determination etched on his face, Rafael entered the chamber, leaving Peter and Ken to exchange sighs outside, watching through the glass.
Francisco, sitting alone, looked up as Rafael walked in.
"I told you I would finish everything of yours," Rafael declared, his voice sharp and filled with a simmering intensity as he took his seat in front of Francisco.
Francisco, still in handcuffs, placed his hands on the table, his demeanor a mix of defiance and subtle amusement. Rafael, taking a seat across from him, couldn't help but notice the restrained confidence in Francisco's posture.
"Really?" Francisco responded, his gaze fixed on Rafael.
Rafael, unfazed, delivered the news with a smirk, "Yes, your man, Liam. He is under arrest but in critical condition."
"Oh!"
Francisco's reaction was unexpected. Instead of displaying concern or distress, he slightly smiled; an air of nonchalance masking his true emotions.
"So, what now? You are finished, Francisco," Rafael asserted, crossing his legs as he studied Francisco's reaction.
Francisco sighed, his gaze lifting to meet Rafael's. Locked in a moment of silent confrontation, he spoke, "No... Not really."
"You can't finish me before I take over Hazel."
The mention of Hazel, a name entwined with Rafael's emotions, triggered an immediate response. In a sudden surge of anger and frustration, Rafael's fist collided with Francisco's face, the impact echoing through the chamber.
"Bro, what is he doing?" Robert exclaimed, rising from his chair, shocked by the sudden turn of events.
As the aftermath of Rafael's punch reverberated through the interrogation chamber, Ken voiced his concerns, urging a halt to the escalating situation.
"We should stop him. Whatever it is, we can't touch Francisco. He's a reputed man. We will be in danger," Ken cautioned, recognizing the potential dangers of further provocation.
"Inside the station and outside, it becomes crowded. Somehow, it leaks," he continued, emphasizing the need for caution.
In a swift response, Robert suggested, "Let me call Hazel to come here." He quickly sent a message to Hazel, attempting to bring her into the fold of the unfolding chaos.
Meanwhile, Ken, realizing the urgency of the situation, entered the chamber, determined to intervene and prevent further escalation.
Inside the sheriff's chamber, calls inundated the space, creating an atmosphere of irritation and pressure. Alex, grappling with the higher authority's insistence on releasing Francisco, felt the weight of the situation intensify. The news of Francisco's arrest had leaked, and the repercussions were beginning to unfold.
"What are you doing, man?" Ken shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.
Francisco, now with a bleeding nose, sat with a sardonic smile, seemingly reveling in the chaos he had instigated. The confrontation had escalated beyond the confines of the interrogation.
In the midst of the chaos, Hazel, unaware of the unfolding events, received Robert's message.
"Rafael, stop it," Ken pleaded, attempting to restrain Rafael's relentless assault on Francisco. The room, already filled with tension, seemed to vibrate with the intensity of the moment.
Rafael, consumed by anger and the desire for retribution, paid little heed to Ken's efforts. He seized Francisco's hair, forcefully slamming his head onto the table. But instead of showing signs of pain, Francisco erupted into manic laughter, as if reveling in the chaos he had incited.
Amidst the tumult, Hazel rushed into the room, witnessing the scene unfolding before her. She acted swiftly, reaching out to hold Rafael from behind in an attempt to quell his fury.
"What are you doing, Rafael?" Hazel implored, her voice laid with concern.
"Please calm down," Ken added his voice to the chorus of pleas, trying to defuse the volatile situation.
"Bastard! I want to kill this criminal!" Rafael shouted, his frustration boiling over.
"Please!" Hazel's own plea resonated throughout the room, each word a desperate attempt to rein in Rafael's rage.
Rafael, gasping for breath, stood on the precipice of unleashing further violence. Francisco, bloodied but seemingly unfazed, raised his head, a sardonic smile playing on his lips.
"Your boyfriend is really jealous of me, Hazel," Francisco taunted, his chuckles cutting through the charged atmosphere.
Hazel, maintaining her composure, arched her brows at Francisco's audacity. Yet, rather than succumbing to the provocation, she silently intervened, stepping between Rafael and Francisco to obstruct any further assault.
Rafael, his grip tightening, was poised to strike again, but Hazel's presence acted as a barrier. She held Rafael back, using her strength to prevent further violence.
"Why don't you understand, Rafael? He is trying to provoke you," Hazel pleaded, her voice a mixture of concern and frustration.
"Don't you know how important he is? We are under a lot of pressure," Ken chimed in, his grip on Rafael tightening as he attempted to rein in the simmering tension.
Francisco smirked in the face of the escalating conflict.
"Hazel, you are far smarter than this idiot," he taunted, his words aimed at further fueling the turmoil.
"Mr. Francisco, can you please stop provoking my colleague?"
Hazel interjected, attempting to assert some semblance of control.
Francisco tilted his head, a calculating glint in his eyes as he responded, "If somehow it leaks that your colleague is harassing me and torturing me, do you think you can save his job?"
"Bastard!"
Rafael erupted in anger, his frustration pushing him to the brink. Ken, recognizing the precarious situation, tightened his grip on Rafael, determined to prevent any further escalation.
Hazel, her eyes narrowing at Francisco's cunning words, took a deep breath. She sensed the strategic manipulation at play, the subtle threat that Francisco was weaving into the narrative. A realization dawned on her — any evidence of violence from Rafael could jeopardize his career, and Francisco seemed keenly aware of this vulnerability.
In that charged moment, Hazel grappled with an internal dilemma. While her instincts urged her to protect Rafael, she couldn't ignore the potential consequences of a leaked narrative that painted Rafael as the aggressor.
'He's just putting this in his favor.'
Hazel took a deep breath, grappling with the weight of the situation.
'Though she knows if anyone knows that Rafael hurt Francisco, he might lose his job because of violence.'
Hazel understood Francisco's motive, so she asked, "I am apologizing…"
As she prepared to speak, Francisco interjected, cutting through the charged silence.
"Sorry won't work for me, Hazel. In fact, do something for me."
Hazel arched her brows, uncertainty and caution etched on her face.
"What?" she inquired, cautiously navigating the treacherous waters of Francisco's demands.
"Don't be afraid. I'm not asking you to free me. Just stay here alone with me and treat my wounds that your colleague did to me," Francisco proposed, a smirk playing on his lips as blood trickled from his nose.