Master of Lust

Chapter - 249

[FLASHBACK STARTS]

In a meeting room, men sat around a polished mahogany table. The space exuded wealth and sophistication—crystal chandeliers bathed the room in a soft, golden light, casting a warm glow on the rich marble floors. Expensive artwork adorned the walls, each piece meticulously curated to reflect the grandeur of the estate. The furniture was impeccable, and before each man rested a glass of rare, aged whiskey, yet no body was even paying attention to the whiskey.

The mood of the men contrasted the elegant, bright and lavishness of the room. Their gloomy mood was bringing the atmosphere down. Faces filled with tension, heads wandering and lost in thoughts and some were scratching their head, anticipating what to do.

Marnus Warner finally broke the silence, his voice low but carrying a heavy weight of authority and frustration. "So, Commissioner," he began, his gaze cold and unwavering. "I've been feeding the police department like a fat pig, keeping it well-funded, well-fed. Now, will you tell me what results I'm getting from that investment? Do you have any information about this Rick? The one who's recently decided to pick up beef with my only son?"

The Commissioner shifted in his seat; his expression taut with frustration. "Why are we taking the legal route with this? You know I can handle Rick once and for all, just like I've taken care of other matters for you in the past. Why waste time with courts and laws that will drag this out endlessly?"

Marnus scoffed, he raised his voice scolding the commissioner, "Don't try to use the useless head yours! Do exactly like I am telling you.!" And he stared coldly into the commissioner's eyes, making him understand that there was no room for interpretation, no room for mistake.

The commissioner shifted uncomfortably, his face blank and surprised at the harshness of Warner's words. He opened his mouth for explaining what he wanted to say but not a word left his mouth.

Marnus's assistant who was quiet till now turned her attention towards the commissioner.

"Commissioner, let me make this clear," she said, addressing him directly. "This Rick guys should not be linked to us in anyway. Mr. Warner is in the process of launching a new not-for-profit organization, and Master Zach will be heading it. We want all the positive buzzes in the media and people about it, but not even the slightest of negativity. So, if the police do something stupid and even a small rumour arises, it will be a big it towards Master Zach's and Warner Industries image."

She paused, letting the gravity of her words settle in. "So put this in your head, Mr. Warner doesn't want any connection to this Rick situation. Handle it in a way in which the result upon Rick will seem justified to the media and public without even hinting about Master Zach or us. And make sure you don't make any mistakes. You don't want to face Mr. Warner's wrath, do you?"

"Yes!", the commissioner replied taking a deep breath. I understand. "I will do what is instructed. No mistakes this time.", he responded in a breath as he wiped the sweats from his forehead.

"As you told me I have been looking at the history of this Rick fella. Apparently, he was just some broke college student few months ago. But now he was luxury cars, luxury apartments you know all these big Richie Rich things.", he paused for a moment.

"But as you know Mr. Warner, nobody gets this rich, this quick. At least not in the normal way", the commissioner chuckled and addressed Marnus directly trying to show confidence and gain assurance, "So, I have one of my best officers looking at him closely. And we will soon find out how did he got all the money. And once we have proof, we will catch him and send him to jail. And dying in jail while fighting other inmates is not that rare of an occurrence."

[FLASHBACK ENDS]

Rick was driving, his eyes frequently darting to the mirrors. The Harley Davidson rider was still trailing him, a persistent shadow in the rear-view. Your next chapter awaits on empire

He glanced at Olivia, sitting beside him, and then at Emily in the back seat. The two were engaged in light conversation, their chatter filling the car's interior. Rick didn't want them to sense the tension or realize what was really happening. Olivia had been commenting on his erratic driving—sudden accelerations and sharp turns—and Rick had brushed it off, attributing the behaviour to a malfunctioning GPS and possibly the car acting up.

Amidst this Rick's thought dwelled into what Erica, the lawyer told him. "Forget about Zach and everything that happened, and Warners will forget about me too, huh? Then why is this femme fatale following me on the Harley? I guess I have to ask Mr Warner later!", he mused.

Rick's frustration reached a boiling point. Under different circumstances, he might have relished the challenge of facing the biker head-on. But with Emily and Olivia in the car, safety was his top priority. He decided speed was his best option. A Harley Davidson could hardly match the speed of his Range Rover. He thought, "Fine lady, you want a chase? I'll give you a chase." With that, he pressed hard on the accelerator, the vehicle roaring through the seemingly empty stretch of road.

As Rick sped down the road, he was about to glance at the mirrors to check on the trailing lady when an extremely bright light suddenly flashed directly into his face. The intense illumination momentarily stunned Olivia and Emily, their eyes squinting against the blinding glare.

But Rick quickly regained focus and became alerted.

He quickly realized the source of the light: a massive truck, its headlights aimed directly at his car. As if it was purposefully aimed, to confuse and blind them. There were no warning horns either, to suggest that the truck has lost control, it seems it was charging towards them like a mad elephant, with the purpose to decimate them. The truck's engine roared loudly, its sheer force reverberating through the air, growing louder and louder

The truck loomed ever closer, its headlights, aimed straight at Rick's car, cast a harsh, glaring beam that seemed to threaten to obliterate everything in its path. The truck bore down on them with a speed that made the asphalt tremble beneath it, it was a collision course, and there was no sign of it slowing down.

Olivia and Emily were momentarily disoriented by the blinding light. As their eyes adjusted and they saw the massive truck hurtling towards them, panic set in. Olivia's face went pale, her hands clutching the seat in a white-knuckled grip. Her breath quickened as she realized the danger, her voice trembling as she tried to shout over the roar of the engine, "Rick! What's happening?"

Emily, sitting in the back, had her hands pressed against her mouth, her eyes wide with terror. She looked around in a frantic search for safety, her heart racing as she whispered frantic prayers, her voice barely audible over the deafening hum of the truck.

Screams erupted from both women as the truck closed the distance. Olivia's eyes filled with tears as she gripped the dashboard, her voice rising in a desperate cry, "Rick, please! Do something!" Emily's cries joined in, a mixture of fear and helplessness, her body tensing as she braced for impact. Each second stretched agonizingly as the threat became more immediate, the danger feeling all but certain with the truck's relentless approach.

Rick remained eerily calm amid the chaos. He refused to succumb to the rising panic. His hands gripped the steering wheel with unyielding strength, his posture rigid and poised, like a predator ready for the hunt. His face was a mask of steely determination, showing no hint of fear or anxiety.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Rick's eyes locked onto the approaching truck, its blinding headlights casting an ominous glow. With a deep breath, he made a split-second decision. He yanked the steering wheel hard to the right, pressed the brakes, sending the Range Rover into a high-speed drift. The tires screeched in protest as the vehicle skidded sideways, the rear end sliding out in a controlled arc.

The truck roared past, narrowly missing Rick's car but the Range Rover's side scraped against the truck's massive frame, metal screeching in a desperate, ear-piercing grind. With the truck dangerously close, Rick spun the wheel back sharply, directing the Range Rover into a 180-degree turn.

The truck, now out of control, veered off its path. Its headlights swayed wildly before crashing into a nearby utility pole with a bone-jarring impact. The collision sent a shower of sparks and debris into the air, followed by a deafening crack.

Olivia and Emily were momentarily paralyzed with fear, their eyes wide as they took in the aftermath. The truck's violent end left them in stunned silence.

"Are you okay? Olivia? Emily", Rick inquired with concern.

"Yes… I am… fine!", Emily replied as she emptied an entire water bottle.

Oliva was staring blankly, her eyes lifeless and white, as if her soul got out of her body for a while.

"Everything is fine!", Rick assured Olivia, placing his hand on her thighs.

"Huh!", Olivia snapped back into sense.

She took a few heavy breaths, "Here", Emily offered her another bottle of water.

"Nah! I am fine…", she replied. "Thank God we are fine! But what was wrong with the truck?"

"Anyway, we should be going now.", Rick suggested.

"But shouldn't we wait for the police and the emergency responders? Maybe we can help the truck driver.", Olivia, unaware that the truck was intentionally trying to run them over asked curiously.

"I don't think that is required. And anyway, I already had my fair share of time wasted with the police so I am in no mood to face them again!"

Rick turned back the car and headed towards Olivia's house.