A FLY IN THE OINTMENT
1087 Words
Lucian’s POV.
“Sir you have a guest,” my personal bodyguard, Rowland said.
I dropped the book in my hand and went out of the study.
“Good morning boss,” my maid greeted as I walked past her.
“Morning Leila.” I greeted in response and walked to the living room.
“Lucian Wright, I presume?” A neat and impeccably dressed man said, flashing me a crooked smile. “I am Marcus Augustus, and I have got a story that will make your marriage to Tessa Castor the talk of the town.”
I narrowed my eyes. “What kind of story are we talking about?”
The kind that will bring your arrange crashing down if you do not pay me to keep my mouth shut.” Marcus pulled out a thick envelope from his pocket. “A million dollars should do it, don’t you think?”
My jaw tightened as I surveyed the man in front of me. “You think I am going to just hand over a million dollars to some lowlife like you? I do not think so. Get your ass out of here before I call security.”
Marcus laughed. “You May be powerful, Wright but you are not untouchable. I have got proof of your little scheme, proof that can burn your whole charade to the ground, and I am not afraid to make it public.”
My eyes narrowed. “You are bluffing. There is no way you have proof.”
Marcus’s smile widened. “Oh I have got plenty of proof. Tessa’s ex boyfriend was more than happy to talk to me, and plenty of the staffs at the café the other night wee more than happy to talk to me. I got it all on tape and trust me I will be more than happy to share it with the world.”
My face darkened with rage. “You slimy little bastard. You are digging your own grave here.”
Marcus chuckled. “Then I guess you will just have to pay me to keep my mouth shut.”
I stepped closer to Marcus, my voice dropping to a low dangerous growl. “Listen to me very carefully, Augustus. You think you have leverage here, but you are playing a very dangerous game. If you try to destroy my marriage I will make sure your career and your life is over. Do you understand me?”
Marcus’s smile disappeared but he quickly recovered. “You can try, Wright. But the truth has it was of coming out eventually and when it does you will be the one facing the fall out, not me.”
My eyes narrowed,my hands curling into a fair. “You have no idea who you dealing with do you? You think you can blackmail me? But I can destroy you and that little MEDIA house of yours with the snap of my fingers. You are nothing but a fly in my ointment and I will get rid of you if need be.”
“Then do it. Destroy me. But remember once the truth comes out, your carefully crafted image and company’s will be in tatters.” Marcus said, in a shaky voice that betrayed his defiance.
My expression darkened, my voice low and dangerous. “You are playing a game you can not win, Augustus. But if you want to test me, then go ahead. I will make sure your little career is over before you reach the safety of your house today.”
As Marcus opened his mouth to respond, the sound of Tessa clearing her throat was heard. I turned, my gaze shifting from Marcus to Tessa, who stood with her arm folded across her chest and a quizzical expression on her face.
“Everything Alright, baby?” She asked, her voice dripping with concern.
My lips curled up into a sneer, turning back to Marcus with a cold look in my eye. “Everything is just fine baby, Marcus here was just leaving.”
Marcus frowned and he stepped closer to me, his voice low and urgent. “Do not make a mistake , Wright. You will not get another chance.”
My sneer went up even more. “Oh I think you are the one who has made the mistake. You are not the first person who has tried to blackmail me, and you will not be the last, but you will be an example to whoever is dumb enough to repeat your mistakes.”
As I spoke, Tessa stepped into the room, and placed a hand on my arm. “You know Marcus, I am starting to think you are small time reporter with a sense of self importance that is bigger than that little media house you own. Maybe you should take my baby’s offer and crawl back to whatever f*****g rock you crawled out from under.”
Marcus’s face darkened, and his face twisted into a frown, his eyes flickering from I to Tessa.
“I do not think you realize the kind of power I hold in my hands,” he said, his voice filled with anger.
“I do not give a f**k about that. Now I will give you two choices. You can leave this penthouse now or you can stay and face the consequences. What will it be?” I asked, my voice deceptively calm.
“Fine. I will go. But this is not over and you can not silence me forever.” Marcus hissed.
“Oh I do not palm to,” I said, my smirk widening. “I am going to destroy you and everything your hold dear. Next time you will think twice before thinking of messing with me.”
The tension in the room was palpable. As Marcus turned on his heel, his eyes fixed me a cold, look filled with hatred. I could not help but wonder if this was the beginning of our end.
With a final glare, Marcus turned and strode our of the penthouse.
“He will not stop,” Tessa said, her voice loud and clear. “We both know that.”
“Buckle up baby, we have to do more than we bargained for if we plan to keep this up.” I said and walked away from her.
But Marcus’s words still lingered in my mind.
“I have to take care of him... but how? I could not afford to harm him ...yet.”
- Writer
