BEHIND THE MASK

Masked Phantom.

The madness was everywhere. The relentless flashes of the camera my rights.....

I just stood there, not blinking or flinching or speaking.

It's been a very long time since the city of Avalon's seen this kind of frenzy. A least not since Hales buried their last heir — my father.

But here I was. The game changer. Back from the dead. And what was worse, nobody knew who I truly was.

Why? Because that boy who used to flinch and almost cry whenever they spat on his food, the boy who was forced to watch his grandmother go limp before his eyes?

He died the night Alicia drove a blade through his face and called him worthless.

Now, I was someone the world longed to get a sight of. Sinclair Hale. Masked heir to the Hale legacy. And I'd be damned if I didn't wear the title like second skin.

"Mr Hale! One question, please!"

"How true are the rumors? Did you get disfigured in the accident?"

"Mr Sinclair, can you tell us if there's an actual scar beneath the mask?"

The reporters kept shrieking like birds during a thunderstorm, clawing at each other the moment my convoy arrived at the Hale Tower.

Quinn moved in front of me as I got out of the black Maybach, sounding so cold.

"Move aside. He isn't here for interviews."

Guards formed a wall around me, but I halted at the threshold... long enough for them to get their shot.

The mask I was putting on was sleek, matte black, and tailored specially to cover half of my face.

Just half of my face was seen by the world. I let the curiosity linger.

And as for my enemies.....let them dread.

I vanished into the building, and I felt so small. Forty whole stories made of glass and power. The Hale Tower glimmered brightly under the morning sun, and I could feel the anxiousness underneath every polished floorboard and every echo of some expensive shoes.

I stepped into the elevator, riding it to the top floor in silence with Quinn by my side.

"You do know that you don't have to do it this way, right?"he mumbled, sounding unsure. "There are many less aggressive options for getting on the board."

"Getting on the board?"I cocked a brow under the mask. "They fucking tried to have me erased. They deserve to burn under my mercy."

Stepping into the boardroom, it felt so cold. The room had leather chairs arranged perfectly and a long mahogany table alongside twelve bold men who thought that they could get to run my legacy for long.

They got on their feet upon seeing me, like properly trained hounds sensing a new alpha.

God, I was enjoying this way too much.

I ignored the courtesy, paying no mind to it.

"Sit," I spoke in a flat, bored tone.

They obeyed immediately, and I headed for my chair, which sat at the head of the table. I took my seat without hesitation.

Quinn remained standing behind me with a briefcase in hand. I scanned through the room, and my Grandpa wasn't here. Perfect. Of course he wasn't. He was way too smart for theatrics. No, he preferred to manipulate behind closed doors.

I looked over at the closest man..... an executive named Malroy.

"I hear you own shares in the Crest enterprises, correct?"

He blinked, looking at the others before stuttering. "Err, yes. But just minor stock.... nothing serious....."

"Have them sold."

He went stiff. "I beg your pardon....."

"It's either you have them sold now, or stand a risk of getting thrown out of this table by the end of this week."

I wasn't giving anybody second chances.

Gasps rippled through the room.

"As of this moment, Crest Enterprises is blacklisted from all Hale contracts, affiliate programs and partnerships. If this doesn't sit well with any of you, "I paused for a bit, letting my words linger. "Feel free to hand in your resignations. Quinn's got the paperwork with him right now."

Quinn, taking his cue, dropped the sleek folder on the table.

I stared them all down.

"I'm taking back what's mine, and I'd appreciate it if you all cooperated with me."

Malroy thought it'd be smart to bluster. "Mr Hale, with all due respect, the Crests have been a major economic partner in Avalon. Having a public feud with them is going to destabilize...."

"Then buckle up and quit whining like a woman," I spoke coldly. "Because this? It's not a feud, no. It's a purge. And I dare you to go against me now."

Everyone fell mute after that.

Thought so too.

★

Hardly an hour later, I was up on the rooftop helipad, staring at the city. I watched some helicopters hover around in a distance. My coat got dragged by the wind, but I couldn't care less.

"Believe me when I say that you do not talk like a twenty-two-year-old guy," Quisaidoke behind me.

"Because I'm not?"

He passed me a flask and I took it.

"Your grandpa approves of your.....err, performance. He's surprisingly elated, "he paused before adding, "however, he's worried."

"And I'm guessing it has something to do with optics?"

"I'm not supposed to tell you anything since he said he'd talk to you about it himself, but he believes you are in need of an anchor. Someone who's going to make your image softer."

He hesitated.

"He says he wants to formalize an engagement."

Sorry, what?

"What the....with who?"I asked, a sharp frown on my face.

"There's a family who's been friends with the Hales. The Deckers. They have a daughter..."

That sounded familiar. I'd done my research on them once to see how close to the Hale they were.

"Who, Veronica?"I asked, and he nodded in confirmation.

"She's been groomed for the role all her life. She's perfect for the job."

Of course, she was. I'd seen a couple of her pictures and videos online. She had this flawlessly elegant demeanour. Her father owed the Hales a whole mountain of debt.

Did it finally make sense? Yeah, it did.

"And she's also not interested in love, just like you," he continued. "She's all about the legacy as well."

"I don't know, Quinn, "my eyes darkened as I peered into the city. "I'll have my answer when he talks to me about it."

★

It was barely evening when the Crests began to crumble to dust. Nothingness.

Different headlines rolled in one after the other like dominoes.

*BREAKING NEWS: HALE CORPORATION WITHDRAWS FROM THE CREST VENTURES. STOCKS ALLEGEDLY PLUMMET*

*AN ANONYMOUS SOURCE LINKS THE CREST FAMILY TO AN EMBEZZLEMENT SCANDAL*

*POPULAR WILLIAM CREST AKA LIAM CREST IS SLAPPED WITH ALLEGATIONS OF ACADEMIC FRAUD*

The same herd of Avalon socialites who toasted Liam's every win once upon a stupid time now clawed at themselves to distance themselves from him.

I watched it all happen while sipping whiskey.

Who would've thought tables would turn this fast? Barely 6 months ago, I almost died at their hands.

"Master Sinclair." Quin walked in, his tablet in hand.

"You need to see this."

Turning his screen towards me, I saw footage recorded live. It was Liam. And he was trembling outside his father's crumbling building. Reporters did what they knew how to do best — shoving mics into his face.

"I said I've got nothing to say!!" he barked at them. "I said it before, it's all a misunderstanding. A setup!"

I watched him shake, saw sweat streak down his collar, and he looked so unkempt.

The media didn't fail to do their job.

I tilted my head sideways. The scene looked so familiar.....

"Right," I mumbled inaudibly. "He looks exactly the way I did when I pleaded with those loan sharks to spare my life."

The screen flickered once, and I leaned forward, hitting the volume button. Liam tugged on his hair in frustration and stared back at the camera.

He wasn't crying yet, but his eyes begged for someone to believe him. Poor guy. I almost felt sorry for him.....almost.

"I'm certain someone's behind this!!" he yelled. "They... they're trying to bring me to ruins. He.... no, it's him. I'm sure it's that freak!!"

And then the screen cracked. I had no idea I'd hurled a remote at it.

Quinn took a step back, lowering the tablet.

I stood up, fixing my cufflinks.

"One down..... A bit more to go."

★

True to Quinn's word, my grandfather summoned me to the estate the next morning.

The man was a kind of fossil wrapped in designer linen. A cold strategist.

He waved towards the garden where I found him seated.

"I watched the meeting with the board yesterday," he said, nodding proudly. "I highly commend you for that statement. They seemed rattled enough."

I hummed in reply.

"But son, the city still has its doubts about you. Rumors are spreading."

"Let them."

He took a sip of his tea.

"You see, Sinclair. You've got real talent. You're a true Hale, a predator in this game, but listen. Even wolves know exactly how to hide their teeth."

Silence.

"It's why I want you to get engaged to Veronica."

There. He said it. And he wasn't even asking whether or not I was up for it.

"She's going to do it for you. Stabilize your image. Because she's the loyal kind, she's intelligent, and she'd been groomed specially to handle our kind of pressure. She's aware of this arrangement, and she's already agreed. All that's left is your signature."

My signature. Not my consent.

But while it didn't sit well with me at all, I knew I had to accept it. Because these people gave me the weapons I needed to fight, for free. The least I could do was dance to their tune at least once.

"Fine then. You can do what you want. Send the paperwork over by morning, "I got up, staring at him. "I'll take my leave now."