2025-08-01 22:45:52“Tyler! Where the hell have you been?”
“I’m sorry, Madam, there was an emergency meeting at the new mine in Brighton. I took the jet back as soon as I saw your message.”
“The jet?”
“Yes, Madam, the older one.”
“First, Tyler, I’ve told you to call me Ashley, and second, I told you to use the new jet.”
“Yes, Madam,” Tyler replied demurely, lowering his gaze from the gently admonishing expression on Ashley Belarnt’s beautiful face, while her two assistants, standing behind her, stared daggers at Tyler Varsen.
A lowly mine inspector who had joined one of the mid-sized subsidiaries barely nine months ago, yet had somehow managed to get into the head office of the second-wealthiest family in the country, the Belarnts, and who was probably trying to make his way into the lady boss’ bed.
Everyone already knew the unnecessarily handsome inspector had been sleeping his way up the social ladder.
It was irritating.
But what was more annoying was the fact that the man was good at his job – both of them – given the speed at which he had made his way from the crates used as offices in the regions, to the skyscraper – the Bell Tower – which housed every leading company owned by the Belarnts, right in the center of Salvena City.
The assistants’ faces said it all. Being males, they were even more irritated by the upstart.
Call her by her name!
We dare you!
Their faces screamed at Tyler Esteil; currently using the alias ‘Tyler Varsen'.
Tyler had expected a complete name change, but when his sponsor, the mafia leader, Lincoln Brazer had brought his papers, his first name was still the same.
When he had asked Lincoln about this, almost a year ago, the gangster had smiled his rugged smile.
‘Somehow, I think the name Tyler suits you well.’
‘Keep it. Use it. Don’t get caught by someone calling you the wrong name on the street.’
Tyler heard the man’s voice in his head as he recalled their conversation from that time. Heard Lincoln’s laughing voice from the past as he kept his eyes low in the present.
Away from Ashley Belarnt, away from her assistants – dumb and dumber.
His mind leaving them all, as it usually did whenever he wasn’t discussing anything directly related to his work.
‘Keep your head down,’ Tyler heard Lincoln say, in his mind.
The young man almost laughed out loud as he stood, head bowed, before his employer, who was complaining at him, again, for things that had nothing to do with work, again.
Lincoln…
That’s what mum used to tell me forever.
If only you knew how long I’ve kept my head down!
I don’t even feel it anymore.
It’s almost time.
But till then, I’ll keep everything tight.
There will be no mistakes.
Tonight, I need to –
Soft fingers touched his chin and raised his head.
Tyler blinked, then, he smiled bashfully.
Ashley Belarnt, heiress of the Belarnt family, gazed up at him, her almond-shaped eyes round with concern.
“What’s the matter? Are you tired? Do you need to sit, or lie down?” she asked hurriedly, in her melodious voice.
A slender palm against Tyler’s suit lapel as the lithe young lady stepped in, far too close, to Tyler’s hunched frame.
Her free palm moved toward Tyler’s forehead, and the inspector stepped back, just as Ashley’s two sentinels stepped forward, one of whom had a hand raised as if to physically pull his mistress’ hand back.
Tyler Varsen, as the rumors already stated, was a skilled mine inspector. Very professional and highly competent at his job.
On the other part, things had been exaggerated.
He did not sleep his way up the ladder. But what he did do, the sliver of truth in the rumor, was pull the heartstrings of those he reported to, those who could help him move to the places he needed to be.
Male or female, it didn’t matter. Tyler simply found what made them tick and turned it on.
He was soft to those who wanted to nurture.
Hard to those who wanted to be lorded over.
Kind to those who wanted to be cherished.
Indifferent to those who wanted to chase.
A chameleon.
And a damned good one.
Tyler adjusted his glasses nervously, for the pleasure of his current boss, the beautiful, young heiress who had men lining up outside her door for a chance to show her what they were made of, to care for her, provide for her, protect her.
A woman who needed nothing. A woman who, rather, wanted to provide, to offer the care.
Tyler stammered, keeping his gaze averted, “I…I’m okay. It’s…just…the mine…the gas…I was worrying about it.”
He lied.
Smoothly.
Tyler was used to it.
His entire life was a lie.
His job right now, was a lie.
His reactions right now, were lies.
His five-year prison sentence, was a lie.
The reason for his incarceration, was a lie.
The loyalty of masters to selfless servants, was a lie.
Forgiveness, mercy, consideration from the rich to the poor, were all lies.
Tyler Esteil knew all this.
And it didn’t matter.
None of it fazed him.
After all, he would do much worse than simply lie before his plans were achieved.
Far, far worse.
Soon. Very soon. The lies would end.
“But you’ve done your part,” Ashley pressed gently, sidling closer, taking Tyler’s muscular arm in her small hands and leading him toward her large desk.
She seated him in the visitor’s chair and balanced herself on the desk, facing him, her short skirt riding up her shapely thighs.
Tyler swallowed, glancing away again, pushing his glasses nervously up the bridge of his nose.
He rubbed his palms against his legs, as he looked haplessly toward the secretaries who had not moved from the wall behind their boss’ desk, one on each side of the large desk, just before the ceiling-to-floor glass overlooking the city.
The two younger men wore tight expressions as they glared back at him.
Once again, the assistants’ faces responded to Tyler's silent plea for help.
Bastard!
Rat!
Dog!
Ingrate!
Tyler would have rolled his eyes, but he could not.
He was used to such stares. He had received them at the Kramer estate for most of his life. In school, even up to university, in prison, in the back halls and alleyways of the underground black markets.
But he had shut them all up.
Or shut them down.
From school to the black market. All of them. Except one.
His target now.
The Kramer estate.
Tyler cleared his mind. Forcing himself to focus.
Previous Chapter
Latest Chapter
Chapter 99
“What are you doing with Lord Kramer’s photo?”“Hmmm?”“What are you doing?”“Which Lord Kramer, Father?” Anton Voltera droned to his father as he sat at his computer screen, adjusting the close-up shot, high-resolution photo he had been playing with for over three hours.Maricius approached his son’s chair.He had come to his favorite child’s office at Voltera Enterprises to get an update on his visit with the Kramer servant.He had walked in, without knocking, the boy had not acknowledged him, so he had walked around his large, yet minimalistic, designed desk to see what had engrossed his son to such a degree.“Lord Henry,” the elder Voltera remarked.Anton’s head snapped up even as the boy remained seated.“It is, right?!” he exclaimed, his grey eyes bright.His son was not one for exclamations. Maricius’ eyes narrowed at the boy. He glanced back at the screen and stared at the light blue eyes, which were the o
Chapter 98
Tyler’s eyes drifted to Emily’s, and she held his gaze. A moment later, his hand dropped, and he glanced away from her, back to the city.Emily stayed where she was and shook his chair.He turned back to her, slowly, like his body was too heavy for him, like he was underwater.“What have you done?” she asked patiently, her voice calm as she repeated her initial question.“I helped Raymond.”“How?”“Magic.”“Why?”“I owe him.”“What did you give him?”“An earring, of a sort.”“I didn’t see one.”“You won’t. No one will.”“Why?”“To heal his body.”Unlike Ashley, Emily knew full well the limitations of a hospital on some matters.She held Tyler’s gaze.“Will he wake up?”“Maybe.”“Do you think he’ll wake up?”“Yes.”“Why?”“He’s a strong kid. A strong mind. A focused drive. Passionate. He loves life. Loves living. He should wake up.
Chapter 97
While Tyler was being grilled by Ashley Belarnt, Lord Henry Kramer was searching for an old servant. His people drove to one of the servants’ estates used by the nobles’ retired staff.It was rare for any former masters to visit their past servants, but as soon as Lord Kramer’s vehicle reached the property line, every living former servant of the Kramer Estate got the information.He went directly to the administration office, which was equivalent to the town hall premises, and met the curator of the property.There were sixty houses on the grounds and thirty apartment complexes. The estate, like all the others, was a community unto itself.Most of the residents were over the age of fifty, but many had relatives who stayed with them; as such, there were people of all ages and walks of life on the grounds.By the time Henry was greeted by the curator, the chief administrator of the estate, and had been seated, fifteen of the oldest Kramer servants w
Chapter 96
Tyler had woken last night, after over forty hours of sleep. He had taken a potion to help him move, despite all his wounds and pain, despite knowing what the reaction would be in the morning, and had turned down the strength of his black rock clock.Limiting its range to twenty feet and activating a cloaking spell once he got out of range.He went to Raymond’s room. A private one on the topmost floor of the hospital.Tyler’s floor was in the middle of the hospital building, ensuring that if anything happened at his location, the entire structure would suffer for it.He stared at the boy who was in a body cast and had been unconscious for over four weeks. He had gotten all the information from his men about the boy’s injuries.He had been beaten, with magic fully involved, breaking bones, damaging nerves, and rupturing organs.A weaker person, physically, would have died.Whether it was intentional or by accident that the boy was stil
Chapter 95
“How did that bastard get into my Tower?” Lord Ashton Belarnt rumbled.“I,” Raymond grunted, “I approved it,” he replied hoarsely, facing his uncle, even as he hung suspended, he held his uncle’s gaze.“How did he rise so fast through the ranks?” Lord Ashton rumbled. “He was under you, yet of all your staff, you kept him in your office. Directly. How did that happen?”“I pushed for it,” Raymond rasped, not using more words than necessary to end his torture.“How, then, in the name of every fucking sage there is, did that nobody get the free hand and access he got to our oldest contracts and locations within months of his arrival? Something reserved for the most senior officials?”“I allowed it. He was useful. I used him,” Raymond croaked, forcing his voice to come out loud and clear.No matter the question from his uncle, Raymond accepted the blame. More than once, he heard the only female of the group gasp, but she remained silent. Ashley B
Chapter 94
When Raymond woke, he was in a stone room. No windows, low ceiling, thick door. A dungeon.He almost laughed, but his face wouldn’t move. His cheekbone was broken, his jaw shattered. The pain was the only thing that let him know he wasn’t asleep or hallucinating.For two days, he was left there, alone. No food, no water, no company.In his silent prison, he kept his mind as light as he could, focusing on little things, like how the space wasn’t dark. Gems in the wall and ceiling lit up the room.He was also glad it was dry, as he knew much about the Belarnt private cells; every noble family, at least, everyone at the very top of nobility, had such things, and he knew how bad the Belarnt ones could get.The Belarnt’s, miners by trade and profession, had very special cells. Old, former mines. Places no one would ever go, or simply stumble into. Places where, if they liked, the gatekeeper could forget their prisoner and have no need to make burial arr
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