Magnificent Magnus Mace

President Ma...

Ring! Ring!! Ring!!!

A sharp ringtone pierced the tense silence of the lobby. The sound came from the pocket of Magnus's stained medical coat.

Magnus did not struggle against the grip. He simply turned his head and gave the guards a cold look.

"Tell your men to release my arm." Magnus said to Christina. "That is my private phone."

"You are a detained suspect." Crest laughed from his spot on the floor. He wiped a streak of blood from his chin. "Thieves do not get phone privileges."

"I am a doctor." Magnus kept his eyes fixed on Christina. "Do you realize this might be an emergency patient? Will you let someone die over your misunderstanding?"

Christina stared at his ringing pocket. She pressed her lips together and nodded once.

"Let him answer it." Christina ordered the guards.

The lead guard reluctantly stepped back. Magnus reached into his pocket and accepted the call.

"Sir." A deep voice came through the speaker. "We have arrived at the front entrance."

"I am in a bit of a problem right now." Magnus replied calmly. "I will come out soon."

Magnus ended the call and slipped the phone away.

Heavy boots hammered against the marble floor before anyone could speak. Three police officers pushed through the revolving glass doors. They kept their hands resting near their duty belts.

"We received a call regarding a grand larceny." The lead officer announced loudly. He scanned the crowded room.

"Right here officer." Crest scrambled to his feet. He pointed a shaking finger at Magnus. "This man stole a ten million dollar necklace. I tried to perform a citizen arrest and he assaulted me."

The officers zeroed in on Magnus. They immediately noticed the velvet box resting in his hand.

"Sir." The lead officer approached him carefully. "Hand over the item and place your hands on your head."

"The item belongs to me." Magnus stated without moving.

"He is lying." George shouted from the back of the crowd. "I am a professional appraiser. That is a single edition piece from the Diamond Plaza. A public clinic doctor cannot afford it."

The lead officer pulled out a small notepad. He looked Magnus up and down. He noted the cheap shoes and the worn medical coat.

"Is this true?" The officer asked Christina. "Does this man work at a public clinic?"

"Yes." Christina crossed her arms. "He is my ex husband. His annual salary is barely fifty thousand dollars. He could never afford a ten million dollar jewel."

"You hear that?" Crest smirked in triumph. "He is a broke loser. Arrest him right now."

"Sir." The officer rested his hand on his radio. "I will ask you one more time. Hand over the box."

The revolving glass doors spun violently before Magnus could answer.

Five men in suits marched into the lobby. They formed a tight wedge formation. A tall man in a pristine charcoal suit walked directly behind them.

It was Mr. Jackson. He possessed eyes like a chipped flint. His face held absolutely no emotion. He projected an aura of pure violence wrapped in expensive corporate silk. He was the chief executive of Omni Corp. He was undeniably the wealthiest and most feared man in the entire city.

The lobby went completely silent. The police officers instinctively took a step back from Magnus. Several corporate executives bowed their heads in immediate respect.

"Mr. Jackson." Christina gasped quietly. She quickly smoothed her skirt and stepped forward.

Jackson ignored the crowd. He walked straight toward the center of the room. His cold eyes locked directly onto Magnus.

"President Ma..." Jackson began to speak.

Magnus met his gaze and gave a microscopic shake of his head.

Jackson did not miss a single beat. He smoothly shifted his attention to the woman standing nearby.

"President Christina." Jackson finished the greeting seamlessly.

Christina flushed with immense pride. The most powerful man in the city knew her name. He was addressing her directly in front of her entire company and the local police force.

"Mr. Jackson." Christina smiled her brightest corporate smile. "It is a profound honor to welcome you to Kensington Corporation. I apologise for this ugly commotion. Please come up to my private office so we can discuss any business deal"

"I am not interested in your office." Jackson replied in a gravelly voice. He stopped right beside Magnus. "I am interested in this story."

Christina lost her smile. She looked at Crest nervously.

"Tell him." Christina ordered Crest.

Crest eagerly stepped forward. He puffed his chest out to look important in front of the billionaire.

"This stray dog is her ex husband." Crest sneered at Magnus. "He stole a ten million dollar necklace to fund his pathetic life after the divorce. I caught him in the act. He punched me like a common street thug."

Jackson turned his head slowly. He looked at Crest like the man was an insect crawling on his shoe.

"Is that so?" Jackson said softly. The tone sent a visible shiver down Crest's spine.

Jackson reached out his hand. He gently took the velvet box from Magnus. He opened the lid and stared at the sparkling diamonds.

"This is the Single Royal." Jackson announced to the silent room. "It is a single edition piece. I have been meaning to buy it for my private collection."

"See?" George yelled from the crowd again. "Only a man like Mr. Jackson can afford it. The doctor stole it."

Jackson snapped the box shut. He slipped the velvet case into his own suit pocket.

"Leave the necklace and this man to me." Jackson told the police officers. "I will personally visit the store and buy this necklace legally if needed. I will handle this matter."

The lead officer swallowed hard.

“Mr. Jackson, I respect your position, but I cannot simply abandon an active criminal investigation.”

“Really? Do you want me to call the Chief and…” Jackson started, picking out his phone

"Understood Mr. Jackson." The officer nodded quickly. "We will close the dispatch call."

"Good." Jackson turned to his security team. "Escort him to the car."

The guards immediately surrounded Magnus. They did not touch him or grab his arms. They simply cleared a wide path through the stunned crowd.

"Wait." Crest took a foolish step forward. "You cannot just let him go. He hit me."

Jackson stopped walking. He slowly turned his head to look at Crest one final time.

"If you speak again." Jackson warned in a dead flat voice. "I will buy your family company and liquidate it by morning."

Crest clamped his mouth shut and stepped back. He looked terrified.

Magnus walked out of the building without looking back at Christina. He pushed through the glass doors and stepped into the warm city air.

Two black luxury sedans waited at the curb. The engines idled quietly. Magnus climbed into the back of the lead car. Jackson slid in right beside him. The doors closed and shut out the street noise entirely.

The dominating corporate leader immediately slumped his shoulders. Jackson bowed his head deeply.

"I apologize for the delay sir." Jackson said. All the intimidation was completely gone from his voice.

"You arrived exactly on time Jackson." Magnus leaned back against the plush leather seat.

"I hate watching those people humiliate you." Jackson gripped his knees. His voice shook with restrained anger. "They treat you like dirt. They talk to you like you are nothing. Isn't it time to remove your cover?"

Magnus watched the Kensington Corporation building through the tinted glass window. He saw Christina standing in the lobby looking confused.

"Maybe." Magnus replied quietly. "But you are the richest man in this city, Jackson. That status alone is enough to punish these people for now."

"Just give the order sir." Jackson promised. "I will crush their public offering tomorrow morning."

"No." Magnus turned his attention away from the window. "A quick destruction is too kind. They discarded me because they wanted elite status. They wanted wealth and power above all else."

"Then we take it all away." Jackson nodded eagerly.

"We will let them climb a little higher first." Magnus smiled a cold smile. "Let them think they have won. Let Christina believe her new alliance will save her. We will build their hope up to the highest peak before we shatter it."

"The Harrington family is backing them now." Jackson noted. "Kevin Harrington is returning to the city."

"I know." Magnus rested his hands on his lap. "Kevin works for one of our subsidiary shells. He is a pawn on my board. Let him play his part."

"And the necklace sir?" Jackson reached into his pocket and pulled out the velvet box. He held it out with both hands.

"Keep it safe for now." Magnus instructed.