Magnificent Magnus Mace

My Finances Are No Longer Your Concern

Magnus stepped into the elevator. The doors slid shut and muted the chaos of the executive floor. He reached into the pocket of his medical coat, his fingers brushed against a velvet box. He pulled the box out and flipped the lid open. A diamond necklace rested inside the fabric. The stones caught the overhead light and threw sharp reflections against the glass walls.

He had purchased it two days ago. He had paid ten million dollars for it. He planned to give it to Christina at the company launch next week. He wanted to reveal his true identity during the celebration.

“Hmph” he scoffed

He, Magnus Mace, is not a struggling doctor, he was the sole heir to the Mace family. His family controlled the largest financial empire on the continent. Even his personal butler stood as the wealthiest man in this city. Magnus had traveled here seeking a simple life. He wanted to find a loyal wife who loved him for his character and not his bank accounts.

He thought he had found that loyalty in Christina. He spent three years playing the role of a quiet husband. He worked long hours at a public clinic. He secretly orchestrated anonymous investments to build Kensington Corporation from the ground up. He fed her ambition and secured her future.

She rewarded his loyalty with a divorce paper.

"You wanted the elite circles," Magnus whispered to the empty elevator. "I will show you the elite circles, I will tear down everything I built for you."

He snapped the velvet box shut and slipped it back into his pocket.

The elevator chimed. The doors opened into the busy main lobby. Dozens of corporate employees walked across the marble floor.

"Well look who we have here." A loud voice echoed across the lobby.

Magnus stopped walking. He turned and saw Crest strutting toward him. Crest wore a tailored silver suit and a smug smile. He was a local trust fund heir who spent the last two years hovering around Christina. A small group of executives paused to watch the confrontation.

"Crest Whitmore." Magnus said flatly. "Get out of my way."

"I do not think I will." Crest chuckled. He stepped closer and blocked the exit. "The receptionist just told me the good news. Christina finally served you the divorce papers."

"That is family business." Magnus kept his voice level. "It does not concern you."

"It concerns me very much." Crest puffed out his chest. "I have been waiting for her to drop the dead weight. A woman like Christina needs a real man. She needs a man with capital and status. She does not need a charity case."

"You think you have capital?" Magnus asked quietly.

"I have more money in my checking account than you will earn in your entire miserable life." Crest laughed loudly. He turned to the growing crowd. "Look at him. He is wearing cheap shoes and a stained coat. He smells like a public clinic."

"Step aside." Magnus warned.

"Why are you in such a hurry?" Crest sneered. He pointed at Magnus's pocket. "What is that bulging in your coat? Are you stealing office supplies on your way out? Did you raid the supply closet to fund your new life?"

"Mind your business, Crest." Magnus said.

"You are in my future wife's building” Crest lunged forward. He shoved his hand into Magnus's pocket.

Magnus grabbed his wrist but Crest violently yanked his arm back. The velvet box slipped free. The lid popped open and the diamond necklace spilled out. It dangled from Crest's fingers.

The crowd gasped loudly. The diamonds sparkled under the lobby chandeliers.

"What is this?" Crest stared at the jewels. His smug smile vanished for a second.

"Give that back." Magnus took a step forward.

"Hold on a minute." Crest held the necklace high in the air. "There is no way a public doctor bought this. Hey George, come here and look at this."

A tall man in a sharp suit pushed his way through the crowd. George was a known appraiser who managed the luxury boutiques at the Diamond Plaza. He pulled a small magnifying glass from his pocket and leaned close to the necklace.

"Look at the cut." George muttered. He examined the center stone. "Look at the platinum setting. This is not a cheap replica."

"Is it real?" Crest asked eagerly.

"It is the Single Royal." George breathed heavily. "It is a single edition piece from the Diamond Plaza. We just put it on display two days ago. The retail price is ten million dollars."

The lobby erupted into loud murmurs. People pointed and whispered.

"Ten million dollars." Crest turned to Magnus with a victorious grin. "Did you hear that everybody? This poor doctor is walking around with a ten million dollar necklace."

"Hand it over, Crest." Magnus extended his hand.

"How did you afford it?" Crest mocked him. "Did you save your pennies for a thousand years? Did you sell your kidney on the black market?"

“That’s none of your business." Magnus stated calmly.

"You are a liar." George scoffed. He glared at Magnus. "A man with your salary cannot even afford the velvet box. You stole this from the Plaza."

"Exactly." Crest nodded eagerly. "He knew he was getting divorced today. He decided to steal something to fund his miserable life. This is a grand larceny case."

"You have a vivid imagination." Magnus dropped his hand. "But you are testing my patience."

"I am calling the police." Crest shoved the necklace into his own pocket. "I will personally hand this stolen property to the authorities. The Kensington family will thank me for catching a thief in their building."

"You will do no such thing." Magnus said.

"Watch me." Crest pulled out his phone. "I am going to make sure you lose your medical license. I am going to make sure you rot in a cell for twenty years."

Magnus did not speak again. He moved.

Smack!

His palm connected with Crest's face. The sound cracked through the lobby like a gunshot.

Crest stumbled backward. He dropped his phone on the marble floor. He clutched his reddened cheek in shock.

Magnus stepped forward and smoothly pulled the necklace out of Crest's pocket. He dropped it back into the velvet box.

"You hit me." Crest stuttered.

"I did." Magnus said calmly. "Consider the slap a penalty for your arrogance."

A sharp gasp cut through the silence.

"Magnus!"

Christina stood near the elevator bank. She wore her designer suit. Her eyes were wide with shock.

Crest saw Christina looking at him. His face burned with humiliation. He had just been slapped in front of the woman he wanted to impress. He needed to save face immediately.

"You thug." Crest roared. He balled his hands into fists and charged forward. "I will kill you."

Crest threw a wild punch aimed at Magnus's jaw.

Magnus sidestepped effortlessly. He grabbed Crest by the collar and delivered a second brutal slap.

Smack!

The impact lifted Crest off his feet. He crashed into a marble pillar and crumpled to the floor. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

"Stop it." Christina pushed through the crowd. She ran toward the center of the lobby. "Magnus, stop this right now."

"He started it." Magnus looked down at the groaning man.

"He is a thief." Crest whined loudly from the floor. Tears pooled in his eyes. He pointed a trembling finger at Magnus. "He stole a ten million dollar necklace from the Diamond Plaza. I tried to confiscate it for the police and he assaulted me."

Christina looked at Magnus in disbelief.

"A ten million dollar necklace?" Christina asked. "Magnus, what is he talking about?"

"Ask him." Magnus replied calmly. "He is the one making up stories."

"He is lying." Crest cried out. He scrambled backward to hide behind Christina's legs. "George verified the piece. We all saw it. He is a common thug and a thief. Call the cops right now Christina. Have him arrested."

Christina stared at Magnus. Her eyes darted to the velvet box in his hand.

"Is it true?" Christina asked coldly. "Did you steal something?"

"You know me." Magnus met her gaze. "Do you truly believe I am a thief?"

"I do not know you anymore." Christina shook her head. "You refused my severance check upstairs. People do desperate things when they have no money. Give me the box, Magnus."

"No." Magnus closed his fingers around the velvet.

"Give her the box." George shouted from the crowd. "We need to secure the stolen merchandise before he tries to run."

"I said no." Magnus warned the crowd.

"You are making this worse." Christina stepped closer. "If you hand it over right now I can talk to the authorities. I can hire you a lawyer. I can keep this out of the press."

"I do not need your lawyer." Magnus let out a dry laugh. "And I did not steal this."

"Then how did you get it?" Christina demanded.

"My finances are no longer your concern." Magnus reminded her. "You made sure of that ten minutes ago."

"Do not play games with me." Christina glared at him. "This is my building. You are causing a scene that threatens my public offering."

"Crest caused the scene." Magnus pointed at the man on the floor. "He put his hands in my pockets."

"Because he caught a criminal." Crest yelled. He rubbed his bleeding lip. "He is dangerous, Christina. He hit me twice."

"I saw him hit you." Christina sighed. She turned back to Magnus. "Assault and grand larceny. You have lost your mind."

"You have lost your vision." Magnus said quietly. "You cannot see the truth standing right in front of you."

"I see a desperate man." Christina replied. "A man who cannot accept reality."

"Security." Christina called out loudly.

Four large men in black suits pushed through the crowd. They surrounded Magnus in a tight circle.

"Detain him." Christina ordered the guards. "Lock the front doors. Call the police department and tell them we have a jewelry thief in custody."

"Are you sure about this?" Magnus asked. He did not look at the guards. He only looked at her.

"You left me no choice." Christina crossed her arms. "You brought this humiliation upon yourself."

"Remember these words." Magnus smiled a chilling smile. "When the truth comes out I will not show you any mercy."

The security guards moved in. They grabbed Magnus by his arms.

"Get your hands off me." Magnus warned.

The lead guard pulled out a pair of metal handcuffs.

"Hold him still." The guard shouted.

Magnus narrowed his eyes. The velvet box remained tight in his grip. The sound of police sirens echoed in the distance. The sirens grew louder as they approached the Kensington Corporation building.