Shattered Mask

CHAPTER 5

THE NEXT MORNING, ROTHWELL TOWER

Jack had been staring at a mountain of digital files. Martin Harnes, the estate attorney, stood beside him, flipping through the files of the men who ran the Rothwell empire.

"This is the list of your primary assets," Harnes said.

"And these are the men currently managing them. Your grandfather was a meticulous judge of character, but toward the end, a few snakes slipped through the grass."

Harnes was briefing him about the companies that were legal possessions of the Rothwell Industries.

He had the files of all the CEOs right in front of him, and whenever he mentioned the name, Harnes would give him the company he managed and his performance.

Halfway through the meeting, Jack saw one file, and the passport-sized photograph he saw in it looked very familiar to him.

"Robert Williams," Jack read the name aloud. His heart skipped a beat, then began to thrum with a slow, steady rhythm of recognition.

"CEO of Riverworth Holdings", Harnes noted.

"His contract is up for renewal tomorrow. To be blunt, sir, his performance is abysmal.

He has managed a meagre ten per cent growth in a booming market...the lowest in the history of the firm. There are also whispers of micromanagement, inconsistent expense reports, and... well, general incompetence. Your grandfather had already marked him for termination."

Jack didn't hear the last part. He was staring at the face in the photo.

The handsome, arrogant face of the man who had stood in that marble living room. The man who had put his hand on Leslie’s shoulder.

The man who had watched Jack get beaten to a pulp.

"Harnes," Jack said, his voice dropping an octave. "Does this Robert live in the Jaguar Estate on Fifth Avenue?"

Harnes blinked, surprised. "Yes. How did you know?"

Jack’s smile didn't reach his eyes.

"We have met. He is a... 'repairman' of sorts. He specialises in breaking things that don't belong to him."

He tapped the file. "You mentioned his contract renewal. Does that decision belong to me now?"

"Entirely, Mr. Rothwell. You are the sole voting power for the board."

"Then we have some bad news to deliver," Jack said, closing the folder with a definitive snap. "Don't just terminate him, Harnes. Blacklist him.

"Consider it done, sir."

“Anyways, good job keeping all that information in your head.” He commended Harnes.

“Thank you, sir. That is my Job.”

“So, are we done here?” Ethan asked Harnes

“Yes, sir. We have successfully gone through all the CEOs.” Harnes replied

“Right. Now, I have to look through some of the other documents on my own,” Ethan replied and heaved a sigh.

Harnes nodded and walked out of the office, leaving Ethan to himself there.

At that same time, his phone rang

…………….

Leslie sat at the head of the mahogany dining table, a radiant, practised smile fixed on her face. Beside her, Robert leaned back with the easy arrogance of a man who owned the room, his hand resting possessively on Leslie’s stomach.

"You are a welcome addition to this family, Robert," Linda, Leslie’s mother, beamed.

Her voice carried that sharp, aristocratic edge she used when she wanted people to know she held and controlled the purse strings.

"It is a relief to finally have a man of substance at this table. Welcome to our home."

"The pleasure is mine, Mrs Smith," Robert replied, his voice smooth as silk.

"Leslie has told me so much about your... discerning taste. I am honoured to finally meet the matriarch of the house."

Linda’s smile widened, but then her eyes swept the room, landing on the empty sideboard where the crystal decanters sat untouched. Her brow furrowed.

"Where is Jack?" she snapped.

"The wine hasn't been poured, and the hors d'oeuvres are getting cold. Jack!" She called out angrily

Silence met her call. The family members exchanged puzzled glances.

"Leslie," Linda turned her piercing gaze toward her daughter. "Where is that useless creature? Why isn't he working?"

Leslie looked down, toyed with her diamond-encrusted napkin ring. "He moved out two days ago, Mom."

"Moved out?" Linda’s voice rose an octave.

"Without my permission? Summon him. Now. I want him here to explain himself...and to finish his duties. I won't have my guests serving themselves like commoners." She fumed.

Leslie hesitated, then stepped into the hallway to make the call.

She didn't want to admit to her mother that she hadn't seen Jack since he had been dragged out of Robert’s mansion in a heap of blood and bruises.

She assumed he was hiding in some gutter, somewhere on the streets, nursing his ego.

She dialled the number. It went to voicemail. She dialled again, her jaw tightening. On the third attempt, the line clicked open.

"Jack. My mother is at my apartment. She wants to see you. Now."

"I don't answer to your mother, Leslie," Jack’s voice came through.

It wasn't the trembling, soft-spoken voice she knew.

It was deep, resonant, and disturbingly calm.

"Tell her the 'hired help' has retired." He retorted

"Don't be a fool, Jack," Leslie hissed into the phone.

"You know what she can do. One word from her and you will be blacklisted from every repair shop and construction site in the city. You will starve to death."

A soft, dark chuckle vibrated through the receiver, sending an unexpected shiver down Leslie’s spine.

"I don't need her approval, Leslie. And I am done playing slave to a family of parasites. Leave me alone.

Let me guess, you have a bloody visitor, and you all were looking for the meek Jack to come and clean up after your asses.

Nice try …"

"Oh, really?" Leslie sneered, trying to regain her footing.

"Let’s see how long that 'pride' lasts when your stomach is empty. You have fifteen minutes to get here and apologise.

If you are not at this door, don't blame me for the hell my mother unleashes on you." Leslie threatened her

"Fifteen minutes?" Jack paused. The silence on the other end felt heavy, almost predatory.

"You know what? Today is your lucky day. I will be there in ten."

He hung up. Leslie smirked, tucking her phone away.

"He will be here in ten minutes, Mom. He just needed a reminder of his place."

"Good," Linda grunted, smoothing her dress.

"He will be sorry he ever thought he could walk away without a formal dismissal."

They continued their discussion of welcoming Robert into their family

Ten minutes passed. Precisely.

The heavy double doors of the dining hall didn't just open...they were thrown wide.

Two men in charcoal-grey Italian suits and light-blocking aviators stepped in first, their presence instantly sucking the air out of the room.

The family froze, wine glasses halfway to their lips.

"Who the hell are you?" Robert demanded, standing up and trying to look imposing.

"Don't worry," a voice drifted from the hallway. "They are with me."

A silhouette stepped between the two guards. Jack walked in, dressed in a simple white T-shirt and dark trousers.

He looked casual, but the way he moved was different. The slouch was gone. The timid downward gaze was replaced by eyes that seemed to see right through them. He held a thick manila envelope in one hand.

"What’s up, fellas?" Jack smiled, his eyes glinting with a dangerous kind of mischief.