MYKEL'S POV (continuing):
A knock sounded at the door before it opened.
"Sir…?"
My secretary stepped in, a folder held against her chest.
I didn't even look up.
"WHAT?"
The word exploded out of me so sharply that she visibly flinched.
Her eyes widened in fear, and she took a nervous step back.
"S-Sir, y-your meeting…" she stammered, voice trembling. "W-with Mr. Wilson… it's in ten minutes."
I finally lifted my head and looked at her.
The poor woman nearly stopped breathing.
My glare must have been murderous.
I forced my voice down into something cold and flat.
"I'm coming. Wait for me outside."
She nodded so fast it was almost frantic.
"Y-Yes, sir."
Then she hurried out of the room as if staying one second longer might cost her life.
The door clicked shut behind her.
Silence returned.
I let out a slow exhale and rolled my neck, trying to bleed off some of the tension coiling through me.
My hand drifted back to Percy's phone.
I picked it up again and stared at the chat thread.
If she found out Percy was missing too soon, she would panic.
Questions would start.
Questions were inconvenient.
And I hated inconvenience.
So I opened the messages and typed.
Not too much.
Not too little.
Just enough to keep suspicion away.
"Sorry, we won't meet again for now on."
I stared at the words for a moment, then deleted them.
Too cold.
Too short.
She might notice.
I typed again.
"I am going back to Italy due to my mother caught an illness so she needs me so I'm going back, take care and don't worry about me, hope you understand.😊"
Better.
Casual.
Believable.
Like him.
My thumb hovered over the send button for only a second before I pressed it.
Message sent.
I leaned back in my chair again, the phone still in my hand.
For a moment, I just stared at the ceiling.
The dim recessed lights above seemed too bright, too sterile compared to the darkness still clinging to me from earlier.
Then my own phone buzzed in my pocket.
The vibration snapped my attention downward.
I pulled it out, irritation already curling in my chest.
Unknown number? No.
My eyes narrowed at the name on the screen.
Rebecca.
Her aunt.
I clicked my tongue in annoyance.
The last thing I needed right now was one of her relatives asking for favors, gossiping, or wasting my time with their fake concern.
I was about to decline the call.
My thumb was already moving.
Then I paused.
My gaze sharpened.
A thought slid into my mind...slow, smooth, and poisonous.
Rebecca.
Her aunt talked too much.
Meddle too much.
And if handled correctly…
She could be useful.
A slow smirk spread across my lips.
Now that was interesting.