Chapter 37: Punishment (1)

Lillian kept her eyes shut even after she heard the loud bang with which the door was shut. It even made her jump in her spot, but she didn't open her eyes. In fact, she clenched her eyelids together.

Ping!

As her mind registered the sound, she slowly opened her eyes and released out a long breath. Her mind was so shocked by the scene that she even forgot to breathe.

She stared at the light brown wallpaper for a while before tearing her gaze away. No matter how much she tried, she couldn't erase the sight from her memory. Everytime she blinked, the image would flash before her eyes.

Trailing her eyes to the closed door, she started thinking about what Blake might be doing, hoping that It would divert her mind.

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[Inside the other room]

"Who will explain to me what was going on here?" Blake spoke up as he stared down the two ladies as he stood before them with his hands folded across his chest.

"Will someone explain to me!" His voice no longer bore the same calmness as before. Once could see veins popping out on either side of his forehead as he gritted through his clenched jaw.

"I-I am sorry."

"M-me t-too."

One after the other, the two girls apologized to him for their actions while stammering. Even though both of them were older than Blake if one was to take seniority into account, that wasn't how things worked there.

Not only was he their leader, but also one of the most feared people in Europe. He was known for his cunning nature and ruthlessness. He had earned for himself a name at such a young age which instilled trembles in people. No one could even think about crossing him over, ever, even if it was just in their dreams. There was a reason he was called the 'Black Prince'.

"You are sorry?" He scoffed. "What exactly are you sorry for? I am at a loss here. Why don't you two enlighten me a little?" He asked the two ladies. His words only met by silence as the two ladies hung their heads low.

They were too ashamed to even look back at him and meet his piercing gaze. If a person's gaze had the power to drill holes, their skulls would have been marred with many by now.

"Who started it?" He continued his questioning after seeing that none of the two ladies was going to speak.

"I did."

Unlike before, both of them replied to him at the same time. Their overlapping responses only added more to his ire. He especially hated how their voices were laced with confidence. He could tell that both of them were willing to take the blame. No one wanted the other to get into trouble.

Heaving out a frustrated sigh, he spoke up. "I don't mind these kinds of things. It's your life so you can date, or see, anyone you want as long as you know the dangers you'll be putting your partner in." This time, his voice was much more controlled, as well as stern.

The ladies only nodded their heads in agreement, keeping their eyes glued to the boarded floor.

"But during training hours, you people have some responsibilities to this place. I expect each and every single one of you to do right by it and yourselves." He continued. His breathing was slowly going back to normal as he began to calm down.

His anger was rather rooting from the fact that Lillian had to witness it all. He was doubtful that the girl would ever be able to forget the scene. He wasn't sure that he himself would be able to completely remove the memory of it, or bury it somewhere deep in his min anytime soon.

"You two have been here for long already, and know about the rules as well. I don't care who was the one who initiated this, both of you will be punished." He continued. "And also, I need your routine schedules on my desk in an hour. I need to have a word with your trainer as well." He added after a pause.

He was pretty sure that none of the two women was supposed to be free at an hour like this. They all had to follow some schedule which was designed according to their own strengths unless they were on some mission. But being on a mission would also mean that they weren't even supposed to be here.

"Yes, Boss. I don't mind being punished for breaking the rules. It's only right." One of the two women spoke up. "She won't either. Though I have a simple request."

"What is it?" Blake narrowed his eyes at her. He was trying to gauge her reaction, but how was he supposed to do it when she had her face looking down.

"We will be thankful if this doesn't get to others." She added meekly in response as she stole a glance at his face.

Blake stared at the top of her head for a while as he contemplated. "Fine. I will take care of the footage too." He heard him exhaling out a sigh of relief as soon as he finished his words. "Next time, keep this to your rooms." He added sternly only to get a couple of nods in return.

Though it sounded like a small favor which he was doing on his subordinates, it wasn't the case in reality. Everything which was recorded by the cctvs or the hidden cameras was supposed to go into the base's archive where the videos were compiled into files based on each individual, even himself.

Doing this small favor on the two of them would mean that he was going against his own rules. But he was willing to do it because having this on the file wouldn't be good for them, or him

"Do any of you want to add any-" He had only started to talk again when he was interrupted by a couple of knocks.