Kapitel 11: RICHARD

"What the hell, Rich? Were you trying to choke me?" Cassie rasped.

She was red, like fifty shades red. Her hands clasped her throat as she fumed.

I ignored her as I quickly zipped my fly and smoothened my pants.

"Ow, ow, ow" she kept repeating as she sagged on the bed still clutching her throat.

"And I have to perform… in five days, what… do I do? You better pray… this goes away… by then."

Her voice was getting more raspy with each word. And with how tightly her face was squeezed, it must hurt like hell.

I barely gave her a glance from the

gold rimmed mirror where I stood adjusting my tie. In truth, a part of me felt for her, but the thing with being as ruthless as I've become is that constant fueling of that dark side eventually silences the human side.

Or so I had thought…

"You could have killed her", that voice I really thought I had silenced echoed through my mind. Then the images came, her hands pounding on my thighs. The drool that oozed from her mouth as I thrust faster and faster. The veins that appeared on her forehead as she choked. The pain that reddened her face as she tried to get me to stop. And the drowsy fluttering of her lids as she began to slip to unconsciousness.

At the moment, I had enjoyed every moment, but now that stupid voice was trying to get me to feel bad. With those images, it was trying to picture me, a monster.

"What will I do?" I heard her sob from behind me, and in spite of myself I watched as streaks cascaded down her reddish cheeks.

"Monster!. Monster!!. Monster!!!."

The voice kept echoing, getting louder each time.

I tightly shut my eyes and tried to get it to stop. But then other images began to flip through my mind. Leaving Lindsey that night. Rosa Ross smeared face as she wept and cursed me. Her post afterwards in a rehabilitation center.

Apparently what I did to her broke the walls of self-esteem. Before the incident, she believed that she was truly lovable, that she was irresistible, and then realized that a man could play with her for 8 months without her prior knowledge. That scarred and marred her to the point of indulging and addiction.

That's if she's to be believed. Who's to say that she didn't post that picture just to go viral like her weeping video? Anyway, I have been in this game industry since birth and I know people would do anything for it.

If there was ever a time that prompted change, it was during that Rosa Ross scandal. I remember being haunted by her tears and curses. I remember experiencing difficulties in sleeping, doing my job and basically living my life.

I fucked and manhandled other girls, but nothing changed. I remember the only thing that sorta helped was being high every minute of the day.

In a way instead of inspiring change,

those moments drove me deeper into

the dark side.

My hate for life and its cruelties fueled my own flames of cruelty. I also remember telling myself that Rosa will surely recover, rehab will help or whatever she needs to do. But in death, there's no rehab or therapy. Death… simply is death.

Cassie broke down into full fledged weeping, as she sagged to the floor her knees raised to shield her face and quieten her sobs. But I still heard them, each, a knife striking my heart again and again.

"I didn't change during the time of Rosa Ross, so why would I now?" I thought to myself.

"Perhaps because you went too far this time. Because you almost cost her the only part of her that will make her great. And you could have killed her outright." That same wretched voice intoned as if answering my question.

I needed to get as far away from Cassie

as possible, I can't allow myself to grow soft when life chooses to remain tough with me.

She didn't even raise her face when I opened the door, that single gesture froze my movement. Cassie never plays with her fee, but today she couldn't care less.

"For fuck's sake! Can you quit being pathetic already, nothing will happen to your voice. Once I get to the car, I'll send you your fee, enough to go visit a laryngologist or a fucking phoniatrist. Just stop already, it's disgusting watching and listening to you." I said, more to silence the stupid voice in my mind than for her chagrin.

"Go… to… hell" she managed, her voice

this time breaking, but more audible.

"Now, that's my girl" I answered with a grin, shutting the door lest she haul a pillow towards me.

Thankfully no soul was in the hall, the last thing I needed was a picture of myself on tomorrow's 'City Burn' asking what I was doing exiting one of the Gold Express roams of Falling Stars Hotel.

I tried not to be in much haste as I walked to the entrance, calling Lanke to bring the car to the entrance helped. At least, I looked like a businessman already late for an appointment, which in reality wasn't far from the truth.

Lanke didn't utter a word as I came in, he just gave me a quick glance from the rear mirror and stepped on the gas.

He kept mute during the supposed fifteen minutes drive that somehow took twice the duration due to a traffic congestion just two turns to the office. He had wordlessly turned the car around, not even asking for permission, in search for an alternate route that had taken the extra fifteen minutes.

Because of how unsettling his silence was, I didn't allow him to bring up my case, I just ordered him to be dismissed until I had need of him.

I had a routine for walking into the building that was the headquarters of my brand. A fake ass dazzling smile in response to greetings as I passed.

As I walked to the elevator I had taken a quick glance at the reception desk and there was this girl in a weird attire, a buttoned down coat over blue jeans and sneaks. My thoughts had been "Hopefully she was here to shop so as that fashion error won't repeat itself"

There was a rule every staff member knew well. In fact, upon employment it is the first rule each staff is expected never to break.

"Never enter the elevator if a board member or a top ranked employee is inside"

It was simple, but apparently the stupid bitch that lacked fashion sense wasn't aware as she wedged the bars with her bag.

"Sorry" she said entering, not even bothering to look at me.

And she had come in so fast that I didn't get a proper look at her and now she had her back to me.

My time with Cassie was supposed to help me relax and feel content, but with the way things turned out, I was anything, but content or relaxed. And this situation was the very last thing I needed, "not if I can help it" I echoed to myself.

"Leave" I said in a voice bearing all my frustration.

"Excuse me?," the fool asked.

"Oh don't act dumb, I'm pretty sure I didn't stutter"

"What is it with this bitch? Is she high or simply dumb?" I pondered.

"Sir, I'm sure we can enjoy this ride in peace, just press the button and I will do my best to pretend that I'm not even here" she answered, her voice lingering on irritation.

"I don't need you to pretend, what I need is very simple. Exit the elevator or do you have hearing difficulties?" I prompted in the same tone I have seen many cower when they hear it.

But this girl wasn't afraid. She just stood still, never looking at me, her stance saying "Do your worst". And yet her next words were a plea.

"Please Sir, I'm in a hurry and I need this ride, so–"

That did it. I have had enough of her stupidity as I barked cutting her off,

"So just exit the elevator, because there's no way this thing is moving unless you leave!"

Customers, clients and staff at the lobby stared. And at that moment I wanted nothing more than to push her outside, but etiquette especially in front of these people demanded otherwise.

I watched her take in the crowd staring

back at her and for a second I thought she would leave, but instead,

"Suit yourself. I'm not leaving and if you will die sharing a ride with me then I suggest you leave instead" she retorted, tossing a strand of her brown hair across her shoulder.

The scent of honey filled my nostrils and for seconds, I couldn't take my eyes off her rich long hair.

Perhaps that was what messed with my mind because the next words I uttered weren't what I intended,

"Wait, what did you just say?"

"I'm pretty certain I didn't stutter" she replied with a tone laced with rage.

The bitch had balls, I would give her that, reprising my very own words back to me. And that fueled the rage that coursed through me.

"JUST FUCKING LEAVE" I yelled, hoping to startle her into obedience.

But this girl was a mule. She only cringed at my words for a second before continuing as if the words held no impart,

"Oh you're angry, well so am I" I heard her say as she hastily punched on the 50th floor's button.

I made out Tony and Gerald, two of the lobby's security guards, dashing towards us. Even the receptionist whom the girl had been talking to earlier. I don't really remember her name as she has barely worked for 6 months with us, was saying,

"Oh my God, Sofia do you even have any idea who you are talk-"

Before the gold coated bars of the elevator like two lips arching to meet, kissed shut.