"Honey, should we call the police?" A woman asks her partner from the terrified customers who have now gathered at a corner, scared to move and horrified to stay.
The entrance slash exit is blocked, leaving them no way out. All they can do is hold their breath and pray that the domineering man sitting next to his companion will not notice them.

"Are you crazy?" Her partner hisses disappointed. He swings his gaze on the large backs of the bodyguards wearing their special gear and his eyes grow in admiration. "Do you have any idea how expensive their gear is? Do you think any Dick and Harry can afford it?"

His words make her even more terrified as she clings firmly to his arm. "But what does their argument have to do with us?"

"Could you just shut up?" He casts a sharp glare at the red-haired woman grasping his arm tighter than any binding before returning his eyes on the couple who have brought the entire store to a standstill.

Annie's throat slowly starts drying up. The sight of the professional guards who surround them from every angle and the curious eyes of the other customers make her want to crawl and disappear in the chair. The attention is just too...much.
She glances to the side, intending to ask Jack to take her away from there, but seeing his cold expression leaves her more anxious than a second ago.

"Who-who are you?" The attendant asks, her voice shaking from the fear turning her skin even paler. Her eyes bounced from Jack to Annie and then to the serious-looking men and women standing tall and defensive behind them.
"Y-you, you sho-should leave."
Her arrogance is fading, exposing the vulnerable side in her.

Jack pushes his glasses back to their position, casually sitting on the chair in a dominant posture that spills much more arrogance than any other man alive.
He ignores her question and turns to Annie.
"How do you want to punish her?"

Annie's eyes widen at the sudden question which brings with it the weight of the stares being diverted on her.
Her lips part yet no sound makes it out.
Jack smiles, understanding her even without any words.

His attention swings back to the attendant whose eyes plead with him without her own knowledge.
"Kneel!"

"Kne-kne-kneel?"

"Stan?"

"Yes Sir?"
He hurries to stand beside Jack.

"Are my words inaudible?"

"No Sir!"

"Mmm... Bring me her information in the next five minutes."

Stan gives a short hard nod before turning to his team. "I want all her details in three minutes."

A call is immediately made back to the headquarters, conveying their boss's order, which sends the entire tech team in a technical rush through every app, platform, and any other web presence the attendant may have ever used.

Another wave of fear attacks all who are present. Leaving their throats cracking dry and their eyes painful from the lack of blinking.

A minute later, Stan walks up to the seated couple accompanied by a man who appears to be in his mid-thirties.
"Sir, this is the manager. A Mr Ripley."

"Hmm... Mr Ripley?"

"Yes, Sir?" Mr Ripley drags his feet to stand in front of Jack and Annie. His hands have balled up into anxious fists which begin to sweat profusely as he faces the couple.
"Um...anything I can help you with, Sir? Anything at all."

Jack raises his lazy gaze to the slim man who seems ready to piss himself off if frightened any further.
"Do you know who I am?"

Mr Ripley's gray eyes examine Jack, keen not to strip him of anything lest he loses his eyes. "N-no, Sir."

Jack sighs.
Has it been so long that these common people no longer recognized the man who kept the balance on the streets? The man who owned this damned building and this very store.

To remind all present who he is, Jack slides into the inner pocket of his jacket and pulls out a card. A shiny gold and black card.
Mr Ripley gasps and drops his eyes immediately along with his head.
The bow signifies a quarter of Jack's powerful influence.
"Bo-Boss."

"Boss?" The attendants chorus shocked.

Annie stares at Jack, shock written all over her face.

"What brings you h-here?"
They all knew that their big boss also owned the entire mall, but none of them had laid eyes on him before except the retired staff who were no longer present.

"Am I not welcome in my store?"

A bead of sweat trickles from Mr Ripley's temple and drops on the tile next to Jack's foot. "I, I didn't mean it that-"

"The rude woman behind you... Who hired her?"

The manager raises his head before glancing back at the woman he recognizes as Cindy. A beautiful light-skinned brunette who is also his...mistress.
Intense fear grips his heart and soul.
Her character, he knows best.
He had employed her in the store just to keep her close and create a workmate facade to deceive his wife.

"Um..." He looks ahead again, his red lips drying up as a huge lump blocks his throat. "Um...she...I..."

Jack sighs dismissively and averts his gaze on the woman in question.
"Come here."

Cindy steps forward, her heels clicking on the tiles quietly to her small steps.
Her face continues growing pale.
Reality has started descending on her after Mr Ripley's confirmation that he is indeed the Big Boss.
She has just offended him and his partner. Said some dark accusations which will now lead to her destruction.

"Why are you so timid now, hm?"

"B-B-Boss..."
She stutters scared. When she meets his dense eyes, she falls to her knees at a speed exceeding lightning.
Annie flinches on her behalf to the sound of her knees smacking the floor.

"I'm sorry! I swear I didn't know who-"

"Shut. Up!" Jack hisses at the shaking woman, feeling crossed by her sudden pretense. Just three minutes ago, she had displayed her true dark side, insulting Annie both directly and indirectly. She had gone as far as to call security on them while she had started the argument through her condescending attitude.

Noticing the lack of sympathy from Jack, Cindy scuffles on her knees and moves closer to Annie. She grabs her legs and begins to put on a hysterical act.
Tears start to flow from her eyes, her mouth letting out her pleas.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I swear this will never happen again. Please don't let him fire me. I have a kid at home who needs this money. Please, ple-"

Jack darts a glare at the guards watching the disgusting scene, threatening them with his eyes.
They quickly dash forward and grab Cindy away from Annie, lifting her like a doll by her arms.
Not giving up, Cindy cries out loud, throwing her legs in the air to add density to her acting. She wants Jack to pardon her by invoking the onlookers' sympathy.

To her greatest shock, none dares to glance her way, let alone speak up for her.

"Liam? Help me!" She cries to Mr Ripley when her initial plans seem to be failing.

Mr Ripley only glares at her, cursing her strongly for bringing him such grave trouble. How will he plead for himself in front of the person who owns everything around, including their paychecks?

"Um, Boss. If you want her fired, I'll do it right away. You don't need to trouble yourself over such an insignificant per-"

"Sir?" Stan interrupts, handing Jack a black iPad.
For the next two minutes, the store falls into an abyss of silence, all watching Jack read through the information presented to him by Stan.

"Cindy Hugh, original name, Gemma Compton. Graduated in twenty fifteen, has a criminal record that involves drug trafficking and involvement in a murder-theft case in London, fled, and started anew in California. You're the mistress of these married men including-" Jack's eyes rise to Mr Ripley, "-our able manager."

Jack hands the iPad back to Stan, feeling he had read enough. "Inform the authorities of this stray criminal."

*****Vote, comment, follow my profile and share my books to help me reach more readers. Also, if u want to read ahead, subscribe to my Patreon page by clicking the link on my bio right here on Wattpad... Support me in any way u can, whether it's voting in the chapters, or subscribing on Patreon, I appreciate all of it. ****❤️❤️❤️