40 frustration

Aceller from the future:

"Are you certain about that?" I pressed, my voice sharp.

"Yes, sir," the man confirmed, his tone confident. "The girl your brother's so smitten with is definitely human. My investigation shows she's an orphan, she has relatives. Yet she abandoned them together with her past behind. and now she with your brother."

"Alright," I said, dismissing him. "I'll send your payment later."

"Thank you, sir," he replied, bowing slightly before turning to leave.

A smirk played on my lips. Now I had an ace up my sleeve. I wondered what our father would say about Eroz's choice of woman. He’d never compare me to Eroz, not with his carefree, happy-go-lucky attitude. And now, he’s even thinking of replacing me with my brother. That won’t happen. I made sure that Eroz would be a bad shot for our family, a liability.

A knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts.

“Come in,” I said, my voice a low growl.

“Sir, some random ex-employee just jump into our building,” the man reported, his voice strained.

I raised an eyebrow, my gaze sharp. "Damn it! Does my family know already?"

"Not yet, sir," the man reported, his voice steady. "Some of our people have taken care of the situation."

"Why the hell did that idiot jump off the building!" I roared, my frustration boiling over.

"As I understand it, sir," the man said, his voice even, "he was the one you fired for being ten minutes late. He lost his wife in a divorce, and his daughter hates him because he's jobless."

My fist slammed onto the table, the sound echoing through the room. The wood groaned beneath the impact.

"Is it my fault he wasn't good enough to be my employee?" I spat, my voice laced with disdain.

My secretary lowered his head, his gaze avoiding mine. "No, sir."

"Then go and take care of it," I commanded, my tone clipped. "Make sure this doesn't spread. And come up with a better reason if my family finds out. I don't want them breathing down my neck."

I cursed under my breath. This wasn't the first time something like this had happened. But I always handled it well. Of course, sometimes my father found out, and he'd scold me for being heartless to my employees. Tsk. They should be grateful I didn't kill them like I did to others. I rolled my eyes, my expression a mix of arrogance and indifference. I always made sure to cover my tracks, to erase any evidence of my more… ruthless actions.


******
Beta Erox from future

"Where the hell are they going?" I demanded, my voice rising with frustration.

"Are they heading to a bar? What the hell is that girl thinking?" I exclaimed, my voice echoing through the place. Thank goodness Ismael was with me. Otherwise, I'd be completely talking to myself.

"Yes, sir, I think they are heading to a bar," Ismael replied, his voice calm. "But it's not just any bar. It's the new one your grandmother opened last month. It's mostly VIPs inside. I think it's okay, though. It's safe, since it's your grandmother's."

"That's not what I meant," I said, my tone exasperated. "I was thinking why that man would bring Margaret to a place like that. She's not used to this kind of thing.”

Ismael chuckled, shaking his head. "Come on, master, this isn't the first time Margaret's been to a bar. We both know she's a partygoer."

I let out a sigh, realizing that Ismael hadn't been privy to the events that had unfolded earlier. "Whatever," I said, trying to sound resolute. "My point is, I'm not letting her go to a bar. Final."

Ismael shook his head, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Are you sure about that? You wouldn't want to regret being a jerk, prohibiting her from exploring a place she wants to go, would you?"

Ismael had hit a nerve. He was right, of course. Maybe I should loosen the reins a little.

""Ugh! What do you want me to do? Stand here and watch her? Do crazy things inside that bar?" I grumbled, my voice laced with irritation.

We entered the bustling bar, the throbbing music a cacophony of noise. My eyes scanned the crowd, searching for Margaret.

"Why don't you just approach her? Apologize for what you did. Make things right, and you'll be okay," Ismael shouted over the music.

"Why would I do that?" I retorted, my voice raised in defiance.

Because, hey, why should I? She’s not the real Margaret. Technically, I don’t care about her. I’m only following her because I have to make sure she’s safe. What if something bad happens to her, and M blames me for not protecting her?

""Seriously? Are you asking me that?" I snapped, my voice laced with incredulity. "Have you forgotten how you love that girl? Are you completely out of your mind? Did you forget how important she is to you? You know what? Ever since you came back from the beach, the day after you two almost drowned, you've flipped 180 degrees. You’ve forgotten a lot of things, a lot of people. But I never thought Margaret would be one of them, especially with how strong your feelings for her were."

I sighed, my frustration mounting. "I haven’t forgotten anyone or anything, damn it. If I could just explain it without sounding like a crazy idiot. Because who would believe me, that I travelled through time? That the Margaret they see is fake? The real one is stuck in the past, a thousand years ago”

My eyes found Margaret, a jarring sight in the midst of the pulsating energy of the bar. She was on the dance floor, swaying awkwardly like an out-of-tune record player amidst the hip, young crowd. And she was the center of attention, the star of the show. Good thing my grandmother had a strict no-cellphone policy in her pub. What happened inside stayed inside. No recording, no evidence. You disobeyed the rules, you didn’t get back in.

And the best part? Everyone in here was monitored, ensuring their safety and the security of their belongings.

“See, that’s what I’ve been talking about,” I said, a low growl in my voice. “She’s literally ruined her career.”

Ismael let out a loud laugh, his eyes twinkling. "Maybe she's already drunk. Have you forgotten her little tolerance for alcohol? Besides, she's so cute while dancing like a duck," he added, bursting into laughter again.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I grabbed Margaret’s hand, ready to whisk her away. "We’re going home," I declared, my voice firm.

"Hey, where are you taking her?" Ezekiel asked, his voice laced with amusement.

“Where else would I be taking her?" I retorted, my jaw clenched, my patience wearing thin. “We’re going home. Didn't you see how drunk she already is? Are you planning to ruin her career?”

I gritted my teeth, my fist clenching involuntarily. One more move, and I’d give this man a punch he wouldn’t forget.