RESTLESS
Seated in his study, Ejay was enveloped in the shadows cast by the poorly lit space. His gaze remained fixed on the letter in front of him, the words inscribed on the page resonating in his head in an eerie way.
A flurry of emotions, including rage, bewilderment, and a deep sense of loss, raced through his mind. The contents of the letter had ripped apart the layers of his well-crafted world, leaving him to face the hard truth that he was no longer seen as alive and was only a memory in the life of the lady he loved.
When he crumpled the letter, Ejay's fingers shook, and his knuckles turned white from the power of his hold. The weight of Gia's decision descended over him, causing him to breathe in ragged gasps.
"The balls of this girl! She has always had balls, but not this hard!" She emitted a bitter, sinister smirk, one that denoted rage and a fuse of amazement for Gia's bold and daring nature!
Ejay experienced a flurry of contradictory feelings, including annoyance at the pointlessness of his circumstances and an increasing resolve to get back what he had lost. His tightly balled fists quivered with repressed feelings as he struggled to comprehend what Gia was thinking. She was no longer afraid of him.
"It seems like she has become even stronger after everything! Gia! Gia! Gia!"
Ejay's resolve solidified amid a flurry of emotions, a wordless vow resounding deep inside him. He would find a way to come out of the shadows cast by his alleged death, a way to take back his life and reclaim what was his. No one had the right to claim his wealth. Not even Gia!
Suddenly, the door flew open, revealing a man bowing before Ejay. “Boss, someone is here to see you. He says it’s urgent.”
He put off the cigar, turning to look at the man. “Indeed. No one walks into a lion's den without urgency. Show whoever that it is in.”
The warm man nodded and bowed and walked out, returning in a minute with a man in a green uniform behind him. “I will give you privacy, boss.” The man walked out.
“Finally! Where on earth have you been?” Ejay groaned, looking at the man.
The man bowed down, showing his remorse and offering his apologies.”Apologies, boss. I was making rounds, doing errands like you commanded.”
The air crackled with tension as Ejay's eyes bore into the general's, his voice low but laced with an unmistakable edge. “I see. I've received word that Gia aims to lay claim to what is mine—the wealth earned by my own blood and sweat. This cannot happen, General. Where were you when she made this attempt? I did not expect such news to reach me through other sources."
The general maintained his composure, but a sense of urgency permeated the room. "I tried reaching you the minute I heard the news from her mouth, boss, but you were unreachable. That is why I had to come here. I understand your concern. That girl has proven to be quite tenacious. It's not easy to silence her."
Ejay's gaze turned icy, a hint of a threat underlining his words. "Don’t you give me that crap, you fool! I clearly gave you a very simple task: to watch her, to handle this situation, and to ensure she never crosses that line. And now this? Mark my words, general: If Gia gets her hands on what rightfully belongs to me, the consequences will be dire for you, general. And those who failed to prevent it will bear the weight of my wrath."
The general's facade remained stoic, but the gravity of the warning was not lost on him. "No! I will see to it that she does not. Rest assured. I will reinforce the measures. She won't get close to your wealth."
Ejay's voice lowered, dripping with a quiet intensity. "I do not expect that to happen because I will kill you first before she touches a dime of my wealth! See that you do, General.”
The general stood in the dimly lit room, the air heavy with the weight of Ejay's warning. A curt nod from Ejay signaled the end of their tense conversation, leaving the General grappling with the gravity of the situation. Ejay's departure had left an unsettling aura of tension, a stark reminder of the stakes at play.
With a heavy sigh, the general paced the room, his mind a tempest of conflicting thoughts. He knew the magnitude of Ejay's influence, the power he held, and the consequences of defying his warnings. Ejay's explicit caution about Gia's pursuit had heightened the sense of urgency, amplifying the potential fallout of any misstep.
"I can't afford to let this escalate," the general muttered to himself, his voice laced with a mixture of apprehension and determination. "Ejay's warning... it's a dire threat, and I can't risk the repercussions."
He contemplated the dilemma engulfing him—a precarious balancing act between safeguarding his interests, maintaining the secrecy of clandestine operations, and containing Gia's relentless pursuit of the truth. The thought of failure in curtailing Gia's inquiries sent a shiver down his spine, a chilling reminder of the catastrophic consequences that loomed ahead.
The general hesitated, torn between his duty to protect his interests and the undeniable danger posed by Ejay's influence. The resolve to thwart Gia's relentless pursuit had intensified, driven not just by a desire to shield his secrets but by the sheer magnitude of the consequences failure would bring.
"I can't let her uncover what's at stake," he muttered, his voice tinged with resolve, albeit masked by a hint of desperation. "But crossing Ejay... it's a risk I can't afford to take. His wrath is a force to reckon with."
The dilemma weighed heavily on him, the implications of his decisions echoing through the confines of the room. The general knew that the line he walked was perilously thin, a precarious balance between loyalty, self-preservation, and the relentless pursuit of his objectives.
