The isolated room was swallowed by a suffocating silence.
Raymond stood perfectly still at its center, yet the sheer force of his presence was enough to smother every breath in the room. His broad shoulders remained relaxed, but the dangerous stillness surrounding him hinted at violence barely held in check. His dark eyes burned with merciless fury, while each slow, measured breath reflected a terrifying level of self-control. He looked less like a man and more like a predator deciding exactly how long his prey deserved to live.
"Truthfully," the tyrant began, his raspy baritone chilling the air, "I had no intention of wasting my time on someone as insignificant as you." His gaze never left the older man. "You're not even worth dirtying my hands over. But the moment you decided to lay a hand on the woman I cherish..." A cold smile slowly appeared across his lips. "...that changed everything."
His eyes remained fixed on the older executive sitting helplessly before him.
