Deadly Intoxication: The Price Of Desire.

Sir? Sir! Wake up, Mr Rodriguez, now!

-

“Huh?”

I was woken up frantically. My eyes were still groggy, heavy, and tiring from last night. That business meeting went well, but the after-night events were a blur.

And there I was now, resting in one of my own hotel rooms, trying to sleep. But.. why were my secretaries waking me up in such a hurry?

I managed to open my eyes, not wasting more seconds than I already had.

“W-what‘s wrong?“ I questioned. Rubbing my eyes, thinking it’s nothing, I finally gaze deep into their eyes. It was pure terror. I knew those drinks wouldn’t do me that good. But it was a night to celebrate. I couldn’t help but feel overjoyed.

But... They were scared, all of them. Why were they scared? And so much that they couldn’t even tell me through their mouths.

“I-I’m sorry to wake you so early! But..I- uhh. Just-Please, follow.. Sir” one of my assistants, Jeffrey spoke. Not thinking much of it, I put on my robe as quickly as possible and finally made our way through the main lobby, out of the hotel.

“Where and why are we-” I tried to ask what was happening once again, but I was soon met with a heavy hand on my shoulder. Turning to see who it was, I felt a sense of relief.

“Rick, there you are! I’ve been-“

“Skylar,” my assistant, Rick, my best friend, and someone whom I trust the most in this world, stopped midway, facing me and showing his horror on his face. “Just follow me. You don’t need me to tell you because honestly? I can’t,” he confessed. Leaving me with this weird sensation coursing through my entire body.

And with that, we moved out. And the sight I was met with was.. horrific. There were news reporters. Police. Detectives all around. A big crowd of people were playing the role of walls to shield whatever it was that lied in front of them.

I scavenged through the crowd. All the reporters recognised me, turning to me and questioning ruckus.

“What do you think of your butler, Ms Rodriguez?” One of them questioned as Rory, one of my bodyguards, brushed them off. “Do you think the mafia is involved, Mr Rodriguez?” another asked.

“How is it possible that you’re alive, and he’s the one dead? Do you have any comments?” Another spoke in such a harsh tone and sincerity that made me wonder my eyes.

With my heartbeat at its peak, I brushed through the crowd and… I lost everything right there and right then.

There he was, my butler. Someone who’s taken care of me since I was just a kid. Someone whose family has been faithful to my family for decades.

He lays there, breathless of the harsh floor of earth, with his eyes ripped out of his body.

Red thick fluids were coming out of every part of his body, and no one. Absolutely no one respected his soul. And for what? Headlines.

“This is what I wanted you to see,” Rory Spoke. His eyes were teary and his voice breaking. “John is dead, Skylar. He’s gone.”

I walk right beside him. He was almost 60. He’s been always good to me, to my father, my mother. My whole f*ck*ng family. And there he lies, not moving a muscle.

As I took a knee right beside him, Rick joined, cursing under his breath.

“Who did this, Rick? Do we have any leads?” I asked, to which he only responded with a regretful nod.

“What happened?” I queried, my voice a bit higher than the last time, “How the f*ck did this happen? All of us have bodyguards! All of us know how to deal with situations where danger or threat to our lives takes place!”

“We all left that club together! How did it happen? He was with-“

“Skylar!” Rick grunted, eyeing around the scene of the crime. He signalled me to keep myself under control. And he was right. We were under the surveillance of hundreds of people at the moment. A single slip, a mistake or a statement that accidentally comes out of anger can ruin what I’ve built so far.

I had to be careful.

“Look,” Rick helped me up, as he leaned in to whisper in my ear. “At this point, we don’t have a single f*ck*ng clue as to who is behind all of this. And I wouldn’t be surprised, Skylar. With you, now the leader of the well-known, also a completely ghosted mafia gang, you will have threats on you.”

“This can be either a warning..or.”

He stopped midway as we both glanced back at John’s body.

“This is f*ck*ng insane,” I murmured under my breath as the sweat on my body grew heavier on me.

“Look, we need to get out of here, and we need to get out now. Who knows what other pleasantries this man has for you?”

“I-uh.”

I knew Rick was right. Being the leader of the White Wolf Legion. I knew this was coming my way. But I didn’t know it would be coming this soon.

I was just made leader 2 weeks back. Of course, I’ve received ‘what they call ‘threats’, but they were nothing but child’s play level menaces.

Being a CEO was just a hobby. It was what my father wanted for me. Sure, he gave it to me in a much easier way, with no complication of getting married to someone or having an heir. He just wanted the business out of his hands.

I don’t fully understand the reason why, but. Him being dead tops all the ideas I have.

“Skylar? You listening?” Rick shrugged me by my shoulders, as I exhaustedly nodded.

“You’re right. Let’s just take it upstairs. We can think of something there.” I concluded. With the police force already shielding us, we managed to make our way into the lobby of the hotel. Heading straight for the elevator, I pushed the button as we waited for it to come to our floor.

“F*ck, man!” Rick cursed, his voice breaking, but he managed to maintain his emotions and kept his head straight. “Why the f*ck would someone want to kill...John?”

“We don’t know anything right now, Rick. Must be some kind of accident.”

“What kind of accident would have his eyes gauged out?!” he growled, and the door swung open. Not realising that someone was already making their way out, I bumped into them.

“I-ouch!” the person, who, of course, is a woman, winced in pain as she stumbled back onto the elevator’s floor.

“F-I’m so sorry,” I instantly apologised as I lent my hand to her. Since her hair was scattered around her face, I could see her, but once she gazed up right into my eyes?

My whole f*ck*ng world stopped!

“Skylar, what the hell is wrong with you?”

I snapped out of my thoughts again as I felt Rick’s fists pounding my back like a piece of sleek wood. My eyes turn to him, and he guides me towards the woman I just bumped into.

I saw her, still on the floor, looking confusedly at me. I was holding her hand, but I wasn’t helping her up. F*ck! How long have I been making a fool of myself?

I finally came to my senses and pulled her up as she awkwardly combed her hair with her fingers.

She wore glasses with black frames. Her skin was like the colour of chocolate milk, light, and her eyes were nothing but the sight of the setting sun. They were golden, not too dark, not too light. But just..right.

She wore a nose ring, Septum, which is what it's called. And it suited her well-pointed nose, beneath them, perfect pumped lips.

And to talk about her figure? I’m not a pervert who’d stare at any woman’s body. But with the almond shape of her face,