Mafia Lord's Substitute Toy!

The country of Jeckvyle,

Karlstyn City,

Nestled in a dimly lit office, appearing sparsely furnished, a middle-aged man who had greying black hair occupied a chair, his legs laid out and placed upon a footrest.

A peculiar hush enveloped the space, an unsettling stillness that seemed to last indefinitely, hinting at a growing unease in the environment. The man, who was seated, had his left hand resting on his chin, his verdant eyes looking off into the void as he engaged in deep reflection.

A cigarette rested loosely between his fingers as he drew in breaths that released curling tendrils of smoke into the dim room.

Just then, when the darkness and silence were having their good serenity, it all changed as light descended into the room and footsteps approached.

Another man stepped into the scene, attired in a black suit and black shoes. He stood at the entrance of the office and put on the lights and opened things needed for ventilation.

Entering the room further, he used his hand to wave the air as the smoke from the cigarette the other man in the room was smoking threatened to overwhelm him.

"Boss, I'm back," he said, his voice calm as he bowed in front of the man lost in his thoughts.

Yet, as he had been, the greeting didn't manage to bring him out as his hand remained rooted beneath his chin, his eyes soulless.

Then the younger man, seemingly in his early thirties, moved forward, his hands stretched out and just as he was about to call the middle-aged man's attention, the latter's legs suddenly dropped from the stand, and the cigarette in his hand fell into an ashtray.

His soulless eyes gained a little tingle of life as he turned to see the new figure that had entered. His wrinkled face showed his worry and so did his voice.

"S-sorry? W-what did you say, Arlo?" he asked, his voice tingling with a little bit of fear.

Arlo Smith, who was the PA to the panic-stricken older man, responded, "Boss, I'm back from checking out the affected branches and warehouses."

"So...how is it?" the middle-aged man asked, his face uneasy as he asked that question. He dreaded what was to come.

Each day, he lived in fear, fear of the unknown, of what was going to happen to him.

"Well... a large percentage of the staff in the Milton city branch quit after the last attacks, fearing for their life. The warehouses in Milton and Veltvyle cities are barely standing, the ones in the other four cities are ruined beyond salvation.

I told the remaining staff in Helvon City's branch to go home for the time being as they had started a riot when they saw me. 3 of our staff members have lost their lives, and five are currently hospitalized. The families of the deceased are asking for an explanation and demanding high compensation as well.

I locked down the last branch in Gardott city, as the staff had left due to a lack of communication from the manager.

Lastly, there is a notification from the court indicating that some employees have initiated a lawsuit against you over matters pertaining to staff management."

The PA had finished listing everything but his boss seemed to be lost in his musings while trying not to let the pool that had gathered in both eyelids overflow.

"I'm very sorry, sir," Arlo quickly said with a bow, his face uneasy.

The middle-aged man rubbed his hands together, his chest heaving lightly as he took a breath of air. "It's okay. I'm fine."

The assistant then placed a bunch of keys in the hand of his boss upon the latter's request.

The elderly man sighed, ripples shimmering beneath his breath. As he was about to stand up, planning to pace the room a bit, the assistant spoke again, halting him.

"Sir, there's something..." Arlo's voice held a certain unease.

The boss could tell that something was terribly wrong, just from Arlo's expression alone. Maybe it was even worse than all that the assistant earlier listed to him.

"Tell me," the middle-aged man instructed.

"Sir, I'll whisper it to you because... the walls have ears," the man said as he moved forward, his back scrunched and his mouth close to his boss' left ear.

Done whispering a few minutes later, Arlo retreated his mouth and straightened his posture.

A glance at the boss's countenance and one could tell that what his employee had relayed to him was nowhere near good.

Colour ran out of his face, his breath heaving slightly. His eyes landed on the ashtray on the table, and picking it up, he suddenly flung it against the wall.

"Son of a bitch!" the boss shouted as he flung away things in his sight.

~~'~~

In the heart of Falcon University, recognized for its exceptional business studies, lectures were actively being conducted.

In one of the classes, the lecturer, Peter Daxton, a rangy man in his early forties, moved around the front of the lecture room, his shoes clicking on the floor as he held an iPad in his hand.

"So, just as we've discussed earlier, the project will be in groups of five, and I'm not going to extend the deadline," the lecturer said before closing his iPad shut.

He moved away from the centre of the classroom towards the back of the podium where his bag was stored in the drawer. After he retrieved the bag and settled the iPad into it carefully.

His eyes then settled on a brunette seated in the second row, fiddling with her pen between her fingers. Her name was Calytrix Forger, and noticing his gaze, she flashed him a fake smile.

"Miss Forger, keep up the good work," he encouraged, giving a thumbs up.

"Thank you, sir," the student replied, the phoney smile still on her face.

"Also, please see me in my office," he added.

"Sir, I'll do that on the day I graduate. Thanks," she said and then put on headphones, pretending to listen to music.

The lecturer shook his head and turned to leave after giving the students some words of advice.

Not long after he left, the quiet classroom morphed into one bubbling with excited students.

Some were making plans for the weekends, others were complaining about the project, wondering who to partner with to score high marks this time.

Calytrix, on the other hand, was silently twirling her pen with her eyes on the board.

"Hey, girl," a young lady with a slender body came over and sat next to Calytrix. "What's with you and Mr Peter?"

"Him?" Calytrix scoffed, "He's just an angel-faced pervert,"

The lady's eyes widened and she leaned closer, "Shh. Others can hear you. Besides, you don't have proof. He's a well-respected man,"

Calytrix rolled her eyes, "Yeah, respected indeed."

"Anyway, let's change that topic. What are your plans for the weekend? Don't tell me you're just going to spend it slaving away washing dishes at your new part-time job again,"

Calytrix shook her head, "I'm not. I have other plans,"

"With a guy who looks like a delicious snack, perhaps?"

"Seriously?" Calytrix took off the headphones and kept them in her bag. "What's with you and boys, Limina? I'll only think of a relationship when I'm a successful young woman. Or maybe I should get married in my forties,"

"Girl, you need to live a little. Who said you can't find the guy of your dreams right here?"

The brunette let out a scoff, "I don't dream about boys. They're gross,"

"You're no teenager anymore, boys aren't gross. For example..." Limina pointed at a young man with curly black hair talking to some other guys probably about the project... or not.

"He's a snack, isn't he?"

"For you. The day he lands in your palms, I drink two bottles of champagne," Calytrix rose from her seat.

Limina pouted, "Wet blanket. You don't have to remind me that he's already taken,"

"There's no wedding ring on him yet, you might still have a chance," the brunette had worn her bag over her shoulders.

"I think you have a better chance at snatching the guy everyone dreams of," Limina proposed.

"Nah, not interested," Calytrix gave a dismissive wave. "Anyways, who are you partnering with for the project?"

"You aren't partnering with me?" Limina wore a shocked expression, her hand on her chest.

"Silly. A group of five, remember? We'll be needing three more people. Who do you have in mind?"

"Well..." Limina shrugged, "Pretty much all the good eggs have been snatched. We're left with just that annoying Sheila, that sleepyhead over there," she pointed to a chubby male who was fast asleep.

"His name's Edwin," Calytrix corrected.

"And that new girl over there. She seems unwilling to partner with anybody. Honestly, I don't want to partner with her, she's not even that pretty,"

"You don't judge people by their looks only, Limina,"

"Her soul is dark." Limina insisted.

"Whatever. After you've convinced them, set a place, let's all meet Sunday evening,"

"Why?"

"I'm going somewhere,"

"Oh? Where are you going? If it's a fun place, you should take me along,"

The two ladies were now walking in the hallways.

"I need to see my mum. Last time we talked, I noticed she wasn't well. Although she tried to hide it, I'm her daughter. I know when she's trying to lie and she's quite bad at lies,"

Limina nodded sagely, "I see. Alright then, are you leaving today or tomorrow morning? I can at least accompany you to the bus stop and wave you goodbye,"

"I need to tell my boss at the restaurant. He's kind and I know he'll let me go. But I just want to tell him."

"You can do that over the phone. Unless... He's young and handsome and stinking rich. The perfect eye candy," Limina said dramatically while Calytrix suspired.

"He's middle-aged,"

"Oh, a sugar daddy material?"

"What's in your head?" Calytrix couldn't help but poke her friend's forehead, "How did we even become friends in the first place?"

"You want me to recount?" Limina asked with a goofy look.

"I'm afraid I'd be a skeleton by the time you're done."

"Oh, sweetie, you know, I'd never let that happen,"

As the two women walked out of the premises, they didn't know that behind them was one of the students that Limina mentioned.

The new girl, a blonde with hazel eyes, Patricia Knight.

She was glaring daggers at them... or rather, at Calytrix.

"You think you're so good, huh? Just wait till the day of the project. You and your friend are doomed," she mumbled.

Lost in her musings, she only returned to reality after someone bumped into her.

"Hey, watch where you're going," she snapped at the person who turned out to be the most handsome in their department. Ridwan Ledger.

She had a thing for him... secretly.

"I'm sorry," Ridwan apologized.

"It's alright. I'm at fault as well," she laughed sheepishly.

"Honey, I finally found you," another blonde who looked almost similar to the new girl came over and greeted Ridwan with a peck.

"Leah, dear, I thought you had gone home since you weren't feeling well," Ridwan said as she led him away.

"I'm fine now. Plus I have to protect you from some... creatures,"

Patricia seethed, her hands balled into fists but there was nowhere to vent her rage on.

Seconds after, a man in black suit came over, "Let's go. Your aunt is waiting for you,"

"Like the hell I want to!" Patricia fumed and stormed off with the man silently following.