Page 24

NIKOLAI

I ts dark in the dimly lit warehouse, where Nikolai meets with his associate, planning the next steps against Jerome and Mary-Ann.

Nikolai paces the floor, the weight of his decisions pressing heavily on him.

“We need to take care of Jerome and Mary Ann,” he says, his voice low but filled with a cold determination.

His associate nods, understanding the seriousness of the situation. “You want them gone?”

“No, I want them to understand the consequences of their actions,” Nikolai replies, his eyes narrowing. “They think they can blackmail us without repercussions. I won’t let them hurt Taraji.”

With a few quick phone calls, plans are set in motion. He arranges for Jerome and Mary-Ann to be taken from their homes, ensuring they arrive at a secure location where they can’t escape.

Jerome stirs awake, disoriented and in pain. He looks around, realizing he’s tied up and in a strange place. Mary-Ann is beside him, her expression frantic.

“What happened?” she asks, panic rising. “Where are we? ”

“I don’t know, but we need to get out of here,” Jerome replies, struggling against his restraints. He cant get the restraints off

“What the hell is this?” he shouts, his bravado fading.

Mary Ann, next to him, struggles against her restraints. “Jerome, shut up! We need to figure out how to get out of here!”

As they try to gather their bearings, the door swings open, and Nikolai steps in, flanked by his associate. His expression cold and unyielding and the atmosphere thickens with tension.

“Ah, you’re awake,” Nikolai says, a chilling smile on his lips. “I hope you’ve had time to think about your choices.”

Jerome’s bravado falters. “You can’t keep us here! This is illegal!”

Nikolai shrugs, his demeanor calm. “Legality doesn’t concern me. What concerns me is protecting someone I love. You’ve made that difficult.”

Mary Ann, sensing the danger, tries to reason with him. “Nikolai, please. This isn’t necessary. We can talk about this.”

Jerome sneers, trying to regain some semblance of confidence. “You think you can scare me? I’ll have you stripped of your position as CEO, you know.”

Nikolai’s lips curl into a slight smile, but the warmth doesn’t reach his eyes. “You misunderstand. This isn’t about scaring you. This is about making you understand the consequences of your actions.”

Nikolai’s smile fades, replaced by a cold determination. “You don’t get to talk. You’ve hurt Taraji, and for that, you’ll pay the price.”

As he gestures, his associate steps forward, revealing tools that send chills down their spines.

Jerome’s bravado crumbles, realizing the gravity of the situation. “What are you going to do?” he stammers.

Nikolai leans in closer, his voice low and menacing. “You’ll learn the hard way what happens when you threaten those I love. You won’t be a problem for Taraji anymore.”