Dirty Dark Secrets

00:05 - Taste Of Hell

REIGN

The penthouse set on the fourth floor used to be my parents, then my mother died, and my father took full ownership of it.

The space was majestic and constructed in a way no human being would contend for a slight upgrade.

Now! I take possession of it just like the entire house.

It was the plan, kill him and take away everything. I know I look like the devil, so that I won't argue.

Last night, my first night here, I did something that could buy me more time in this place.

For years I had planned for how to take my father's life, but unfortunately, Magnolia, the girl next door, became a victim of circumstances and walked in on me in the most crucial moment of my life.

She gets to know my secret. And god knows I wanted to terminate her at that moment, but something in her eyes says she was worth living.

I don't know what it was, but I pardoned her, as well as I know the fear I saw in her; I am sure she would keep my secret.

Only I had been bothered. For how long?

Since in Paris, I had people keeping eyes on her around here, and so, I learned the only way to buy her silence and for me to sleep peacefully now that I have finally moved to this place is not by threatening her; it was simple, it was by blackmailing her.

So I took away what she had never given to anyone, knowing she was preparing to give it to my cousin and knowing how important it is for her to keep it from him.

And worst! I recorded everything. That was my ticket.

I had the worry it would cost my patience, but gladly it went smooth, I didn't have to force her. It is not like I push people to do what they don't wish, I just hate taking long procedures.

But with Magmolia, all I have to do was manipulated her, and she offered. That's all, without a hitch.

Easy peasy.

Today which is Monday morning, I took a long bath, appreciating the gratification of the gold-made bathtub my father had been basking in for years.

After what could be an hour-long bath, I walked into the inbuilt dresser that Clay had replaced with outfits fitted for my size.

It was huge; I couldn't help the amusement of having all of it to myself.

Each wide shelf carried its particular set of the same piece of clothing, from business formal to a business professional to business casual, and then to my preferred casual outfits.

The thing about all this is, every morning from now, I have to attend the office for an hour or two, then come back to some high school that Matthias has worked out the process for the conclusion of my senior year.

After I shrouded my naked shape in a grey turtle neck knitted sweater, black dress pants, and a grey overcoat, I slipped into black dress shoes and finished up with a taint sunglass and a Rolex for a wristwatch.

Affirmative, I like to accessorize on good days.

With that, I took the elevator that carried me down to the first floor, where those two guards Matthias had hired for my safety and Clay were standing.

"Good morning Mr. Phillips." Clay smiled as I emerged from the machine. "Your ride is ready." He announced.

"You must eat before leaving." Said that ancient voice that belongs to grandmother.

I tilt to find her approaching with some... Is it a paper lunch bag?

"What's that for?" My face automatically scrunch.

"Your lunch." She smiles and hands it over to me.

"You know I have been living on my own, and I've been fine; I didn't get anyone packing lunch for me."

The poor older woman's face frowns.

"Now that you are here. I will take care of you."

The obligated sneer threatened me inside while I forced a wide grin and exited the house along with the probably poisoned lunch packed by my grandmother.

When I stepped outside the house, there were three black Mercedes-Maybach parked waiting for me. Two of which are occupied with drivers.

Clay led me to the middle vehicle, where the guards took the front seats, and Clay and I took the rare seat.

The drive was smooth. We arrived at my father's headquarters, or more precisely, my headquarters, in some minutes.

The guard by the passenger seat stepped out and opened my door, revealing the eighty-story building that Clay told me about through the ride here.

Wow.

Smiling, I head into the building, having the automatic entrance open itself, and the guards followed behind me.

I was welcome by Mathias and over three thousand people who work here.

"Good morning, and welcome to the headquarters, Mr. Phillips." With enthusiasm, Matthias greeted me.

I observed tens of faces I am sure I won't recognize in the next minute. Then handshakes and welcome commence.

I was introduced to the chief operating officer, chief finance officer, chief marketing officer, chief technology officer, chief human resources officer. Yes, it appears I will be dealing with a lot of chief officers around here.

Later, I meet my secretary before heading into my immense office made of glass walls and marble floors.

I must admit the interior is modern and elegant, with natural and artificial light illuminating the space; everything was all ergonomic to my comfort.

"I have made sure you will like everything. Maybe soon we can finish it up with a touch of your personal collections." The young lady, Samantha, who's my personal secretary, informed.

"Good!"

"Do you want anything? Perhaps coffee." She respectively asked.

My eyes inspect her quizzically before briefly nodding and circling the desk to sit my ass on the comforting, ventilated design chair behind the massive desk.

I exhaled, biting my lip at the thought of things I could get from her.

It's a stroke of luck, having such a hot secretary just outside my office; it is like fluttering two hearts with one look.

Great!

"Well..." Matthias began when he sat in one of the client chairs, observing me with an accusing gaze. "You should focus on work and studies. You're a kid."

That attracts my attention. My brows crease at his statement.

"Yet you needed me."

"Because believe this, it is yours to claim."

"Well then, she's mine. Isn't she's my secretarial assistant? She works for me."

"You are a kid." He repeated.

"In case you still believe in that old-fashioned s****l rules, I had my first at thirteen, so chill."

His jaw instantly drops.

"What?"

I laugh, breathing the satisfaction of his shocking reaction.

"Tell me something I don't know. Do I have any partner?" I asked just as the door opened, and Samantha walked in with my coffee and a smile on her face.

"Here, sir. It's one hundred and seventy degrees Fahrenheit." She explains.

"That's hot!" I wink, and she automatically blushes in her formal outfit.

Someone cleared their throat.

Matthias.

"Will you excuse us? And announce to the meeting hall he will be there in ten?" He instructed the lady.

"Okay." She acknowledged and exited the office.

"You have no right to order my girl around."

"Your secretary." He corrected.

"That's the same."

"Very different. This is professional. If you want a girl, why not find a girlfriend like your cousin did m?" He challenged.

My cousin's girlfriend whom I deprived of her virginity last night?

Oh, that one!

"I don't date." I grinned and sat back in the chair.

"That is sad; Ralph Phillips will be so disappointed."

I chuckle, recalling the disappointment in my father's eyes when he learned I was his murderer.

"He is used to it." I simply said and beckoned to the table clock. "What is in ten minutes?" Taking a sip of my warm coffee.

"Meeting for some corporation and introductions." He answered.

"My first day, and I already have a meeting? You do know I have school also?"

"Which is in the next hour, so get up and get done with this one." Matthias urge. "You should feel lucky. Money can buy anything. You get to skip first periods for office."

He is right! I wonder who is the ridiculous principal and school board that agreed on that.

Anyways, I don't care. It worked in my favor.

I rose from the seat and grab my phone in my hand while we left my office, and headed for the sixtieth floor through the elevator.

"You should know there are no shareholders; you have the sole proprietorship of the firm," Matthias informed me when we arrived at the location where the meeting was being held, with my guards right behind us.

"So what cooperation are we talking about earlier?" I inquired, a little confused that I stopped by the entrance of the room.

"The forty-three companies you own shares in."

The f**k?

"I know it is a lot, but you have to introduce yourself and take what is yours. You have to stand up." He patted my shoulder and pushed open the door, revealing an extraordinary long conference table, which seats were mostly occupied with tens of mature and older faces.

There were sudden murmurs around the room when I stepped in and took the head of the table.

Matthias and Clay took my left and right and handed me a book that contains the business we are here for.

Edward Jenkins: 70 percent. Chance Zander: 39 percent. Laura Dexton: 63 percent. Maximus Kent: 80 percent. Erick Colt: 50 percent. Tamara Steven: 56: percent. Callahan Thatcher: 49 percent...

Callahan Thatcher.

That one got my attention.

Magnolia Thatcher.

Isn't it?

I was so scared for my reputation I had to follow her to her room last night, having no idea I had her family right under my thumb.

Learning that, I lost interest in taking in the long list of shares I own in these people's businesses.

I sat back, examined the people, and began. "My name is Reign Phillips, and I am sure you all know the reason why I am here. So to cut to the chase because I have high school to attend, I will give you all a month; you are mandated to pay your debts of five years of my revenue that I have no records of here."

Tensioned, they all begin: "Reigh..."

"Mr. Phillips." I chastised loudly.

They respected my father. Now they have to respect me.

"Mr. Phillips, the time is not enough to generate such earnings. We need a year." Said some older man.

"My records say some of you have over five years debts. If you couldn't generate such an amount before, you cannot achieve anything in a year." I remind them.

"Some of us can try, and some can starts with part p*****t. You have ownership of almost or over in those firms. For instance, you owe me 49 percent of my annual earnings, and I have six years of debt. To pay all is not possible; I don't have such amount at this time." Said some middle-aged man in a professional formal outfit, brown hair and eyes.

He owes me forty-nine percent?

My head did the calculation while staring at the man who was positioned around the middle.

Forty-nine percent. That's Magnolia's father.

"Well, I think I found the case of my father dead. You all wouldn't pay him his legal share income, so you killed him."

I know that was my doing, but I have to make it this difficult for them.

Noise...

"For that, and for my safety and also for the fact that your businesses are all dying since you can't clean your debts. I want each one of you to pay your debt and f*****g return my shares."

Noise, arguments.

I don't care.

"Mr. Phillips." They all call.

"You have one month," I announced to everyone and exited the room.

"That is what I am talking about. With this kind of energy, you'll double your business and make number one in the world record." Said Matthias from behind me.

I smiled, but he had no idea. That is not why my rules were tight.

I don't care about the records or how much money I will make. I only needed one person quiet, and this way, I already earned it.

"Now, take me to school."