Chapter 44: A Bold Move.
A tall, broad-shouldered man stepped into the room, his hair streaked with shades of gray. His chiseled features exuded authority, and though he looked to be in his early forties, there was a sharpness in his eyes that made him seem even more formidable.
A wide smile spread across his face as he spotted Eric.
"Well, well... look who it is," he said, lowering himself into one of the plush chairs and gesturing for us to sit.
Jacob stood directly behind him, while two other guards positioned themselves by each door, their presence a silent reminder of the power dynamics in the room.
"Eric," Mr. Savage began, unbuttoning his suit jacket as he settled in. "I thought we settled this case out of court last time. So, what’s going on now?"
Eric remained composed, sitting up straighter as he met Savage’s gaze.
"Indeed, the case was settled," he said. "But only because you chose to bribe both the judge and the victim." He paused before adding, "This, however, is an entirely different matter."
Mr. Savage exhaled slowly, then turned to Jacob. "Do we have any outstanding cases?"
Jacob shook his head. "No, sir. Nothing on record."
A flicker of something crossed Savage’s face. Confusion? No—something deeper.
"Well, I’m a busy man, Eric," he said, his tone shifting to impatience. "So get to the point."