Looking up at the wooden ceiling. I watched the fan as it cooled my body.
"Is this really necessary?" I asked the man seated next to me.

"Come now, Mr. Foster, you have just gone through a very traumatizing experience."

He motioned to the TV. "You see," as he turned it on. My face was clearly on display and in the background sat my house. I had to say it was quite beautiful.

"Now then, shall we continue? Tell me more about this nightmare you had last night."

I closed my eyes as I spoke, "It was like a carbon copy of this one except. Everything was destroyed. Unbearable heat and monsters hunting the people within it."

"Were you one of those people being hunted?"

"No, why would they hunt me only the unworthy go there in the end---"

The buzzer rang on the counter beside my head causing my eyes to open.

I saw the doctor busily finishing up his notes.

"That's it?" I asked.

"Yes, your time is up."

What a waste, I said in my mind. I got up as he ushered me to the door.

"So we will be doing this once a week," he said, as he led me out.

I scratched my head as I walked down the stairs to my car. I got in the car and wondered how Ralph was doing. However, there was something far more important to get out the way. I pulled out my phone and ran my fingers to Eric's number.

I tapped my hand on the wheel before deciding to call her first instead. I placed the phone to my ear as it rang.

"Hello," Mallory said.

"Bring my daughter to my home this afternoon," I said quickly, I squeezed the steering wheel. "If you don't, I will find another way to make you and only her, no one else, leave her with one of my servants if I don't get there."

"I thought a lawyer would have called me first?" "Are you sure that it is safe for our daughter?"

"My daughter will be fine, security has been increased."

I wondered about it in my head as a slight pause came between us both.

"Ok."

"No Andrew, no Kim," I stressed.

"I understand, bye."

I said nothing as the phone was cut out shortly after. That woman, she still boiled my blood as I ran my hand over my face.

I glanced in my rear view mirror. In my backseat laid the collection of weapons that I had at my disposal. Ralph had me over-prepared for whatever possibility, I could face.
Granted, I had the police protection too, where ever I went. Although if that thing did appear again, they would be nothing more than fodder rather than actual help. I pulled out of where I was parked and headed to work. The unmarked cars followed behind me.

***

On arrival outside of the building. I got out of my kit before my car was chauffeured away. I watched the trained undercover policemen take up positions around the outside and inside as I walked forward.

I had a strange feeling at the workplace. It felt as if there were monsters here. I could sense them only for a moment as everything returned to normal again.

There was a space between me as everyone walked around going to and fro. My eyes darted left to right, expecting the worst to happen.

Clutching my bag tightly.

"Domenic!" I heard a faint familiar voice called, causing me to look back, but no one was there.

I gripped the bag tighter in my hand and headed towards the elevator. I couldn't let myself get spooked so easily. I am the one in control, I reminded myself.

The staff, though busy at work, greeted me when I got off the elevator. I headed to my office, took my seat and stretched my arms. Susie came not too long after bringing coffee in one hand and documents under her arm. I already knew the contents of those documents, Cassis.

She placed down the coffee before me. I took a sip—it still tasted different.Then there was that sensation again as if something that didn't belong was here with me.

My eyes glanced around the office, but a sudden thud of the documents landing on my desk, made me shift my focus.

"Right," I responded.

My hands picked up the paper as I glanced through the documents. A bit shocked and a bit curious at the same time.

"How did he manage to gain so much land and property? Was it due to his constant cutting of staff and AI policies?" I asked despite the glaring answer in my face.

Susie simply nodded as I sipped my coffee.

There were four major corporate companies in this city, myself, Mr. Cassis and two other smaller ones that did not have as much sway and according to what I read here, Mr. Cassis had been forcing small businesses out of work, then buying their properties by making them offers they couldn't refuse, which in turn was skyrocketing the unemployment rate.

There was never any care for the poor or checks and balances, business always came first.

He was creating crime indirectly with people having no work, they turned to crime, protesting and taking loans from loan sharks. Poverty was a horrible thing, I knew it well.These same reports showed his involvement with organized crimes to take out businesses who wouldn't submit and pinch the pennies from those who couldn't afford it.

I knew what he was doing was bad, but I didn't expect this much from him. He looked like a total loser. Damn, it was almost like he was trying to take everything these people owned.

What do I do here? I thought to myself while I watched Susie flicked her hair.

"I got the significance of his threat and where he is getting everything from. But what is your solution to this problem?"

"Consolidate or buy all the properties he does not have or own?"

"Wouldn't that force us into corporate conflict with the U.A.C?" I asked I looked at the names on the list 6 Monthaonca Bar was one along with hundreds more.

Could I even afford this? I would need to take a tremendous loan and even if I am successful with this. It could have a negative effect on me in the long run, sustainment, employee upkeep and viable profitability. I scratched my head. I didn't know what to think. What was the right answer? I looked around at the staff, "Get all the other staff in here Susie, I need other opinions."

Susie nodded as she left the room, I saw her call the other staff together.

"Domenic," my body shuddered in response as I heard my name being called. Causing me to look around the room sheepishly.

Susie had returned with all the staff outside. Each member of these staff I trusted in their ability. They all showed great pride in both work and confidence with me. Making such a rash decision would be unwise without some form of dialogue. As I saw all of their eyes looking at me with anticipation. I began to tell then the challenge that we were about to be undertake Corporate Warfare as if I didn't have enough on my plate already. Their faces in deep contemplation, no one wanted to go back to the time of something worse than the dreaded job cuts.

What could be worse, no job at all?

There was much muttering in the room as the first worker spoke.

"Perhaps we should use the information as slander to gather better public opinion?"

"Slander might be an excellent idea. His cooperation is one of the most hated as it stands. However, the people's voices really mattered little and protest always were scattered."

"I think we should also invest deeper with charities," another said, "Partnering with the last two cooperations would also be a boost for us as it would give a bigger share over the city."

"We could follow that up with financial pressuring."

Much muttering filled the room.

"Even if cooperations can do as they please to workers and the poor. Meddling with organized crime is a major red flag. We can use that to our advantage."

Chris perhaps, I thought. He would be good for this and even maybe Eric, but how would I get that information to them? Seemingly credible without any linkage to me. My hands moved back over the paper as I looked through them again. So far, no one seems to think about rushing them in a race to acquire properties. I could have seen that being a problem in the long run, I thought as I finished my tea.

When I realized they had finished. I thank everyone for their contribution. Susie looking a bit upset but it didn't matter, it was not the best course of action against a man who was financially stronger.

I leaned forward as I spoke, "We will go with the approaches listed here. I called the points that stood out to me."

"Domenic," a voice called to me again causing me to stop and look around.

"Someone here is not who they are."

Rainbow, I said in my head, but there was no response.

What did she mean? My eyes passed over the people in the room. Was someone here a monster?

I dismissed them as I watched them leave, paying close attention to their actions as they left.

Robert? He stumbled as he left, and it had been days since he actually sucked up to me. His behaviour was not normal.

I watched him head towards his desk. I gripped my bag and went to approach his table and paid no mind to all that was around me.

I needed to keep my senses sharp to any erratic behaviour from him.

"Robert?" I called.

There was no response as he tried to hide behind the desk to no avail.

Clank, clank, I heard the approaching steps behind me.

'Mr. Domenic, can I please speak to you for a moment?" Susie requested.

"Sure," I said while my eyes still lingered on Robert.

She brought me back to my office.

I still held my bag in front of me. "What would you like to talk about?"

She smiled.

***

It was some time before I managed to make it home. Four o'clock in the evening, the clock said as I pulled up to the house. Ralph had contacted me to let me know my daughter had arrived. Upon entering, I realize I got more than one package. Mallory was also here.

"Why are you still here?" I asked.

"Our daughter did not feel comfortable for me to leave?"

I looked at Ralph, who just nodded, I return as the room was cleared. Leaving us alone.

"Ok," I said, "I understand, but now I am here. You can leave."

Before Mallory could respond the child shouted, "No!!! Mommy stays here too."

The outburst took me by surprise, I looked at the child, then Mallory. Was this planned?

It seems I would have to relent somewhat and time was not on my side.

"Okay, Mommy can stay, I only want you to be happy."

Looking at her face, it seemed she was prepared to be defiant to the end. My response, however, caught her well off guard from her facial expression

Cute, it made me smile.

"Ask Ralph for anything that you need. Daddy has to work."

I left them alone in the living room.