9:00 A.M. – Another Day in the Shark Tank
I had barely gotten any sleep last night. The memory of Diablo Von Bloodick's gaze kept me up, swirling in my mind, even as my alarm went off this morning. The second I pulled myself out of bed, the weight of the upcoming day hit me.
It had been a few days since I'd started working at Oblivion Holdings Inc., and every day felt like walking on the edge of a razor blade. I couldn't let my guard down, not for a second.
My job, under Diablo's watchful eye, was a mix of chaos and precision. Every decision had to be perfect. Every task had to be flawless. If I slipped up, I was gone.
The worst part was, I wasn't even sure what Diablo was really expecting from me. He seemed like the type who took pleasure in watching people fail… especially me.
But somehow, I was still here.
---
9:45 A.M. – The Devil's Command
I had just settled into my desk when Diablo walked into the office, his usual icy aura radiating through the room. His gaze immediately found me, as it always did, sending a jolt through my spine. He stood there for a moment, not saying anything, just watching me.
I straightened up in my chair, trying to act like I wasn't internally freaking out.
"Clark," he said, his voice low but commanding. "I need you to schedule a meeting with the board. ASAP."
I nodded quickly, trying to steady my hands. I could feel his eyes on me, studying me, as if waiting for me to mess up.
"Of course, sir," I replied, my voice steady, though my heart was beating faster. "I'll take care of it right away."
He didn't say anything more. He just turned and walked back to his office. But even though he wasn't looking at me anymore, I could feel the weight of his presence pressing down on me.
I took a deep breath and started typing. I didn't have time to think about the tension building in the air. I had to focus.
---
10:00 A.M. – Under the Skin
I managed to get the meeting scheduled, but that wasn't what Diablo wanted to talk about when he summoned me into his office again.
His office was always cold, always immaculate — a stark contrast to the burning intensity in his gaze. When I stepped in, I noticed he was standing by the large windows, looking out over the city. His posture was tense, as if something weighed heavily on his mind.
I hesitated before speaking. "You wanted to see me, sir?"
Diablo didn't look at me right away. His voice came, low and almost dangerous, as he turned slightly toward me. "Clark… you're doing well. But I sense you're holding something back."
I blinked. Was he talking about me? About my work? "I'm not holding anything back, sir," I said, trying to keep my voice even.
He raised an eyebrow. "Not about your work. About you."
His words hit me like a splash of cold water. Was I being too obvious? Had I been acting strange?
He took a step closer, his eyes locking onto mine. For a moment, everything felt too intense, too personal. "You think you can hide it, don't you?"
"H-hide what?" I asked, but I was sure he could hear the nervousness in my voice.
Diablo's gaze softened, but only slightly. "You're terrified of me."
I didn't say anything at first. There was no point in denying it. He was right. His power, his presence, everything about him unsettled me. But that didn't mean I could show it, right?
"I… I'm not scared of you," I said quickly, my hands betraying me as they fidgeted at my sides.
A small, knowing smile tugged at his lips. "Don't lie. I can see it in your eyes. You know exactly who I am. You know exactly what I could do if I wanted to."
The tension in the room grew heavier. I could feel the heat in my cheeks, the way my body reacted to his proximity. I had to keep calm, I told myself.
"Well… I'll make sure I'm useful to you, sir," I said, forcing a confident tone I didn't fully believe in.
He stepped even closer. "Good. But I expect more from you. You've got potential, Clark. Don't waste it."
My heart skipped a beat as his hand lightly brushed past mine, the faintest touch that sent a ripple of electricity through my body. I pulled my hand back quickly, my face flushed with embarrassment.
"Of course, sir," I muttered, unsure of what else to say.
---
1:00 P.M. – Unanswered Questions
The rest of the day passed in a blur of paperwork and meetings. But as the hours wore on, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Diablo had been acting strange, too. His usual cold demeanor had softened, but only slightly — enough to leave me unsure of where I stood.
It wasn't until later that afternoon, when I was returning to my desk after running an errand for him, that I saw something that made my blood run cold.
I caught Diablo talking to someone in the hallway. He was speaking softly, but there was an edge to his voice that sent a chill down my spine. I couldn't make out the words, but I could see the way his posture changed — more aggressive, more dangerous.
As I passed by, I caught a glimpse of the person he was speaking to. They looked… familiar. But I couldn't place them. They were dressed in a dark suit, their face shadowed under a wide-brimmed hat, and their eyes… they were glowing the same red as Diablo's.
I kept walking, my mind racing. What was going on here?
---
5:00 P.M. – A Surprising Offer
When I returned to Diablo's office at the end of the day, he didn't seem to acknowledge my presence right away. He was staring out the window again, as if lost in thought.
I stood there awkwardly, waiting for him to speak. When he finally turned around, his expression was unreadable.
"Clark," he said, his voice quieter now. "You've been working hard. I'm offering you something. An opportunity."
I looked up at him, unsure of what he meant. "What kind of opportunity, sir?"
He smirked slightly, though it didn't reach his eyes. "The kind that comes with consequences. But you have to prove yourself first."
I swallowed hard, my pulse quickening. "I'll prove myself, sir," I said, my voice more confident than I felt.
He nodded, but there was something in his eyes that made me nervous. "Good. We'll see just how far you're willing to go, Clark."