Master of Lust

Chapter - 247

As they stepped out of the interrogation room and into the broader office space of the police station, the harsh fluorescent lights overhead gave way to a more muted ambiance. The sound of phones ringing and quiet conversations filled the air, but Rick's attention was immediately drawn to a woman standing near the reception desk, flipping through a folder with casual grace.

She was striking, her appearance drawing immediate notice amidst the otherwise bland setting. Dressed in a sleek business suit that hugged her curves in all the right places, her tight-fitting blazer accentuated a slim waist and ample chest, giving her a poised yet undeniably sensual look. The fabric of the suit was smooth, her blouse slightly undone at the top, offering just the hint of skin, enough to suggest a flirtation with the edge of professionalism.

Her short skirt, cut just above the knee, revealed long, toned legs that extended down to a pair of elegant black heels, her posture exuding both confidence and subtle allure. The skirt clung snugly to her hips, outlining her figure in a way that was both tasteful and enticing, the tight fabric shifting slightly as she moved, revealing the faintest trace of muscle in her thighs.

She glanced up from the folder she was holding, her gaze locking onto Rick's with a cold, warning. Her lips remained pressed in a straight line, showing no sign of warmth or friendliness. There was no hint of a smile, only the sharp, cold focus of someone who had a job to do.

Linda stepped forward, her expression one of clear annoyance as she addressed the lawyer. "Well, well, Erica, here he is," she said, gesturing dismissively toward Rick. Her voice was dripping with dissatisfaction, as though this entire situation was beneath her. "Your target, all gift-wrapped for you. Do whatever boring law stuff you have to do."

Her eyes flashed with irritation, as though merely acknowledging Erica's presence and the formalities of the legal system had been a waste of her time. "Honestly, I don't know how you put up with this paperwork and courtroom nonsense. If it were up to me, we'd handle this the old-fashioned way." She shot a sharp glance at Rick, her lips curling into a scowl. "But I guess that's your problem now."

Linda turned on her heel, clearly eager to distance herself from the legal process. "Excuse me," she added, her tone laced with sarcasm, "I've got better things to do than babysit criminals." Without waiting for a response, she stalked off, leaving Erica and Rick alone in the office.

Erica stood tall; her cold gaze fixed on Rick. She stepped forward; voice steady but laced with threat. "You'll have to face the consequences for messing with the wrong people, Rick. You think this is over? It's just beginning."

Rick, still remained completely calm, his expression unreadable. He didn't flinch or react. Instead, he whistled, folding his arms casually, as though Erica's words were nothing more than background noise. His eyes followed her as she turned on her heel and approached a nearby detective, ready to file the complaint.

The detective, already familiar with the case, pulled out a form and began documenting the details Erica provided—Zack's injuries, the explosion, and the accusations against Rick. Erica's words came quickly, each one sharp and pointed, as if she believed this would be the nail in Rick's coffin.

As the detective finished scribbling down the details of Erica's complaint, Rick stood up with a calm, deliberate movement, his demeanour still casual and composed. He stepped forward, addressing the officer but making sure his words were aimed directly at Erica.

"Officer," Rick began smoothly, "I'm sure you've already got a record of what happened the first time with Zack. You know, when he attacked me at the hospital? Self-defence, clear as day. That should be in your file. There was a witness, too."

He glanced sideways at Erica, his voice carrying a subtle, playful edge. "And now we find Zack and his friends in my apartment. All of them armed, supposedly."

Erica stiffened slightly, her eyes narrowing, but Rick pressed on, as if the pieces were slowly falling into place in his mind. "It does make you wonder," he mused, casually leaning against the desk, "what exactly Zack could be doing there, with so many people. Surely, it couldn't be a social call."

He let the insinuation hang in the air, his gaze flickering toward Erica, whose composure was starting to show cracks.

"Funny thing, Officer," Rick continued, now almost addressing Erica directly, "there's a CCTV camera pointed at my door. I'm sure it would've caught everything—Zack and his friend entering or I would say breaking into my apartment before I was even there." He paused, giving Erica just enough time to imagine the implications. "So, who knows? Maybe Zack and his friends were the one who rigged my home and planned the explosion but due to their bad luck I was saved and they were the who to face the damages."

Erica's face tightened, her confidence visibly wavering as she considered the possibility. The weight of Rick's calm but deliberate insinuations clearly took her by surprise.

Rick grinned slightly, his voice taking on a more playful tone. "You wouldn't want to press charges against me without making sure Zack's own story holds up, would you?" His eyes gleamed with amusement. "After all, the last thing your client needs is a counter-investigation."

Erica, caught off guard, shifted her stance, visibly thrown by Rick's suggestion. Her fingers tightened on the folder in her hands, her mind clearly racing as she recalculated her approach.

Rick stepped back, still relaxed, his gaze never leaving Erica's. "Just something to think about before you go through with all that boring legal stuff," he added with a smirk, leaving the ball firmly in her court.

Frustrated and clearly rattled, Erica, who had come in with every intention of crushing Rick, found herself caught off guard by his calm, methodical words. Her confidence wavered as she processed the implications of Rick's insinuations, and the cracks in her demeanor began to show.

She stood abruptly from her chair; without a word, she moved away from Rick and the detective. Her heels clicked sharply on the tile floor as she stepped into a quiet corner, her posture stiff with annoyance.

Pulling out her phone, she dialed a number with quick, impatient taps. She turned her back to Rick, the frustration in her body language unmistakable as she waited for the call to connect. When the person on the other end finally answered, her voice was sharp and low, laced with irritation.

"Yes, it's Erica," she said curtly, keeping her voice down but not quite managing to hide the frustration. "We've got a situation it's not looking good."

She glanced over her shoulder briefly, eyes narrowing as she caught a glimpse of Rick still standing there, perfectly composed, as if the entire situation amused him. She turned back to her call, her voice becoming more urgent.

"He's insinuating that Zack and his men were the aggressors, and there might be CCTV footage that supports his claims. He's got enough leverage to counter this if we press charges too hard."

There was a pause as she listened to the person on the other end, her brow furrowing deeper. The annoyance in her expression grew, but she nodded slightly, following whatever orders she was being given.

"Yes, I understand," she muttered, her tone clipped. " Are you sure about this?"

Another pause, and then Erica sighed heavily, her frustration barely contained. "Alright, I'll handle it. I'll pull back for now."

She ended the call, her face set in a deep scowl. For a moment, she stood there, clearly irritated at the situation's unexpected turn. Her eyes landed on Rick, still smirking, and she fought to keep her expression neutral as she walked back toward the table.

Erica took a deep breath, regaining her composure before turning to the officer at the desk. With a forced smile, she spoke in a firm tone, "Officer, will you excuse us for a moment?"

She signalled Rick to follow her to a quiet corner of the station, her expression trying to maintain control, though the frustration was clear in her eyes.

Facing Rick, she crossed her arms, speaking in a low voice, trying to sound as if she still had the upper hand. "You're lucky, we are letting you go," she said, her tone sharp. "We are giving you a pass on this, so consider yourself fortunate."

Rick raised an eyebrow, and a soft, sarcastic chuckle escaped him. "Is that so?" he replied, the amusement clear in his voice. "Lucky, huh?"

Erica's confident facade wavered for just a second. She knew Rick saw through the bluff. He fully understood the situation, and she could sense that her initial plan had crumbled. Sighing, she softened her tone but kept her posture firm, as if still negotiating from a place of strength.

"Look," she said, "let's not drag this out. We can resolve this without anyone pressing charges, without any more time wasted. You won't press charges, and neither will we. That way, nobody has to deal with the fallout."

Rick smirked, clearly not buying her tough exterior. "And what's the catch?"

Erica narrowed her eyes, leaning in slightly. "You have to promise to forget all of this. And you stay away from Zack. No more crossing paths, no more conflicts."

Rick's smile widened, and his voice dripped with confidence as he replied, "As long as Zack doesn't get in my way, he won't be crushed. Simple."

Erica studied his face, knowing that was as good a compromise as she was going to get. Nodding reluctantly, she gestured for Rick to follow her back to the officer's desk.

They stood before the officer, Erica taking the lead. "Officer," she began, her tone now smooth and rehearsed, "after discussing it, we've come to an understanding. Zack was at Rick's apartment for a compromise after their past altercations. Unfortunately, two of Zack's men got into an argument—over something ridiculous, really. One thing led to another, and that's when the explosion happened."

The officer blinked, baffled by the sudden change in story. He looked from Erica to Rick and back again, his face sceptical as he picked up his pen to document the statement. "I don't believe a word of this," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head, "but what can I do?"

He finished writing, signed the document, and slid it across the desk for Erica and Rick to sign.

As soon as the paperwork was finished, Rick gave a small nod to Erica, his smirk still in place. "Pleasure doing business with you."

Without another word, he turned and walked out of the police station, the cool night air hitting him as he left behind the tense atmosphere of the office.