A sharp crack rang out in the otherwise quiet office, the sound followed immediately by muffled sounds of pain. Cyrus Fears was sitting at his desk, going over some numbers, and nearly snapped his pen in half when another crack rang out far too soon after the first one and more pained noises followed. Sighing lightly, Cyrus set his pen aside and calmly stood, walking around his desk and up to the double doors that led out of his office. Another crack, more sobs and whimpers.
Reaching his destination quickly as it was the pair of doors just down the hall, Cyrus opened the doors and calmly walked into the room. There he found exactly what he expected to find, Vincent Laurence, his most trusted lackey, teaching someone who'd been late on their payments to him a lesson. While Cyrus appreciated Vincent's genuine love of causing suffering in others, the office was simply not the place for this; they had facilities for THIS.
"Mr. Laurence." Cyrus said smoothly, calmly, demanding the attention of everyone in the room, Vincent, the man he was beating, and the underling who was overseeing the beating. "A word."
Exactly two people in the room were aware of the tone Cyrus had just used and that was Cyrus himself and Vincent. Smiling through a sudden rush of anxiety, Vincent handed the switch he'd been using off to the lackey and nodded. "Of course, boss." He said lightly, tone hiding his nerves well.
Stepping aside, Cyrus motioned for Vincent to go on ahead and after he had, he looked to the underling. "Mr. Laurence will be busy for the foreseeable future with me, kindly take THAT to the basement." He said, motioning at the bleeding, crying man tied to a chair.
"Yes, Mr. Fears." The underling responded, nodding her head and moving to obey.
Leaving the room, Cyrus passed Vincent without looking at him and led the way to his office. "Close the door, Mr. Laurence, and kindly lock it as well." He said calmly, returning to his desk and taking his seat once more as Vincent did as he was told.
Once the door was securely locked, Vincent walked up to Cyrus' desk and had to resist the urge to fidget as Cyrus took his time getting settled back in. The waiting was always the worst part so Cyrus always made sure to draw it out as long as he could for maximum anxiety. He was sadistic like that.
Finally finishing with his slow, deliberate show of getting comfortable, Cyrus looked up at Vincent calmly, his face giving nothing away. "Did you get any blood on your hands, Mr. Laurence?" He asked casually, leaning back in his chair.
"No, sir." Vincent said softly, his tone considerably more respectful than usual, showing Cyrus his hands for proof. It wasn't as though he was ever disrespectful to Cyrus, but being just underneath the man in the pecking order afforded him a great deal of slack when it came to protocol and formalities. However, Cyrus was clearly angry, and a little extra kowtowing was never a bad idea when Cyrus was angry.
"Good. Fetch me a drink." Cyrus ordered lightly, his face a perfect mask of composure even as he greatly enjoyed how uncomfortable he was making Vincent.
Nodding once, Vincent hurried over to the small bar in Cyrus' office and poured him a half glass of the nearest liquor. Bringing the glass over, Vincent swallowed hard when Cyrus motioned with his finger for him to come around the desk. Doing as he was bid despite not really wanting to, Vincent came around and watched anxiously as Cyrus stood leisurely and took the glass gently from his hand. He wanted so badly to back away, to retreat to the safe side of the desk, just out of Cyrus' reach, but he didn't dare. The consequences would only be worse if he didn't play along like Cyrus wanted, he'd learned that long ago.
Swirling his drink around in the glass, Cyrus took a slow sip. He hummed lightly in approval and deliberately set the glass down on the desk. When his eyes returned to Vincent, they were drawn to the tie he wore loosely around his neck. He noted how Vincent had to strain not to move, strain not to straighten his tie or fidget. Cyrus appreciated the control, but he was still annoyed. Reaching up slowly, Cyrus took Vincent's tie in both hands and straightened it up, tightening it a bit and smiling softly when he was finished, one hand still resting on the knot.
Breath catching the moment Cyrus smiled, Vincent braced for impact just in time to have his tie tightened uncomfortably and his head yanked down by the grip Cyrus had on it. Vincent managed to look up through his lashes at Cyrus' face and tried valiantly to swallow despite how tight his throat was being constricted. It was the perfect amount of pressure, just a hair from cutting off his breathing completely.
