Lust in Ecstasy: Love, Lies and Revenge
Chapter 45: An easy way Out.

Chapter 45: An easy way Out.

Savage inhaled deeply through his nose, nostrils flaring. For the first time since we walked in, he looked... unsettled. Not scared. But aware.

His fingers stopped tapping.

The room was tense, thick with unspoken words.

Jacob shifted behind him, clearly uncomfortable. The guards at the door exchanged glances but remained still.

Savage exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "You’ve got some nerve, Eric. Showing up here and threatening me with this... this thing." He gestured toward the phone.

Eric leaned back, a faint smirk on his lips. "Well, considering all the effort you went through to wipe it off the internet, I’d say it was worth a shot. You should give that person a raise, by the way—they did a solid job." His tone was almost teasing.

Savage’s expression darkened. "You do realize I can make you regret this?"

Eric hesitated for a moment, then smiled. Sitting up, he clasped his hands together. "Just a few years ago, you were a councilman. You worked your way up, and now you’re a lawmaker. Give it another ten years, and you’ll be aiming for the presidency." He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "Now tell me... what happens to all that ambition when your son’s mistake drags you down? When years of hard work crumble because of a controversy that isn’t even yours?"

Savage’s jaw tightened. "Kenny is his own man."

Eric’s response was immediate, low but firm. "He’s your son."

I sat there in silence, watching Eric skillfully guide the conversation, playing to the one thing Savage cared about most—his ambition. He wasn’t just negotiating; he was leading him exactly where he wanted.

Savage leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin.

"Alright," he finally said. "Let’s say I agree. How do I know you won’t come back asking for more?"

Eric shrugged, his expression cool. "I’m not greedy. I just want to make sure my friend here gets the compensation he deserves."

Savage’s gaze shifted to me, and another wave of unease crept over me.

"And why, pray tell, did my son hit you?" he asked.

My body went cold and hot at the same time. I hated how I felt in that moment, but there was nothing I could do about it.

I turned to Eric. He gave me a small nod.

Swallowing hard, I answered, "It was over a girl, sir." My voice wavered slightly. "And the only reason I didn’t hit him back was because... well, he looked like the son of someone important."

Savage chuckled, and Jacob, along with the guards, let out quiet laughs, exchanging amused glances.

From across the room, Savage’s eyes settled back on me, his lips curling slightly. "From what I just saw, you didn’t look like you could have hit him back even if you wanted to."

A flicker of irritation crossed my face, but I quickly smothered it. I wasn’t here to prove my toughness—I just wanted this over with.

Eric, however, wasn’t fazed. He leaned forward slightly, his voice calm but pointed. "That’s not really the issue here, is it?"

Savage exhaled, rubbing his temple. "So what now? You get your money, and we pretend this never happened?"

"That’s the idea," Eric replied smoothly. "It’s a win-win. Your son stays out of trouble, your reputation remains intact, and my friend here gets what he deserves."

Savage studied Eric for a long moment, then turned to Jacob. "Do we have that kind of cash liquid?"

Jacob nodded. "Yes, sir. But it’ll need to be handled discreetly."

Savage clicked his tongue, then shifted his gaze back to me. "And after this, you disappear?"

I swallowed, unsure if he meant that figuratively or as a warning. I glanced at Eric, who answered for me.

"He moves on with his life. No need for anything extra."

Savage leaned back, tapping his fingers against the armrest. Then, with a heavy sigh, he nodded. "Fine. Leave your details with Jacob. You’ll have your money tomorrow."

Eric smiled. "Pleasure doing business with you."

But as we stood to leave, Savage’s voice stopped us cold.

"Just remember, Eric... favors like these don’t come free."

Eric stopped in his tracks, slowly turning back to face him. "Favor?" He let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. "You’ve got this all wrong, Mr. Savage. This isn’t you doing us a favor. If anything, we’re the ones doing you a favor."

Savage arched an eyebrow, but Eric continued, his tone measured yet firm.

"We could have gone straight to the media with this footage. You’ve spent years building your reputation—first as a councilman, then as a senator. And now? You’re on track for something even bigger. But all of that... every speech, every carefully crafted image, every connection you’ve made... would mean nothing if this got out."

Eric took a slow step forward, keeping his gaze locked on Savage. "This isn’t just about your son. This is about you. Public perception is everything, and even though you had the video wiped from the internet, people talk. Whispers turn into rumors, and rumors turn into scandals. The media loves a good takedown, especially when it involves a politician with presidential aspirations."

Savage’s jaw tightened slightly, but he said nothing.

"Now imagine what happens when the public finds out that your son, Kenneth Savage, assaulted someone in a drunken rage, unprovoked. That alone is bad enough. But then they find out that instead of facing consequences, you buried it. You silenced the victim. Paid off the system."

Eric let the words sink in before delivering the final blow.

"You don’t survive that kind of controversy, Mr. Savage. You don’t recover from it. One headline, and your entire career unravels. So no, this isn’t a favor. This is us saving you from that."

Savage sat still, his fingers tapping against the armrest in a slow, deliberate rhythm. The room felt heavier, the silence stretching between us like a taut rope.

Finally, he smiled, rubbing his temple. "You’re playing a dangerous game, Eric."