Self-Preservation

Clearly noticing Randolph's gaze, the pair of eyes through the door frame widened slightly, but they didn't look away.

The smile on Randolph's face disappeared among recognizing the pair of eyes, as well as the thin frame of the body they belonged to. The only term that could be used to describe his face would be one of stone. It was as his facial features had frozen over.

"…Trevor."

Realizing his cover had been exposed, Trevor pulled open the door before entering the room.

His gaze on Randolph was a complicated one, but also direct. It was a look filled with anger and injustice. His reddened eyes were proof enough to the young man.

"Hm? Trevor?" Peeking out from behind Randolph's back, John looked at his grandson entering the room. "Why are you-…"

As if realizing something, the man's face lost its colour as his gaze on his grandson hardened.

His face went solemn – almost solemn enough to match Randolph's – as he glanced between his former subordinate and his grandson.

"Trevor…"

"You. How much did you hear." Randolph's tone was as cold as ice, enough to freeze the atmosphere in the hospital room.

But Trevor wasn't intimidated like he usually otherwise would have been. It was as if he hadn't even heard the young man.

The only response that came was the loud click of the door locking as he shut the entrance behind him.

"One hundred thousand dollars… Do you know what I could do with that sort of money?" His eyes glazing over, Trevor slouched down, picking up the four-feet walking cane standing near the door's entrance.

"Grandson, it's not too late to stop this." Seeing the man's actions, John grit his teeth. "Don't do anything rash, just back away now."

"I don't understand. How is it that you were granted this opportunity? How did you fucking do it?" Trevor completely ignored his old man, pointing the cane at Randolph. "A lowly fucking son of a whore like you, someone who isn't even able to scrape through a middle-school exam."

"…"

"Is it luck? Is luck the differentiating factor between us? Your position was mine! You don't deserve it!"

The cane between the two wavered threateningly, but Randolph still didn't respond. He only continued staring, his eyes narrowed.

"Give me the account."

"…"

"You-" Realizing that Randolph was essentially ignoring him, Trevor's face turned red.

But before he could do anything further, a loud bang interrupted him.

"Trevor Brut!"

John had stood up from his seated position on the bed, slamming his hand into the bedside table.

The action had caused him a great deal of effort, but his face was red in fury.

"I don't remember raising you to be like this. Where did your father go wrong?!"

"…" This time, it was Trevor's turn to be quiet.

"You fool, Randolph had gained that position out of merit, don't you understand? I should have made you work your way up the ladder like the rest of the workers… I've spoiled you too much."

"SHUT UP!" His words seemed to trigger something within Trevor, and the man snapped out harshly. "Spoil me? Mister Brut, you would rather look after a stranger than your own flesh and blood, and you have the nerve to claim that you've spoiled me?!"

Trevor had long hated his grandfather for putting him underneath Randolph, as someone who should have been the heir to inheriting the family's business.

His rage was one that had been stewing for a long, long time. It was to the point that he likely would never have come to visit even after John died, had Randolph not paid him to. His attitude was clear in the fact that he addressed his grandfather using honorifics, while even Randolph used his first name.

"If you had shown even a hint of promise, I would have invested everything I had into you. But you're filled with greed and spite. Your display of vulgarity today has disgusted me to no ends."

"If you had invested in me first, maybe then I would have turned out like you had wanted me to!"

The two broke out into a fierce argument, but Randolph didn't listen to any of it.

His heart was pounding into his chest as he watched the scene. It was throbbing violently, and his breathing was speeding up despite his calm demeanor.

Thoughts raced rapidly through the young man's head as stood there silently. He combed his brain for a solution, a way out of this mess.

"Stop." Interrupting their argument, Randolph spoke up loudly.

The two quickly quieted down, staring at Randolph, and observing his next move.

"Trevor, what will it take for you not to speak a word of this to anybody?"

"What do you think?" Waving the cane again, the thin man sneered.

"$50k. I'll give you $50k if you're willing to sign a contract of confidentiality with me and keep everything silent. I'm warning you Trevor."

"$50k?" A hint of hesitation appeared on the man's face, but it was so brief it could have been missed with the blink of an eye.

Randolph had listed the trade because he didn't want things to escalate too much. Not here. He was willing to give up a couple more years of his lifespan along with even all of his current money if the man was willing to let it go. He wanted to resolve things peacefully, especially as he could simply gain the money and lifespan back relatively easily.

But Trevor, perhaps taking the bargain plea as a sign of weakness and fear of his cane, only sneered.

"I don't want your leftovers, Randolph. Give me all of the fucking money. Everything you have."

"You don't deserve that much Trevor. Listen to your grandfather, I'm willing to part with $8-"

But Randolph's words were quickly interrupted by several pounding footsteps as Trevor ran forward.

The walking cane was lifted high above his head. It swung down in the direction of Randolph's head, but the young man reacted in time.

Lunging forward by a step, he intercepted the thin man's actions with a tackle. Grabbing onto his clothing, he lifted him into the air before throwing him onto the ground.

"Urgh!" The thin man met the floor with a loud thud.

The four-feet cane slammed down onto the fine-wood floor behind Randolph with a crack.

Staring over his shoulder, Randolph was inwardly shocked.

The force behind that blow was no joke, Trevor had seriously meant to cripple or even kill him with that hit.

That blow was vicious. Unfortunately for him, he had been too spoiled for it to land.

From the moment of his induction to the factory he had been an assistant supervisor. He hadn't experienced the grueling physical labour that went behind reaching such a position, and as such, he was weak and thin.

"Gah!" Another loud groan along with a lungful of air escaped from the man as Randolph slammed his fist into his stomach.

Grabbing a handful of the man's hair, Randolph slammed his face into the floor again before kneeling onto his back, holding him down.

"I WILL SAY IT ONE MORE TIME, SIGN THE CONTRACT!"