Unfinished Business

It was 10:43 PM.

Joe Hart's building complex gleamed with ambition. Glass, steel, neon blue edge lights that screamed power.

Maximus stepped off the bike and marched straight toward the entrance, three security guards in tailored suits intercepted him immediately.

"Sir, no visitation are allowed at this time, unless you have and appointment."

"I don't want one," Maximus said coldly. "Joe hart owes me thirty million dollars. He's collecting rent off a property that is technically still mine, without paying me a dime."

One of the guards laughed. "Right. You'll need to take that up with his legal team, now step back."

From the balcony above, Joe Hart and Keith Hall leaned against the rails like smug kings on their thrones.

They descended slowly, their suits pristine and their expressions dripping with mockery.

"Maximus Prime," Joe called, chuckling. "You really came all the way here for that chump change?"

Keith grinned beside him. "Didn't think you'd be so sentimental about pocket money"

"You signed a deal," Maximus said, his voice steady, controlled.

Joe waved it off. "you should have read the fine print. You're not the owner anymore. The paperworks done, you want to sue? Go ahead. We've got more lawyers that you have suits."

Keith stepped forward, sneering. "You're just an upcoming investor, Max. And this is a big league game. You got played, deal with it…"

Their words didn't dare anger Maximus, they only confirmed one thing—

"...You think I am weak…"

He exhaled slowly, letting the tension soak into the air. The shadows around him seemed to darken under his expression.

He looked up, dead into Joe's eyes. "Hold you're end of the contract now. Or this gets ugly real quick…"

Joe burst out laughing. "You'll do what? Beat me up in my own building?"

He turned towards his security men.

"Kick this idiot out. Break something while you're at it."

Seven security guards approached.

Maximus did a slow head count, "One… two…seven."

Then he smirked.

He stuffed both his hands deep into his pockets and raised his face to look at the body guards dead in the eyes.

"You think you've out numbered me? Piece of cake…"

With one subtle tilt of his neck, "Get 'em boys,"

Skrrrr!

A black SUV drifted into the parking lot, tires screeching as it stopped sideways in front of the building.

The doors flew open and two men stepped out— his personal bodyguards.

But these two weren't just guards, they were trained ex-NAVY SEALS, each moving with the lethality of a wild animal let loose in a boardroom.

The pressure shifted again. Even Joe and Keith felt it now, the casual arrogance melted into wary disbelif.

One guard cracked his knuckles, the other tapped something on his wrist. 

"You heard the boss," one of them said, voice low and sharp. "Back away…or break."

Joe took a step back. "W-What the hell is this?"

"You've got thirty seconds, Joe," Maximus said quietly, stepping forward, his voice like a whisper wrapped in thunder. 

"Transfer the money… or I take it out of your hide."

Joe Hart could feel it pressing down on him like a falling skyscraper— the pressure. As Maximus stood ten feet away, calm as ever, his helmet now tucked under his arm. No security breach, no chaos, just pure prescence.

And somehow, that was more terrifying.

The two bodyguards that had stepped out of the black SUV stood like statues flanking Maximus, exuding a quiet menace. They didn't move or blink, they just watched.

"Thirty million," Maximus said without shouting. "now…"

Joes throat went dry, he tried to swallow, but it caught halfway. He forced a smirk onto his face, turning to Keith Hall beside him. "This guys joking right?"

Keith gave a nervous chuckle, but didn't reply.

A dead moment of silence followed just before Maximus took a single step forward.

The ground didn't shake, bit somehow it felt like it should have. Joes knees stiffened, the guards surrounding them didn't mowve. Their eyes flicked briefly towards each other.

"Joe," maximus said, almost gently. "You stole from me. And I don't forget things like that."

"B-But- look, we…its just a delay." Joe stammered. "we were going to transfer it after the quarter closed, I swear-"

Maximus raised a hand. Just one finger and Joe went silent.

Behind him, Keith Hall slowly stepped backward, putting distance between them as one of his hefty body guards came to stand right beside Joe Hart and wrapping a massive arm over his shoulder.

"You walked into my world," Maximus said stepping closer. "and you thought just because you have been in the game for a while and you had a few lawyers, a shiny building and some worthless goons… you thought you could play me?"

His eyes narrowed.

"I've been in the dust way too long to let someone play me, I was drowning because of dishonest people like you…"

The words hit like bullets laced with gravity. Joe stumbled, his back hitting the brick-like wall body of Maximus's bodyguard.

He looked to security for help, none of them dared to move, they were all frozen.

Joe cracked.

Pulled out his phone with shaking hands. His thumb slipped across the screen.

"Here," he stuttered. "Thirty million. I'm sending it right now. Full amount, plus interest. Forty million…"

He hit send, the transaction went through.

Maximus waited a few seconds and then a loud ding from his phone broke the silence in the room.

He didn't bother to check his phone, he just stepped back.

"Lets go…" 

Joe nearly collapsed as the hulking bodyguard left his side. Maximus gave him one final glance. "Next time you think of crossing me… don't…"

He turned, calm as ever and walked back toward his bike. His guards followed without a word.

Not a single punch was thrown but Joe Hart had never felt closer to death in his entire life.

Maximus proceeded to put on his helmet and sped down the asphalt on his way back to his mansion.

His brain rolled the happenings at Joe's building like a highlight reel and then he snapped out of it and scoffed.

"Come Forth…" is intoned, summoning the Investment God System.

The interface appeared, following his rapid acceleration in his bike.

~Current real estate investment project secured~

~XP levels has risen to 80%~

Maximus looked at the interface confirming that Joe had really completed the payment.

"I should probably get a lawyer…"