A Case of Libel

[Laz]

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Looking at the documents being put in front of him, he hardly listened to what Lyell was saying anymore. His eyes were fixated on the two lines on which he was supposed to write his name. His mouth was dry. He'd lose all his wealth and would be dependent on this awful woman to not evict him from his position. The work he had put into APM, the time he had invested into attaining his position — all of it became void before his eyes, leaving only a cold emptiness. Now he understood what it was that he had felt earlier: It was the feeling of his hopes and dreams being sucked out of him by this bloodsucker.

Sighing, he withdrew a pen from his jacket and signed the first document and with each letter, he felt like he was giving billions of his wealth away. He pushed it away from himself as if he had just undertaken a grand journey around Nauru. The second one felt worse since it made him feel like he was giving away his free will, making a pact with this wretch before him.

Whereas there had only been a somewhat uneasy feeling in his stomach earlier, he now felt decidedly sick. He saw Lyell point wordlessly at the device he was supposed to speak into and the simply command seemed to have a certain pull to it. Taking the device in hand, he placed his index finger on it. "This is Guildkeeper and Co-CEO of APM Jack Marston speaking. I have sold my shares of AP-Manufacturing to Guildkeeper Cordelia Lyell and given her the power of attorney to act and use my authority inside the Core as she deems fit. I shall be killed by fire if I break this contract."

Releasing his finger, he collapsed into his seat, all masks and bravado gone, revealing the tired, old man that he was. He threw the PDA back on the table and stood up. "I hope you're happy," he spat at Lyell before making his way through the room as if walking away from a fight that he had just lost. Upon reaching the door, he opened it and left, slamming it shut behind himself.

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