" The Boss .. " - A Shark Tale Story ( Mr Sykes x Don Lino )

Truths and Lies

Sykes swam away from Don Lino's hideout, his thoughts spiraling into a mess of confusion and doubt. The kiss still lingered on his lips, but so did Elena's words. He replayed her warnings over and over in his mind: 

"That's what Lino does. He manipulates people, uses them, breaks their hearts for his gain."

The more he thought about it, the more he dreaded the possibility that Elena had been right all along. 

How many others had Lino done this to? Was I just another pawn in his game?

But the kiss had felt so real. For a brief moment, it felt like everything they had was genuine. It made Sykes question himself. Was it possible that Don Lino's feelings were truly sincere? Or was he just another victim, like Elena?

He couldn't let himself fall for it. He couldn't let Lino win. 

This is what Elena warned me about. He breaks people down, makes them feel special, only to control them.

Sykes clenched his fists, his anger and heartbreak fighting for dominance. His stomach churned at the thought of going back to Lino, pretending that everything was fine. He had to play the part, just as Elena had instructed.

Sykes walked into the Whale Wash, his mind still reeling from the fake kiss he had shared with Don Lino. The weight of Elena's manipulations pressed heavily on his shoulders, and Lino's sincere, heartfelt confession replayed in his mind, muddying everything. He felt trapped in a labyrinth of deception, each path pulling him further from any semblance of peace.

Oscar, always bouncing with energy and a quick hustle, was the first to spot him. "Hey, boss! You're lookin' kinda tense today. Everything good?" His usual grin stretched wide across his face, completely oblivious to the storm brewing in Sykes's heart.

Sykes forced a smile, one that felt like a mask more than anything genuine. "Yeah, Oscar, just some business to take care of." His voice was low, lacking its usual bite. "Nothing for you to worry about."

Oscar blinked, his grin faltering for a second before he shrugged. "If you say so, boss. But if you need a break, we got it covered here!"

Before Sykes could respond, Angie appeared, holding a tray with a cup of coffee and a plate of breakfast. Her smile was soft, almost motherly, and full of concern. "Mr. Sykes, I brought this for you," she said, setting the tray down on his desk. "You look like you need it."

Sykes nodded, grateful, but he couldn't bring himself to touch the food. "Thanks, Angie. I appreciate it." His eyes wandered, flickering nervously to the corners of the room. Shadows danced in his periphery, moving unnaturally. Levi's cold presence—he could feel it lurking. The barracuda was always watching, always waiting, under Elena's orders. She was testing him, making sure he played his role in her twisted game.

Angie hesitated, sensing something was deeply wrong, but she left him to his thoughts. As Sykes sat at his desk, pushing the food around his plate, Ernie and Bernie floated over. The jellyfish brothers immediately sensed their father's tension.