Welcome to the Jungle

Chapter 24: Sweet Dreams Are Made of Stones

Mike stormed into L-Corp building with no care for the guard who shouted something after him. He was already in the elevator and on his way to the same room where the last unscheduled meeting had taken place. This time though, Mike knew what he was stepping into. At least he hoped he knew. He caught his own reflection in the mirror. Hands clenched impossibly tight into two iron fists and face contorted in wrath, eyes dark and sharp, resembling a rabid dinosaur. A Raptor. Ace.

"GIVE ME THE SERUM!" Mike burst out without bothering with greetings the moment he stepped into the office doors. They were long past pleasantries.

Rhea Gand was seated behind Lena Luthor's desk in a dark pantsuit just as last time with a dignified expression plastered on her face. A revolting look which Mike had come to associate with ominous occurrences. Her look of victory that brought misery to her opponent. He never had the misfortune to be that opponent until this day. He had run away from it like the plague and now he was tasting the sourness of the dreadfully, yet he was not going to let her enjoy this. He would burn it down with the flames of his furry. He was no longer a child she could bend to her will, nor was he a coward.

"I SAID, GIVE IT TO ME NOW!" He spat at his mother again and punched the glass table. A threatening rattle echoed into the room, although the thick glass endured. Her silence and stillness were enraging. There were no bottles in display contrary to the time before. His heart clenched in horror at the idea that there might not be any serums at all.

"Are you finished with your show?" Rhea mocked with arms crossed over her chest and her face changed into a bored one. Her default expression with him.

Mike stood with his hands still balled on the table and heaved, nostrils flaring and glaring daggers at the heartless woman in front of her.

She pushed a folder to his direction - a Déjà vu - but Mike refused to touch it.

"I want the real serum first! How could you lie to me, you -" He set his foot down.

"That was the real serum you stupid boy! Only according to the very clear description I have here," Rhea reached for a small paper in her pocket and read it for Mike, "The serum must be administrated to the patient in three consecutive courses of treatment each four weeks apart for complete and irreversible effect."

Mike snatched the piece of paper from her and read it for himself to confirm its validity. It was true. It was a prescription instruction on how to administrate the serum and Rhea had kept it from him. It was an effort not to crunch the paper in his anger.

"HOW DARE YOU GAMBLE WITH HER LIFE?!"

Rhea scowled at his loud voice and sent him an irritated glare. "You have forgotten the most basic things about your family business, Michael." She shook her head in disappointment. "Never pay the full price without receiving the service to secure the deal. Rule number one. I did what I had to do to make sure you will return."

"Are you fucking kidding me? Haven't you heard of a PHONE?" Mike smashed the phone sitting on the desk in his thunderous rage, sending it crashing into pieces on the spotless floor of the office.

Rhea didn't even blink at his outburst and continued with the cold and full of expectation stare.

They started a staring contest until Mike had had enough. "I told you, I would do it! Why did you do this? What do you want from me?"

"You're assuming I should have trusted your empty words. No, you are right Michael. You're not a son of mine and that is why I don't treat you like one! Your words mean nothing to me! Now you will read this folder and meet the team I've assigned for this mission two days from now."