The Driven

Chapter 1

Hank

He'd Google searched his step brother on impulse and found out he worked in a very successful firm as the Managing Director. Hank hurried into the building and went straight to the receptionist.

If anyone asked, he'd have said it didn't come as a surprise to him. When he had been hostile and aggressive from his childhood trauma, Jamal had been level headed and ambitious.

He asked the lady receptionist for the floor to EA Investment, he was passed a visitor's badge then directed to the seventh floor. Hank adjusted his newly acquired tie and tried not to stare at his reflection on the gleaming walls of the elevator. He stared at the indicator showing the floors passed and sighed when it showed the number seven.

Here we go.

Hank got off and noticed a fancy sign written in italics near the elevator stating the company's name. He really didn't need the affirmation that he was on the right floor, but then again it was obvious the sign wasn't for him.

Hank looked around the open office space, there were neatly arranged desks and chairs with people hustling and bustling around. He looked to his left when he heard a soft voice.

"Hello, how may I help you?" A lady asked with a genuine smile.

Hank strode towards her, she talked into an earpiece but still somehow kept her warm smile.

"I'm here to see Jamal?"

"Do you have an appointment with Mr. Jamal, Sir?"

"No." He frowned.

"That's fine. Just fill this form and I'll let his PA know he has a visitor." She handed him a pen along with the form and he smiled in appreciation.

Hank started writing with his left hand then remembered he didn't need to disguise. He was prepared to live a civilian life but his military training was hard to detach from his persona. Even now, he was wearing all black like he had to hide in plain sight.

As he filled the visitor's form, he remembered to use his biological name and not the nickname bestowed on him by his troops. If he wrote Hank, Jamal wouldn't have a clue as to who he was.

He was motioned to the waiting area after handing the form back. The receptionist was nice enough to show him the several vending machines available and he went for soda as she went about her business. As he pressed the button for soda, a question popped up asking for the circumference of a circle. Hank grimaced and violently punched in the answer.

Why did everything at the corporate world have to be such a chore?

Even the crisp, clean air he was breathing in felt different. He was afraid he was going to be charged for it when he walked out of the building. Not from his cards though, since he had no money left in his account. They would have to find other options.

The soda dropped and he picked the chilled can and smiled. When he went back to the padded chair, he realized he hadn't paid for the drink. Maybe, the corporate world wasn't so bad after all.

He knew he had to have a better attitude towards it since he was hoping to get a job from his step brother. For Jamal's sake, he hoped he wouldn't have to resort to threats. No managing director wanted his crack head father being discussed at the board meeting.

Hank wasn't ruthless, he excelled at it but it never came naturally to him. He had killed only when he had to, he had hated interrogating thugs and hunting for criminals. His mates in the army liked to sometimes brag about their body counts. It was easy for them, the general ideology was to either kill or be killed. Hank had even partook in preaching that to new recruits. But, when the lights went out and sleep refused to come, he was left with his conscience.