Don’t Call Me Director

" This man helped me find direction in my life ,I can't let him retire—absolutely not. So what if he's old? He still has his voice to guide and his hands to direct. All he needs to do is sit back and give orders. I'll handle everything else.

In 80 years, he's only made 20 movies—that's far too few. I need more of his work in my life. Once I kidnap him, I'll make him produce movies under my watch. That way, I can enjoy the rest of my life in peace," Victor thought as he subtly made his way through the crowd toward the stage. Dressed simply in a white shirt and black pants, his focus was entirely on Director Tames standing on the stage. He ignored everything else around him, laser-focused on his target.

[ "It's been almost 45 years since I first entered this industry. My debut film, Mafia World, needs no introduction. It was controversial, to say the least, and the backlash it received changed my life—five years in jail and new government regulations limiting my work. But even after all that, my imagination remained undeterred.

You're all familiar with the other 18 films I've made over the years. And today, my final creation, Death, is being released. This is my last offering to this world. Thank you all for the love and support that allowed me to stand here with pride. Thank you so much, citizens of Alphabet." ]

"Director Tames, does your final movie convey a deeper message?" asked a B News reporter.

[ "As everyone knows, DEATH is inevitable. Through my last film, I wanted to emphasize that no matter how powerful or influential a person is, they cannot escape death. That's all I can reveal right now. If you wish to learn more, you'll have to experience it through the movie," ] Director Tames replied with humility, his voice carrying clearly across the venue.

"Director Tames Kamron, from your very first movie, there's been controversy. Your debut film Mafia World is said to have caused a 95% increase in crime rates, influencing people in a negative way. What do you say to that?" asked a daring Crazy News reporter.

Victor, who was steadily moving closer to the stage, froze as he heard the question. His steps faltered, and he turned his attention toward the reporter. The room went silent, with every eye now fixed on the reporter, waiting for Tames' response.

[ "I've addressed this matter with the government before, and I'll repeat it here. Mafia World was purely a product of my imagination. It's tragic that some individuals chose to turn fiction into reality, walking the path of crime. What hurts me the most is that I've come to despise my first film because of the damage it caused to so many lives," ] Director Tames said solemnly, leaving the audience in stunned silence.

[ "Thank you all for being here today. The award ceremony will now continue," ] the anchor announced, bringing the event back to focus. They walked to the stage with the retirement award and handed it to Director Tames. The crowd erupted in applause, with many moved to tears.

One by one, celebrities and stars ascended the stage to honor Director Tames with handshakes and hugs. Meanwhile, Teras and his men stood vigilant at the side, scanning the crowd for any suspicious movements.

When Victor stepped into Teras' view, Teras' eyes flickered with recognition. Without hesitation, he gave Victor a respectful nod, silently signaling him to proceed toward the stage.

"I can't pull off the kidnapping with so many people watching. I'll wait until night. I'll have Teras ensure that the car takes Director Tames directly to my villa. For now, I'll shake his hand and leave," Victor thought, adjusting his plan as he moved forward toward Director Tames.

"Could all these bodyguards be Teras' loyal men? My decision to assign him as Director Tames' personal guard was absolutely right. With him there, the situation remains firmly in my control. If I choose to act, nothing can stop me. But I need to stay calm and keep my identity hidden. There's a strange comfort in not being recognized—it allows me to move freely," Victor reflected, keeping his movements deliberate and his expression neutral as he approached the stage.

"Who is this man?" Max, the rookie bodyguard, thought to himself as he noticed Victor's unusual demeanor. "Why is he looking around like that? My sixth sense is screaming that something's off about him. Could Brother Teras have missed the signs, or—could this man have actually fooled him? He seems too calm and professional, like someone who knows how to stay under the radar. What should I do? This man feels like an unyielding wall—can I even stop him? Think, Max, think! If I don't act, Director Tames might be in real danger!"

Max's heart raced, his instincts putting him on high alert. Sweat trickled down his forehead as his nerves began to fray. His eyes stayed fixed on Victor, watching every step he took. To Max, Victor wasn't just a man; he was a predator, moving with unnerving calm toward his target. And Max—he felt like prey, cornered yet determined to fight back.

As the tension mounted, Max's inner resolve solidified. "I have to protect Director Tames, no matter what it takes," he thought, his body tensing, ready for anything.

"Why is his hand bent like that? And why does he have a chain on his wrist, hidden under his shirt, as if something is attached to it? Could it be a knife? I need to confirm," Max thought as he carefully observed Victor's every movement. Victor's hand was slightly bent—not naturally, but deliberately—to ensure the gun concealed under his sleeve wouldn't slip out. The chain attached to his wrist seemed fastened upward, hidden from plain sight.

Teras' men were on high alert ever since their boss had stepped onto the stage. Their watchful eyes scanned the crowd, ready to act at the slightest sign of trouble. The only exception was the rookie bodyguard, Max, whose nervous energy was palpable. Had Teras glanced at him even once, he would have immediately realized that Max's fear was overwhelming, and fear like that often leads to mistakes. But alas, Teras was too focused on monitoring everyone outside his team to notice Max's faltering resolve.

Victor , meanwhile was last in his own thoughts " After the kidnapping ,I could ask Director Tames to make a movie about me . He'd agree, wouldn't he? And if not ,no problem ___ I can hire another director to make my film ." His imagination ranwild,so much so that he didn't even realize when he reached Tames. Finally snapping out of his thoughts, victor straightened his bent hand , extending it toward the director for a handshake.But as he did ,the chain attached to his wrist slipped out slightly, revealing a glimpse of the hidden gun.

" A....gun....shit... He's going to shoot Director Tames! I can't let this happen.No matter what,I have to stop him!" Max's mind raced as he saw the weapon dangling from Victor's wrist. His panic surged, and in that moment,Teras' words echoed in his mind " If you suspect anyone, don't hesitate ____shoot immediately."

Whithout overthinking,Max instinctively drew his gun

And...

Bang.....bang....

The sound of the gunshot echoed across the hall , leaving everyone frozen in shock .

"Ehhh... Why am I suddenly feeling this pain? And who's firing a gun in the background?" Victor couldn't comprehend what was happening. His full attention had been on Director Tames when a sharp, unbearable pain coursed through his body, forcing his focus inward.

"What the... Where is this blood coming from?" he muttered, his voice laced with confusion and shock as he noticed crimson stains spreading across his clothes.

"Boss... Boss..." Teras suddenly turned around to find Victor kneeling on the ground.

"Shit... Ouch... Hey, fucker, why did you shoot me? I was just going for a handshake!" Victor looked around but saw no one. Then, when he noticed the gun in the hand of Director Tames' bodyguard, standing behind him, he realized that it was that gun that had fired. But what didn't make sense was why. Even if the man had been an enemy, his face wouldn't have been recognized by a regular bodyguard. Yet, this ordinary bodyguard, with a frightened look on his face, had shot him. Don Victor was in shock.

"Huff... Hah... What? You think I'm stupid enough not to notice the hidden weapon when you went for a handshake?"

Max said, wiping sweat from his forehead, his voice full of disbelief.

"Ah... fuck... What a wasteful death I'm getting," Victor groaned in pain.

The stage was huge, and it took Teras a few seconds to get to Victor. "Hey, idiot, do you even know who you just shot? This man is the King of the Underworld, SKULL!" Teras grabbed Victor and shouted loudly, shaking him on the stage. This was all happening live on broadcast. The sound of the gunshot caused many people to run, while some daring individuals quietly continued recording the live telecast.

"S...s...SK...ULL..." Max stammered, frozen in fear, unable to say more. Just hearing the name "Skull" had paralyzed him.

"Get the boss to the hospital quickly!" Teras panicked more than Max. He was so shaken that he forgot everything else. The only thing on his mind was getting Victor to the hospital and saving his life at any cost.

Victor found it all very amusing because many powerful people had tried to kill him before and failed, but now, an unknown man, with fear written on his face, had shot him—today, this man had dared to pull the trigger on SKULL.

"Fuck... it's all over... my life is over... Now... nothing can be done," Max muttered in a daze, unsure of what he was even saying.

But in that moment, despite the pain, Victor smiled at him.

"Your family..."

When Max heard the word "family," he froze. His mind flashed with images of his family—his two sisters, his mother, and father—all their faces appeared before his eyes. He screamed out loud.

"Noooooo... I won't let you touch my family!"

Bang...

The bullet hit directly on the head.