113.
David’s POV.
God, Mr. Oliver really is insufferable and quite demanding. It’s been four weeks since Vera, Nathan and I returned from Mason Island. Hell, I planned to spend a longer time there with my angel but Mr. Oliver decided to butt in at that moment.
Not that I’m complaining much, ’cause this meeting I’m having with him is channeled for one thing, and that is acquiring that Shell company from him as I desired.
Well, the man is cooperating now, telling me all the shits I needed to know about the shell company and the several accounts that run under it.
Big businessmen have stashed their money away there, once I take control of the company, it’ll triple my finances. Literally, I’ll climb the top ladder of the biggest mogul in the world, that is if I combine my wealth with the ones I’ll make from the shell company.
Aside from that though, the charity organization I’m handling will grow bigger, and its work will reach southern countries. That’s one of my goals.
I’m glad Mr. Oliver is finally telling me all I need to know.
If getting what I want will require I spend most nights dining with old men, listening to their stories of how they made their wealth then I’ll do it.
Tonight is yet another business dinner I’m going to have with Mr. Oliver and his pals. Old men always assume that they must meet at a business dinner to discuss whatever they wish to discuss but they don’t know the world is becoming more digitalized that meetings can be held online.
I do the last button of my black shirt and put on my bow tie; a black one that matches the shirt I’m wearing and my suit Jacket.
The code tonight is black…that’s what Mr. Oliver messaged me with earlier.
I dab my perfume and put on my Rolex wristwatch before grabbing the jacket and exiting the room.
The busy schedule I’ve been having had kept me away from spending time with Vera and I must admit that it sucks.
However, she accepted my explanation and told me she’ll wait until I attain my goals from Mr. Oliver.
Hell, my girl is very understanding and accommodating. I know some women out there who break up with their man or divorce their husband because of the lack of attention and endless business meetings they attend.
I don’t blame them though, it will hurt me if Vera spends much time away from me. However, knowing that I’ve her support in this steels my heart, chasing away the fear of losing my precious gem.
As I take down the spiral staircase, I spot Andrei by the end of the stairs, holding the banister.
His wounds have healed, making him back into his normal shape. Vera’s wounds have as well. Though, there’s still a little limp whenever she moves. That made me order the company not to make her practice on heels.
“I’m ready. Let’s go.” I tell Andrei, shoulder passing him to the front door. As we emerge outside, I notice the grim look on Andrei’s face.
I wanted to ask but the incoming call disrupted me.
“Huh…” I grumbled seeing Mr. Oliver’s name flashing on the screen.
I take the call and inform him I’m almost there to which he hummed, delighted.
Now, I turn to face Andrei and ask. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, boss.” He says.
I don’t believe what he said now. Every buck of his limbs tells me something is wrong somewhere. I wonder why he’s keeping that from me, though.
Arching from my seat, I turn to face him and ask, quietly this time…
“What the fuck is going through your mind, Andrei?”
He visibly exhales and gives me a sidelong glance.
“Peter has gone into hiding. But that’s not the problem, boss.” He says gruffly, swerving the car to the other side of the road that leads to the hotel where the business dinner is being held.
“Spill it all, Andrei.” I’m already growing more tense and restless. Peter going into hiding is bad news. I can feel it grating my nerves and…fuck…I’ve not told Vera her father is in town.
Why would I? She thinks the man is already dead and rotting six feet under, just like her mother.
How do I tell her he isn’t and that he wants to give off to the wolves?
“… He even took his unconscious mother from the hospital. Fuck, no one knows if he’s still in the state or not.”
“Sorry, what did you say?” I rattle out, not exactly getting what he means.
“Peter took Elena, his son, and grandmother. To clear any last trace of him, he killed his step-counsin who lives in Maine.”
Eyes owl-wide, I gaped at Andrei, his words ricocheting through my mind.
I never knew of the fucking step-counsin but that means Peter is out to get any trace of him out of sight.
“That’s not all, boss.” He implies again.
My blood is already as cold as ice as I listen to what more he has to say.
“The mafia boss is in New York, boss.”
Those words are the one that makes my ears ring and the next thing I see is red.
The blood bath is about to begin. I can feel it, searing my bones, tearing my flesh.
If the mafia boss is in town, it means he’s come to get Vera himself.
Turning to Peter, I order. “Meet your suppliers, Andrei. We need to update our armory.”
*
*
*
I’m never one to stay silent during a business discussion. I always chime in with my thoughts and suggestions. But that’s not how it is tonight.
I’m silent, gazing into nothing while my thoughts storm like a tsunami.
In between, I stand up and exit the dining hall, expensive perfumes of all big moguls in the hall wafting the air, and teasing my nose.
I skate down the dark-lit hallway, itching to make the damn call.
I find the terrace and snake into it, clutching my phone. Andrei left as soon as I dispatched the order, calling his suppliers in Greece to load us with weapons.
I took the oath to protect Vera and hell, this is what it entails. The need to take shooting lessons has started and I’ll take it seriously just to ensure my girl is protected.
No, this time, I’m not just leaving the job of shooting and wielding guns to Andrei alone. I’m doing it too.
As I lean on the railing, overlooking the black sky and the glint of the half-moon, I dial Andrei…
He doesn’t pick at first…on the third one, he answers.
“The shipments will arrive tomorrow, boss.” This is the first thing he says once he responds to the call.
“Got any best man to do some teaching?” I ask, my voice frantic.
Silence ensued for a moment before Andrei asks. “You…want to wield guns now? Fuck, you know what that’s going to make you, right?” He asks.
I snort, rubbing between my brows. “Yes. Vera is my life. So, I’m no less a mafia now, Andrei.”
That’s practically half of what I am now. Not just David Truman the business tycoon but…a mafia too.
Noticing my resolve, Andrei nods. “I’ll have them arrange an expert.” He says.
As we were about to end the call, I heard some strange sounds behind me.
Deead tightened its hold on my neck, knowing someone must have heard my conversation with Andrei.
My phone was in loudspeaker mode.
Carefully, I veer around and I see her…
Claire.
“Hello, baby.” She grins, taking careful steps towards me. I take her in and her face and body are covered with black makeup and dress.
I wasn’t expecting to see her here, I’m that much surprised. Claire I know hates boring business meetings, unless it involves the fashion industry.
“I saw you walking down here and I decided to…check on you.” She stops right before me, gazing into my eyes.
“I need to make some urgent calls,” I remark, pulling my face away.
“Always urgent, isn’t it?” She says, whopping a short laugh. “I mean I don’t expect less from tycoons like you.” She adds, falling into my side and perching her hand over the railing.
“I guess,” I say monotonously.
I don’t know what the fuck happened now, but in the next blinking moment, Claire was already clutching my face in her palms.
“David. I’ve always wanted us to be together. Always but I keep getting the feeling that you have someone else in your life.”
My brows furrow not sure where this is going.
“David, please tell me the honest truth, do you still love me? Or is there another woman in your life?”
As she uttered those questions, I saw someone move at my periphery and on turning I saw Mr. Oliver, looking expectantly at me.
Confusion strikes me hard on the head. I don’t want to let my relationship with Vera out yet and I also don’t want to lose this deal, Mr. Oliver.
Before I can think further, the first word slips from my mouth.
“No. There’s no one.”
Claire’s face splinters in two as she smiles, hugging me tightly.
But that instant, my phone vibrates.
Cursing under my breath, I pull away from Claire as I see Vera’s name flashing on the screen.
“Excuse,” I say, raising my hand up to Mr. Oliver.
Then I pick the call, instead of hearing Vera’s normal voice, I heard frantic words.
“Daddy…please help me. I don’t know who…I don’t know who these men are…”
And my eyes widen in realization, Vera is in danger.
“Where are you?” I bark into the phone, but her screams are what gritted me before the call hung up.
Was it Peter?
Was it the mafia?
I don’t know what to think. Without wasting time, I jog outta of the terrace and dive into my car.
I have to find her…
To be continued…