As the three gang bosses saw Julyan, they greeted him in unison, “Good day, Mr. Hawk.”
Everyone around was stunned by the unexpected scene. Some were left speechless, unable to believe what they were witnessing. Others rubbed their eyes, wondering if they were seeing things. A few even cleaned their ears, questioning if they had heard correctly. The atmosphere was thick with disbelief and curiosity.
“As we discussed, we’re here to settle our debt, including the interest,” said the single beard gangster.
Julyan nodded with satisfaction and turned to the finance manager. “Please assist them in settling their accounts, and ensure our company’s cash flow is in order.”
The finance manager, still in shock, nodded absentmindedly. “Y-yes, Mr. Hawk,” he stammered, before addressing the three. “Please, follow me,” he said, leading them to settle their dues.
In the office, the finance manager sat down and handed them the list of their debts. After reviewing it, the gang bosses wrote a check for the full amount and handed it over.
“All settled,” said the single beard gang boss. “We’ll be leaving now,” he added, turning to exit. The other two followed him quietly out of the office.
Once they were gone, the finance manager looked at the check and was immediately shocked by the amount. “F-Five times their debt!” he exclaimed, grabbing a calculator to confirm. “What is happening?! How did those fearsome gang bosses pay such a large amount all at once?” he wondered aloud, still in disbelief.
The manager had no idea what had transpired the previous day when a finance department member and Mr. Hawk had left. He was told it was just a normal business conversation with the bosses. Although he had some doubts, he believed it because both returned safely. But now, his suspicions were reignited, and he sensed that more than just a conversation had taken place.
“What is going on? What did Mr. Hawk do to those people?” he thought, his mind racing with confusion.
In the lobby, just before leaving, the three gang bosses turned to Julyan. “We’ve settled our debt,” one of them said, “and we’re even willing to offer your company protection in the future.”
Julyan shook his head with a smile. “I appreciate the offer, but I have something else in mind for you guys. It’ll be a job where you can earn plenty.”
The gang bosses exchanged glances, a bit unsure. “What kind of job?” one of them asked cautiously.
“Don’t worry,” Julyan replied, his smile widening. “You’ll find it worthwhile. I’ll get in touch when it’s time.”
Seeing the confidence in Julyan’s demeanor, they nodded in agreement. “Alright, Mr. Hawk. We’ll wait for your call,” they promised.
“Great,” Julyan said, taking their contact information. “I’ll text or call you soon.”
With that, the three gang bosses nodded respectfully and made their way out of the company, leaving the employees still buzzing with disbelief.
Back in his office, Julyan sat down, thinking about his next steps. He knew that with this successful encounter, it was time to get down to the real business. A few hours later, the door opened, and Mr. Long walked in.
As Mr. Long entered the office, he walked over to Julyan with a purposeful stride. “David,” he began, “I need a report on everything that’s happened. Can you fill me in?”
Julyan knew that Mr. Long had just returned from a business trip. He respectfully nodded promptly. “Of course, Mr. Long. It’s been quite an eventful day.”
“Start from the beginning,” Mr. Long prompted, settling into a chair across from Julyan.
“Certainly,” Julyan began. “Yesterday morning, we had a meeting with the team leaders. We discussed the current projects and the challenges we’re facing. Everyone seemed motivated and ready to tackle the issues.”
Mr. Long nodded, “And how did the team leaders respond? Any concerns?”
“They were mostly positive, sir,” Julyan replied. “A few had concerns about resource allocation, but we addressed those by planning a more efficient distribution.”
“Good to hear,” Mr. Long said. “And what about the company president’s visit yesterday? How did that go?”
Julyan smiled politely, “The president was impressed with our progress. He emphasized the importance of maintaining our momentum and even hinted at potential expansions if we keep up the good work.”
“That’s promising,” Mr. Long remarked. “Now, about the payment from those gang bosses today. How did you manage that?” Of course, Mr. Long had already heard about what happened earlier before he entered Julyan’s office.
“Ah, that was interesting,” Julyan said, choosing his words carefully. “They came in, as we expected, and were surprisingly cooperative. They settled their debt in full, with interest.”
Mr. Long raised an eyebrow, “Really? How did you convince them to pay up so willingly?”
Julyan chuckled softly, “Let’s just say I presented them with a mutually beneficial opportunity. They saw the value in it and agreed.”
Mr. Long leaned forward, intrigued. “And what exactly was this opportunity?”
“Well, I can’t go into all the details just yet,” Julyan replied, maintaining his respectful tone, “but it involves a project that could be quite profitable for them. I assured them it was worth their while.”
Mr. Long nodded thoughtfully. “Sounds like you handled it well, David. Anything else I should know?”
“Just that we’re on track with our goals, sir,” Julyan said confidently. “The team is aligned, and with the recent developments, we’re in a strong position.”
“Excellent,” Mr. Long said, standing up. “By the way, join me tonight for some work.”
Julyan feigned surprise, “Work? What kind of work are we talking about, sir?”
Mr. Long gave a knowing smile, “The kind of work that requires smart people.”
Julyan nodded, hiding his understanding behind a curious expression. “Alright, I’ll be there, sir.”
With that, Mr. Long left the office. As Mr. Long left the office, Julyan allowed a smile to spread across his face. “Alright, time for the real work,” he murmured to himself. He tapped a small device in his ear, connecting a call to their best hacker, Rico.
Once the call connected, Julyan spoke, “I’ve gained Long’s trust. Tonight, it looks like he’s going to bring me into their shadow operation. It won’t be long before my mission here is complete.”
“Okay, just tap me in later. I’ll have everything ready at the villa,” Rico responded. “Let’s all watch a delightful show together.”
Julyan’s smile turned into a chilling grin as he ended the call.
As night fell, Julyan found himself in a car with Mr. Long, heading to an undisclosed location.
“David, tonight you’ll see the shadow side of our company,” Mr. Long said, his tone serious. “We have operations that aren’t exactly on the books, but they’re crucial for our success.”
Julyan listened intently, nodding along. “I understand, sir. How do these operations work?”
Mr. Long glanced at him, satisfied with his interest. “We handle shipments that come from various places. It’s all about maintaining a balance between what’s seen and what’s hidden.”
As they drove, Mr. Long continued to explain the logistics, mentioning a random location where shipments originated. Julyan absorbed the information, careful to keep his expression neutral.
Eventually, they arrived at a place resembling a dock. As they stepped out of the vehicle, Julyan observed people unloading large crates from a fishing boat designed for catching big fish. A smile crept onto Julyan’s face. He knew that the crates contained illegal drugs and other contraband. Adjusting his glasses, he walked forward with Mr. Long.