Chapter 11 Disgraced Leader
The moment I passed Glenn’s judgement, I watched the entire room stiffen at once as if a cold wind had swept through the boardroom. Everyone sucked in a sharp breath, the sound echoing faintly against the polished walls. Shock was carved so deeply onto their faces that if I hadn’t expected this reaction, I might have been tempted to flinch myself. Not only had I stripped Uncle Glenn of every single one of his roles, I had demoted him to the very bottom of the hierarchy, reduced him to what could only be described as a Mafia rookie, a fresh recruit with no respect, no leverage, and absolutely no authority. And as if that alone wasn’t devastating enough, I had followed it with a harsher blow: the complete seizure of his assets to compensate for the funds he stole.
I didn’t need anyone to remind me of how little Glenn actually had in comparison to the amount missing. His total net worth didn’t even reach forty million dollars, even if everything he owned was liquidated. And considering how he and Diana most likely shared the stolen funds between themselves, it was obvious that he would be the one on the losing end. Once all his assets were taken, Uncle Glenn would have nothing left. No wealth. No home. No comfort. No position. He would be starting from below zero, a place he had never once imagined he would ever fall to.
No one dared to speak. Not a sound came from the other end of the rectangular table, not even the slightest rustle of breath. The silence was a heavy blanket weighing down the atmosphere, and I could feel the tension spreading like a slow poison. I didn’t look at Glenn, not until the door to the boardroom opened and two guards came walking in. They moved with the precision of trained men, their steps firm but controlled as they came to stand behind my disgraced uncle.
“Stand up,” one of them said.
Glenn didn’t. He remained rooted to his seat, his eyes wide, disbelief distorting every inch of his expression. A man who once commanded respect could not seem to accept that the respect had vanished. When he realized the guards weren’t going to wait for him to gather his dignity, he tried to pull back, muttering that there was no need for force.
But they grabbed him anyway.
“I said I won’t repeat it again!” Glenn suddenly shouted as the guards lifted him by both arms. “I’ve learned my mistakes! I swear I won’t do it again! Please—please, don’t do this!”
His voice cracked in a way I had never heard before, desperate and trembling. The guards dragged him toward the door while he continued to scream, but I didn’t move. I didn’t raise my head. I didn’t even blink. I simply ignored him.
When they were just a few steps from the door, I finally spoke; quietly, just loud enough for him to hear me.
“If you really want me to consider forgiving you,” I murmured, my voice steady and cold, “then start working your way up the ranking again. From the very bottom.”
He froze for a second, staring back at me with disbelief and painful humiliation, then the guards hauled him out and the door slammed shut behind him.
Silence reclaimed the room.
I let out a slow, tired sigh and leaned back slightly in my chair. Then I turned to the other board members. Their expressions were as tense as stretched wires, and I could practically feel the fear floating off them.
“Let that be a lesson to everyone,” I said, letting my gaze sweep over each face before settling deliberately on Diana. “The next scapegoat might not be so lucky to leave this place alive.”
Diana visibly stiffened. She looked away, her hands trembling slightly beneath the table.
Rudy was the first to break the silence. He stood up, placing his palms flat on the table, his brows knitted in an expression I rarely saw from him.
“I never expected something like that from Uncle Glenn,” he said, sounding genuinely disappointed. “He could have just asked me how to make more money if he needed it. Why steal from the family?”
“I agree,” another board member added immediately. “There were many other ways. He didn’t need to resort to this.”
More voices chimed in, mumbling their agreement, shaking their heads, calling Glenn foolish for crossing such a dangerous line. The discussion grew into a low hum of disapproval, but I had no interest in their opinions.
I raised a hand.
“We’re moving to another topic.”
They quieted instantly.
I turned toward Rudy. “Brief me on our rivals. Everything happening in the underground. I want all updates.”
Rudy straightened, understanding the shift in tone. “Right now, the rivals already know there’s some internal conflict happening within our clan,” he began. “Not everyone will admit it publicly, but they’re aware. That’s the truth. And if we don’t put everything in check, they might take this as the perfect opportunity to hit us.”
He paused just long enough to gather their attention, then continued.
“There’s also a new Mafia group in town. They call themselves Blackjack.”
The name alone caused some murmuring around the table.
“Blackjack?” I repeated.
“Yes,” Rudy nodded. “Their mode of operation is very calculated. Smart. Almost too clean. They move quickly, silently, and efficiently. They’re brutal, too. They barely leave traces behind. Most of their hits end without witnesses, and their intelligence network seems tight. No loose ends, no unnecessary noise.”
This time, even I felt my eyes narrow slightly.
“How long have they been around?”
“Not long,” Rudy said. “But long enough to make a strong entrance. They’re rising fast. However…” He paused again, and when he spoke next, there was a hint of satisfaction in his tone. “I’ve identified one of their members.”
The tension in the room spiked.
“I’m only waiting for the perfect time to strike him,” Rudy finished, folding his arms sternly.
I nodded slowly. “Good. We’ll handle them the same way we handle every threat—quietly and completely. Make sure you’re ready when the moment comes. And Rudy…” I met his eyes directly. “This time, we’re not sparing any lives.”
He smirked faintly. “Understood.”
The board members exchanged nervous glances.
And just like that, the meeting moved forward, but the shadow of Glenn’s punishment still hung thick in the air, silently reminding everyone of the consequences of betrayal.