Chapter 100 Unravelling every thread.
CHAPTER 100
Unravelling every thread.
ROMAN – POINT OF VIEW
We’re twenty floors up. This is one of my biggest hotels. The one in Manhattan has thirty floors. I have some in Las Vegas, too. I have hotels everywhere.
The room is made of glass and steel. I can see the city’s skyline as well as the time that has passed. This conversation has dragged on long enough for me. Scarlett is waiting. I should be with her, but it’s important not to interrupt your enemy when he’s making a mistake.
I glance at the Union delegators, the five of them. The lead had started, talking about wages, hours, and safety violations. An obviously prepared speech meant to intimidate me. Almost amusing.
I let him finish, then I smile.
“You don’t want negotiation. You want leverage, and you’ve mistaken visibility for power. You’re making a terrible mistake, so think about your next words carefully.” I warn, tapping my feet. Maybe it’s time to get a personal secretary.
They don’t think carefully. They act like hounds and bark. I don’t flinch or even blink. They fall over their words, talking about public sympathy, strikes across flagship properties, and coordinated walkouts during peak season.
They think they’ve trapped me. These … children think they have any power over me. I try not to laugh, truly, but a smile breaks through. How did they think I reached where I now stand? By dancing to the tune of irrelevant idiots?
I glance at Caleb. He’s pacing, pissed, but quiet. Damian stands beside me. We all know this is a waste of time.
I look at the delegators. “You want to leave? Then, leave.”
They’re shocked.
“Strike my hotel, and I shutter them permanently. You don’t hurt me, you erase your own jobs. I’ll reroute guests, sell the properties at a loss I won’t feel, and you’ll be standing outside locked doors with banners no one will read.” I state coldly, irritated.
“You can’t crush people forever.” The lead foams at the mouth.
This is personal.
I lean forward, “I don’t crush people. I outlast them.” then push a folder towards him. My intelligence company works very fast, and I find it efficient to have dirt on everyone who works for me. It can come in handy, like now. In the folder, there are past violations, personal vulnerabilities and leadership structures. I hit where it hurts.
“You can either take my offer, which involves modest increases, phased reforms and no public spectacle, or you can escalate this bullshit and see how truly small you are in the world,” I inform him with a shrug and continue.
“I’m not here to be loved. I’m here to keep the machine running. Hate me. Call me heartless. I do not fucking care. Just get the job done. This is a world with boots and ants. Do I need to tell you where you fall under?”
Tension thickens and curdles like spoiled milk. They tremble with rage and fear. They know I don’t bluff. My reputation precedes me, after all.
I glance at my watch and step back, “You have forty-eight hours. After that, I’ll stop pretending that this is a discussion. See yourselves out, gentlemen.”
They get up, pushing the chairs backwards, throwing tantrums.
“You’ll bleed for this.” One of the mutters.
I chuckle dryly, “We all bleed. I just get to decide where.”
The door closes, and I exhale slowly.
“Have some of your men watch them. They’ll act stupid, and when they do, we need to be ready. No more whiplashes, no more surprises.” Damian remarks, and I nod, already making the call.
“What do we do now?” Caleb glances at us.
I shrug, “I don’t know about you, but I’m taking my girlfriend for a quick bite at one of my restaurants. This is just another Tuesday.” I smile, my watch catching a glint of light.
“We need to talk to the rest.” Damian points out.
By the rest, he means the inner circle. I run multiple organisations, companies, restaurants, and all kinds of things people can think of. I’m always behind the scenes. My name is everywhere, and realistically, I don’t do it alone. I’m the Executive Authority, of course, but there are core pillars apart from us.
Damian is the general counsel and legal architect. A small way to describe all he does, which includes litigation, compliance, arbitration, and regulatory warfare, he designs legal shields before problems exist, knows where bodies are buried, and our close friendship makes him present in every meeting. Caleb is the CFO for all my core holdings. The financial strategist. He sees cash flow across every sector, knows which fire can burn and which must be extinguished immediately, and moves money before threat materialises.
Elena has always been the Public Narrative and Influence Strategist. I watched her spend hours reading and toiling away when we were in school. She’s profoundly smart when it comes to public perception.
However, it’s not just the four of us. Luca’s role is small, but he’s on the board of directors. There’s Ivy Palmer. She is the machine runner. She’s always busy, which is why she’s absent. She’s currently in London working on our business there, expanding, waiting for my go-ahead, coordinating across all subsidiaries, even the ones in America. She makes things happen.
My head of risk and intelligence stays behind the curtain. Aurelie Larue. Most people do not know her for what she does. Her job is tactical. She oversees threat assessment, internal audits and counter-intelligence. She called while we were in Sicily, tipped me off before the management of the tech division called. It’s hard to keep things from her. She sees all.
I do not believe in putting all my cards on the table. I like to let people wonder. They don’t know how I do it, and they never will.
“Talk to them if you must, but do not pull them from their current assignments. We have a lot to do, and don’t tell me you’re afraid, Damian. This isn’t the first time we’re facing a regulatory board and espionage.” I tease, amused.
“But this is the first time we were attacked by the Cartel. You were shot, Roman. Scarlett was taken. We have kept away from organised crime for as long as we can, except Luca, but this is different. They came for Scarlett. They came for you. Coincidentally, we’re facing espionage and the union? Something is wrong.” He comments, brows furrowed, eyes darting around.
“And, we’ll handle it, whatever it is. Take Elena and retire for the night. I’ll do the same with Scarlett, and for fucks sake, Caleb, find someone else. Call one of your supermodels.” I grin, and he flips me off.
I walk out, and my smile falls.
I touch my side through my shirt, my scar.
Damian is right. It’s all connected, and I will unravel every thread.