Chapter 140: CEO
Somewhere, in the heart of New York, a third power was rising from its slumber. Martin, the charismatic CEO of the LEE pharmaceutical Company, could be seen with his characteristic eerie smile. His eyes filled with excitement, as he was finalizing a deal.
"Yeah, yeah! Don't you worry about a thing, my friend," Martin spoke with a confident tone, his voice laced with a hint of excitement. "Our guys will make sure your merchandise is delivered safe and sound. We've got the finest piece, the finest drugs, and as a special token of appreciation from our esteemed organization, we've even thrown in a little bonus for you."
As he ended the call, Martin closed his eyes, allowing himself a moment of retrospect. Memories of his humble beginnings flooded his mind, and a sense of pride washed over him.
"Damn, I've come a long way," he thought, a gleeful smirk forming on his lips. "From being an illegal immigrant doing small-time robberies to becoming the CEO of my own multi-million dollar company, with a network of loyal individuals who carry out my every command. Life's freaking good."
At that moment, Martin felt a surge of accomplishment. He knew that with each successful deal, each step further into the world of organized crime, he was solidifying his power and leaving his mark on the criminal underworld. The pharmaceutical company was a front for his illegal drug business.
"My grand plan to get rid of those two warring old bags, and to take over their empire will soon be complete and the entire city of New York will be mine," he whispered to himself, the words dripping with a mix of anticipation and satisfaction.
Suddenly, his train of thought was shattered by a resounding knock on his door. Annoyed at the interruption during his precious solitary time, he muttered a curse under his breath before granting permission to enter.
"Come in," he replied, his voice tinged with a hint of impatience.
As the door swung open, his personal bodyguard stood before him, bowing respectfully. "Sir, the porters have arrived," the bodyguard announced.
Straightening his suit and adjusting his shirt, Martin responded, "Come, let's go, there's no need to keep our faithful employees waiting for long." He made his way out of the room, ready to address the situation at hand.
Upon entering the room, his eyes fell upon ten individuals, each kneeling with black bags covering their faces.
With a simple gesture of his hand, he signaled to the guards to remove the bags, revealing the faces of the captives. Taking a seat and crossing his legs, Martin settled into his position of authority, ready to address the gathered individuals.
"Welcome gentlemen, As the CEO of Lee Pharmaceuticals Company, I've been facing a perplexing business dilemma for quite some time now," he spoke with a hint of sadness.
He left a brief pause, then continued, his voice filled with a newfound sense of hope. "But fear not, my friends! I have finally discovered the solution, and it lies with all of you." His gaze swept across the room, acknowledging the assembled individuals.
"As our esteemed employees, we have encountered increasing difficulties in transporting our valuable merchandise through the usual channels, which is why we need fresh approaches and new methods. And that's where each one of you comes in," he explained, his tone emphasizing the importance of their roles. "With your unwavering dedication, we will navigate the complex industry of pharmaceuticals and beyond, ensuring the smooth transportation of our goods."
"Now, right in front of you, you'll find a contract that lays out your responsibilities and the compensation you'll receive," he declared, his voice filled with authority. "Signing it will signify your agreement to work for us, while not signing it will..."
"Well, let's just say it won't end well for you." He said and waited. The hall became eerily still and no one made a sound.
"Why the hesitation? Are you worried that your handwriting will look bad or do important documents scare you?" he inquired, a hint of mockery and growing impatience in his tone. Without waiting for a response, he continued.
"Oh, how could I forget? Boys, untie them," he commanded. "This is no way to treat our valuable employees."
Just then, the clothes over their mouths were taken off and the ropes binding their arms and legs were cut off.
Immediately, one of the captives rose up, his gaze fixed upon Martin, his eyes burning with a mix of hatred and defiance.
"Who the hell do you think you are? You kidnap us and now you're spitting out trash." His voice dripped with resentment as he unleashed his frustration.
"You don't want to sign it? Well, that's upsetting but it's okay. In the end, it's your choice. You're free to leave right now if you wish to." Martin said as he waved his hands towards the exit of the room.
The one who had been allowed to leave was startled, and confused, but nonetheless walked towards the door. He managed to get a few feet from the exit when he heard the sound of a gun click. He turned around to find that Martin had pulled out a gun and pointed it at his head. Before he could say a word, he felt the clean slice of a katana through the layers of skin on his neck. He held his hand to his neck in an attempt to stop the bleeding, but the cut was deep and had been so skillfully done that it was all in vain. It was a slow and painful death and the other 'employees' watched in horror.
Martin smiled at the man who had carried out the killing and smiled gleefully. He replaced his gun in its position and then expressed his joy about not having to waste his precious silver bullets by turning to the nine remaining people.
No one said a word as they immediately bent over and began to scribble down their signatures.
"That's a bit disappointing. I was hoping some of you would be bigger dreamers. Oh well, it's for the better since I need you all to get to work soon and it would be a hassle to replace valued employees quickly." Martin said the words with a warm smile. However, in the eyes of the terrified people being held hostage and subjected to watching a man being killed in such a horrifying manner, it looked more like a devil's grin.
Not noticing, Martin turned to his men. "Clean that mess up and make sure the body doesn't cause any future nuisance. Gather his goods and make sure they meet ready buyers as soon as possible."