Chapter 22

Carlie's steps quickened determinedly. Her resolve was firm. She awaited revenge, as her motive from the beginning was such. She wanted to thwart Tiffany Emerald, immediately thwart her evil scheme. Carlie desired the downfall of her cunning rival. The perfect badge. With her slender fingers, Carlie reached for the door handle, intending to open it. But before she could, Jona firmly grabbed her hand first. Though Carlie didn't think her steps were hesitant, she evidently wasn't agile enough to match Jona's strides.

"Let go!"Carlie threatened, scowling. "What's wrong with you, damn it!?"

"Listen to what others have to say before acting recklessly like earlier!"Jona commanded. He sighed deeply, feeling a hot surge of frustration in his chest. An ache settled in. It felt like speaking to Carlie was like conversing with a mute horizon. The more Jona expressed his thoughts, the more Carlie ignored them. "Listen carefully. Every plan has a procedure and acting impulsively out of revenge won't fix anything!"

Carlie's brow furrowed with irritation,"so what do you want!?"

"Listen to me for a moment, for the sake of the Greek gods. Hear the plan before you act!"Jona yelled loudly. His frustration peaked.

"I already said i don't want to spend any more time with you!"

"Didn't you want to advance in Tiffany's career? Then listen to what i have to say,"Jona snapped, increasingly impatient.

"I don't know if this is just your tactic to restrain me a little longer or not!"

Carlie's words felt like ammunition relentlessly bombarding Jona's feelings of exasperation. He felt like doing anything to forcefully shake this stubbornness out of Madame Eloise's head. Jona was an acute perfectionist. He couldn't accept it if his plans didn't flow as expected. And his plan was now based on two things. Snatching away Tiffany's glory and keeping Carlie Eloise by his side. The second plan had recently emerged on his agenda ad this troublesome woman could ruin both of Jona's plans at once, just because of her stubbornness.

Knock! knock!

The ongoing debate was interrupted by a knock on the door. "Sir,"Devan's voice came from outside. Jona forced Carlie to stand behind him, then unlocked and opened the door. Always holding onto Carlie's hand, ready in case she suddenly leaped out of Jona's office. Trying to escape.

"What is it?"

"Sorry to interrupt your activities, but there is something important I need to convey,"Devan said, bowing respectfully.

"Go ahead."

"The alliance leaders in the meeting hall are starting to wonder what's going on and the status of the meeting's continuation. The lost patience is causing unrest, and now the situation is no longer conducive."

Chaos erupted in the air. Shouts and protests continued incessantly, from the 18 people gathered in the immeasurable meeting hall. The air was filled with murmurs of protest. Questions began to arise everywhere. "Why hasn't the meeting started yet?"

"Where are the Yones siblings?"

"Where are our leaders?"

"What was that gunshot sound?"repeated uncontrollably, these questions filled the air. The meeting room had many rules, one of which was that when the meeting was about to begin, members who had already entered were not allowed to leave until the meeting was over. A rule rarely opposed by anyone. But today was different.

Jona had been gone for almost 30 minutes, after the gunshot echoed in the air. Instantly, the room, which was previously quiet, was filled with confusion and bewilderment. Jona as the leader, was certainly the first to leave. The one responsible for the situation and for the seemingly impossible 20 minutes that felt like an eternity, 18 people 9 alliance leaders, and their 9 right hands  waited in anxious anticipation and tension. Many assumed there had been an attack.

Their assumptions ran wild to the point of thinking there was an attack on the Yones siblings who had yet to arrive. Initially, everyone remained orderly, waiting for news in their respective seats. But the pile of curiosity eventually erupted wildly.

Now everyone was pressing to get out.

They wanted to see the situation with their own eyes. Jona's subordinates tried to hold them back. Reminding repeatedly that it violated meeting regulations. But it seemed everyone had become foolish. Curiosity overwhelmed them, and rules no longer restrained their curiosity. Besides, they were mafia.

'Disregarding rules was their daily routine, wasn't it?'

"Please wait a moment-"

"Just a moment longer from what you've been saying. When exactly!?"a big-bodied man reprimanded one unfortunate subordinate who was now trembling in fear. His body shrunk. Shoulders drooped. Fear weighed heavily on him. The more the subordinate ignored Jona's request to stay put, the more the alliance leaders' desire to revolt surged. Banging on the door, seeking a way out. It felt like the conflict was already on the brink, ready to slide freely. But apparently, fortune favored those unfortunate subordinates. Because not long after, the resolute footsteps of two pairs of feet echoed on the tiles and lo and behold, the meeting hall door was forcefully pushed open. Knocking down three subordinates who were guarding the door, causing every alliance member to step back.

Their chairman finally returned. Jona entered with Devan trailing behind him.

The chaotic commotion instantly subsided. Even turning into a tense atmosphere. Jona's presence always carried an undertone of intimidation. And when Jona's gaze swept over them, everyone immediately knew what they should do.

Sit.

Everyone instantly took their seats. Jona walked through the hall. Sat down in the leadership chair. Devan stood behind him, like all the other right-hand men of other leaders waiting behind their bosses' chairs. Tasked with protecting their bosses from any potential threats.

"Sorry for the wait,"Jona said, breaking the silence. "We can start the meeting now."

"Just a moment, Sir. Isn't there something more important we should discuss now rather than starting the meeting?"a man rose from his seat, his eyes shining with passionate emotion. Ahmad Amdalla, an illegal arms smuggler in Afghanistan, Yemen, and Iraq. Especially for illegal terrorists still entangled with the Taliban tribe.

"What about the gunshot earlier? What about the 30 minutes without any news, Mr. Jona? Don't you owe us an explanation about that? What about the Yones siblings? Where are they? And are you going to start the meeting without their presence? Wouldn't it be better for us to wait for them and not be hasty?"

"The Yones siblings won't be coming,"Jona said, flatly.

"What's the reason? Because this morning i contacted them and they said if they tested positive, they would come to this meeting,"Ahmad said, seemingly unwilling to give up. Among all the alliance leadership members, Ahmad was the most courageous. Always expressing his opinions even if they could ignite conflict. He was a man difficult to control. If his mind weren't so brilliant, Jona would never want to meet him again in his lifetime.

"Shut your mouth, damn it. Are you trying to defy the boss's wishes?"another man, with a lower voice than Ahmad's but with an equally imposing physique, spoke up. Berico Aven, a powerful illegal immigrant smuggler in many areas. Especially in South American countries.

"I'm not defying. I'm just asking!"

"And there's no difference between that and defying, because you're stopping the boss's desire to start the meeting,"Berico said. A sigh of frustration escaped him.

"Just stay quiet and listen. The boss will surely explain after this,"in Jona's eyes, Berico Aven was like a camel. Always thirsty. Thirsty for titles and positions. That's why Berico always seemed to work hard to create a good image in front of Jona. To be favored by his boss.