Chapter 48 Chapter 48

Chapter 48 Chapter 48
The office door opened slowly and August walked into the room like he belonged there. He was not at all cautioned or intimidated, he looked very comfortable.
Two of his men remained outside while the rest came in and Arthur security quietly adjusted position across the floor. The tension between both of these men, both of this very powerful men was very thick enough to fill in the air. Nobody spoke, nobody needed to do that because the atmosphere had already changed at the moment August stepped into the building.
August moved further inside, at an unhurried pace and his face sharp, while his eyes traveling across the office, with obvious interest . 
The floor to ceiling windows overlooked the city, polished wood and everything in order and there was this expensive silence. Every detail in the room reflected power, and this power built carefully over the years.
It was all control, down to the smallest thing. A faint smile touched his mouth.
"A very nice office you have here Arthur." He said casually walking closer to him with his hands inside of his pocket.
"You have upgraded over the years. I remember coming here as little boy with my father once, it was slightly different back then, but you kept your father's touch. His relentless taste still everywhere." He said noticing everything he could.
The paintings on the wall. The table, the floor, the mirror in the corner, the old library wall. Some of the things that he did in fact remember. However, Arthur remained standing near his desk. One hand resting lightly against the surface and, all of this time Arthur's expression was completely unreadable.
There was no welcome in his face, and no irritation either. Somehow that made him even more dangerous and that is when Arthur took in a deep breath.
"I'm sure you did not come all the way here to admire all of my furniture." He said with a very small smirk on his face.
August was very amused by that. Which made him chuckle out loud but it was still very soft.
"As always, nothing has changed in you Arthur. Still very straight to point. Something I have admired over the years that I survived with you. Remarkable truly." August muttered the last bit, amused in all form.
Marcus, on the other hand, stood nearby in silence as he was watching every moment very carefully. He had to do that, it was his duty to take care of every single person in this office building, including Arthur Romero.
Although, as per Arthur's instructions over the years. His family and the people that worked for him came first, before anyone else and even Arthur. However, he noticed and his attention shifted between the two men constantly.
Already anticipating where the meeting would go and as always, being the right hand man of Arthur Romero, he was ready for apparently anything.
August continued walking slowly through the office, as though he had all the time in the world. His eyes are drifting briefly towards the guard stationed discreetly near the doors, before returning to Arthur again.
"I've been hearing interesting things lately." He said, rubbing his hands closely in front of his chest. 
"Your people have become very active recently. Especially around places they should not be. Places that do not belong to the Romero family, or their allies.
Arthur said nothing, but he waited for him to continue. Knowing exactly what he was talking about and where he was taking.
Those Arthur got more enjoyment by only listening. And he let August continue.
"Your men are surrounding a lot more places, lot more land, warehouses, boats, clubs, financial routes." August said, and he tilted his head slightly, continuuing.
"Some of them happen to belong to me. Isn't that a surprise Mr. Romero?" He said, being very formal or at least charming as he always is, with everyone in the world.
But he tried to be more charming with Arthur. He liked it as an amusement.
Although, Arthur finally spoke up and his tone came out as always very flat.
"Illegal operations tend to attract problem. I do not see how any of this is any of my concerns. My men seem to be doing their given job." He said, very calmly. 
And a quiet smile spread across August's face at that moment and it started growing as he pointed his finger playfully at Arthur.
"And there it is." He whispered, his eyes remaining steady on him. It was now very cold and mostly patient.
Arthur's eyes remain steady on him and it was extremely cold but very patient.
"You're trying very hard these days aren't you?" August continued. Slowly circling the room.
"Over the past few years, you are going through this clean image. Building a respectful empire. I've been seeing people respecting you for what you have become in this world. Recently saw a video of you shaking your hands with a politician.
Investments and investors begging for a meeting to be with you." He said, while his eyes looked around the office. 
"Again everything is so much more polished over the past 10 years that you have stepped into this industry. Into this company, into this empire." He said.
But Arthur did not respond. He was standing there listening to all of it.
"You can pretend all you want. But don't forget where all of this came from. We all have to be very true about the origin of the Romero empire." He said, anger seeping from his voice this time.
The room grew quieter somehow and Marcus certainly shifted his stance and that is when Arthur noticed immediately. 
"Your grandfather built the empire with blood on his hands." He said, his voice getting thick.
"It was never a legal contract Arthur, and even you know that. He has killed, murdered, destroyed, taken away families and you know that." Arthur's jaw went tight slightly.
It was barely noticeable. But it was there.
"Careful August." He said wanting him to stop. Instead of backing down, August smiled brighter.
"I, on the other hand, respected your grand father. Please don't take it in the wrong way. I can understood, power feel a lot stronger than reputation. And your father did not understand that, but your grandfather did.
I have so much more respect for him. I have nothing bad to say about your grandfather per say." He said, with so much respect in his eyes.
Arthur stepped away from the desk and then slowly moved towards August. His steps very concerned and controlled, extremely calm. The kind of calm that usually came before violence.
"Now that generation also died violently." He said, simply the words landing harder than shouting ever could. And for the first time something shifted behind August's eyes.
Arthur stopped directly in front of him, now close enough that the air between them felt very sharp.
"You came into my office, all the way here to complain about losing territory?" Arthur continued, quietly. 
"That already tells me enough that you are losing a lot more." He said, and August was not having it and his eyes were telling thee truth.  
Marcus almost looked away at that, because Arthur never wasted words. He did not need speak to humiliate anyone. A few careful carefully placed sentence usually was enough to cut deep or deeper than most threats. 
And August knew that as well.
Something cold entered his mind now you always did thank you very much smarter than anyone else. 
He did not say a single word, but stood there listening to him carefully. The silence followed something dangerous.
Even the guards near the door felt very much all the tension. August let out a small laugh, though there was no humor left behind it anymore.
"You sound so much like your grandfather every year, and I cannot help but notice that." 
Now this one statement brought up something extremely dark inside of Arthur. Now his expression changed and everyone saw that coming.
However, it was Marcus that was taken aback.
"You shouldn't have said that." August muttered.
"Leave now, if your work here is done." Arthur said, flat and extremely final words and the room seem to have paused.
August should have stopped right there, but instead, he tilted his head slightly and asked softly.
"You can clean up all of your work Arthur. How much ever you want. But your wealth came from blood." He said, looking Arthur dead in his eyes.
"Women have lost their children and fathers and sons and husbands because of your grandfather, and your family Arthur. You making all of your money whit isn't going to stop that. From their hell, you started your life. I want you to remember that forever." August reminded him.
Needed to say, Arthur was angry. But his expression went down slowly.
"I guess some of us do end up changing. However it is difficult for me to say that your change will ever come. There will be never any reason for your father to ever be proud of you August. That is where you're going with this?" Arthur asked. Knowing where to hurt August as well.
This came out of nowhere and it even surprised August. His smile vanished.
Just like Arthur's grandfather was a sensitive topic for Arthur.
August's father was the same way. 
"If my father was here. He would have respected me." August said, adn Arthur smiled because as always, this worked.
No, August. There is no respecting you, and even your father knows that." August's breath went tight, his chest hurt but he stood there.
"He would be disappointed in seeing what you have made of this company. Of yourself. And everything around you." Arthur reminded him as well. 
And the word "disappointment" killed August on the inside. August was bleeding and Arthur could see that very clearly. 
This as a small win, but this was neccasery.