5 - Meet Xander Forger

“Who would have thought that a single woman would determine the downfall of two show-off giants.” 

___

XANDER.

“Mr. Forger,” my silence was disturbed by this armed man who walked in with his protruding belly. My face turned sour and I nodded at him as he continued reporting.

“I guess you haven’t heard? The Morgans will gather their people tonight.”

His sentence caught my attention so I momentarily stopped reading the news article online and indulged myself with tobacco with furrowed brows, “So, what does it have to do with me? What benefit will it bring?” 

“Wedding anniversary, sir. Bart’s successor and his hot wife will be officially introduced,” he excitedly answered. “We have our chance, the least they expect, we can sabotage the party?” Mikael suggested ludicrously.

Not even a second when my secretary came and mocked Mikael’s idea, “Your ideas are as brainless as you are. You’re not even thinking straight. You want Mr. Forger to go to their lair with the most influential people gathered together? And then what, drag him down?”

His name is John, he’s the one who takes care of my billionaire image. Whereas, Mikael is the head of my security. 

One deals with brute strength while the other is the brain himself. So they usually end up bickering like husband and wife, just like now. 

“Asshole, how dare you insult me! That’s why I said ‘suggestion’, you fool,” he countered. 

I was never a patient man, so I got fed up with their childish act, “Shut it or I’ll blow both your brains out.”

My roaring voice was enough to hush them, only then I spoke of my thoughts, “For now, just observe the place quietly. If you sense any  irregularity or danger, then give me a heads up and I will decide what to do.”

“That’s what I’m talking about!” Mikael announced heatedly. 

“This might not end well, and your father…” John, as expected, was against it, but my side look gave him my answer. He sighed and obeyed.  

Once the silence returned, I went back to browsing some news articles on the internet.

One thumbnail about the Morgans piqued my interest. I started reading the headline aloud, “Morgans: Capitalism, Progress, Biggest Empire,” I couldn’t help but smirked at the sight of it. 

I gnashed my teeth and angrily released my annoyance, 

“Biggest empire, my foot. Everyone knows we are way ahead of them. If not for the weight of cocaine they are smuggling into their area, they will be nothing more than dung. However, everybody’s belly is filled with drug money.”

I was about to scroll up, until for some reason, a photograph included in the article struck my heart like no other. A mixture of hatred, guilt, and deep regret emerged from my inside, and surely I know why!

It is the portrait of the whole Tantoco family, including the main couple, their sons and the daughters-in-law, and the only grandchild.

Yet again, my heart fluttered at the sight of a very simple lady, yet elegant and sophisticated in her own way. With an innocent face that is just right for my taste preference. She’s similar to someone I used to know: someone that reminded me of the past. 

Unfortunately, she is the loving wife of Drake Morgan, and she’s loved by the people for being down to earth.

Although, this very single photograph made me connect to her as if I knew that she doesn’t truly belong to the likes of them. I clenched my fists and said aloud, “To the likes of criminals and murderers.”

This very thought pushed me to do something unexpected. I immediately picked up the phone and dialed one number. The line rang and in just a few seconds, the line connected, “Vaughn,” a warm voice was spoken.

“Alexander Forger!” his voice was obviously in disbelief, “You’re not the type to call, what’s up?” the man even started with sarcasm and followed up by saying, “You owe me something, you never went to my inauguration,” the man on the other line laughed hard.

“I know, let’s catch up sometime, I just arrived from Germany, and Father asked me to do something for him,” I defended.

“What else can I do, then? Hmm… Just give my regards to old Forger. I know you are busy, tell me why you called?” and he didn’t waste a single second. 

I chuckled in silence, “Since you hate wasting time, let me get this straight, I need a favor from you, Chief Vaughn,” and the friendly vibe was broken by the seriousness of my voice. 

Tapping the phone unknowingly, he responded, “Seems like a big and heavy favor, coming from a Forger?” 

“Not really. I just need you to get information about a woman.”

Cardo scoffed as he was seemingly surprised at him “Woman? You? I didn’t expect this day would come, but, what the hell, sure, give me a name,” he even boasted.

“Selene Burton Morgan, wife of Drake Morgan,” I answered nonchalantly. 

I felt a sudden change in the mood. Tension overwhelmed us. But it was cut by Vaughn’s loud curse, “Motherfucker, Xander. Of all women, why Morgan’s girl?” I can imagine him shaking his head. 

“As long as you leave my name out of it, none would suspect, right, Xander?” he reminded me with an emphasis on my name. 

“Done! I even wonder what we are talking about right now! You know me, don’t you? I finish the job clean, with no mess, and always a clean slate. I just want to know why and how she became associated with criminals.”

“Shh... shut it, Xander, aren’t you af–” he was shushing me down but I fought back. 

“The difference between you and me is I’m a Forger. I fear no one. And you, you have the intellect to gather.” 

Convinced of my intention, he opened up a bit, “I can’t blame you, though. That woman is the real deal. Just give me two hours, and I’ll give you everything about that precious gem,” he even pledged then hung the phone. 

It was a long conversation for me, so I laid back on my big chair thinking, “Sleene Burton, huh, your face is of a goddess. Morgan will only ruin your life.”

***

I was currently resting when my phone chimed nonstop from a tenacious caller.

“What the hell?” was what he got from irritating me.

But even before the caller could explain, turmoil and chaos from the background already told my guts that something was definitely happening, that included the revolution of some cars from that place. 

“Sir, they were running amok here. This is our chance to fuck the Morgans. I’ll put a bullet on Bart’s head myself,” Mikael was revved up as usual.

Then, I heard a follow-up sentence from John, the calm one, “Asshole, report first instead of giving your unsolicited foolish ideas.”

I felt the surge to tie their necks together, “Just tell me what the fuck is happening?” 

“We saw Drake Morgan driving away like a fucked up madman, then there was chaos. Then I saw Dario, one of Bart’s men, dragging Drake’s wife, pulling her hair violently.”

“She’s covered in blood and bruises,” he reported. Constrict around my heart began just listening to him. 

I had a hard time breathing, imagining what would happen next to that innocent woman. And my heavy thought was confirmed when John updated me, “Sir, he already loaded her into that infamous red van, poor lady, she’ll be dead by midnight for sure.” 

Confused with the missing pieces of the story, “John, drive back here and get me, and Mikael, don’t you dare let that car out of your sight, quick!” I authoritatively gave my command.