Fifty Five

CHAPTER 55

Antonio and Ben arrived at a warehouse located far from the city center. The warehouse appeared quiet and unattended, surrounded by a rusty iron fence. Only a few yellow lights hung from the ceiling, illuminating the dark corners. They walked into the designated area, each carrying a feeling that was hard to explain. Ben followed closely behind, walking carefully.

Once inside the warehouse, the atmosphere turned tense. In the distance, Antonio could see figures waiting in the middle of the room. Marcus, a muscular man who was Antonio’s right-hand, stood near a large wooden table, accompanied by two of his men who seemed to be waiting for their arrival. The surrounding atmosphere felt full of threat.

Without saying a word, Marcus stepped forward, followed by his two men, also silent. They all looked ready for anything that might happen.

"Antonio," Marcus said with a deep voice, his words echoing in the empty warehouse. "We're ready. Everything is according to plan."

Antonio nodded slightly, then looked toward the corner of the warehouse where a man was tied to a chair. It was Thomas, a business partner who had once worked with Antonio, but now had become someone who betrayed his trust. Thomas's face was bruised, blood flowing down his weakened face, his body covered in bruises. Antonio approached, his gaze sharp, filled with pent-up anger.

Thomas looked up, his eyes struggling to meet Antonio’s, despite the difficulty. "Antonio," he croaked, "I... I will pay back the debts. Please, give me time!"

Antonio did not answer immediately. He stared at Thomas with mixed emotions, anger and impatience. Then, in a low, threatening voice, Antonio spoke, "Do you think you can run away from this responsibility? Do you think all of this can be over just like that?" He stepped closer, making Thomas fall silent, fear becoming more visible on his face.

"I’ve given you plenty of chances, Thomas," Antonio continued, his voice growing sharper. "But it turns out, you still chose to play with fire. And you know what happens next."

Thomas, already helpless, could only lower his head. "I promise, Antonio. I will pay off all my debts. Please give me time. I will do anything you ask."

Antonio stared at him for a few seconds, as if processing those words. After a moment, he glanced at Marcus, who was standing not far from him. "Marcus," he said firmly. "Let him go. Let him leave."

Marcus looked at his boss with hesitation for a moment, but then nodded. Swiftly, he and his two men untied Thomas. The man collapsed onto the floor with a weak body but quickly ran, hurrying out of the warehouse. No one stopped him. He knew this was his last chance.

After Thomas escaped, the atmosphere grew silent again. Antonio looked toward Marcus. "I want you to escort my new client in Mexico. They’re crucial to the continuation of our business," he said in a serious tone.

Marcus bowed his head, showing respect. "Of course, Sir. We’ll ensure everything goes smoothly there. There won’t be any problems."

Antonio nodded in satisfaction. "Take good care of them, Marcus. We cannot afford to lose this client. Everything depends on the smoothness of this transaction."

Marcus answered confidently, "I understand, Sir. Nothing will stop our plan."

With that, Antonio turned and headed toward the door. Ben followed behind, and the two of them left the warehouse, leaving Marcus and his men to make sure everything continued according to plan. Antonio knew that every step he took now was bringing him closer to his goal, and there was no room for mistakes. Everything had to go perfectly.

On the way home, Antonio reflected on what had just happened. Thomas was gone, and with that, he felt there was one enemy successfully eliminated. However, an uneasy feeling still lingered. What if there were more betrayals to come? What should he do to ensure that no one could ruin his plans?

Stay focused, Antonio told himself. There’s no room for weakness.

Antonio glanced at the road ahead as they drove, his mind filled with many things that needed to be settled soon. The situation with Thomas was over, but there were many other problems to face. Meanwhile, Ben, sitting in the passenger seat, appeared busy checking his phone, signaling that there were some messages that needed immediate attention. As usual, Ben didn’t speak much, but Antonio knew that the man was always alert and ready in any situation.

They drove through the city streets, filled with vehicles, but Antonio felt the world outside seemed blurred. Inside the quiet car, his thoughts were focused on something bigger. Cassandra. The growing feelings inside him made it hard to calm his mind. He should have only focused on business and the power he needed to gain. But Cassandra’s presence had changed everything.

"Ben," Antonio's voice broke through the silence that had lingered too long on their journey. Ben turned to look, waiting for further instructions from his boss.

"Prepare everything needed for the meeting in Mexico. I want us to be better prepared this time. This new client is very important. If everything goes well, we will have access to a very lucrative market," Antonio said, trying to push aside the troubling feelings that had been growing.

Ben nodded. "Of course, Sir. Everything is prepared. We’ve mapped out the necessary steps. All the contacts we need are ready. What about the others? Do you want me to follow up on anything regarding Cassandra or Alexander?"

Antonio sighed, feeling the weight of the responsibility growing heavier. "Watch over Cassandra, Ben. Make sure she doesn’t get closer to the wrong side. We can’t allow her to become a threat."

Ben looked at him seriously. "Of course, Sir. I will make sure we keep an eye on every move she makes. However, there’s one thing I need to mention. If we keep monitoring her too closely, we might attract unwanted attention. That could affect our business."

Antonio furrowed his brow, thinking for a moment. "That’s the risk we have to take, Ben. I’ve made my decision. We’ll make sure Cassandra doesn’t move any further. I can’t allow someone close to us to become a future threat. And about Alexander... we will deal with him after we finish with Cassandra."

The trip took longer than expected. However, even though their physical journey seemed ordinary, Antonio’s feelings were growing heavier. His thoughts kept returning to Cassandra’s gaze, to the way she displayed both strength and vulnerability. Antonio knew that despite Cassandra appearing like someone very controlled, there was something driving her. Something that could endanger all his plans. And that’s what disturbed him.

Upon arriving at the office, Antonio immediately met with Marcus to discuss his trip to Mexico. Ben followed behind, walking steadily, carrying various documents that had been prepared beforehand. Marcus stood waiting in front of the large table located in the main office. As soon as Antonio and Ben entered the room, Marcus immediately lowered his head in respect.

"Mr. Antonio," Marcus said in a deep voice, "Everything is ready for the trip to Mexico. We’ve arranged everything. The new client will meet us there on the scheduled day."

Antonio nodded in satisfaction. "Good, Marcus. I want to make sure everything goes smoothly. There’s no room for mistakes. Keep good relations with the client, and make sure we don’t lose the opportunity there."

Marcus nodded again, his face showing seriousness. "Of course, Sir. We’ll ensure everything goes according to plan. There’s one thing you need to know. We must be more careful. In Mexico, there are many players who could influence our deal."

Antonio stepped closer, looking at Marcus attentively. "I know. But we must be more aggressive. We’re going there to control the market, not to be a small player. I want to make sure that nothing stands in our way."

Marcus paused for a moment, then said in a lower voice, "Of course, Sir. We will arrange everything. But I want you to know, some people have already started hearing about our move. They might try to shake our position."

Antonio looked at Marcus, and for a moment, the atmosphere in the office felt more tense. "What do you mean? Who has started hearing about us?"

Marcus sighed quietly. "Some competitors are beginning to realize that we’re moving fast. There are a few groups with the same interest. They won’t stand idle if they know we’re targeting their market. We need to be ready to face opposition."

Antonio thought for a moment, weighing every possibility. "Keep everything safe, Marcus. We can’t let them stop us. If they try, they will regret it."

With confidence, Marcus replied, "We’re ready, Sir."

After the meeting with Marcus ended, Antonio returned to his office, feeling that everything needed to be carefully prepared. There were many threats to face, and not all enemies could be easily recognized. The decisions he was making now were increasingly shaping the direction of his life. On one side, there was Cassandra, who continued to disturb his thoughts, while on the other, there was the world of business that never stopped turning.

Ben entered the room, bringing some documents that needed Antonio’s signature. "Sir," he said in a calm voice, "all the reports you requested are ready. There’s one more thing we need to discuss. About Alexander... he’s regained consciousness, Sir."