Rene took another sip of his drink, letting the anticipation build. “The first thing we need is a mansion,” he said, looking straight into Gunnar's eyes.“A mansion?” Gunnar repeated, arching an eyebrow. “You mean I need to live like one of them?”Rene nodded. “Exactly. You need to look the part, and that includes where you live. We’ll find a property that fits the profile of a wealthy investor or entrepreneur. It will be our base of operations and the place where you’ll entertain your new ‘friends’.”Gunnar leaned back, considering the enormity of the task. “Alright, a mansion. What’s next?”Rene’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “Next, we go shopping. We need to get you some luxurious brand clothes. If you’re going to fit in, you need to dress like them. Think designer suits, expensive watches, the whole nine yards.”Gunnar chuckled, shaking his head. “I’ve never been one for fancy clothes, but I guess I can make an exception for this.”“And after that,” Rene continued, “we’ll get you
A wild laugh escaped Gunnar's lips, catching the barber off guard. The sheer audacity of the barber’s whisper, combined with the absurdity of the situation, struck him as unexpectedly hilarious. He glanced at Rene, who was obliviously enjoying his whiskey, and then at the barber, whose face had turned an uncomfortable shade of red.Gunnar cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. "You are such a gullible idiot.""Huh?" The barber’s face twisted in confusion, and he looked from Gunnar to Rene, trying to make sense of the situation.Another laugh escaped Gunnar’s lips as he saw the confusion on the barber’s face. He took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure, and looked directly at the barber. "Ain't you?"Suddenly, Gunnar’s expression darkened, and a look of annoyance crossed his face."Yes. Yes. Of course. I am such a gullible idiot." The barber laughed, annoyed that he was getting scolded and not Rene. "Listen, I don’t need a lecture from you about firing my assist
Three months laterPushing the back of her head into the pillow, Maria lay in bed, clutching her phone, her eyes locked on the last message Rene had sent her a week ago. "Wait for me. I will see you soon."Those words echoed in her mind, a mixture of hope and despair twisting her heart. She wiped away the tears that rolled down the corner of her lids, wondering where he was and if he was safe. The silence from him for the past days had been excruciating. Just then, a knock on her door startled her from her thoughts. Then Rachel's voice came through. "Miss Maria, dinner is ready. Your family is waiting for you."With a deep breath, Maria forced herself to sit up, brushing away the remnants of her tears. "Thank you. I'll be down in a moment."Forcing herself out of her room, she headed downstairs, feeling the weight of her family's gaze as she entered the dining room. As her gaze lowered, Maria hesitantly took her seat at the table, her heart pounding in her chest. Just as she was abou
Staring at the sky, Rene drew a deep breath, feeling well-rested from his trip yesterday and glad to be home... relieved that it was Sunday.Just then, his phone buzzed and he reached for it in his pocket and answered, "Good morning, father.""I'm proud of you," was the first words that left Rome's lips."For-""Spending my money wisely."Sighing, Rene stared at the cloud and then said, "I couldn't have done it without you-""Give credit where it is due... It's all you, son. I might have pushed some buttons, but you're the one who stepped up and made it happen. You proved me right, and I knew you would. I just needed to give you that extra push. You've got the cunning and intelligence."Rene listened quietly, his expression unreadable as his father continued, "I've seen what you're capable of. You're not just my son; you're the future of our family. Keep making those connections, and keep climbing higher. You've got a legacy to build."A hint of pride crept into Rene's voice as he rep
Speeding through traffic like a maniac, Rene arrived at the Rossi estate in under twenty minutes and burst inside the large mansion, shouting, "Maria!" The guards in the hallway glared at him like some sort of madman, and then stood in his way, saying, "How dare you cause such disruption in the Rossi home. Don't you know Sunday is Master resting day and you dare to intrude?"Rene didn't pay them any mind as he shouted back, "Let me pass. Now!"The guards remained silent, glancing at each other nervously, but they stood their ground, refusing to move.Rene growled under his breath as he tried again, yelling, “Maria!!"Soon the sound of footsteps alerted the guards, and Rene stared past the guards to see Josh approaching him from the opposite direction. "I told you to stay away from my daughter. Didn't I?" Josh said angrily.Seeing Josh, Rene felt fury flare up within him but swallowed it down, glaring back. "Maria is not some commodity that you can pass around in exchange for somet
Gunnar arrived at the conference flanked by members of his gang, all dressed in immaculate black suits. They moved with a sense of purpose, their presence imposing. As they entered the conference hall, the swarm of reporters, TV crews, paparazzi, and journalists created a flurry of activity. Cameras flashed, and microphones were thrust forward as Gunnar made his way to the podium.“Mr. Gunnar, can you tell us more about your new project with Apex Corporation?” one journalist asked, her voice barely audible over the din.Gunnar smiled confidently, taking a moment to adjust his tie. “Now that we’ve secured the contract with Apex Corporation, we’ll be focusing on meeting with potential incorporations to form strategic partnerships. This is a significant step forward, and we’re excited about the opportunities ahead.”“Can you elaborate on what these partnerships will entail?” another reporter called out.“We’re looking to leverage the strengths of both Apex Corporation and our company,” Gu
The dining room of the Rossi mansion was quiet, and yet the atmosphere carried tension as the rest of the family watched Maria serve Rene and herself the food that she prepared, ignoring the one the maids prepared for the entire family."Are you going to buy new silverware and dishes for him too?" Bianca mocked with a scoff.But Maria said nothing and calmly pulled out her chair, sat down, and started to eat. Her silence annoyed Bianca to the core and she clutched her fork."Okay. That's enough. There's no need to ruin this morning more than it already is." Mr. Rossi said, eyeing Rene.Then he cleared his throat and reached for his glass, tapping it with his fork, drawing everyone's attention to him."As we saw in the news yesterday, we have a new competition in town... ReF Networks Incorporation has landed the biggest deal in the country right now. Even though it's just two months old, it has climbed to the rank of a major player in the industry. One of its biggest successes is gett
Straightening himself in his seat, Gunnar frowned as he stared ahead and said, "No one hates that bastard, Jason, more than I do."A look of shock Rene's eyes widened in disbelief. He took a moment to process Gunnar's words, trying to understand the implication. Gunnar’s vehement hatred for Jason Rossi was evident in his tone and expression."You... hate him?" Rene said slowly, his voice betraying a mix of surprise and curiosity. "Then why didn’t you tell me about your connection with him earlier?"Gunnar sighed, his frustration palpable. “It’s not a simple matter. My issues with Jason go way beyond mere rivalry. There’s history there—personal grievances that make the professional animosity look trivial." A pained expression appeared on his face as he continued. "My gang and I once turned down a job with him because he requested us to beat a young college student to the point of death. His ego got bruised after I turned him away and told him I don't hurt innocent people. So he paid o