Derrick exhaled, a small sense of accomplishment mingling with the weight of reality. Eric Crown was no pushover, and securing a meeting was just the first hurdle. It was a start, at least.
As he ended the call, he felt a presence behind him. His mother, Serena, watched him with a proud smile, her eyes shining with a mix of relief and ambition.
"Well done, Rick," she said, using the nickname she'd given him as a child. "You're going to do great things."
Serena Lanzo had waited years for this moment—her son at the helm of the family. She'd never thought it would happen, not with Senior Marcus breathing down their necks. The first family fell on their faces she thought, a hint of satisfaction in her expression.
