The three of them met by chance but were bound by two things - greed and their common contempt for the Kings, but the thirst for the King's unimaginable wealth was the bond that held them closer than any blood. They each needed it for their own desperate reason. They each whispered to themselves that it was the only change they were taking, and the Kings won't even miss it - after all, they were clearly blessed by the gods of wealth and riches for those who believed in such. Greed kept them tangled up for many years, from their encounter at a business summit in Moscow. For three nights, the air in the De Luxe hotel halls stank of rich people on the surface, but a closer look would tell you that most of the attendees were messengers and puppets - just like Thomas and Glenda or struggling business people in need of investment and partnership like Tony. The masters and key holders of the real wealth were there in name.
Tailored suits and hollow handshakes underneath the glistering chandeliers of the most expensive and luxurious hotel in the city were the best Thomas could describe the night of their first real meeting. Of course, they'd seen each other in passing before in fleeting moments, either in the colourful corridors of Rose's galleries or nodding respectfully at local tech bidding workshops. Still, words were never really exchanged until Moscow. What started as innocent banter during a public networking session turned into secret, hushed meetings in the shadows of every business summit they attended together. That faithful night forged them into thieves with a clear mission to chip and collect in the shadows.
To the outside world, Thomas would remain the great, flawless, triumphant CEO the Kings saw him as, and a wonderful, devoted husband to his angelic, soft wife. The role of an exemplary father came naturally because he didn't need to fake his affection for his only child. If it were possible, he would've taken Linda with him, but he knew he wouldn't get anywhere fast. The Kings had eyes all over - so against his will, he left his daughter, but still, her innocent giggles and adorable laughs kept him company on most days where he missed her terribly - every day.
On the other hand, Glenda was to remain the supportive best friend and a great art curator, but what both Thomas and Tony didn't know was the subtle flicker of jealousy simmering beneath her flawless skin - a venomous glow that personified the very night of their fateful encounter in Moscow. As her dreams of riches crystallised into reality, her hunger sharpened into an obsession to convert everything of Rose's into her own, not just her wealth but also her husband. But as the days went by, it became clearer that she couldn't have everything unless Rose were out of the picture, and so her evil plan was born and nurtured in her dark, twisted mind.
Tony remained truest to his vile self; he did not need a facade to mask his true nature or intent. Hatred for the Kings was deeply ingrained in his heart. Now and then, he'd devise a new plan to topple their empire - if possible, he would pay a great fortune to anyone with the power to weaken them. So his part in this organised selfish plan was inevitable. He yearned for the day he would see them brought to their knees, not just for vengeance, but for the prosperity of his family business. The extra income was a lifeline to this business and fuel for his "other" murkier business ventures.
"...but I will let him tell you all about it because I still can't quite understand it...", Thomas narrated to Jeremy, who was sitting and taking it all in with great astonishment.
He has so much to divulge to Linda when she wakes up - he just knew it. Thomas gave Tony a sharp glare that made the hair on his arm stand up, and with a low, calm, but warning tone, he spoke, "...you better tell him - maybe he will understand better than me...".
He then frantically scoured his pockets for a cigarette, lit it and sighed as a handful of puffy smoke filled the room. He slumped back on the couch, head tilted to the wooden office ceiling, recounting the events that inevitably led to that very moment, " I was very young and foolish back then...but also on top of my game..." he went on to narrate how they would whisper and plan in the shadows at every major business event, from heir ungodly rendezvous in New York and many parts of the world, including the neon city of Seoul, where John and Jin Ae met for the first time. Pride filled his voice as he praised their meticulousness, "...and judging by how perfectly everything unfolded...I guess we managed not to raise any suspicion, but still. It wasn't easy. I was-"
"Sir...", Jeremy interrupted, narrowing his eyes, "If you don't mind me asking, why are you telling me all this...?"
He raised his head, "Because it's the only way my daughter can hear my side...",
"Yeah...but you can tell her yourself and then apologise...", Jeremy replied calmly,
"I doubt she wants to hear from me...", he said with a voice full of sadness.
"You owe it to her to at least try...don't you?", Jeremy insisted
"Well...I owe her a lot...but you have a point. I wanted to stop running, so I guess that's also something I will have to do...", he concurred with sorrow still ringing in his voice and eyes full of regrets, but he quickly snapped to his calm demeanour as if to mask his recoiling, pained heart.
He tilted to the side, resting his arm on the brown leather couch's armrest. His face showed a sign of relief when he looked at his time, "...anyway...", with a voice eager to finish the story, "Your uncle here was well - and is my understanding that he still is connected to people who strive better on the left side of the law, right Tony?!", he stared at him tauntingly. He relished watching him sink deeper into despair, visibly wishing and praying for it all to stop. Still, all he could do was listen forcefully and watch him gloat; if only he could end it all at that second.
Thomas smirked as he carried on, "Thanks to him...it was easy to get clients and buyers...before we knew it, we were officially moving and buying things. At first, I was very anxious and guilt-ridden. I couldn't sleep for days, let alone look at Rose or Linda in the eye. I recoiled in my stomach every time either of them touched me. What I was doing was despicable, it's not how I was raised...but the more pressure I got from the Kings with their unreasonable, suffocating expectations, the easier it all became. The harder I worked for my freedom...well, to be fair, the King's surname had its perks - the clients were easily drawn to me and so was earning their trust...".
The King's name opened the door to a stream of noteworthy businessmen and politicians who had an itch for illicit thrills and occasionally dipped their toes into the abyss of illegal activities. This clientele made him powerful in the underground community - in no time, Thomas had unwittingly established his own territory and connections that would later prove golden. They admired his discretion, and his closeness to Rose allowed him to keep tabs on the investigations and activities surrounding art smuggling; that's how he stayed in the shadows and out of the noise - further widening his circle. They went for Thomas King - but stayed for Thomas Ndlovu. He chuckled in a low rumble tinged with embarrassment, eyes glinting in the haze, "A part of me loved it because then I was myself...", he bent to ash his cigarette on the bare black coffee table, dimming its amber glow, "...I had regained a sense of my identity. Then came the time to leave it all behind...to me, it was never forever - it was just a bridge to somewhere better. But turns out, my associates didn't take kindly to goodbyes." his gaze fell on Tony, heavy with unspoken accusation, hinting at something darker that took place.