Fear dug its claws into Lorenzo's gut as he rose from his seat. Slowly. "What's going on, Walton?"
"I just received a call from Sheikh Hassan's secretary," Walton blurted out, his tone a bit agitated than usual. "The deal's off. Sheikh Hassan isn't interested in doing business with us anymore."
"WHAT?!" Lorenzo's heart slammed hard against his chest, threatening to pop right out. "How the hell did this happen?"
"He said he couldn't do business with a. . . a drug addict," Walton replied as provocatively as possible. "I'm not sure how he found out about your history with addiction."
"But this doesn't make any sense," Lorenzo protested, his brow furrowing. "That was years ago. Besides, why should my past have any bearing on my current work? A businessman of his caliber should know to separate personal feelings from business."
"You're right. But Sheikh Hassan lost his wife and daughter in a car crash early this year, caused by a stoned driver. It's only natural he's prejudiced over the issue."
"Shit! Shit! Shit!" Lorenzo cursed out loud as his fist met the wall in a rapid sequence.
He had put his entire hope on this project and now it was GONE! Just like that.
This was more than just a setback—it was a crippling blow to his dream for S. Construction.
He turned to Walton, his eyes digging into the man's very soul like he was the cause of his problem. "How exactly did he find out? The only ones who know about my past addiction are you, my family, and a very few people under strict NDAs. Who the hell leaked this info to him?"
Walton shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "I did a little digging and I found out that your brother, Andreas, has some kind of relationship with Sheikh Hassan's brother, Abdul. They studied together in college and have apparently stayed in touch. I believe your brother might have something to do with this."
The mere mention of his brother's name sent Lorenzo's anger into overdrive. He clenched his hands into fists before yelling out the dreaded name. . .
"ANDREEEEAAAS!"
* * * *
Lorenzo fumed as he stormed across the street, barely waiting for the cross signal to clear as he marched towards S. Tech— his brother's territory. The fact that their companies were right across from each other was the biggest proof of their rivalry.
The employees of S. Tech were startled by Lorenzo's presence, staring suspiciously at him while he blasted past them. But he was too blinded by rage to notice. All he could see were hazy faces and. . . a clear motive to murder.
Immediately as Lorenzo swung open the door to Andreas' office, he pounced on him, gripping the collar of his shirt in a vice-grip.
"You bastard!" he spat in his face. "How dare you ruin my plans?"
Andreas batted Lorenzo's hands off his collar, his eyes shooting daggers at him. "What on earth has gotten into you?" He shot back. "You come storming into my office, unannounced, and start attacking me like a rabid animal? Have you completely lost your mind? Will it kill you to act civil?"
Lorenzo's nostrils flared as he snarled at his brother. "Civil? You expect civility from me? Do you have any idea how much I've lost because of you? Fifteen penthouse apartments, twenty malls, a sprawling resort complex, five luxurious hotels, all gone because of your stupidity."
Andreas paused, his face turning innocent. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Don't play dumb with me!" Lorenzo exploded. "I know you spoke with Hassan's brother. I know you told him about my past addiction to screw me over."
Andreas paused again. "Oh, about that?" He drawled flatly. "All I did was have a few drinks with Abdul. We were both drunk and probably a couple of things must have slipped. Who knew he was going to tell his brother?"
Lorenzo went nuts. Hearing his brother's nonchalant defense only fanned his fury to flame.
"Asshole!" He roared before launching a punch straight to Andreas's jaw.
Andreas stumbled backward, his hands grabbing the edge of his table. Upon gaining stability, he checked the side of his lower lip with the tip of his fingers only to find it torn and bleeding.
With blazing eyes, he rushed Lorenzo and his fist met his face with an equal force.
Lorenzo reeled backward from the impact, but as soon as he caught himself, his fingers tangled in the collar of Andreas' shirt again.
"You piece of shit, you planned this all along, didn't you?!" He yelled shaking him violently. "Have you no shame? How could you stoop so low?"
"You're one to talk?" Andreas snarled through clenched teeth, reaching for his collar as well. "Who was it that sabotaged the prototype of what would have been S. Tech's latest automobile on the day of its launch?"
Lorenzo stopped for a heartbeat. "That was an accident, you moron!"
He remembered that day vividly and it was so NOT an accident. But he'd rather die than admit that.
"You think I don't see right through your schemes?" He continued in a rough voice. "You're trying to make me lose my chance at getting the Stani-CORP presidential seat." He let out a dry laugh. "Let me tell you, Andreas, even if I don't get it, I'll never let you have it!"
"It's not yours to give in the first place," Andreas snapped. "Besides, do you honestly believe you're a better choice for president? Ha! You're not just self-centered, you're also too immature and too impulsive. How can you be trusted to manage the 500,000 employees of Stani-CORP when you can't even manage yourself? Wake up, Lorenzo!"
"Shut up, asshole!" Lorenzo's jaw twitched as his fingers dug into Andreas's collar.
Not to be outdone, Andreas' own grip tightened around Lorenzo's neck as they glared back at each other.
Just then, a deep voice came from somewhere within the office. Calm but dangerous. "I can't help but wonder if you two derive pleasure from making fools of yourselves."
Lorenzo paused, recognizing the chilling voice of his younger brother, Ian Staniforth as soon as he heard it. He'd been so blinded by anger that he didn't even realize he was there the entire time.
But still, he didn't let go of his brother.
"Unhand each other this instant or I swear to God I'm gonna hurl these vases at your heads and watch you both bleed to death."
Reluctantly, they released their grips on each other and turned to face their younger brother. They knew too well that he wasn't kidding. ONE BIT!
Once Ian said something, he was already halfway through achieving it. And nothing could stop him. Not even the fact that he was confined to a wheelchair.
The air thickened with silence as Ian returned the flower vases to their rightful places. His eyes, just the same vivid grey as his brothers, darted from one to the other before he pushed the lever on his power wheelchair and pivoted towards them.
"What is wrong with you two?" He demanded, adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses even though they were already sitting perfectly on his well-chiselled nose.
Lorenzo tossed an accusing finger in Andreas' direction. "He ruined my chance to do business with Sheikh Hassan knowing how much it means to S. Construction and me."
Ian shifted his gaze to Andreas. "Why would you do such a thing?"
Andreas scoffed bitterly, his voice filled with jealousy. "Oh, of course! Take your favourite brother's side as usual."
"Believe me, none of you is my favorite," Ian retorted flatly. "I would murder both of you right here and now if it weren't illegal. However, this isn't about taking sides. Your actions were uncalled for and utterly unacceptable."
Now it was Andreas' turn to point a finger at Lorenzo. "He's done far worse to me than I can count. Just a few months ago, he sabotaged my project, yet no one breathed a word about it."
"Again. . ." Lorenzo emphasized. "It. Was. An. Accident!"
"You're a pathological liar, Lorenzo, and you know it!" Andreas snapped.
"What did you just say?!"
"You heard me right!"
And, yet again, they began to trade blows.
At that point, Ian was fed up. His hand reached for anything it could grab and began to hurl it at his brothers. Fortunately for them, he couldn't reach for the crystal nameplate or the marble plaque on Andreas' table.
"Will you two stop that?!" He whispered-yelled. "The blinds are open for Christ's sake. The whole company is watching."
When they finally separated, Ian squeezed his eyes shut, saying a silent prayer for control.
"How long will this silly rivalry continue?" He spoke as soon as his eyes fluttered open. "It's getting childish— What am I saying? It has always been childish! I'm the younger one. I'm the one who should be causing the chaos, yet I find myself constantly separating your meaningless fights every God. Damned. Time. Can't you act like the adults you're supposed to be? Or at least pretend?"
Lorenzo shifted his weight from one foot to another, growing uneasy under Ian's stabbing gaze.
He was a thirty-year-old man who was intimidated by his brother who was three years younger.
And he didn't appear to be the only one. From his peripheral vision, he could tell Andreas was breaking out in cold sweat.
He just couldn't explain it. There was just something about Ian that made people cower in his presence.
BE YOU WHO!
Lorenzo cleared his throat and turned his attention to Andreas—a safer zone. "This is far from over, Andreas," he spat, wagging a finger in his face. "Mark my words, you're gonna pay for this."
And with one quick look at Ian, he stormed out of the office, leaving behind the chaotic scene he'd created.
Lorenzo was livid. Mostly with himself.
He knew Andreas was an irredeemable idiot with no conscience whatsoever, but how the hell did he not see this coming?
One thing he'd prided himself on was being two steps ahead of Andreas in terms of vicious schemes. How could he have let his guard down at such a crucial time?
And then it hit him.
IT WAS ALL THAT WITCH'S FAULT!
He'd been so focused on saving himself from her nocturnal tortures that he'd forgotten about every other thing.
She better not appear before him again or he was going to burn her on a stake himself!