Chapter 2
Zoe
Father’s face paled as the ringing phone interrupted his tirade.
His powerful jaw clenched in frustration, anger and some emotion I did not understand.
If I had seen it on anyone else’s face I would have said it was fear, but Father was never afraid.
He was the one who frightened others with a single glance.
He was not allowed to be scared. It meant losing his power over others as they lost confidence in him.
Grinding his teeth he stated, “We are not finished with this discussion. This issue will be resolved to my satisfaction today. However, whenever this phone rings I must answer. Ignoring it for any reason is not an option. Normally I would send you out of the room as it is no longer advisable to let you hear any organizational business but letting you out of my sight is a risk I cannot take. So, sit and remain silent.”
His tone set me on edge. He sounded almost cruel and impersonal. It hurt me more than I thought it ever would. My body stiffened and my face reddened. My mind swirled with words of dissent, but before I could utter even one I saw my father’s face turn ashen. The news was obviously not good.
“This is Drago. Who are you, and why are you using this number? Where did you get it? This insolence is a death sentence,” he uttered maliciously.
I heard a rumbling voice yet could not distinguish the words being said. Then, Father’s eyes closed and his grip on the receiver tightened until I heard a cracking noise; whether it was the phone or his fingers I could not tell.
“I refuse to believe a word you are saying. It cannot be true. I spoke with him just a few hours ago. He was well. The code! Give me the code or I will send the guards in immediately and you will be executed where you stand for your lies and insolence!” Father shouted as he stood and knocked a priceless vase from its place on the pedestal behind him.
He did not flinch as it shattered on the floor in thousands of pieces.
He must have gotten the answer he so desperately needed because he stopped shouting and asked in a tone that revealed no emotion, “How? When?”
He listened to an extensive answer then replied, “I will prepare the jet and depart the moment it is ready. Have a car to meet me at the airport. I assume you will notify Damien as well. Tread lightly where he is concerned. He does not take bad news well and has a tendency to shoot the messenger.”
His expression was grim when he hung up the phone, lightly stroking the crack in it then lifting it and slamming it into the wall.
“Is there a problem?” I dared to ask. “We can talk later if you need to leave now.”
“You are not leaving until I say this discussion is over.”
He held up a finger to end any argument I may have begun and pulled out his cellphone from inside his suit coat.
“Have the jet ready for an emergency flight to Chicago within the hour,” he demanded of whoever answered the call, and abruptly ended any response by cutting off the call.
He walked to the office door, opened it with a jerk and shouted at his assistant, “I am leaving for Chicago in an hour. See that I have the necessities packed and that the condo is made ready for my stay, although I may not remain in residence there. I foresee most of my time being spent at the family estate, so advise the staff there of my imminent arrival as well.”
He straightened his suit, breathed deeply and turned back to me.
His face was now a blank mask without signs of whatever was disturbing him.
“I do not have time for arguments, so I will cut this short. You will no longer be a part of any of my business meetings, nor be informed of what is discussed in them. My men will be informed that if they follow your commands they will be terminated, as in killed not fired. For now, because I must leave, you will be confined to the house in our compound. You may not leave under any circumstances.”
“The phone call has upset you, Father. It is making you harsh and unreasonable. Locking me up like a prisoner is cruel and does not change what has already been done. Please! Do not do this to me. Tell me what is wrong. Allow me to help you,” I begged.
“There is nothing you can do to aid in this matter, and no argument will change my viewpoint. What was done must be considered as a flaw in your character and stopped before it causes more problems. But I suppose it is your right to know what has occurred. After all, Dominik was your uncle.
“My brother suffered a heart attack and died after we spoke this morning. That has repercussions throughout the organization as he is the Boss, superior to my brother and me. The organization will require a new leader, which will put Damien and I at odds, more so than in the past. I fully intend to be the victor in this battle, receiving the majority of votes from other leaders. I will be the better choice as my beliefs are a closer match to Dominik’s, thus causing less upheaval. ”
I was shocked by his lack of emotion. He did not shed a tear, nor appear to care at all that he had lost his oldest brother. Instead, he was already scheming to take his place, including how best to fight his one remaining brother. Practicality and the need for power overcame any thought of grief.
“Are you not a least saddened by Dominik’s death?” I asked.
“It is a tragedy of course. Dominik ruled well and should have continued doing so for many more years.
But do I feel sadness? Not in the way of most families, Zoe.
We were not raised as brothers or even friends.
We were raised to be loyal to the cause, its beliefs, and to defend the organization.
No one was to interfere with it, not even someone of our blood.
There was no trust between us and little affection.
Let that be a lesson as to why you must be punished and controlled.
“Dominik was my superior. Now his spot must be filled by either Damien or I. Emotions have no place in it. Business must continue as usual, or others will seek a weakness within the organization and try to destroy it. I will not allow such ideas to come to fruition.”
“But Uncle Dominik is not even cold yet! How can you be so unfeeling?” I yelled.
He silenced me with a look yet chose to answer, “You act as if I will not honor his life. That is not true. He was a great man and shall be given the proper respect as such. He will have the proper show of mourning and a magnificent funeral after which I will begin my campaign to take his place as will Damien. It is exactly what he would have done. In fact, I can guarantee there is a complete plan for the funeral and his burial among his lawyer’s papers. He would not leave that to chance.”
“I should go with you. I will be expected to attend,” I replied, trying not to show how appalled I was by his attitude.
“No. You will remain at the compound confined to the house without a phone. You will not be expected to attend. If I allowed it the others would see it as a weakness in me and turn to Damien as Don. As it is, they all believe you should be beaten if not executed. You are already a liability I must overcome.”
“A liability? Is that all I am to you? I knew you saw me as your property, but I at least thought you had respect for my value as a confidant.
I see I was mistaken. Still, I will remind you that what I did worked well.
Rage is alive, Vikki is free, and you have more evidence against Aguilar than you need to prove he is setting you up to take the fall.
“If I had stopped to ask permission Rage would be dead and Aguilar would have done even more to destroy your name. This came about because of your plan, or do you choose to forget that part?” I dared say though I knew I was asking for more punishment.
“The girl was a means to an end. We got the information we required. She was expendable as was Rage,” he retorted.
“I do not see it that way. They are people just as worthy of living as we are. Vikki was terrified yet she did as you wanted. She went back into that hell where she had been raped, abused and impregnated because you ordered her to go. She gave up a child because she had suffered so much and hated herself,” I said through trembling lips.
“The girl eavesdropped where she was not wanted. She would have been punished for her impertinence one way or another. This way she was at least useful. She received an apt punishment for not understanding her place. And I did not order her nor send her. She foolishly volunteered.
“It was your interference that allowed Aguillar to escape, but I assume you would rather not admit that,” Father reprimanded.
“I admit I regret that. If I could have avoided it I would have. What are you planning to do about it? Will you go after him or hand over the evidence to the authorities as you discussed with Prime?” I asked.
“That is none of your business. Both my brothers reminded me of what you were born for, and it was not to take over Houston and rule it. I have been far too lenient when it comes to you for which I am now being held accountable. I will have to redeem myself in the eyes of everyone, including those who follow my rule. As I have already ordered, you will remain under lock and key until I have time to decide what else to do with you. For now, I have more important matters to deal with.”
“Your attitude and that of your brothers, in fact that of the entire organization, is sexist and archaic. Times are different now. Women are in charge of businesses all over the world. Queens reign over countries more often than Kings. You know I have given you advice that has aided in prosperity for the organization. I am not a useless ornament to be dangled in front of a bunch of men whose brains are full of lust. Do not do this, Father!” I pleaded my case.
“This is the last time I will remind you not to speak to me in that manner. You will use a respectful tone from this day on. The place you were allowed at my side no longer exists. From now on you will find I will not tolerate your demands or your insolence. Any power you assume you possess is gone. Obey me or suffer the same fate as I would give any other inferior in this organization.”