CHAPTER 50 - RED
CHAPTER
Red
S TORMING INTO MY OFFICE, I’m not in the best of moods.
I slam the door and drop heavily into my desk chair, glancing around the people I’ve summoned to the meeting.
It’s early, but I dare anyone to moan. My face reflects my foul mood, so I doubt even Liam will push his luck with shitty quips today.
Del nods to a man sitting to his right. “This is Keith. He’s the one we agreed will replace Steve.”
“Morning, Mr Bateman.” Keith extends his hand and, hiding my frown, I shake it. I can’t recall agreeing to replace Steve with this man, but with what’s happened in the last twenty-four hours alone, it’s hardly surprising it’s bypassed my memory. “Please drop the ‘Mr Bateman’ and call me Red.”
My instinct was to go with Cal Bennett for Steve’s replacement, but I haven’t got the time nor energy to fuck about.
Keith Spiro has been in the second tier for some time.
Del introduced this man to the fold a few years ago.
He’s been no issue, and I trust Del’s judgement, so it’s all good.
“Have you been filled in about the Galvatore situation?”
Keith nods, so I continue. “Just to recap, the stupid bastard expects recompense and a cut of the business. He’ll get neither, but I’ve let him think otherwise.
” Folding my hands together, I look around the men in the room, my focus resting on my brothers.
“While I’m finalizing this alleged ‘deal’ with Galvatore, it gives Bristoni a window to play his hand.
Now that Galvatore’s fallen out of favor with his ally since Roberto carked it and I married Arianna, I intend to capitalize on that opening, leaving Galvatore to wait on our nonexistent deal. ”
There are nods from around the room. Not a peep from Oscar or Liam, so perhaps it’s finally sinking in that I know what I’m fucking doing.
“We want Bristoni to strike, and when he does, we’ll be ready.
If he takes his time, then we’ll hit first. Either way, he’s fucked.
” My eyes harden. “There will be no deal whatsoever with Galvatore either. He and his crew will also die.”
Arianna will have to accept that what I promised regarding her dear father no longer stands. I promised leniency, but after confirmation that he sees his daughters as meat and treats me like a cunt, that assurance is now void.
Galvatore will receive my full force, but not until I’ve ruined Bristoni.
Yes, Arianna will hate me more than she already does, but that’s just how it goes. I warned her, but she can learn the hard way that her parents sold her out and aren’t worth shit.
My oath not to think about Arianna today wavers.
She doesn’t hate me as much as she makes out.
She touched my shoulder wound last night when she believed me to be sleeping.
The only reason I pretended to be asleep in the first place was because once I’d got into bed with her, being “asleep” was the only way not to pull her into my arms and kiss her like it was my last day on earth.
I’d stop her angry comments with my mouth; my body fucking away every last piece of misguided resentment she holds until there was nothing left for her to do but scream my name in pleasure.
But because I couldn’t do any of those things, I had to be asleep.
I still felt her touch though. And it was gentle. Caring, even.
Waking up from my fractured sleep this morning, I watched her sleep, her long lashes fanned across her cheeks, a slender arm draped over her head and her hair cascading over my side of the bed.
Fuck, she was too gorgeous! I had to get out of there pronto, hence this early meeting.
And here I am.
Remembering exactly where I still am, I clear my throat. “The main reason you’re here is because I have a plan to bring Tom Slater to rights.”
Liam sat forward. “Yes! Kill him in front of the staff to serve as a fucking warning as to what happens when you screw with a Bateman!”
“Not quite,” I mutter, “but not far off. The message will be clear enough by reading between the lines.”
“What exactly is going down then?” Oscar asks, for the time being, his ire over my meeting with Galvatore diffused.
A cold smile moves across my face. “It’s time I treated the second-tier staff to some ‘company hospitality’.
They do much of the day-to-day running, yet as a rule, get little perks.
We should allow them to let their hair down once in a while away from the firm at the company’s expense, so this is my idea of rectifying that. ”
Opening the top drawer of my desk, I pull out a brochure for the Phoenix Hotel.
“The afternoon will consist of talking shop, new policies and perhaps some team-building crap to justify the expense to the taxman. In the evening, I’ll stump up for a dinner and free bar of which partners are welcome to attend. ”
Liam frowns. “Fuck me! What is this? Are we turning into a corporate?”
“Damn it! If there’s a free bar, I should have held out a bit longer before taking this promotion!” Keith laughs.
“This will cost a mint, Red! Are you sure about it?” Liam presses. “And what’s this got to do with Slater?”
“Yeah, I’m sure.” I’d done little but think all night, when I should have been asleep.
I push the hotel brochure into the center of my desk.
“I want the conference suite booked - the one on the top floor of the hotel - for a date as soon as possible. Also, book up the rooms on the entire two floors below the conference suite.”
Oscar takes the brochure. “Okay, I’ll do it. But why book out the entire two top floors? Are we paying for the second-tier staff to stay over as well?”
“Of course!” I grin. “We’ll each have a room on the uppermost floor, and the rooms on the floor below will be for the second tier. The room directly below my room will be Slater’s... I hope that answers your question...”
Liam and Oscar exchange glances and grin for the first time in ages. They know exactly what I’m planning.
“Will someone tell the rest of us what the plan is because I haven’t got a clue!” Del raises both his hands. Keith also looks confused.
“It’s something we’ve done once before, a long time ago,” I explain. “It works extremely well, but I’ll tell you all the details soon. Let’s just get the hotel booked first. Give word to the second tier about the event once everything’s confirmed.”