Playing For Keeps

Two

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"The most dangerous opponents aren’t the ones who fight the hardest, but the ones who know exactly where to strike."

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“You're quite brave for going against Mr. Vaughn but I think you should watch your back. He doesn't play nice at all.” Sarah, Zara’s colleague and friend told her as they strolled down the walkway of the court, heading to the canteen to grab lunch.

“He should watch his back too. I'm not known to back down.” Zara announced.

“What if he starts sending threats?” Sarah asked in genuine concern for her friend.

Zara paused.

“Threats?” She scoffed. “He'll have to kill me to get rid of me. Until he's ready to do what's right by the law, I remain that pain in his ass. The thorn he wants to remove so badly but cannot.”

“Please be careful Zara.” Zara was getting upset.

“Are you scared? Of him?” She inquired.

“He's a multibillionaire. There's almost nothing he can't do if he wants to.”

“I don't care about his financial status. Being a billionaire doesn't mean he has to step on people to get to the top. He treats everyone working for him like trash. Nobody is brave enough to speak up. Who does he think he is for God's sake.” She spat.

“You know,” she continued, “One of the reasons I'm not backing down from this case is because I want to watch him lose. It felt so good watching people laugh at him. I want him to realize that not everyone is against him and things don't always have to go his way.”

Sarah raised a questioning brow. “This is more personal than I thought.”

“Ofcourse, it is.” She said and they finally entered the canteen.

☆☆☆☆☆

“Take your things and leave my house. The security will search you on your way out.” Damien muttered as he put on his shirt in preparation for work. He tossed a wad of cash on the bed for her.

The bedroom smelled of expensive cologne and last night’s bad decisions.

“I'm not a thief.” The lady he had picked up from the club the previous night snapped but he ignored her. She picked up the money and slid it into her purse, smiling at the amount of money she saw. Picking up her shoes, she made her way to the door and shut the door behind her.

He buttoned his crisp white shirt with slow, practiced movements, his face void of emotion. A glance in the mirror. Perfect. He slicked back his hair, grabbed his briefcase, and strode out, his polished shoes clicking against the marble floor.

Downstairs, his black Cadillac Escalade ESV was already waiting. The chauffeur barely had time to open the door before he slid inside, sighing like the whole world was an inconvenience. As the car pulled away, his scowl deepened. Another day of making people miserable. Fantastic.

The elevator doors slid open, and there he was. Mr. Billionaire CEO himself. Dressed in a suit so sharp it could probably cut paper, he adjusted his perfectly knotted tie like he was preparing for battle. His shoes? Shiny enough to see your reflection. His watch? Oh, just a tiny little thing worth more than a small house. No big deal.

With his long legs he took long and purposeful strides, heading towards his office. His group of minions literally running to catch up with him.

“Sir, Mr. Julius has been waiting to see you. He's in the conference room.” His secretary, Avina said as they got to his office and he took his seat.

His office was large and cold. Floor-to-ceiling windows showed the city below. A massive black desk sat in the center, always spotless. Behind it, a leather chair that looked more like a throne. The walls were dark, with sleek shelves holding a few expensive books and awards. A glass table with two stiff chairs faced his desk, where nervous employees sat. The air smelled of leather and expensive cologne. It was not a place for comfort. It was a place for power.

“Am I to go to him?” He quizzed. His question was rhetorical and the secretary knew that.

“I'll go get him right now, sir.” She said and he nodded. He enjoyed working with her. She was smart but sometimes she was too emotional. She knew how strict he was, yet she would flinch and cry at any little rebuke. He had come to see her as a younger sister and she was the only person he had bought a car for easy movement.

In no time, the CEO of the company they wanted to sign a merger with stepped in.

“Mr. Vaughn. It's nice to meet you again.” He said, giving a sheepish grin. Damien leaned back in his seat and assessed the man. He would be easy to manipulate.

“Thank you for taking the time to meet.” Mr. Julius said again and Damien was getting bored.

“Time is money. Let’s not waste either.” Damien said, gesturing to the chair in front of the desk.

Mr. Julius adjusted his suit as he settled into the chair across from Damien’s imposing black desk. The office was sleek, intimidating, and deliberately designed to make visitors feel small. He cleared his throat before speaking. “We’ve reviewed the initial proposal. There are some concerns we’d like to discuss.”

Damien raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching into a smirk. “Concerns? Or delays? Because I don’t have patience for the latter.”

Mr. Julius shifted slightly but kept his composure. “We just want to ensure the merger benefits both sides fairly.”

Damien leaned forward, his voice calm but laced with finality. “Fair is for small deals. This is business. And in business, the stronger side sets the terms.”

He leaned back, watching the other man closely, his fingers tapping lightly against the desk. “Let’s cut to the chase. Your company is struggling, and this merger is your best option. You know it. I know it.”

Mr. Julius straightened his shoulders. “We’re open to discussions, but we won’t be undervalued. Our brand holds weight.”

Damien scoffed. “Weight? Your stock is sinking. Investors are nervous. In six months, you’ll be calling me, begging for a deal. I’m offering you a lifeline now.”

Mr. Julius took a slow breath, choosing his words carefully. “We need assurances, leadership roles, brand independence…”

Damien smirked, his confidence unwavering. “I don’t do handouts. I take businesses and make them stronger. You can be part of that, or you can watch from the sidelines.”

A tense silence filled the room. Mr. Julius hesitated, his fingers tapping lightly against the armrest. “We need time to consider.”

Damien gave a slow nod, his smirk deepening. “Take all the time you want. Just know my offer won’t be here when your competitors start circling.”

Mr. Julius said nothing, but Damien could already see the doubt creeping into his eyes. The deal was as good as done.

Damien called his secretary into his office immediately Mr. Julius left and she held her iPad beside her, waiting for him to speak.

“What's my schedule for the day? I want to have a meeting with Hawthrone. Create the time for us to meet. He needs to back down from this case as quickly as possible. Even if it means paying him off.”

“I'd do that right away sir.”

She walked away briskly and after about thirty minutes he could hear a faint argument between his secretary and someone. Before he could pick up the telephone to call her, the door swung open and someone barged in with six shopping bags in hand.

“Hey babe.”