Book One : The Devil's Toxic Queen.

Dirtying Her Hands

"Has the matter with the Wood family been handled?" a baritone voice asked no one in particular. Someone came out of the shadow and bowed his head respectfully.

"They denied having anything to do with him" the subordinate said.

"Is the item ready?"

" Yes president Fugerson"

"Get the care ready, we're paying the Wood family a visit"

Thirty minutes later

"Sebastian Fugerson, what brings you here?" The old man of the Wood family asked in an attempt to hide his nervousness. He knew very well why they where here, his pride however wouldn't allow him to admit that he was terrified of the young man sitting across of him on the other end of the table.

Sebastian took his sweet time as he sipped the tea that was served to him by a servant.

"It's been a while" Sebastian drawled lazily.

"Yes it has, last time you were here you were but a little boy, now look at you all grown up and running the empire. Time really flies"

"The recent events' got me thinking about some of the ties we have in this line of work. Why someone would choose to overstep their boundaries still baffles me. Don't you think it's quite unprofessional?" He asked finally focusing on the elderly man sitting across of him. He saw as fear flashed through his host's eyes, disappearing as quickly as they came.

"I'm sure there's been some sort of mix up. Everything that happens within this line of business has a reason behind it. I doubt anyone would act on impulse and do something they might regret."

Sebastian let the silence sit on his host's words. After sipping enough of the tea, he motioned for his assistant to step forward.

"I believe this belongs to you" he said as a small box was opened in front of the old man and a person's finger came into view. His host was by now sweating. Of course he knew who this finger belonged to. All his worst assumptions had come to pass. If only that grandson of his wasn't so gullible and useless.

"Sebastian, we've been business partners for three generations now, I'm sure we can talk this through. I'll make sure I discipline him very well. He'll be thought a lesson about playing around."

Sebastian laughed.

"Old master Wood, you call sending someone to come and spy on our blueprints playing around? He would be thought a lesson alright. One that would have him teaching the people in the next life that no one messes with the Fugerson family"

Turning to his sectary, he took a document and passed it to the old man. Here is the termination contract. I've already signed where needs to be signed. I came here to get your signature where it needed to be. I'm sure grandpa wouldn't mind granting me this favor" He said with a sick smile on his face. Dominic Wood was by then shaking profusely. The Fugerson family was the reason they had been able to operate peacefully this past decade. They were their biggest shareholders and the only reason the Wood family was so arrogant.

Everyone in the black market knew who called the shots around there and it was none other than the young man handing him his family's death penalty.

"Can you at least spare my grandson's life?" he swallowed his pride and gathered the courage to ask.

"That won't be possible Mr Wood, your grandson knew what he was singing up for when he sent a mole into my building. We both know I'm doing you a favor by getting rid of that white elephant. Thank you for your co-operation" He said as he took the signed documents and left with is men and a begging tied up Lucas.

The next morning.

Everyone who had connection with the black market had heard of what happened to the Wood family. While some thought Sebastian was being unreasonable for not considering the family's generational friendship between the Fugerson family and the Wood family, those who had been wronged by the arrogant Wood family were happy and thought they had it coming. They had stepped on way too many toes but no one could retaliate in fear of incurring the anger of the Fugerson family.

"I know of how to stop dad from handing everything over to Jeremy" Aanya thought aloud with a far away look in her eyes.

"What is it" Dora inquired bouncing up and down. She was probably more excited about stopping her friend's dad than the involved person was.

"I'll have to form an alliance with the share holders"

Dora gasped when she heard her friend's idea.

"That could go totally wrong Aanya. They could make too much of a demand for you to have anything left even if you were to get your hands on them."

"I don't have a choice Dora, and it's probably too late. I've arranged a meeting with a couple of them. It's either this or nothing at all."

"How did they take it?"

"A few of them outrightly rejected anything to do with it. They obviously know who holds power in this situation and are not willing to bet on it"

Dora couldn't help but sign. She knew the kind of business her friend's family was involved in. They broke too many laws for this case to be handled legally.

She had found out when she was 14, Aanya's uncle was killed during a raid and it had made front news since the reason behind the raid soon escalated. She was initially scared of being involved but decided to stick with Aanya nevertheless and now here she was, forced to choose between her friendship or her status as a law abiding citizen. She knew without an ounce of doubt where her loyalty really lied and she was not afraid to get her hands dirty while remaining faithful to their friendship.

"I can talk to my dad on your behalf. I'm sure he'd be willing to help."

"Dora you and I both know what it could mean once you and your family get involved in this. I don't want to put you guys in a tight spot just for my personal needs."

"Of course I know what this means Aanya, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't risk a few things for your sake. Truthfully speaking, I indirectly chose this path back in high school when I decided to keep our friendship despite your family's source of income being exposed" Dora said with a glint of stubborn confidence in her eyes. It was then that Aanya knew she would also go all out for Dora if the need evere arises.