When Empires Fall

Chapter One: My Father’s Heritage. Zane’s POV: “You’ll never be anything like your father!” my mother yelled. But I know I’m everything and more like that man. For the past twenty years, I have been my father. I understood him now, and I silently wished he was around to see all I had accomplished. “My father made us mum,” I said. “Your father was the devil himself, and you keep denying it, Zane,” she said. My father was what you’ll describe as quick and ruthless. He built and ruled the Santoro empire for as long as I could remember. Nobody in New York could come close as he had the city in his hands, everyone knew our organization but not the face behind it. “Mum, you’ll never understand,” I said, desperate to end the conversation. “Hmm’ she looked at me. “Anyway, I have to head to the office right now, Uncle Matt said it’s important.” “I love you,” my mother didn’t even look at me. On my way to the office, I kept thinking of how far the empire had come. To everyone, it was a prominent security firm, but to me, it was something more, something powerful even. “What was so important?” I asked Adrian. “Sir, we need to set up a board meeting as usual,” he said. “Hope you’ve done that already?” “Yes sir’ When we got to the boardroom, everyone was seated. “What’s first?” Everyone starred at me. “I do not remember training slow staff,” I said. “The ocean group have withdrawn the contact, sir." Martha said. “Why?” I asked with concern. “We have no idea, sir,” everyone said. “You have no idea?” I exclaimed. “Haven’t I warned you guys to always find out first before consulting me?” I have always known I was feared by many. My father always says that vulnerability is a sign of weakness, and I was only ever taught to be stern. “Sir we have bigger problems upstairs” Adrian whispered in my ear. “We’ll talk when someone gets to the root of this until then the meeting is closed.” I waited for everyone to leave before moving upstairs. When I got up I proceeded to the other room – not everyone knows this room because it holds so much power and is the brain behind the Santoro empire. “You’re late” uncle matt said disappointed. “It was never my intention and you know it” I told him “What is it? You said it was important” “The shipment is late,” Uncle Matt said. I lifted an eyebrow. “Wasn’t it supposed to reach Sicily yesterday?” I asked. “Yes” “So??” “What of the people waiting for it?” I asked. “They are getting impatient,” Uncle Matt said. “You know we don’t have that much time, I’ll send my supplier to Sicily to look into it and I need results by tomorrow’s meeting,” I said. I headed back home then the thought of going to the club interested me so I drove there instead. “Good evening sir,” the waiter greeted. “Good evening” “Sir, would you like to go to the VIP lounge as usual?” she asked. “Yes sure” While in the lounge, they brought a dancer for me. “Hey papi” she said I didn’t say anything and she started dancing and touching me all over. not too long I told her to stop. For forty years of my life I have never really known if I wanted women or not I was always never settled around them. Maybe I just haven’t made out time to find out. The next morning I got a call from Adrian that there is another board meeting but it was at the other room When I got there, everyone had so much panic on their face. “Will anyone tell me what’s happening or?” I asked. “The shipment has been compromised,” uncle matt said “By compromised, you mean?” “We’ve lost everything” he said “I thought I sent my supplier and asked you all to get to this’ I yelled. “The supplier has a hand in this. That’s all we could gather” Adrian said. “Eliminate him” They all looked at me like they didn’t hear me “You all know the rules anyone that tries to sabotage or go against us will have to go” I said calmly “Yes boss,” they all chorused. But there was something unsettling about their faces “You guys are not telling me something” “The books don’t balance” Uncle matt said “Call the accountant now!” I ordered She came in looking terrified “Why don’t they balance?” “They will” “What do you mean by they will that’s not even what I asked”. “The company received an unusual amount of cash this quarter” she said. “Then make sure the legitimate accounts can explain the revenue” “Yes boss” she said. I stayed in the office for a while, I needed to think and I thought to myself will dad be happy if he saw me ruling the empire like this? I certainly don’t think he will. I need to make the Santoro empire rise again we can’t afford to come this far and not be as powerful as we have always been. I didn’t go home that night I needed to fix most of these problems myself I stayed up all night trying to fix the issues I had at the security firm and make sure I don’t have failed shipments. While working I got a call from Adrian. “Why call me at this time?” I asked. “Sir it’s an old ally” “Do I know him?” “Not personally but he was well acquainted with your father,” he said. I paused “What’s his name” I asked “Roman Moretti’ The name didn’t ring a bell. “What does he want?” I asked. “I have no idea, sir,” Adrian said, “but he wants to set up a meeting with you.” “You know that won’t be possible, and I am not interested besides, he can get through you to me.” “He insists” “Or?” I asked “He is threatening to reveal who you really are because he claims to know you.” “What makes you think I believe this?” “He met your mother this night,” Adrian said. “Set up a meeting at once”