Tessa's POV;
I am panicking outside my father's room, with the doctor still inside, and soon one of my father's men comes to get me.
"You may come in, now, ma'am. "He says, and without waiting, I push past him, into the room.
"Dad? "I call in worry as I rush over to my father's massive bed and sit beside him, and he smiles weakly at me.
"Hey, little swan. I'm the one who's sick, and yet you're the one who's gone pale. "He laughs and I know that he's trying to make light of the situation, but I won't let him. He was bleeding from the nose. I want to know what caused that.
"What happened to him? "I question the doctor, and he shoots a glance at my father. Causing my brows to crease.
"I asked you a question, Rico. Why are you looking at him!? "I then speak in frustration, and the doctor turns back to me.
"He... Uh... He... Has... "The doctor begins, but my father cuts him off.
"I was just terribly dehydrated. I shouldn't have gone out for a jog without a bottle of water. Flimsy mistake. "He says, and I stare down at my dad looking into blue eyes with concern. I can see that he's lying. He's lying to me.
I then take his hand and hug it to my chest with both my hands.
"Daddy, what's really going on? Don't lie to me, please... "I beg, but he simply smiles at me.
"There's nothing wrong, sunshine. I've told you. It was just a bad case of dehydration. "He replies, and I stare in silence. My father is a stubborn man. He's not going to tell me the truth so easily. If I want it, I'd have to get it through other means.
I look up at the doctor, and the dark-haired man gulps.
"Uh... You may want to leave him to rest now, ma'am. He needs his rest. "He says to me, and I stare back down at my father who is smiling weakly at me, and I struggle to hold back my tears. I've been taught to never cry in front of anyone. No one deserves to see that side of me. My vulnerability is my business and no one else's.
I exhale in surrender and lean over to kiss my father's forehead.
"Get well soon, dad. "I say to him, and with that, I turn around and head out of his room and up to mine which is on the house's top floor.
He's hiding something from me. And I know it's something bad. Everything I know that is linked to bleeding from the nose, is something terrible. I'm worried sick.
What is going on with my father? He's not dying, is he!??
**********
Tessa's POV;
It's been two days, since my father fell sick, and he and the doctor have been hiding the doctor away from me. He's been sneaking out and sneaking in, but I intend to corner him soon.
However, right now, I have business to attend to. I'd deal with the doctor, later.
I walk into my house's meeting room and find three men dressed in black suits and dark shades, sitting on either side of the meeting table. Jerome, Charles, and my father's closest aid. Matteo.
The men stand as they sight me, and I walk in with my head held high, and authority in every step. Not only am I confident in my appearance, but also in the authority that I hold.
I stand on the northern side of the table and stare straight at Jerome. The head of our operations in Saudi Arabia.
"What's the update? "I question after signaling that the men should have their sits, and Jerome nervously clears his throat.
My father ought to attend and head this meeting. But since he's currently not feeling well, I automatically have to step in for him. And these men are just as frightened of me, as they are of my father.
"The mission has been compromised. Our delivery man has been caught. "Jerome replies, and my eyes widen in alarm.
"Again!? "I question in annoyance, and he shifts in his sit nervously.
"Yes, ma'am. He was on his way to deliver to Mr. Hammerman but got cornered by the cops. They somehow managed to trail him. "He replies, and I shut my eyes for a second. Trying my very best not to lash out at him. I had warned him about the fool of a delivery man he was using, who kept getting into tight situations and we had to rescue every single time.
If I didn't know any better, I'd say that this was his first time working a job like this.
"How bad is it? "I then question, and Jerome gulps.
"Very bad. The police have caught him this time and he is on his way to the station with them as we speak. "He replies, and I clench my fists.
I don't know why my father keeps being so merciful and allowing incompetent fools like Jerome and the foolish delivery man to still work for us.
"And the packages? "I question.
"He managed to hide them before he was caught. "Jerome replies, and I take a breath before turning to Charles. The man I had set to secretly supervise Jerome's work. For some reason, I just knew that Jerome would be an incompetent fool and mess things up again. I'm always beside my father when he's dealing with business, and more frequently than never, I have watched and seen Jerome flop miserably on different missions.
"Place a call through to Hassan, now. "I order, and Charles instantly pulls out his phone and dials Hassan's number.
"Put it on speaker. "I command further, and Charles obeys and places his phone on the table.
"Good day, Mr. Charles. "Hassan greets, but before Charles gets a chance to speak, I do.
"Salam Aleikum, Hassan. "I greet, and he instantly knows who's speaking.
"Waleikum Asalam, ma'am. "He replies, and I place both my hands on the table. Leaning toward the phone.
"Do you have eyes on Ali? "I question, and I hear ruffles from his side.
"Yes, boss. He's in a police car on his way to the station. "He replies, and I nod.
"End him. "I command, and the three men in the room turn to me in alarm just as Hassan falls silent.
"Ma'am... I can just kill the officers instead. "Hassan says, and I force myself to not raise my voice.
"That's too many lives to take for Ali's stupidity. We can't continue to excuse his foolishness. He's made enough mistakes already. Besides he knew what he was getting into when he took the job. End him.
And this should be the last time you'd ever question my orders, Hassan. Am I clear? "I reply, and he falls silent for a second.
"Yes, ma'am. "He replies, and I fall silent. Waiting for his report. He's one of our many trained snipers who have different parts to play in different missions. And I just gave Hassan his part to play in this mission. To end a loose link in our chain.
After a little while, he speaks again.
"Ali has successfully been eliminated, ma'am. "He says, and I cross my arms across my chest in satisfaction.
"Good. I believe you know your next mission. "I reply.
"Yes, boss. "He replies and I nod with a deep breath and while Charles picks up his phone, ends the call, and puts it back into the inner pocket of his suit.
"From now on, Charles heads the Saudi Arabian missions. Jerome will step down, effective from now. "I then speak, and Jerome rises to his feet instantly.
"What!? "He questions in alarm, and I glare at him.
"You heard me. The fact that you have two ears doesn't mean that I have to repeat myself to you. And I will excuse you for raising your voice at me just this once. "I reply before turning around and making my way to the door. But I stop in my tracks when I hear him speak again.
"You can't do that! You can't just pull me down without the boss's approval! "He yells further. Referring to my father, and I lose my cool.
I turn to him and at the same time pull out my pistol from the band of my pants. I shoot the glass of water in front of him. Startling him and causing him to fall back on his sit, and I walk up to him. Forcefully turning his chair to face me. Then I place my foot on his crotch. Making sure the heel of my boot is pressed against his balls, and he whimpers.
"What did you say? "I question as I lean closer to him and hold the gun right under his chin, but he only groans in response.
"What did you just say, Jerome? "I question again. Pressing harder against his balls, and his eyes begin to water.
"Nothing... Nothing, ma'am. "He chokes, and I smirk.
"Are you sure? "I reply in a deadly cold voice, and he gulps.
"Yes, ma'am... "He croaks, and I stare him dead in the eyes with an ominous expression.
"The next time you raise your voice at me, Jerome, or make such stupid statements, I'd rip your tongue out, and feed it to your dog while making you watch. And you know I don't make empty threats... "I add, and he gulps hard while nodding furiously and battling to hold back tears.
"Use your words, Jerome... "I coo, as I press harder, and he chokes harder.
"Yes ma'am... "He whimpers, and I smile. Only then do I take my leg off his baby maker, and he breaths out in relief, causing me to scoff lightly in satisfaction with his pain.
I turn around and begin to walk out of the room with Matteo following closely behind, and I know I need to destress. There's too much on my mind, and I don't like it.
I pull out my phone and place a call through to my faithful business associates, and on the first dail, she picks up.
"Hello, Mica. Get me one of your finest boys. I'd send you the address to send him to. He must be there by seven. "