IN DEBT TO DESIRE

Mystery Box

DAMIAN POV

People think control is a skill. It isn’t. It’s a performance.

Every morning, I put on a suit, fix a tie, and wear the expression of a man who owns the world. The truth is simpler: I just hold it still long enough for no one to notice the anxiety and fear of losing everything.

My father taught me that. Before he died, he said, “Never show them hunger, son. Even when you’re starving.”

I learned that lesson too well. Everyone saw me as a fearless, ruthless business executive who controlled the narrative when it came to investment. But all that is just me playing the character; in reality, I was starving, and my father had put me in this situation. One hot summer's afternoon, I came back home exhausted after long hours of golfing. I set myself a cold drink to quench my thirst, but I was rudely interrupted by my father.

"Young man!" I was startled. I did not expect him to be home at that time.

"Dad, you startled me."

"If so, then what I am about to tell you would give you a panic attack, you fool."

"What have I done again dad?" I asked in confusion. The next set of words that spiraled out of his mouth might have actually caused a panic attack.

"Let me be clear, because young men like your mistake comfort for ownership. None of this is yours. Not the money, not the name, not the lifestyle you enjoy so confidently. You are living on a switch, not a foundation, and switches can be flipped without warning.

What you call privilege is a loan, w; at you call inheritance, it is a consideration. You haven’t earned permanence, only access. Everything around you exists because I allow it to continue existing.

I can turn off the accounts, close the doors, and watch the silence teach you what generosity has been protecting you from. You would still wake up breathing, of course. Just without the illusion that the world owes you softness.

Do not confuse proximity to power with possession of it. I built this; you are standing in its shadow, enjoying the shade, mistaking it for shelter.

My advice to you: make hay while the sun shines. It is very close to sunset." Then he walked out. I was shocked and speechless. But that was the turning point for me.

Five years later, he died, and his legal team let me know that I was allowed the grace of four years to acquire three big companies. Or forfeit my position as the heir to CROSS CAPITAL.

The first company was easy; they were already drawing in debt. The next is a bit more challenging, but I got it. The most challenging of them all is HOLT DESIGNS.

How difficult could it be? Liora was proving tough. With less than a year to acquire at least 50% of HOLT DESIGNS, I have to play dirty.

I resurfaced from my deep thoughts and noticed the reports on my desk; the lights in my office cast a sharp glow across them. I picked one up and flipped through; Holt Designs was on every page. Stock fluctuations, investor withdrawals, rumors. My name appeared next to hers in almost every article.

Marcus stood near the door, trying to sound casual. “The media is eating this rivalry up. You and Liora Holt are trending. Some people are calling it a modern war of empires.”

“Idiots,” I muttered.

He grinned. “Still, it’s good exposure. The Cross brand has never been more visible.”

“Visibility isn’t the same as power, Marcus. Remember that.”

He straightened up, switching back to being serious again. “There’s something else. We had a meeting with the investor who pulled out. Apparently, he got an anonymous tip that proved Holt stocks would go down this month. It gets interesting. I did some digging and found out that it came from someone working there.”

I looked up. “Interesting, what exactly did this tip disclose?”

“It showed proof that Holt designs have to dip into their equity to be able to pay staff salaries; there was no positive projection to replace it, except to borrow again.”

“Find out who gave out that information discreetly, start with the finance department.”

“Already on it,” he hesitated before adding, “Your father’s estate lawyer called again. He said there is an old box that your father kept privately.”

I frowned. “What does the old box have to do with my father’s estate?”

“He didn’t explain. Only that it should be sent to you.”

“Have him send it to the house.”

Marcus nodded and left. I leaned back in my chair, letting my thoughts drift. Nothing about my father was simple; he remained a controlling mystery. His hand reached everywhere, even after death. Because of him, I have to go after Holt Designs or lose everything. This is not the first time I have been tasked with taking a company, but something was different this time with her.

Liora Holt. Beautiful, infuriating, untouchable. A woman who could make losing sound like a choice. She had looked like a storm at the gala last night, fierce and terrified all at once. I looked at a picture in one of the papers; the press had captured the moment perfectly, but the photos didn’t show what I saw.

There was fear behind the fire, the kind that showed that there was more to lose than 50% of Holt Designs.

Then there was this attraction I could not deny I had for her, and last night in the bathroom, she pretty much showed it was mutual.

I told myself it didn’t matter. That was business. But part of me knew better that I wanted her.

The rest of the day went by in no time. Later that evening at home while I was watching a news channel, my steward called my attention.

“Sir, an unusual delivery came in for you earlier today.”

“Unusual? Who from?”

“Matthew, your associate at work, said something about your father; he said he had already informed you.” That was when I remembered.

“Oh yes, that’s right, where is it?”

“I kept it on your table in the study.”

I went into the studies hoping to find some answers or a clue to my father’s mystery. But what I found was confusion. A small steel lockbox, polished but old, sat on the table. It was locked with a combination code. There was no way I could get it open, at least not this night. But when I looked closer at the box, I saw an inscription, June 16, 2005. Then the two intertwined rings are surrounded by laurel leaves. This was the same crest on my cufflinks. Strange, I thought this was what she was looking at, then it slowly occurred to me that it was the same crest I saw on an envelope at Liora’s office, the envelope that brought the bailout.

Her behavior was explainable now. She must think I had sent that check. But I didn’t; whoever did was sabotaging my efforts to get “HOLT DESIGNS." I have to find out who is behind this and why. The fastest way to get ahead with this was to talk to my estranged mother. I dialed her number, and she answered almost immediately.

“Damian, what a surprise call this is. How can I help you?”

“That is the first thing you have to say?” I hated the fact that I had to call her.

“Oh, come on, you and I know that you would not call me except you needed my help, so what is it?”

“I need to show you something, I need answers.”

“You're going to meet me at the Lu Frank restaurant. I am leaving the country. I have a plane to catch in about an hour.”

“What? Ok, I will be there.” I had no choice. I took the cufflinks with the crest and an envelope I found with the crescent, and drove to the restaurant.

She was seated alone at a table, looking frantically at her watch, when I came up to her.

“Lucky you, I was about to leave. How can I help you? You have ten minutes.”

“Let’s get down to it then.” I brought out the envelope and showed her. She seemed confused at first.

“You came all this way to show me an old open envelope?”

“No, I came to find out what this means. I pointed at the crest, then showed her my cufflink. She put on her glasses and looked carefully.

“Oh, I see. Your father usually used this crest to seal his secret business deals. But later on, it became a business itself.”

“What kind of business?” I asked

“I am not sure, I only knew what he wanted me to know. I am sorry, Damian, I have to go now. Hope I was of help.”

I watched as she stood up and left. She had not changed a bit from the last time I saw her, six years ago. Now I was sure that the crest was something of interest, so I had to get that box open.

“Are you stalking me now?” It was Liora.

“Don’t flatter yourself, this is a public place.”

“One which is just too public for someone like you, you never come here.” She was right, I would never be caught dead in a restaurant like this.

“What do you want from me?” Liora asked as she sat down where my mother had just left, looking really beautiful and hot.

“What makes you think I want anything from you?” I noticed a few people recording, so soon we would be all over the media. I stood up to leave.