Rollercoaster With The Mafia Tycoon

Chapter 9. A cup of coffee

A few days later,

A man is seated around a table in a black suit. The room is dim and red-like like an occultic setting with well-armed guards around ready to shoot at any intruder.

Gabriel walks in majestically with his brother behind him, they are meeting with the Taiwan investors and probably hoping to get a deal at the end of the meeting.

“Gabriel” one of the investors stands up as they both shake hands. They exchanged pleasantries and immediately go down on their seats to start talking about business.

“It's going to expand our business and boost our sales if we agree tonight," Gabriel says. “But before we do so, how sure are we secured?” Another asked the question to Gabriel. “Well, be rest assured that our dealings won't be targeted by the police or the authorities. We handle the production while you handle the delivery" he answers.

“Great, however, for a start we would love to see and taste the quality of your products. You were being highly recommended by other drug lords and by that am guessing that you are doing a great job” their leader says.

“I'm flattered! As they say; seeing is believing. Gentlemen, behold this is white magic." A whitish powdered substance is poured on the table and marvelled as the scent reaches their nostrils. They can't help but give it a try.

“This is good, share with us your secret ingredient, Gabriel,” one says joyfully snuffing the powder into his nostrils. “A magician never reveals their secrets" Collins teases and Gabriel agrees with him. “This is the best so far and the quality is top-notch. Your father made a good decision to allow you two to run the family business" Mr Lee Wang says as he lifts his wine glass saying…

“Cheers to a wonderful partnership and business transaction" they all lift their glasses and cheer as they hit their glass with each other. Gabriel glance at his watch wondering if his wife has returned from school already but he’s in the middle of a business transaction and can't leave. These investors are very capricious, his father warned him earlier so living isn't an option.

However, he kind of feels relief because he has appointed a few bodyguards around the school to watch her closely and makes sure she isn't in trouble of any sort.

Naya Orissa enters the living room. Iris isn't home yet and it’s past her usual time. Besides this is her first time staying at school this late, perhaps she is doing a tour around the school or she might be stuck in traffic on her way home.

Unexpectedly, the living room fixed telephone rings. The old woman hurriedly picks it up. It’s Mr Walter calling and for sure he’s going to ask if the little madam has returned home from school already. What is she going to replay? She doesn't want to put anyone into trouble.

“Naya, has Iris returned home?” he asks as expected. She can hear the background discussion which seems like he was in a meeting.

“Not yet sir. Ken is yet to return home with the madam" she replies with a bit of worry. Just then the door clicks and opens and Ken walks in without the madam.

“Who's that?” He asks as he heard the sound, hoping it's his wife. “It's Ken, sir,- -- but he came back alone," she says with a trembling voice. Gabriel frowned “Where the hell is she?" he thought.

“Did she give you or Ken any valid reason for staying behind?" He asks. Naya had but call on loudspeakers and Ken can hear. He’s already fidgeting in fear. “No sir, but I was told that she left earlier with a guy and a girl around her age," he says. Freeze chills run down Gabriel's spine and he clenches his fist in wrath.

“She ran off with a boy? How dare she" he offs the call and stands up immediately telling Collins to conclude the deal with the Investors without him as he grabs his keys and phone to move out but Collins clenches his arm halting him “You heard dad! If we lost this deal, we are dead!” he warns.

“I trust you, you can handle this and more to that we have done the hardest part!” he whispers and leaves immediately. He unlocks his phone and traces her location that appears on his screen. She has a tracking device on her cellphone that monitors her movements, and from what he sees, she is in a càfe almost 5 minutes drive from the school gate.

He drives to the place immediately not minding the red and green light, the thought of her dining with a guy throws him off balance. She is his woman and no guy aside from he should treat her on dates.

Inside the Càfe, they are discussing and laughing Iris begins to feel more comfortable around them. At first, she was scared about making new friends but now she’s happy. “After all, it's not a bad idea to have people to share your happy moments with,” she tells herself.

Maggie's cellphone ring and it's her mummy calling. “Excuse me guys" she steps out to pick up the call. Immediately after Maggie leaves, there is complete silence as the atmosphere becomes tense.

Carl looks at Iris thinking of what to say but the words are not coming forth. “What are...” “So you're...." they say at the same time interrupting each other. That makes them soon break into a light chuckle.

“You go first," Iris says smiling. “No, you go first. Ladies first remember?" He says. “Oh please spare me that" she gives him a light lovely tap on the shoulders.

Gabriel's brows furrow in anger, as he sees them from a distance. He just arrived but he doesn't want to risk his reputation. He’s in public and if he barges to drag her out, her privacy will no longer exist. She will constantly be invaded by the paparazzi.

Think about all that, he tries to keep his cool and wait till she’s done. He's surely not going to spare her when they got home.

Maggie walks in, in a hurry “I've got to go now, guys, I'm sorry" she picks up her bag. “Why so sudden? Is there an emergency at home" Iris worries before remembering that it was her mom the caller?

“Not really, my mother has gone into automatic mom mode and is giving me 10 minutes to get home. My driver's waiting outside" she says looking at the two in haste. “Don't worry about Iris you can go ahead, I will take good care of her” Carl says.

“Aren't you going home now? It's late. By the way, Iris won't your brother be mad at you?” At the mention of her brother she remembers Gabriel and how he had always warned her never to go out without his permission. She checks her wristwatch, “OMG!” she whimpers as she had lost track of time.

“Carl, I think you should go with Maggie. I will find my way home is you ok with that?” she asks but he tries to refuse. She clutches both of his hands “Hey, listen to me, we all know you stay far and going with Maggie like you always do will save you from a lot of stress. Go with her, I will call for my driver to come and pick me up” she says.

“Okay, but I won't do this next time,” he says. “Bye, bye, girl. And you follow me” Maggie pulls him with her.

As soon as they left, unlocks her cellphone and moves out while ordering an Uber online. She stands by the road waiting for the Uber for a ride to the ‘Perfect estate’. A black shiny Lamborghini packs in front of her. She doesn't visualize who it can be seen she doesn't know the car’s qualities.

“Weird? How fast is the uber?" She asks herself. The car looks familiar but reminds her of no one. The driver's seat window goes down for her to see the last person's face she ever expected to see.

“Gabriel?" her eyes widen in shock.