Dangerous Affair

Chapter 19

Nick

"Caleb, it's way past bedtime and you won't stop calling my phone. What's with you? I already told you to take a day off when you find something fishy. Let this man breathe, will you?" I rub my tired eyes and slip out a hiss, the constant buzzing in my ears makes it unbearable to listen to Caleb over the phone.

"Nick, you left me and you think I am finding it funny? You jerk!" He cusses so loudly that I take my cellphone off my ear— they hurt badly as Caleb screams at the other end of the line. "What the hell were you thinking? You f*****g brought Marcel here and left me to deal with that asshole. How could you be this heartless?! He almost broke my precious nose after what you did to him."

"Really?! But you're still fine, though," I chuckle but Caleb isn't finding it funny so he growls over the phone. "Look, I am sorry but I have to go to bed, okay? Have had a long day and don't want to be reminded of that asshole. Just don't die before morning…. You are a man, stop acting like a sisi. I bet Chloe made the wrong choice dating your sorry ass."

"Don't you dare!" He warns.

I love getting under Caleb's skin, it's way too easy to make him snap and throw tantrums all over the place. That's his specialty. It took a lot of convincing for Chloe to date my best pal. Let's say I did most of the talking and scheming to make that bastard happy.

"Someone is pissed. Don't be such a waste, get back to work. I will see you in the morning, okay? I'm done for today…. And don't forget to be nice to your new colleague when she comes in. I have to go now…"

"Nick, wait…. I think I found something, you should see this. Did you by any chance approve of the fifty million dollars project Marcel proposed earlier this year? I think it flopped and somehow, the company missed the records and the stocks were affected after that amount was pulled out without yielding results. This is bad bro…. If we don't act fast, the market is going to crash on us and we might go bankrupt. You should talk to your father about it, he might have an idea how to solve this mystery."

"That's bullshit, dude. I never approved of such a project. Marcel and I fought about it and I cancelled everything because the company wasn't ready for such. Father was on my side back then and the board came back to their senses when we almost sank. I didn't authorize such funds going out of the company's account…. Who f*****g gave that order?!" I roar, jump off my bed and try to hold back my anger. "You know what, why don't I call Father. I will be back, just stay connected."

"Alright boss," Caleb replies.

I end the call immediately and dial Father's number but it went straight to voicemail and I grab my hair in frustration. I worked so hard to keep the company from drowning and someone went behind my back to pull out major funds without my consent. Not under my watch, I have been trying to keep calm but not anymore.

"Pick up the phone, Dad," I yell. "I f*****g warned you about Marcel and Stefan but you just wouldn't listen. How the hell do you expect me to handle such a situation? I don't f*****g have a business partner at the moment. The entire board is against me and no one wants to do business with a man they call abusive and infertile."

Dad finally connects the call and I rush my words without a pause. "Tell me you didn't approve of Marcel's project? We are f*****g toast and I won't take the fall this time. You better start looking for ways we can top the chart again."

"What are you talking about, Nick? Of course I didn't."

"Then who did? We are sinking, Dad. What are we going to do now? Caleb called to inform me about the transaction. Marcel stole from us and now he wants the company for himself. This is all your fault, I warned you about that traitor but you wouldn't listen. What's so special about him that you can't let go off…"

"Marcel only did what he thought was best for business, Nick. That's not stealing, it's called taking risk. And who says he wants the company for himself? Grow up and fix this mess, that's what families do. We fix each other's mess. You brought the competition upon yourself, Nick. You just won't listen to me and now you want to play the victim. If you want the company so bad, then prove yourself to the board and stop whining like a child. Get this mess fixed immediately…" he thunders and ends the call without giving me a benefit of doubt.

He hates me for sure.

Sometimes I wonder if I am truly is son.

"f**k!" I snap, my breath rumbling just as my chest heaves without a pause. "You f*****g hate me for sure but don't worry, I am going to make you regret your decisions, Father. It's okay to make me your successor in the underground world, you make me do your dirty work but can't acknowledge me in front of your board. I will make you regret this… just watch and see."

I dial on my phone and Caleb connects without wasting anytime.

"Hey! I have a job for you."

"Anything boss," he gives a prompt reply. "At your service."

"Put a call to Mr. Watson. Make it a date with the family, we need to take Marcel out before things get messy."

"But—" Caleb stutters but I shut him up immediately.

"Do as I say, Caleb. I don't have time for games. Watson wants this as much as I do and now is the time."