THE RUIN HE CHOSE

DINNER PARTY

ZAYN'S POV

I put my hands into my pocket as I stared through the glass penthouse. I kept thinking of many things at once and I didn't notice when my brother, Lorenzo pushed open the door and walked in.

“Is the driver ready?” I asked, turning my head to the side.

“Yup…but dad wants to have a few words with you before we leave,”

“I'm not interested in having any conversation with him,” I said and walked towards my desk to pick up the glass of wine I didn't finish earlier.

“You might want to see him, it's regarding the future of this gang,” Lorenzo said, walking up to me to take the glass cup from my hand.

“And no drinking, we can't have tipsy before we arrive at the dinner party,” he said, patting my shoulder.

“I said what I said, I'm not having a conversation with that man,” I said, adjusting my tie properly. I walked out of the study, the atmosphere tensed and cold. Lorenzo sighed and I heard him set the glass cup down on the mahogany table as he followed me out.

I headed towards the elevator and the doors were sliding open when my dad's voice stopped me in my tracks.

“You're not leaving this house until we have that conversation.” Lorenzo's breath hitched beside me. I clenched my fists tightly as I reluctantly turned and followed him down to his room.

My dad's black hair was starting to grey. I stared at his broad firm back, hate flowing deeply through my veins as I stared at him. His room was usual, no single picture of my mom, just guns and stacks of wine.

“This defiance attitude of yours is what is stopping me from giving you the position as the mafia Don, I wouldn't want to pass on the legacy to someone as stubborn headed as you, that's not how I've been running this gang…”

“If you insist on not wanting to give me, why call me?” I snapped at him impatiently.

“Don't speak to me in that tone Zayn!” he snapped back at me. I stared at him, my jaw hardening. He stared back at me, his handsome but ageing features holding authority and power.

“If you called me here to start another argument I better start going, I have a lot more important things to deal with,” I said and turned to leave.

“I called you here because I think it's time for you to take over the gang.” I paused in my tracks.

“Only on one condition though.” I heard him light a cigarette. I turned to stare at him.

“You bring home a wife, I'm not giving it to you unless you find someone you're going to get married to.”

“If you think you want me to trap another woman in a marriage and treat her like a liability the exact way you treated mom then forget it, I'm not doing this, you can pass the position to Lorenzo,I don't care.”

“Lorenzo is too immature to handle the gang affairs, you're the right person for this Zayn.”

“I'm not repeating myself, now if you'll excuse me.” I turned and opened the door. I walked towards the elevator and headed outside. Lorenzo was already waiting inside, sitting patiently. The chauffeur opened the door and I stepped inside. The door shut close and the car started, three other cars following closely behind as we headed to the venue for the dinner party.

“How's it going with the recruitment for the undercover bodyguard?” I asked Lorenzo.

“We still haven't found a perfect candidate, most of the people I've seen don't have a clean background.” I adjusted my tie again and picked up my tablet.

“Speed it up, I can't afford to be going everywhere with 3 cars of bodyguards following me, “

“Sure thing.”

I wasn't particularly fond of dinner parties, but I was specifically going here to strike a deal with another influential person.

The car arrived at the venue in a few minutes and Lorenzo and I stepped out. The doors were opened for us and we stepped in.

I was greeted by the sound of soft slow elegant music that sickened my stomach. All eyes turned to us immediately and almost immediately a lady walked up to me with a bright smile. Her hands wrapped around my arm as she grinned at me.

“You didn't tell me you were coming, Zee,” she whined. I abruptly detached myself without giving her any attention. Lorenzo did a good job in engaging her in a conversation and that kept her off my back.

My eyes scanned the area in search of the person I was here for. I found the bald, round man and I headed towards him, ignoring every other person who tried to strike up a conversation or smile with me.

The round man saw me and grinned. He walked up to me laughing cheerily at me. I stared straight at him, my face expressionless.

“I'm here with the documents,” I went straight to the point. The man's smile faltered a bit but then he nodded. It was at that moment Lorenzo walked up to me and whispered into my ear.