Page 35 of Business Temptations

Matteo turned away from the view, mentally reviewing his plan. But his thoughts kept returning to Antonio’s claim earlier today. Could Matteo have been wrong about Antonio all these years? Matteo had always assumed that Antonio had been the treasured son, the entitled heir that was pampered and spoiled all his life.

But what if Antonio had been just as miserable growing up? What if Ricardo had abused Antonio just as he’d done to Matteo?

Or was Antonio lying about trying to extricate himself and the family business from the clutches of criminals?

Matteo couldn’t answer that question. On the one hand, he’d grown up resentful of the love and affection that everyone assumed a father shared with his son. Matteo couldn’t dismiss that resentment after a single conversation.

However, he’d heard the sincerity in Antonio’s voice. Was his half-brother not involved in the corporate espionage or the drug trafficking through their companies in Spain? Or was he neck deep and just better at manipulating a person’s emotions?

Matteo shook off the numerous questions. He’d come up with several ways to prevent his father from interfering in his business and that’s what he needed to focus on tonight.

Still, he pulled out his phone and sent a text message to Tim and Bailey, suggesting that they meet to discuss more ways to protect their company. And for tonight, he needed to discover if his father, or his half-brother…or both…were the culprits in the latest attempt at corporate espionage.

Ricardo scowled at his son. “You will do this!”

Antonio shook his head. “I won’t. That’s illegal and I’m sick of cleaning up after you,” he told his father. His scowl deepened as he continued, “If you continue down this path, I will not only bring enough evidence to the authorities to bury you. But I will also resign as president of Del Campo Industrias and you can return to the office and run the business yourself.”

His father’s jaw went slack. “You wouldn’t!”

Antonio nodded, his angry glare unrelenting. “Oh yes, I will. Don’t push me, Father. You’ve been a dictator for far too long. I’m either running things now, or I’m gone. You decide.”

Then he walked out.

Ricardo watched his son, bile rising up in his throat. Antonio was his pride and joy. Would he truly walk away from his birthright?

Ricardo snorted and shook his head. “Not a chance!” His son was just emotional after visiting with his half-brother.

Si, his spies had told him Antonio had visited Matteo, arriving at the office almost immediately after Ricardo departed. The indignity of the visit still rankled, but Ricardo was certain he could eventually convince Matteo, his bastard son, to move his corporate assets to Spain. Then he’d work with his Spanish contacts within the government to pass laws limiting foreign investors. Once those regulations were in place, and the two other partners had been eliminated, Ricardo could then vote himself in charge of the new board of directors. He’d give himself a generous salary and, eventually, Ricardo could simply step in and take over from Matteo. The little girl and the scientist could be evicted from the country, sent back to the United States with their tails between their legs. And he’d keep all of that delightful money from them too. No need to give them a salary if they weren’t allowed to work in the industry.

Yes, it was wonderful plan. And even better, he’d have access to more chemical factories. He’d eventually shift Matteo’s factories over to manufacturing the newest designer drug one of his chemists had created. Recently, he’d gotten the drug dealers to start handing out samples at the clubs around Europe. Now that the customers were becoming hooked on the new drug, the dealers were clamoring for more of the product.

Ricardo estimated that it would take him less than six months to transition the factories to manufacturing his drug instead of the pathetic fuel additive. Who needed a more efficient fuel? Gas was cheap enough. At least, he assumed it was. He had no idea since his chauffer was the one who filled up the limousine. Ricardo never drove himself anywhere. He felt it was beneath him to drive himself. Besides, the villagers enjoyed knowing that their lord and landowner was wealthy enough to be driven around the village in style.

His son didn’t abide by this rule. His son, his legitimate son, was a failure when it came to maintaining appearances! Antonio obviously didn’t realize that the villagers needed to be reminded of their lord’s power and dominion over their meager lives!

Ricardo texted his spies. “Follow my son.”

Then he sat back and poured more of the excellent vermouth provided by the hotel. He looked around, surveying the suite. It was fine, but definitely not up to the standards that he would require if he were in his home country. Spain was much better at lavish luxury. The Americans were so tacky! He hated leaving Spain, but in this case, in order to get his plans moving more quickly, he’d ventured out of his comfortable ancestral castle to visit his bastard son.

Ricardo had to admit that the low-life bastard was doing well for himself. If Ricardo hadn’t seen his bastard son’s name in the ‘one hundred wealthiest men in the world’ article, this plan might not have occurred to him. Before that article, Ricardo had assumed that Matteo was working for some corporate entity as a mere lackey, earning an adequate salary and living a life of quiet mediocrity. He’d been pleasantly surprised to discover his bastard might have some value. Ricardo enjoyed using people to advance his own causes. He enjoyed the privilege that his title afforded him, the entrée into various establishments that others were denied. And it was all because of his illustrious heritage, which allowed him to live this life.

His phone pinged and he checked the message, not sure who would be bothering him at this time of the evening. As he read the message, his eyes narrowed. “What the hell is ‘TBC’?” he demanded. And why was Antonio going there?

He flipped his phone over to the internet search and smiled as he realized that TBC was “The Billionaire’s Club”. Apparently, Antonio had been invited to join this illustrious club! And no one had bothered to offer Ricardo membership? His temper boiled, but Ricardo tamped down on his fury, trying to come up with a plan.

Then he remembered he’d ordered his private detective to spy on Antonio. He was forgetting things more often, he realized, wondering if he should contact a doctor about it.

But Ricardo dismissed the issue. His memory wasn’t the problem. His mind was perfectly fine! It was just a blip because he’d deviated from his routines. Back home, everything was steady and his possessions were right where he left them. And if they weren’t, then he’d speak to his wife.

Agrandecimente, his wife had passed. He forgot that occasionally. But every time he remembered, the thought sparked a moment of joy. The woman had been an ugly hag, intent on spending all of his money on shoes and manicures. Pointless woman!

Focusing on the present, he remembered that his son, his real son, was visiting a billionaire’s club. Neither of them had reached that level of financial security, but if Antonio followed Ricardo’s instructions with the factories and the new product, then they would reach that level in two, perhaps three years.

Thinking of the billionaire’s club, Ricardo stood up and smiled, smoothing his slacks. “I should be there with him,” he announced to the silence. However, before he left the hotel suite, he sent a message to one of his employees. Just to be safe, he thought.

Chapter 9

“He’s here,” Levi whispered into the microphone that connected to Matteo, Sean’s, and Emily’s earpieces.

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