Page 9 of Ruthless Mafia Daddy

“It’s a thing of ego. He’d feel dispensable with how she left, and if she’s to gain his trust, we have to make it look like it was all his doing, like he was in charge from the beginning.”

I found myself slowly nodding in agreement with her proposal. I’ve dealt with a couple of high-profile men, and I can testify they all had one thing in common—a stomach that cannot digest any form of rejection. If you want them hot on your heels, all you have to do is say no or act in a way that is contrary to the affirmative response they’re used to and watch them hunt you down like a sport. It’s something Viv called the natural masculine instinct to conquer and dominate, and it’s seen whenever a challenge presents itself.

Father leaned back into his chair, his brows furrowed as he slowly tapped his lips with his index finger. “I was hoping she turned up in his office with a job application or something. It would keep them in the same space and speed things up.”

“That’ll be too predictable, and he’ll think she’s there because of him, and he’ll throw her in with every desperate girl in Manhattan throwing themselves at him. That won’t be good for us in the long run. Also, if we intend to break him down, this is not a project you want to rush. A man like Mikhail is not one to hand out his heart or trust like a Frisbee,” Vivian countered, maintaining her stand.

“You decide the process, but I want results, and I want them as soon as possible.” And with that, the screen went blank, and Vivian let out a heavy exhale.

“He’s honestly not that bad,” I chuckled, watching as she dramatically clutched her heart, earning me a glare from her.

“I never said he was. I remain eternally grateful to him, but that doesn’t mean he does not scare me shitless.”

“This plan of yours, I’m not faulting it, but what if he doesn’t come looking for me or he doesn’t find me? What do we do?”

“Sometimes I wonder how you’re both the smartest and dumbest person I know. That man was totally into you at the club. He’ll be back. Men are not as complicated as they pose themselves to be.” She replied with a sly smile playing on her lips, totally enjoying this.

CHAPTER 4

Mikhail

“$500 million. That’s the most I can offer for your business,” I said, watching as Levi Goldberg, the once high and mighty CEO of Goldberg Inc., glared at me. He looked nothing like the blonde-haired, 42-year-old that graced the cover ofForbesand several magazines with a blinding smile. He had bags the size of heavy-duty moving bags beneath his eyes with crow marks to match. Even his eye color looked slightly different.

“My business is far worth more than that, Mikhail, you know this,” He said through gritted teeth, his glare intensifying.

“Yet here we are. Let me make this easier for you,” I replied, supporting my jaw on my clasped hands on the table. “Your business is on the brink of collapse. You do not have enough funds to pay off your investors, nor do you have the funds to revive it. From where I stand, it looks like you’re headed for the biggest lawsuit New York has ever seen in a long time. You're not in the position to negotiate, Levi.”

Anger is a very curious emotion, one I find most interesting among all others. It could be born from love, hate, jealousy, wounded pride, or anything at all. I’ve come to know that all emotions can give rise to anger. In the case of Levi, it was wounded pride.

Two years ago, I had taken a sudden interest in real estate and aimed to expand my clubs into resorts and Airbnbs. Coincidentally, Levi was expanding on his Trust and real estate business, and I contacted him for collaboration, and his reply was a short and heavy “No,” stating he preferred to keep his businesses clean.

It took a long time and a great deal of money, but I am a very patient man.

I infiltrated his clean business with more dirt than he could’ve ever imagined, tearing it apart brick by brick until there was nothing left of it but a looming structure haunting the streets of Manhattan and accumulating lease.

He fought a good fight in the beginning. He hired private investigators and internal auditors to take a look into his affairs, but he was no match for what I planned for him. And now we were back where we started. He and I in a meeting, a deal on the table, and this time, I wasn’t the one who needed him. No one would buy a company with so many task issues and violation suits. I was pretty much his only hope.

He glared at me for a while before his eyes lowered, anger giving way to desperation. “Please.”

“It’s the best I can do for you, Levi. You’ll see my secretary on your way out. She’ll hand you the documents. Once you sign, the money will be made available to you immediately.” I said, dismissing him with a smile.

He will be an example to anyone who feels confident enough to talk shit about me or my business.

“Was that Levi Goldberg leaving your secretary’s desk looking like a child who was denied dessert,” Enzo asked, walking into my office like he owned the place.

“And where was this secretary when you whisked your unwelcome self into my office?”

“Right behind her desk, making googly eyes at me.” He smirked, making himself comfortable in the chair Levi occupied.

Enzo was the only person who crossed my boundaries with no care in the world. He was also the only person I would attribute the word “friend” to. We got into a fight on our first day in college, and we’ve been closer than brothers ever since.

He had no issues telling me off, the same way he found none of my requests odd or questioned any of my demands. As a Don with no consigliere, I never took his loyalty for granted despite how brass he was.

“I saw his business on the news,” He said, giving me a pointed look. “Remind me not to mess with you.”

“Would that change anything?”

“No.”

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