4| Check Carlton's Database

Darian Woods

"Royal Harmony hotels," I told the Driver who maneuvered his way around the busy road to avoid getting caught up in traffic. Lately, I moved around the City of Castor incognito, with security forces trailing me in disguise. I did it that way to not bring any attention to myself and still make the enemy think I was out to the open while I was being watched secretly.

Driving into Royal Harmony hotels, I watched the security positioned at the entrance of the hotel hurriedly opening the gates and showing my driver the restricted parking lot area for him to park. This was one of the perks of being rich, even in my incognito mode, I was still receiving special treatments, I smirked thinking about it.

Royal Harmony hotels, a large corporation that specialized mainly on Accommodations, bar, and catering services. I did not own the brand, I just had shares as much as 40% of the total company's shares in my name.

Immediately I made my entrance into Royal Harmony hotels, every one I came across, workers precisely had to pause and bow as I walked past them. It was no rule I made, it just happened out of respect for me. I was certain they were fortunate enough to get to see the top businessman in the Country by just walking close to me and they did not get such luck every day.

Interestingly, I heard there was some news about me saying, I exuded an aura that was hard to stand. A kind of domineering aura that carried so much authority making my presence known even without an introduction. Whatever was rumored was the truth as I had seen Moriah, my divorced wife, tremble on several occasions I stood close to her.

Shaking off the thoughts,

"What table was reserved for the meeting?" I asked Jack who quickly swiped open his phone and checked the list which held my appointments for each week, their time, and reservations.

"The VIP room 6 was reserved for this meeting."

"Any other one after this?" I inquired trying to clear off events from my head.

"There's no other one as this is the last for the day. The meeting that was scheduled with the Governor's son has been moved to two days from now at 10:00 am," I tilted my head listening to him.

When he was done reading out my schedule, we walked away from there with one of the attendants taking us to the VIP room reserved for the meeting.

"President Darian Woods" Mr. Humphrey stood up, trying to show his respect with a slight bow.

"Acting as a staunch loyalist for your own gains" I scoffed inwardly.

I nodded my head in response and took a seat opposite him. Jack sat by my side and softly told me that the documents concerning the meeting were already saved to the files on my phone.

"I believe you have gone through the contract, Mr. Humphrey. Do you have any issue with it?" I stated, my deep husky voice sounding like it was commanding.

"President Woods, I spoke to your personal assistant here that...," I watched Mr. Humphrey falter.

"I am not asking you about what you discussed with my assistant, I asked a simple question," I stated cutting him shut gruffly.

"That's what I'm saying, the issue I had, I told your personal assistant...," I stared at him sternly as he still wasn't getting the question. The look I gave him made his voice trail off and he shivered out of fright. Indeed people had real issues when it came to understanding things, I rolled my eyes at his actions and wondered if that was the man I actually wanted to do business with. The meeting with Mr. Humphrey was for a franchise he wanted with DARS Corporation. He wanted to register under the brand to start a Fashion Design Company which I was okay with. I made Jack and my Lawyer draft out the agreements for the contract and with what I had seen, it was okay, I just didn't get his point now.

"Mr. Humphrey, I'm waiting," I said tilting my wrist to check the time as I had no plans to spend the whole day on the meeting with Mr. Humphrey.

"The number 5 of the contract, I'm not totally okay with it," Mr. Humphrey blurted out.

"And what are you not okay with?" I questioned with my eyebrows arched.

"The part where you said you will get 30% of the total revenue. I'm afraid if we do it that way, Sir, I might run at a loss. I was thinking if it can be reduced to a 20% for you. Then It will just be perfect as I will comfortable allot the revenue to you once it's generated."

I was straight-faced as I did my calculations internally, trying to check the risks and the gains. I glared at Jack trying to know if he had a better idea before he whispered something to my ear.

Giving it a deep thought, I called out,

"Mr. Humphrey...," I started before I was cut short abruptly.

"Sir, please the cocktail you requested earlier," a waiter interrupted my speech making me glare daggers at her,

"I'm sorry sir," She stuttered while her lips shook in trepidation. I was going to shout at her for being so insensitive to interrupt before I heard Jack say,

"You may go now."

Jack explained on the Waiter's behalf, that he had requested the drink for the table and it was just not her luck that the timing to deliver was a wrong one. I decided to ignore that particular behavior as I did not want to create a scene. But I was definitely going to talk to her boss, so she gets queried.

"As I was saying before we got interrupted by a nobody, Mr. Humphrey, the least I can go is a 25% and I really can't go beyond that," I poured out the idea which Jack had whispered to me, "using my brand is a respect to your Fashion Design company which will naturally give you a larger market and people will expect quality from you. I know my resources will not be involved in your establishment, but the integrity of my brand is at stake. So, I definitely can not go beyond a 25% profit allotment", I said with firm persistence like the speech was already rehearsed in my brain.

"You can think about the contract again, whatever you decide, you know how to contact me," I said forcing a smile as I stood up to leave. I didn't bother about the bills because as a major Shareholder and a Black gold card holder, whatever bills I incurred in any of the hotel's branches and subsidiaries were on the house. Topping the business world for a long time, I had gotten used to issues like this, so I was the least disturbed as I knew he, Mr. Humphrey was going to agree with the changes I made.

********

Arriving at the office, I swiftly rushed to the penthouse to pick up a document I needed to work on, Jack followed behind.

While I was searching for the documents, notifications came running into my phone and I paused to tap on it, looking closely it was comments from a tag of my relocation, I scrolled down with my eyes before it caught something I had not thought of,

"I heard his wife was once spotted in Carlton. Or is he moving over here because of her?" I read out to Jack's hearing. "Was Moriah really in Carlton?" I said inaudibly.

"Jack put a call to Charles and tell him to check Carlton's Database," I commanded with furrows formed on my forehead.

"Okay," Jack responded, "what should he search for?"

"Moriah... Moriah Woods," I declared and my eyes darkened.