Chapter 3

“Father,” she greeted as she walked up to him and kissed him on his cheek.

She took the chair opposite him and crossed her legs.

“How did the meeting go in London?”

Adriano was in his late eighties. He could not travel as much anymore due to his age and health.

“It went well. Khan said he already informed you.”

The butler walked in and placed Adriano’s whiskey on the table next to him. The butler bowed and left.

The tray flew across the floor. Whiskey splashed against the wall and glass pieces shattered everywhere.

“I asked you! How many times do I have to tell you, to not trust anyone?”

Alice did not flinch. She only stared at him.

The butler hurried in and started cleaning and picking up the pieces of glass.

“The deal went through. They liked our proposal. We will start supplying in ten days.”

Adriano nodded. The sound of his ring finger tapping against the wooden chair annoyed Alice

“Everything going as planned with the engagement party tonight?” Adriano asked as he looked with curiosity at Alice.

“Wes wants out. He wants to break off the engagement.”

“What are you going to do about it?”

“I’ll make him regret crossing us. Isn't that what you taught me to do?”

Adriano nodded,

“Good. I’ll wait to hear the good news”

An outsider would frown upon you when they hear you say, “good news sends a chill down your spine”. If only they knew good news to Adriano meant the opposite.

Alice nodded,

“If there is nothing else, I will take my leave then. I still have to go to the company.” Alice said

Adriano nodded.

He stared at the doorway where Alice had left.

They arrived at the company. Alice climbed out and walked into the building. When she reached her office, she sat down and opened her laptop. Her fingers ran fast over the keyboard. She leaned back into her chair, then pressed enter. With a smirk, she stared at the coding text on her laptop. Alice pressed the intercom button,

“Oliver, get me the CEO of Targo on the line.”

“Yes, Alice”

A few minutes later her office phone rang. Alice answered the call,

“Hello, Jackson.”

“Hello Alice, what can I do for you?”

“I want you to freeze all further orders from Techno Corporation.”

Jackson kept silent for a while,

“I heard from your father, Wes will be his future son-in-law. So why do you want me to do that?”

“Are you coming to the engagement party tonight Jackson?”

“Of course, I am. It would be rude not to.”

“Good. You will get your answer tonight. If you want me to continue our business transaction, you will do as I tell you to.”

“Alice, If I may ask. Did Wes cross your family?”

“Yes,” Alice hissed

“It is always a pleasure doing business with your family. Jackson said then ended the call.

Targo Corporation.

Jackson placed the phone down and turned to his assistant.

“Stop all future and current orders that are going out to Techno corporation.”

The assistant’s eyes widened,

“Sir?”

“You better hurry and do as I say. This is an order from Alice herself. If one of our trucks is seen offloading supplies to them, we will be on the wrong side of the Bernardi clan. So, hurry!”

When the assistant heard him mentioning the Bernardi clan, the hair on his arm automatically stood up. The two most feared mafia clans were the Rodriguez clan. Their leader was Kevin Rodriguez, and the Bernardi clan.

The assistant hurried to his desk. He called all the departments and informed them to stop all current and future orders. The manager of the orders department stormed into the assistant's office,

“What do you think you are doing? Do you know how big a loss the company will make if we go ahead with your request? Are you insane?”

The assistant looked bored at the Manager.

“I’m sorry, but the company's future is more valuable than a few dollars we will lose when we stop our business with them.

The manager almost fainted when he heard the assistant’s words.

“Stop- Stop – our business with Techno. Have you gone crazy? Where is Jackson, is he aware of this?”

The assistant sighed,

“Do I ever do anything without Jackson’s orders? I work for him. So of course, the order came directly from him.”

The manager could not stand it anymore. He grabbed the chair that stood next to him and slumped down.

“How – How can he do this? They are one of our biggest customers.”

The assistant waved a dismissive hand, “Not for long. They are in the process of collapsing.”

“WHAT? SINCE WHEN?

“They crossed the Bernardi clan. It is only a matter of… I would have said days, but I think the correct term would be hours.”

The manager leaned forward,

“What was Techno thinking? Are they insane!”

“They were not thinking at all.”

The manager glanced around the office and then looked back at the assistant,

“Are the stories true? That Adriano Bernardi is letting his daughter, Alice take over? I heard them say she is the most beautiful woman you will ever seen but inside she is as cold as ice. She has exceptional fighting skills.” He rubbed his arms as he felt goosebumps running over them.

The assistant raised his eyebrow,

“All I can say is that everyone knows not to cross that family.”

The door to Jackson’s office opened. Jackson stood in the doorway staring at the two in front of him.

“Should I call Alice and tell her you would like her to come and tell you her story herself?” Jackson asked annoyed.

The manager's eyes widened. Jackson's words made him jump to his feet,

“I – I have a lot of work that still needs to be done.” He said and hurried out of the office