A Dangerous Business Novels & Stories

Chapter Four Thorne Rocco I sat in the VVIP suite, taking in the scene below. I had just opened my new club, Silent, and it was already becoming the hottest spot in the city. It was part of a new investment I had made upon returning from my time in Italy. I was eager to see if it would be as successful as my other ventures. "I heard you and Annabel broke up," Enzo said, swirling the wine in his glass. "What happened?"

There were only a few people like family and perhaps people who stole information from him, causing Marco to just heave a long sigh. "We don't know what will happen in the future, especially in Chicago, where many big players dominate the country," Marco said again. "Then why are you expanding your business in this dangerous country?" Letta said, making Marco just smile. "You wouldn't understand the immense profit I gain from being involved in this business right now," Marco said again. "But you promised, right, you didn't want to be involved in bad things like terrorists or anything like that?" Letta said, making Marco burst into laughter.

He did not want to burden Kelsey with having to see the gore that followed. Furthermore, he could not risk having Barton find out that the woman he was devoted to the entire time was Kelsey instead of Zara who had accompanied him to the club last time. Kelsey frowned. “How could there be such terrifying people in the world?” In the world of business, there was always the threat of betrayal and exploitation. However, nobody in their right mind would ever escalate it to dangerous acts such as sending thugs and burning a place down. Barton was no common folk. He was a dangerous man.

Tia. Heading Diamond Corp was sudden and tedious, but I had to do it. I was the only person Luke trusted to allow to handle his business, and I understood why. Surrounded by the likes of Stacy, we had to be extra vigilant. I was the only one with a lot to lose if he got hurt.

To prove to my father that I could rise without any man's shadow above me. Carlos didn’t give up. He brought us in closer. Had us run errands—gun trades, covert deals, quiet cleanups. We learned from him. Learned well. But then came the one mistake I would regret for the rest of my life—Saida. She dangled herself in front of me like a flame. Beautiful. Dangerous. Obsessive. I ignored her for years until that one night—three years into knowing her—when I let down my guard. We were celebrating a major deal. I was drunk. She was more than willing.

“Got it for seven bucks from a street vendor.” The girl’s raised eyebrow betrays her skepticism, but she drops the subject. The conversation shifts, but Sienna’s heart remains restless. Across the diner, she overhears a group of people discussing Noah, their voices low but just loud enough for her to catch snippets. “Did you hear?” one of them says. “Noah King’s been snapping up companies left and right. Word is some CEOs have been so stressed they’ve jumped off buildings. Can you imagine being pushed to your own death?"

The stripper scrammed to a corner in a hurry, leaving Vincent alone to face the intruder. The intruder slowly steps out of the darkness near the door and Vincent as the judge who's trying to be just is already shivering. He knew that his profession made him exposed to danger and he'd always tried his best to be safe but right now, he couldn't help but think that Karma had finally caught up to him for whoever judged shall be judged. He couldn't even see the figure clearly, but he can make out the outline of the owner of the deep voice. “What do you want? Name your price.” He said, trying to keep his voice from shaking.

Dangerous. But real.

The man’s tone darkened. “You’re asking for something dangerous, Diana. You know whose name will be tied to this if it goes wrong? Julian Cross isn’t just some billionaire. He’s untouchable. Even whispers can sink reputations, and you’re talking about creating one out of thin air.”

I didn’t even turn off the cellphone because I fell asleep in tears. I hoped Mommy will go back now and clear all these mess. But I became even more skeptical when in the days that followed, he was still gone. I was trying to figure out how to save the business. But I was devastated when Ate Dulce announced that all the clients had backed out. Our name is not just involved in the scandal. It was a crime. That reached all of our branches. We were losing so much everyday. I don't even know how I was able to attend graduation