Leo Gambino A Thousand Foes

008 Ambition

Mark Aureum wondered whether he woke up on the wrong side of the bed today. Why were random Karens trying to wreck his business?

He immediately signaled the burly security guards. "I cannot let an insult to Miss Valery slide. Remove these noisy, toxic women at once! They're harassing our VIPs and causing a scene."

"Make sure you take down their names and ban them from Aureum Vaults and all its subsidiaries for life!"

The guards advanced on the two squawking women, seizing them roughly. 

"Unhand me!" Darlene spat as she was dragged towards the exit. "You can't do this! Do you know who we are?"

"We are Victor Langford's future in-laws!" Mabel snapped. "You'll regret this!"

Mr. Aureum bowed profusely to Valery, mopping his sweaty brow with a handkerchief. "My sincerest apologies for those rowdy women, ma'am. We will filter our customers from now onwards so as not to let such anti-social elements inside."

He approached Leonard with a shiny card. "Sir, please accept a lifetime platinum membership of Aureum Vaults. It has personal shopping privileges, priority delivery, and unlimited access to my humble Emporium."

Valery rolled her eyes at the kowtowing businessman and instead spoke to Leonard under her breath. "Are you satisfied, sir? Or shall I shut down this Emporium?"

Leonard patted the Reishi vial in his pocket and turned to leave. "No need. I got what I was looking for. Let's go."

***

Darlene and Mabel were shoved out onto the sidewalk like street dogs. Darlene staggered against a dumpster for balance.

"That low-born gutter snipe!" she hissed. "Felicity must fix this! We need to take revenge on Leonard!"

They immediately rushed to Victor's mansion, where Felicity was staying.

"Mom? Did you get the Reishi Royale Mushroom?" she demanded as soon as they arrived. "At the gala, it will be Victor's present to the new Chairman of the Eclipse Consortium."

Her mother's voice trembled with rage. "No, we didn't, darling. We couldn't! Leonard stole that herb!"

"Leonard?" her daughter asked, confused. "What are you talking about?"

"Your pathetic ex-boyfriend!" Darlene wailed. "Who else? The scummy bastard is alive, having latched himself onto a wealthy woman named Valery like an escort. Can you imagine that?"

"Still in his cheap clothes, he's parading around like royalty," Mabel snarled. "He even got us tossed out and banned from Aureum Vaults!"

Felicity took a sharp intake of breath. "That's impossible! Leonard barely escaped death, and now he's leeching off another woman so quickly?"

Darlene nodded vigorously. "We were humiliated in front of Nexus City's elite because of him, and dragged out like criminals!"

Felicity took a deep breath. "Never mind him, Mom. After tomorrow's gala event at the Eclipse Consortium, we'll have time to deal with Leonard."

She smirked, her voice carrying arrogance and overconfidence. "Next time, he won't get a chance to escape. I'll watch as the dogs rip him to shreds and eat him alive."

Darlene's voice crackled with doubt. "But what happened to us at Aureum Vaults—"

Felicity clicked her tongue, irritation flickering in her gaze. Her mother and sister were petty and short-sighted. She had bigger ambitions—to rule Nexus City beside Victor Langford.

"One embarrassing incident doesn't change anything. You'll have your revenge after the Langford family's rise to absolute power. Victor's father has everything under control. You can go now."

As Mabel and Darlene left, footsteps approached Felicity's room, making her lips curl. Perfect timing.

Victor entered the penthouse, his stride confident, cocky, as if he already owned the city. "What's wrong, darling?" he asked, loosening his tie. "You seem to be troubled."

A cold glint flashed in Felicity's eyes. "I sent my mom and sister to purchase the Reishi Royale Mushroom for you—a precious gift I planned to let you offer the new chairman tomorrow to secure the cooperation. But..."

"A brilliant idea. But what happened?"

She let disappointment show on her face. "They couldn't purchase it. Apparently, Leonard took the mushroom first, using the purse of a wealthy woman named Valery, who Mr. Aureum favors."

Her voice trembled with anger. "Why didn't he die that day!"

Victor's expression darkened. "That loser again?" he hissed with contempt. "Don't worry, my father has just received confirmation from the Eclipse Consortium. Everything's set for signing a mega deal. After tomorrow, I'll find time to hunt him down!"

"And what about the wealthy woman Leonard has attached himself to?"

"Hmph!" Victor snorted smugly. "After tomorrow, who would dare challenge us? We'd crush Valery too if she dares to come in our way."

"Good!" Felicity said, her eyes gleaming in anticipation. "Make sure Leonard understands the consequences of challenging his betters. I want him to really feel it this time, no matter who his mistress is."

"That would be an easy feat for my Dad. Anyway, have patience, my dear. Tomorrow's celebration is just a formality before they sign off on the project."

Actually, Robert Langford, Victor's father, had exhausted all their resources and connections just to gain the favor of a high-ranking member of the group, Simon Mercer.

Through bribery, Robert had escalated the Langford company to the top of the Eclipse Consortium's collaboration list. It wasn't easy at all. But there was no need for Victor to tell Felicity that.

"Tell me again," Felicity whispered, her eyes half-lidded with dreams. "What happens after the Chairman signs the contract?"

Victor's smirk widened. "Once the project is signed and approved, my family moves up to second-tier status in Nexus City. And you…"

He traced a finger along her chin. "You'll be right there at the top with me as a Queen."

Felicity closed her eyes, savoring the moment—all those years of leeching off boyfriends and pretending to be innocent.

Playing the perfect girlfriend to Leonard to get his bone marrow and letting him fawn over her like some lovesick puppy. All of it was leading to this majestic climb to the top.

"No more looking up at the elite," Victor added, pouring two glasses of wine and handing one to her. "We'll be the ones looking down on the city."

Felicity raised hers, the crystal catching the light like a blade. "To tomorrow night—when everything changes."

Victor clinked his glass against hers. "And after, when we put dogs like Leonard in their proper place."