Leo Gambino A Thousand Foes

017 Karma Bites

Several minutes later, the Chairman's office door creaked open. Simon stepped out, looking like he had aged ten years.

His face was ghostly pale, his eyes red and swollen, and his shoulders slumped like an old man. A hollow, lifeless stare had replaced the arrogant spark of superiority in his gaze.

The truth had shattered him. The pauper he had mocked and ordered to be beaten was the new Chairman. Meanwhile, Simon had strutted around like a king, insulting the one man who could end his career with a single word. How laughable.

With his head down, the SVP shuffled back towards the main hall.

Victor and Felicity had been pacing anxiously. They were desperate to hear how Leonard had been punished and whether the partnership deal had been approved.

The moment Simon reappeared, their faces lit up. They rushed over and, in their excitement, failed to notice his defeated expression.

"Mr. Mercer!" Felicity began buttering him up. "We are glad you're being treated like royalty. That the Chairman himself summoned you means he favors you over all others."

Victor nodded, beaming like an enthusiastic child. "Did Valery finally admit her fault? You must have received praise for taking stringent action against that loser Leonard."

Simon's stomach twisted on hearing the word loser. His face turned even paler. If someone as powerful as Leonard was a loser, then what was he? A street dog?

A chill raced down his spine. Simon looked around to make sure nobody from the Chairman's office was around, or he'd be summoned again and put through the meat grinder.

Victor and Felicity, unaware of Simon's spiraling thoughts, were lost in their own fantasies. They kept celebrating and insulting Leonard.

Nearby, Sophia heard their conversation and hoped Leonard was alright. Perhaps he was. Something about the man's confidence made him appear untouchable.

Sophia's phone buzzed. It was a message from the Harrington CFO. Her face drained of color as she read it.

"Rumors about the Langfords having a guaranteed deal have spread. Our stocks are crashing fast.

Victor, noticing Sophia's distress, slid beside her again with a greasy voice. 

"I'll give you a last offer. Have dinner with me tonight. I'll sublicense a few projects to your company and personally introduce you to the Chairman. Decide quickly before you lose everything."

Sophia's eyes filled with tears. Was her father's legacy going to fall apart so easily?

All she had to do was surrender her dignity to Victor. Couldn't she make the sacrifice? She opened her mouth to say yes, but another voice cut her off.

Felicity, oblivious to Victor's move, turned back to Simon with a smug grin.

"Mr. Mercer… Why don't you tell us the good news first? Has that trash Leonard been taught his lesson? Did Valery have him beaten and locked up? Come on, tell us how it went down."

Victor nodded eagerly. "Yes! Spill it, Simon. I can now address you by your first name, right?"

"Tell us what happened to that street dog. He must have been beaten within an inch of his life, right? He deserved every second of it!"

SMACK!

Simon's hand lashed out without warning, striking Victor hard across the face.

"You idiot!" he roared. "You filled my ears with lies!"

"You and your toxic woman nearly destroyed my career! If anyone's getting their legs broken, it's you! You're the one who'll be beaten half to death and tossed in jail!"

Stunned silence swallowed the hall. The crowd stared at the SVP in shock. Weren't Simon and Victor Simon's allies? Why would he hit and humiliate them?

"What are you doing—" Felicity began in protest.

Simon wasn't finished lashing out. This woman had been the worst instigator.

He spun towards Felicity and slapped her even harder. The sharp crack across her cheek echoed like a whip.

Breathing heavily, he yanked a document from his pocket and hurled it into Victor's chest. "Your proposal is rejected!" he snapped. "Eclipse Consortium wants nothing to do with Langford Enterprises!"

The Langford heir looked like he was frozen in ice. "Mr. Mercer… What is going on…" he squeaked like a mouse.

Simon ignored his pitiful question and turned to the crowd. "The Chairman is considering all other candidates except the Langfords!"

He took a furious step back and glared at Victor as if he were a piece of stuck gum in his shoe. "Tell your pathetic father I don't know you, and you don't know me. Never call me again. Never show your face in the Consortium again!"

The world narrowed for Victor and Felicity, who stood still like puppets in a clothing store, with gasps and pitiful stares from the gathering.

Simon's cold gaze swept the hall. "Security! Escort these fools out immediately and ban them from the Eclipse Consortium forever!"

Two guards appeared from the background instantly. One of them was the one who kicked Victor and Felicity out the last time.

"You two again?" he said with a frown, his nose wrinkling in disgust. "You never learn, do you?"

"Are you leaving on your own, or do we throw you out like last time?"

The guests sucked in sharp breaths. This was real. Simon was dead serious.

Just minutes ago, he had promised Victor the partnership deal. How had everything flipped so fast?

Victor and Felicity clutched their burning cheeks, stunned and confused.

Victor's brows furrowed. "Sir," he said hoarsely, gathering courage. "How did I offend you?"

Simon refused to even glance at him. He barked at the guards, "What are you waiting for? Kick them out!"

Victor clenched his teeth. He was slapped like a deadbeat, his deal was canceled, and the ties to the Consortium were severed. And yet, there was no explanation.

If the aggressor had been anyone else, he would have fought back. But this was Simon Mercer, an SVP of the Eclipse Consortium. It was unwise to protest.

"We'll leave on our own," he muttered bitterly, grabbing the dazed Felicity by the arm and turning to go. They left the hall through a boulevard of the elite, their heads held low in shame.

Every step Victor took felt heavier, and his mind raced with questions. What overturned Simon's mind? And what did he mean by his career being almost destroyed? What had happened in the Chairman's room?

A face he hated flashed in his mind. Leonard.

No. Impossible. That pauper didn't have the influence to cause this madness.

The ringing of his phone shattered the silence. Victor fumbled for it, his hand trembling when he saw the caller ID—his father.

Bracing himself, Victor answered.

Before he could speak, his father's furious roar exploded through the speaker, loud enough for the entire hall to hear.

"You brat! What have you done? How could you offend Simon Mercer? You've ruined the entire company's future!"