RISE OF THE MORTE CONGLOMERATE HEIR

Chapter 10

Mrs. Cassandra Morte: "No need, you're a Top Property Specialist. You're saying 'cheapest' because we're close."

They both laughed, the sound genuine and loud, enjoying the private camaraderie. 

Mrs. Cassandra Morte: "You know, I really hate how Sable works. No business etiquette." 

River: "Zander is the best. Some days, we were... Sable and me in a one-on-one coaching but it was very different. It feels like, I was the one who introduce 'Sales 101' to Sable." 

They laughed again, a mutual acknowledgment of Sable's incompetence. Suddenly, Cassandra reached out and gently rubbed River’s back, her touch startlingly maternal. "How long Zander is missing? Two weeks?" 

River instantly closed his eyes, his entire body tensing in a silent panic. No Madame, Zander is Ice, the truth wanted to burst out, risking everything. Instead, River inhaled slowly, opened his eyes, and gently rubbed Madame Morte's back in return, mirroring her gesture, using the exact, pre-approved lie. "It's just days, Madame. We will look for him." 

Mrs. Cassandra Morte: "You and Zander are best friends, right?" 

River: "Uhm... I guess it's Teggo. Teggo and Zander are the real deal." 

Mrs. Cassandra Morte: "No, don't do that. Zander shared a lot about you. Very bright PC of one of our businesses." 

River smiled, the compliment easing his anxiety. While sitting, he looked back and opened the sliding window. "Mom? Can we get two hot chamomile tea here? Thanks." He closed the window. 

River: "Really? Zander said that?" 

Mrs. Cassandra Morte: "Of course. That's why I want to call you 'son' because you're almost bright as Zander. He told me 'River can sell anything and everything.', that's exactly what he said." 

They both laughed, and River wished this conversation could somehow ease the grief Mrs. Cassandra Morte felt for her missing son. River's mom brought the teas he requested, providing a brief, warm interruption. Madame Morte stood up abruptly. "You know, thanks. Thank you, River. I'll go ahead." She walked out the balcony, leaving the tea untouched, and went straight to her waiting limousine.

River’s mom looked bewildered. "Wow. That's Madame Morte?" 

River: "Yup."

River’s mom: "Why you let her sit here? We still have dinner in fridge." 

River: "She's full, mom." 

River stood alone on the balcony, watching the limousine pull away. He slightly wondered, a chill running down his spine. She rarely visits this spot, and she always comes with Zander. Is she trying to tell me something? 

He thought back to the insults. Sable wasting the gasoline budget. Sable driving a client van. 

River stared at the untouched chamomile tea. She hadn't come for camaraderie; she had come to give him a coded status report on Ice’s location and persona. Madame Cassandra had just subtly confirmed her protection. 

River no longer feared his commissions. He realized; he is now under the protection of the greatest mind in the Morte family. 

Wednesday morning at 9 AM, in the parking lot of the Morte office tower, Sable was a coil of barely controlled fury. He marched straight to the Bentley, where Zander/Ice was standing ready by the door.

Sable leaned in, his finger stabbing the air inches from Zander/Ice's forehead. "It's your happy day, huh. Madame Cassandra saved you yesterday, and today. Count three days and when she forget that she saved you, YOU ARE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING I SAY!!!" He didn't wait for a response, opened the car door and slamming it shut with an echoing sound. 

When Sable reached his sprawling, high-rise office, he dropped his briefcase with a crash. Merk was already there, sitting patiently in the chair opposite the desk. 

Merk: "Good morning, Boss!"

Sable: "Nice greetings, huh!" Sable walked to his desk

Merk: "I would like to~" 

Sable: "Hold on, hold on, hold on. What course you graduated?" 

Merk: "Business... MBA..." 

Sable: "Yale University?" 

Merk: "Yes." 

Sable: "Noble... Very Connecticut Bachelor..." 

Merk frowned slightly, his mask of professionalism momentarily slipping. "Boss, you read my CV again?" 

Sable: "No. I'm thinking, I want to know... uhm... how's working... with me?" 

Merk managed a slow smile, carefully gathering his answer. "Noble." 

Sable raised an eyebrow. "Is that a compliment? Or you can't find a word, huh?" 

Merk felt a sudden spike of nerves, internally asking, Why he's asking me?  Sable seemed to read the silent panic. "The reason why I'm asking you is... I want to know... Do you do sales?" 

Merk: "Upselling... Not a high quality closer for real estate~" 

Sable: "Like River?" 

Merk blinked rapidly. Oh shit, oh shit... is he really knew? Does he knew that me and Zander are friends?!?! Shit! Shit! Shit!!!  Merk's underarms immediately began to sweat. He forced a response. "He's very popular. Very popular in Morte properties. He's always on top and if it's not, he's 2nd. Awardings for semi-annual and annually... you know, River... He's always there." 

Sable: "Are you sweating?" 

Merk: "No." 

Merk finally composed himself, gulped, and delivered the line he had rehearsed a hundred times. "Actually Boss, I'm resigning." land a folder on his desk. 

Sable: "No." 

Sable laughed, a sound that held genuine sadness but also a conviction that Merk was simply joking. "You don't mean that, Merk. Don't you?" 

Merk: "I would love to have a~"

Sable: "Vacation? How long, one month? Two months?" 

Merk: "Boss, I really respect~" 

Sable: "I would like to promote you as Sales Manager." 

Merk's eyes widened. "Sales Manager for? I mean, Morte has a lot of properties and uh..." 

Sable: "It means, more properties. More sales. More commissions!!!" 

Merk: "I don't know how uhm... I mean, I don't have work experience as a Sales Manager." 

Sable: "We have a lot of Sales Manager who would coach you for your first two months. No quota. Of course, you're special." 

Merk: "Boss, I really respect your decision however, even tenure managers would coach me, experienced Property Specialist under me as you hire them won't... won't learn... I mean, I won't be able to give newly hired Property Specialist basic knowledge when it comes to~" 

Sable: "Who says you'll be handling newly hired Property Specialist?" 

Merk tilted his head, thinking deeply. "Uhm... As what I observed here... Every manager has five experienced Property Speciali~" 

Sable clapped his hands, genuinely complimenting Merk's observation. He cut Merk off, smiling. "That's correct, Merk." 

Merk: "See now, Boss?" 

Sable: "You will only handle River Rend." 

Merk blinked many times, staring at the floor. Instead of relief or happiness at working closely with his friend, a cold wave of dread hit him. Is he really know that me, River and Zander are friends?  He chinned up, lowering his voice. "Why? River is working without Sales Manager and Sales Director under you for years but why the change of~" 

Sable cut him off again. "Yes, you're right. I hate working with him now." Sable turned his back, walking to the glass window overlooking the city. 

Merk turned his neck to Sable's back. "He's a standalone, golden sales strategist. River don't need~" 

Sable now stood at the window but turned 90-degrees to face Merk, striking, "Don't you get it, Merk? He's here for years and even the whole Morte knows he can work alone because of his previous managers and sales directors can't deliver quota, he stays. Now I'm he's manager and sales director? For what? I'm a Morte!!! Why should I do that?" 

Sable faced the glass window again, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous register. "Some people... some Morte sees him as Zander... Zander 'Not Morte' but with a good sales strategy." 

Merk stopped looking at Sable, the fear paralyzing him. Asking himself, What should I do? Is Sable trying to... Is Sable trying to unite us then plans to kill us? Like what he did to Zander?