Rise and shine

Chapter 7.

Tom's POV

I proceeded to stamp the photos of the company and my targets on the board, ensuring each stamp was firmly imprinted. "These are the three companies owned by Mr. Ray that I want to attack," I explained. "First, there's Bradon Technology and Engineering. Then, there's Brandon Welfare and Care, which was supposed to help people, but it seems they're doing the opposite. And finally, there's Brandon Investment and Financial, mainly focused on investing. Our primary target is the first one."

Riley remarked, "Tiger should have found something by now."

"Yes, he should. They won't see this coming. It will be a surprise," I responded, a bewildered expression on my face. "I can't wait to see it successful."

"What about the wife you told me about? she betrayed you too "Riley inquired. Ariana also deserves to be punished. She led our son to his death. But why can't I do it myself?  I hesitated. my reluctance evident.

Riley noticed my hesitation and asked, "Okay, where should we begin?"

"We need a detective and a reliable reporter on our side. We can't do this by ourselves; we need them," I explained.

"Okay, I'll find them," she said confidently. When you have someone trustworthy like Riley, you feel assured. I remembered the day I first saw her, holding the inheritance letter in my hand. If it hadn't been for that moment, I would still be living as the lowlife they called me.

The door creaked open, and Tiger entered the room. Ignoring Riley's remark about knocking, he sat down. "We found something," he said, capturing our attention.

"What is it?" I asked eagerly.

"First, the app will secretly be launched today," Tiger revealed. "And we found something to use against Mr. Johnson, including photos of him. He has been smuggling hard drugs in and out of the country."

"Ohh! He's a real villain, involved in so many illegal things," Riley commented.

"We also have our hands on the slush fund and many illegal files. We even found some gold," Tiger continued.

"Wow!" I exclaimed. "How did you manage to get all of that?"

Tiger boasted, "You know how it is. He was hiding them in a place you wouldn't even think of—inside a container at the seaport. So we attacked and took it all."

"What do you mean? I told you to tail him only," I responded sternly.

"But you need the slush fund to attack him, so I got it," Tiger justified his actions.

"I know what I'm doing. I don't want to jeopardize anything. We want to attack them like a green snake," I said, almost shouting at him.

"You can't just be ordering me around. You're not my boss," Tiger snarled back.

What? Sky Lord was right after all. If Tiger led the organization, it would lead us astray. I gave him a cold, stern gaze, and he returned it defiantly. Riley sensed the tension and intervened, saying, "Hey, you two, it's okay. We got our hands on the slush fund; that's something to be happy about."

I let my gaze loosen on Tiger. "Anyway, great job," I commended him.

"Now, what's the plan?" Riley asked, eager to move forward.

"They know someone is coming after them, so they'll be meticulous. We should act fast, and we need the reporter," I said, facing Riley.

"Okay, let me go now," she said, leaving the room. With someone as trustworthy as Riley, I felt assured. I remembered the day I first saw her, holding the inheritance letter in my hand. If it hadn't been for that moment, I would still be living as the lowlife they called me.

Tiger looked at me, and I reassured him, "It's okay now. You did a great job," tapping his shoulder.

"I'm sorry about what I said. I didn't mean it," Tiger apologized.

"It's okay," I assured him, knowing deep down that he truly meant it.

*****

Max knocked impatiently on the door, waiting for her to open it. As she did, he embraced her tightly, pushing her back into the room. She had been eagerly anticipating his arrival, wearing nothing but her nightwear. Without hesitation, he undressed her and threw her onto the chair. Slowly, he approached her and passionately kissed her, while she skillfully unbuttoned his shirt. His hand slid down her body, and they indulged in their desires. After thirty minutes of intense pleasure, Max let out a grunt as he rolled over to the other side of the bed.

"You were just as amazing as before," he complimented her, still catching his breath.

Resting her head on his chest, she played with his hair. "You're so sweet and irresistible," she said, her voice filled with desire. "I want you, babe. I want you completely. I don't want to share you with anybody."

"Very soon, babe. Guess what? She has brought up the idea of divorce," Max revealed, excitement evident in his voice.

Feeling elated, she exclaimed, "Really?"

"Yeah, it's just a matter of time. I don't want to accept it so easily. Let's wait a little longer, babe," he said, planting a kiss on her lips. She smiled and climbed on top of him, eager to express her love.

*****

"Everyone, order whatever you want. The bill is on me!" he hollered, and the bar resounded with shouts of excitement and appreciation. Aiden never explicitly said it, but deep down, he yearned to stand on his own, independent of his father's influence. Finally, his dream was within reach. Earning a five percent share every month would bring him substantial wealth and allow him to prove to his father that he truly resembled him in every way. The DJ kept spinning tracks, and the crowd enthusiastically danced to the music.

Taking a seat beside Aiden, Jeremy observed his jubilant expression. "You look so happy. I assume the investment went your way," Jeremy remarked, trying to strike up a conversation.

Aiden, startled by Jeremy's sudden appearance, asked, "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to celebrate with you. It's definitely worth celebrating. Soon, Father will retire and leave everything to you," Jeremy explained, a hint of bitterness and anger in his voice.

"Are you  jealous?" Aiden asked, sensing Jeremy's resentment.

Jeremy burst into laughter. "No, I'm not jealous. I'm angry. Why does Father only consider you? Why does he only see you?"

"Because that's how it's meant to be. I'm the firstborn, and I'm probably the heir. Besides, I'm better than you," Aiden retorted, trying to assert his superiority.

Jeremy's laughter grew even louder. "You know how incompetent you are, and that's precisely why you drove Tom away."

Ignoring Jeremy's provocation, Aiden focused on his drink, silently sipping it. After a moment of silence, Jeremy stated, "Wait and see," and abruptly left the bar.

Feeling like the happiest person on earth, Aiden continued to enjoy his drink. Suddenly, his phone rang, and he couldn't help but smile. The app had been launched, he assumed, as he answered the call.

"Hello, Mr. Johnson," Aiden greeted, excitement evident in his voice.

"Hello, Aiden. Something has gone wrong," Mr. Johnson's voice sounded worried. Aiden's heart skipped a beat as he stood up and moved outside to hear more clearly.

"What happened?" Aiden asked anxiously, fear creeping into his voice.

"The app won't be launched anymore. Some gang attacked us and stole everything," Mr. Johnson explained, his tone filled with frustration.

Aiden held the phone tightly, bringing it closer to his ear. "What the hell are you saying?"

"Someone is onto us. Someone knows what we're doing," Mr. Johnson declared, sending a chill down Aiden's spine. His heart raced faster than ever before as he realized the magnitude of the situation.