The Hidden King: Rise of Hercules

Face Smacking?

Alex felt a little flash of annoyance, but he decided to let it slide. Seth always loved twisting things around to make trouble.

Right then, a slick Bugatti Centodieci rolled up into the parking lot. Alex and the others looked over as Mr. Kane stepped out, but he wasn't alone, another guy walked out right beside him.

This new guy was Gregory, the big boss of the city's top clothing brand and also the head of a massive mafia crew.

Alex’s eyes went wide. He had heard plenty of crazy stories about Gregory. He just never imagined the person he was supposed to meet tonight would actually be him.

No, the real question bouncing around in his head was why Gregory wanted to see him in the first place. Was it bad news or what?

Gregory was tall and built tough, a lot like Alex. He was just a tiny bit taller, with a handsome face that looked sharp and clean.

He was wearing a custom Dormeuil Vanquish II suit worth $95,319. Literally everything about him screamed big money. Alex had heard his name before, but this was his first time seeing the guy face-to-face.

“What the hell is going on out here?” Mr. Kane asked the second he got close enough. Gregory stayed back by the car, looking busy on a phone call.

“I’m really sorry, sir, but the only problem is this guy right here. I stopped him from coming in because I thought he was trying to steal a meal,” the waiter stammered.

“What!” Mr. Kane roared, his temper blowing. He marched up and smacked the waiter right across the face. “How dare you call him a thief? And what gives you the right to lock him out? Is this your restaurant or mine?” he boomed. “Anyway, I invited him here personally, and for treating my guest like trash, you are fired on the spot!”

“Oh, gosh!” The waiter dropped straight to his knees on the pavement. “Please don’t fire me, please!” he begged, practically crying.

Alex glanced up and saw Seth and Nora standing nearby. Total shock was written all over their faces before they turned tail and bolted inside the restaurant.

Alex smiled to himself, feeling pretty good.

“Please, I’m so sorry! Please! I’m so sorry for looking down on you!” the waiter screamed, keeping his eyes locked on Alex as security dragged him away out of sight.

Alex watched until the guy was completely gone.

“Please, come on in,” Mr. Kane said, taking the lead while Alex stepped right behind him. He noticed Gregory walking a few steps back, keeping his own relaxed pace.

That right there was the ultimate sign of someone who knew he had power.

They took a left down a private hallway lined with closed doors. Before they even reached the end, a waiter rushed over to greet them.

“Welcome, boss, can I get you gentlemen anything?” he asked respectfully, his eyes darting quickly from Alex to Mr. Kane.

Mr. Kane nodded. “Yeah, wine will do. Let me see your wine list. I mean the absolute best you've got.”

The waiter smiled proudly. “I’ve got it memorized, sir. We have Tequila Ley at $3.5 Million, Billionaire Vodka at $3.7 Million, Isabella Islay Whisky at $6.2 Million, and Armand de Brignac Midas at $2,650,000,” he answered, looking pretty proud of himself.

Alex let out a quiet gasp. Bottles that cost that much? Who would have ever thought he’d be standing in a room where people drink stuff like that?

Mr. Kane thought about it for a second. “I’ve got very special guests with me today. So let's go with the highest tier. Isabella Islay Whisky is the best choice. Bring three bottles into the VIP room right now.”

“Got it, boss,” the waiter gave a quick bow and spun around fast.

“Why does your waiter have to shout out the price tags before you even pick your drink?” Gregory asked suddenly, his voice deep and smooth, carrying a weird kind of heavy energy.

“Because I don’t pick wine based on how it tastes. I pick it based on the vibe of the day. The price tells you how big the moment is.”

Gregory chuckled. “That’s a weird math formula.”

Mr. Kane walked up to the first door and unlocked it. He looked back at Greg. “It’s totally private in here. You don’t have to worry about anyone finding out who you really are.”

Alex nodded and followed him into the fancy room. It was huge, with a small round table and six super comfy chairs tucked around it. There were big flower arrangements standing on both sides of the table.

A massive crystal chandelier hung right above them, looking like it weighed a ton and might drop at any second.

They all sat down. Alex used the quiet second to really look at Gregory. Nice cheekbones, sharp eyebrows that moved when he talked, and a smirk that didn't stay put for long.

From the way he sat, Alex could tell the guy was used to calling the shots. He wasn't someone who took orders easily, and Alex knew that might cause some friction later. But hey, nothing they couldn't sort out tonight.

“So,” Mr. Kane turned slightly toward Gregory. “I tracked down Hercules’s grandson, but he's staying undercover right now, which is why I brought him here in secret.”

A soft knock tapped on the door. It swung open almost immediately, and two waiters walked in. One carried ice buckets, while the other held a fresh bucket of wine and three crystal glasses.

“Anything else, boss?” the guy asked, stepping back while Gregory reached over to pour the dark liquid into the cups himself.

“Nope, I’ll call if we need anything else,” Mr. Kane told them, and the waiters quietly stepped out, closing the door.

“So this is Hercules?” Gregory lifted his cup to his lips, watching Alex right through the clear glass.

“Yep. I wanted him to meet with the senior elders first before he stands up in front of the whole group to take charge.”

Gregory let out a dry scoff, looking down at the drinks on the table. “I gotta admit, it cracks me up. Why are you doing all the talking, Alfred? Is the great Hercules mute or something?”