The Richest God of War

4. What's Going on?

"What?!"

"Why?!"

Two panicked cries rang through the living room. Mr. Williams had only just hidden in his bedroom. They scared him right back out.

"What happened?" Mrs. Williams ignored him and seized Rosetta's arm. "Why did they say no again? Didn't Albany City Bank promise the loan if you met them?"

Yvette looked frightened too. "Sis, we need that money. Without it, the company is finished!"

"The loan is stuck?" Mr. Williams's face went white.

"Yes, it's stuck! What are you going to do about it, you useless man?" Mrs. Williams turned on him, eyes burning. "If you were any good, the company wouldn't have lost so much. Rosetta wouldn't have to smile and drink with those people at her age!" She shook her head. "Why am I so unlucky? My daughter marries a leech. My husband is a failure."

Rosetta had heard enough. She pulled her feet out of the basin and stood. "Mom, stop. I'll fix the loan. Let's go to bed. I'm tired."

She went upstairs.

Mrs. Williams glared at Richard. Then she grabbed her husband's arm and dragged him back to their room.

"Richard," Yvette said coldly. "If you were even a little useful, my sister wouldn't be in this mess. Just wait. I'll make sure she divorces you." She climbed the stairs without looking back.

Richard picked up the basin and cleaned it. He did not go upstairs. He went to the small servant's room on the first floor.

It was where he had lived as a gardener. The marriage was fake, so he had never moved out.

He lay on the bed and thought about the night. His face slowly hardened.

An hour passed. The villa fell quiet.

Richard got up and slipped out of the house, closing the door without a sound. He wore only flip-flops. He moved through the neighborhood like a ghost, and the guards never saw him.

Outside the gate, he took out his phone and dialed a number he hadn't called in three years.

The call connected.

"Boss," said an old, strong voice. "It's been three years and twenty days since you left."

"Yale. How's everything with the Circle?"

"Business as usual, boss. But I have news."

"I'm listening." Richard lit a cigarette.

"While you were gone, the royal family of the Barbicans tried to clip our power in the north. They failed. Now they know they made a terrible mistake, and they want to make peace."

"Next."

"As you ordered, we bought the biggest e-commerce company in the country. We now control seven or eight of every ten online shopping platforms in the world."

"Good. Anything else?"

"The Consortium wants to draw a line between our territories. They're Europe's strongest underground group. They want to meet you in person."

Richard flicked away the ash. "Leave the Barbicans to me. The purchase stands. And the Consortium?" He gave a faint smile. "They aren't even six hundred years old. They can't compare to us."

"Yes, boss. I'll do as you say."

Richard lit another cigarette. His eyes went cold.

"One more thing. Find out what happened to Rosetta Williams tonight. She's the eldest daughter of the Williams family here in Albany. I want every detail, even the smallest."

***

The Obsidian Circle had spent centuries building its spy network. It covered the entire world, and even the richest nations couldn't match it.

If Richard wanted a country's nuclear codes, he could have them in two hours. One woman's evening was nothing.

In less than ten minutes, Yale called back.

"Boss, Rosetta Williams attended a cocktail party tonight, hosted by the executives of Albany City Bank, the biggest private bank in the city.

"Her family's company lost millions through her father's mistakes. It now needs a ten million dollar loan.

"Her sister Yvette tried to make a deal with the bank and failed. So the bank asked Rosetta to come to the party and talk. But at the party, Wilfred Wade, the son of the bank's chairman, made improper demands. Rosetta refused, so the loan was put on hold again.

"Then, half an hour ago, Wilfred called her. I have the recording."

Richard's hand stopped.

Half an hour ago?

That was after Rosetta had gone upstairs. When she was alone in her room.

His eyes narrowed.