Tangled in the web of lust
Chapter 11~12
★★★★
★King's Enterprises★
(Rule number 1: Never make a deal with the Kings if you aren't ready for what comes with it)
Normally, a business conference room is meant to be an ambiance of peace where employees are meant to chat freely and give out ideas without flinching or discomfort. It's a little bubble where everyone is equal and ideas are valued or either shunned if it's not worthy.
But that's the opposite of Kings Enterprises conference room.
The air is taut and thick with tension. Everywhere is silent and no single movement is being made, the five top shareholders of the company are seated on each side of the large modular table.
And Thane is seated at the top end of the table, looking down on the rest of the shareholders like peasants, his aristocratic nose tipped in the air and his unforgiving eyes peering the fear of God into their souls.
Besides Thane is Axel. Sitting at the second seat at the top end, his black rimmed glasses framing his face, giving him the kinder look that he definitely doesn't have. The sadistic glint in his eyes behind those glasses could melt a coin.
"I don't seem to understand" Axel muttered, adjusting his glass to look at Mr Kieth, the CEO of MGM studios, one of the best movie industries in Arlington. "You are saying that we should invest in a movie production where the casts aren't solidified?. What are the chances of actually making any promises out of this production?"
"We have great movie stars who would be starring in the movie, Alexa Chainz, Sabrina Ollie, Travis Maine, and a few others as the main characters who would be mainly focused on. We just need a little revenue from you. Because we believe if you put in a word. It will definitely be a huge success" Keith mumbles and the rest of the shareholders nod in agreement.
"Travis Maine is not just an actor, he's also a modelist, known to have work side by side with one of the greatest super model, Melanie Canolly" one of the shareholder, Mr Robert, muttered and Thane raised an eyebrow.
Just the mention of her name has his whole attention piked on the boring conversation.
"I don't care about who he has worked with or who he is. While that is an equal necessity, I'm talking about the movie itself. I don't get what's it's all about, we're talking Hollywood, people. Not some dumb fairytale" Axel glared at Keith who swallowed deep.
"Mr Axel, I think the movie narration is great. It's got great idealistic pattern and the plots are equally fitting. Trust me, this is going to blow up Cinemas when it eventually gets released" Mr Robert quickly filled in for Keith.
"I would like to see the picture of what we're talking about here. A breef narration" Thane muttered and Axel gently turned his head sideways to look at him.
"They're talking crazy" Axel muttered lowly, just enough for Thane to hear.
"I know" Thane muttered back and Axel rolled his eyes.
"So how much are we talking about here, note, for every profit that's being made after the production, 50% cutout would be transferred into the King's Enterprises." Thane mumbled, his voice sending an edge over the room.
"50%?" Keith voiced out incredulously. "But that's way too much for a cutout...."
"I thought you were so confident about this movie being a hit?. Why are you backpedaling?" Axel asked with a smirk and Keith swallowed his remaining words.
"I'm not backpedaling" Keith mumbles. "It's just that the percentage is too high"
"How much do you want from us?" Thane asked "since we're talking about a Big-Budget movie production."
The whole room went silent for a few minutes before Robert speaks up.
"$200 million" Robert muttered and Axel cocked his head sideways. Regarding the man with calculative eyes.
"Estimating the chances of profit for a $200 million dollars movie production involves considering various factors, and since we're dealing in moderate success, the box office gross would be $450 - $500 million, estimating the profit, will be having a $100-$150 million, that's a 50%-70% of the production budget, and if my calculations on the other factors such as the commercial success, blockbuster success, and box office bomb, the chances of success on this project would be 65%-75% and the loss would be a 10%- 20%" Axel pointed out in one go and all the men seated stared at him with wide eyes.
"And if my brother's success rate count is correct, then if 50% is being substracted from $450 million, that means $225 million of the initial 50% of $450 million that's been being substracted. Do the division and exactly $225 million would be the resulting amount." Thane smriked. "So it's equal. You get $225 million half of the profit and we'll get $225 half of the profit too, how's that cheating Mr Keith?"
Keith swallowed, indeed these men are maniacs, how were they able to come to the resulting end of a movie that's not even produced yet?
"I never thought...."
"Obviously you don't do math" Axel cuts Keith off with a sharp tone. "But I'm not so sure of this success rate with the idea you are pitching. If you want profit then you gotta think higher. Hollywood is a very competitive firm and I don't think your idea have what it takes to break records. Can the idea you pitch win an award?.... I don't think so" Axel muttered and Thane braced himself properly on his seat.
"It's not just about the profit or the capital, if a movie can't be recognized in the industry and all over the world then it's basically useless. Investing $200 million isn't a child's play and you all do know that if this movie flops then you will have to refund the sum of $100 million back to the company's account right?" Thane asked and they all nod.
"We know" Robert muttered.
"I suggest you go all over that pitch again. And as for Sabrina Ollie. I think she deserves the leading role, forget about how infuriating her father can be..." Axel trails off.
"But Alexa Chainz is way...."
"Alexa Chainz is a great actress, I don't deny that. But Sabrina has won more awards than Alexa's shoe racks, are you arguing with me, Mr Keith?" Axel asked and Keith's eyes widened.
"I would never, Mr Axel" Keith mumbles quickly.
"Then it's settled. Pitch in a new idea then we'll talk business" Thane muttered finally.
★
★Samantha's Estate★
"You were right, those ladies are àssholes" Samantha muttered under her breath, sitting comfortably on her expensive couch and putting on her personal branded outfit.
Samantha is a clothing brand designer. 'Sam's Wears', being hot-shot famous and having the opportunity to greedily become Martinez's wife, she catapulted into the world of riches, but like the saying goes... Anything gotten from greed never last long. Samantha had to leave her husband and daughter after being allegedly caught cheating.
Emphasis on the 'allegedly'
It was never confirmed if truly she actually did it but she never denied the allegations either, three years after the separation, she went on an interview for her clothing line and spilled that she was actually tired of putting up with being a married woman and taking care of her child, that it was affecting her career so she just had to leave.
The custody wasn't hard to drag because Samantha didn't want to be a full-time mother so she pushed the responsibilities onto Martinez who then hired Lucy to watch over Melanie.
Melanie was just ten when all that happened.
Lucy started working as Melanie's official personal assistant when she clocked fourteen, that's like, after four years of being a babysitter to Melanie.
But all those scandals never fazed Samantha and as long as her name is still tied to Martinez's fortune and she still gets to visit her daughter, nothing else matters. Not the world or whatever they feel is normal.
"You know, I warned you not to go on that trip" Lia, her younger sister and auntie to Melanie muttered, her eyes regarding Samantha with skepticism. "I've told you severally, those urchins you call friends are actually backstabbers and I was proven right" she breaths out. "How can they just leave you when you needed them the most.... And let's not even get started on the fact that you actually sponsored that trip. Speak of the irony" Lia chuckled lightly at the last part and Samantha sighed.
"I didn't know... Okay maybe I did" Samantha paused to choose her words carefully. "But... They're part of the elites and it only made sense that I'm seen around them" Samantha argued.
"Yeah... And how did that turned out for you?" Lia probed and Samantha waved her off.
"It doesn't matter. I'm out of jail and it feels like I never went there in the first place" Samantha shrugged.
"Except you did" Lia taunted and Samantha flipped her off. "Why did your accounts got frozen?" Lia asked and Samantha swallowed deep.
"Promise you won't tell anyone?" Samantha asked and Lia nods.
"Cross my heart and hope to die" Lia swears. "Plus you know I don't do gossipping... I'm a grown, matured woman. And I've got lots of money and large businesses to keep me occupied" Lia winks and Samantha shakes her head.
"Yeah, yeah... Whatever" Samantha muttered under her breath and Lia sits close to her on the couch. "So, umm, Martinez did something really terrible and he got caught" Samantha voiced out and Lia raised an eyebrow.
"What did he do?" Lia asked but before Samantha could respond, her eyes widened as realization hits her. "Did he steal from someone?" She asked and Sam's jaw dropped slightly.
"Yeah, he did" Samantha gulped. "But it would have been better if it were just someone and not the Kings" Samantha adds and Lia jumped off the couch in shock.
"Shut the fûcking fridge!" Lia gasped, "are you serious right now?" She asked and Samantha nods.
"Of course I am. Our accounts and everything got frozen for days and I got arrested but suddenly I got released and our accounts were reported open again....."
"But at what price?. Did the Kings actually release you just like that?. Did they unfreeze your accounts just like that?... Or was there a price to be paid in place of the money?" Lia asked and Samantha stood up as well. Pacing around the room.
"In exchange for the money. Melanie would have to get married to the first son of the Kings.... Thane" she muttered and Lia's lips parted in more shock.
"No way" she muttered. "You can't do this to Melanie, she's still very young and he's way older than her.... He's THIRTY!" Lia yelled at the last part and Samantha flinched.
"So?... I've seen worst.... Besides he's not that old. He's just thirty and Melanie is an adult, she's twenty years old. I don't see the scandal behind that" Samantha shrugged and Lia blinked repeatedly.
"Okay, let's forget about the Age-gap because I've seen worst as well. But are you guys really going to give her out in marriage without her consent?" Lia asked and Samantha dipped her long fingers into her curls.
"Does it matter?. Wether she likes it or not, she doesn't have a choice. If she doesn't accept the offer then what happened a few days ago would be a tip of the iceberg. We would be ruined for life. Our names would disappear and everything we've ever worked for would be wiped away from the surface of the earth" Samantha muttered and Lia drops onto the couch.
"How much are we talking about here?" Lia asked and Samantha laughed dryly.
"$1 billion dollars" Samantha muttered and Lia gasped. "Not even mine, Martinez and Melanie's net worth combined would be enough to pay back. It's either we do the needful or we get fúcked and trust me.... No one is going to enjoy it" Samantha muttered and Lia drops her face into her palms.
"This is fúcked up. Thoroughly and irrevocably fúcked up" Lia muttered into her palms.
★
★Knox's Division in the Kings Enterprises★
Different staffs are seated in a circular chair, a big table separating each and every one of them as they watched in fascination the new tablet Knox invented. The demonstration process is over and everyone filed out of the room leaving a exhausted Knox sitted at the top end. His right hand casually thumping the screen of his latest invention.
The opening of the glass door has him lifting his head and a smrik plays on his lips, watching his younger brother, Maverick stroll in, looking every bit of a young business man— a look Maverick usually finds boring most of the time but when it comes to business, a few sacrifices need to be made.
"I've just been in Satan's heir office and he's not there. Don't tell me he's already having fun without me" Maverick muttered and Knox chuckled lightly. Leaning back on his seat as Maverick jumps on the expensive table, sitting on the edge with one of his leg touching the floor.
"Why didn't you call him?" Knox asked.
"That's the thing" Maverick muttered. "He's not fúcking picking my calls. If you ask me, I would say he's ignoring me on purpose" Maverick adds and Knox shakes his head.
The door dinged again and Axel strolled into the room, his eyes focused on his phone but when he got inside fully, he raised his head and raised an eyebrow.
"It's 5pm. I'm shocked to see that Mav hasn't left yet" Axel muttered and Maverick scoffed.
"I would have left about an hour ago but Thane introduced me to this new underground tunnel. I need to be there like I need my dîck sucked" Maverick chuckled. "And y'all know how often I need that"
"Underground tunnel?" Knox asked, clearly confused.
"It's like a sèx club but very deranged and unhealthy." Maverick mumbles mischievously.
"He's talking about the sèx party." Axel muttered with a shrug.
"What sèx party?" Knox asked again and Maverick gave him a pointed look.
"Do you live under a rock?" Maverick asked, his sass very evident and Knox gave him the middle finger.
"It's called the underground sin's party in Arlington." Axel explains. "The Sins party is the much darker version, featuring harder beats and sèxually explicit performances. Held almost every other month, it invites people to explore BDSM and release their sèxual energy." Axel muttered and Knox's eyes widened.
"Sounds awesome.... Can I tag along?" Knox asked and Maverick's eyes lit up.
"Hell yeah.... " Maverick mumbles then paused to frown. "Where the fúck is Thane?" He asked and Axel smirked.
"He's currently in a private meeting" Axel muttered with mischief and Knox raised an eyebrow.
"With who?" He asked and Axel smriked evilly.
"His soon to be father-in-law" Axel muttered and Knox's eyebrows almost touched his hairline.
Dayum.
★
★The inner conference room★
The room is designed for special meetings with great importance, only a few members of the organizations are allowed access into the room.
Right now, Thane is seated with Martinez who's sweating profusely, his eyes roaming over the agreement slip presented before him by Thane himself, Martinez furrowed his eyebrows, gently cleaning his forehead before looking back at Thane who's smirking at him.
"I thought there would be a divorce grant after three years of the marriage?" Martinez asked and Thane leaned back into his seat.
"Will you be able to pay me back half of what you stole after three years?" Thane retorted and Martinez gulped. Staring down at the paper before him.
"I just thought.... The money would be disolved after the marriage, then I wouldn't have to pay you back even after three years." Martinez muttered under his breath and Thane raised an eyebrow incrediously.
"You are one selfish, arrogant bastard, aren't you?" Thane mumbles lowly, pushing off the seat to place his hands on the table. "I don't do my things that way, Martinez. It's either you daughter is in or out. No half payments and no fùcking divorce. If I'm getting married then it's gonna be permanent. You get that?" Thane voiced out and Martinez rubbed his forehead. Leaning back on his seat to take a deep breath.
"I don't have an issue with my daughter getting married to you, honestly I don't." Martinez paused to choose his words carefully. "But forcing her to be with you for life?. She doesn't even know about all this and I just thought if there were to be an option for her later in the future then it would be easier for her to agree" Martinez muttered and Thane smirked.
"There's always an option for her to choose from" Thane muttered and Martinez looks at him with narrowed eyes. "She can choose not to do it and I will take over everything" Thane paused to smirk. "It's definitely going to be a win-win for me"
"Thane...."
"I really don't have much time to waste on this agreement Mr Martinez" Thane cuts him off. "I have somewhere very important to be and you are wasting my time, sign the goddamn papers and get on with your day" Thane ordered and Martinez gulped.
The agreement slip contains detailed instructions on the liquidation of the Canolly's, stating that if the family agrees to give in to the marriage alliance with the signature of the offerer, the receiver and the subject then Mr Martinez is free from all allegations placed on him. Three blank spaces meant for the signatures are at the very bottom and Thane's powerful signature is already inked to the slip.
Martinez exhaled deeply before signing on his spot on the paper and Thane braced himself properly, standing up and regarding Martinez with a smirk.
"Get your daughter to sign and only when our wedding rings are sitting prettily on our fingers will your family be off the hook" Thane muttered and Martinez stood up, stretching his hand forward for an handshake that Thane shook with more force than needed.
"What do you plan on doing with my daughter after this whole marriage thing?" Martinez asked, retreating his hand and Thane eyes lit up with an unhinged smirk.
"What husbands do to their wives, of course" Thane muttered and Martinez inhaled deeply.
★
★Melanie's Penthouse★
Climbing down the stairs in just an evening gown with her hair disheveled from all the laying around all day, Melanie made a be-line for the kitchen, mulling over the whole family shît, she pushed the refrigerator open and grabbed a strawberry milkshake, her alcohol, since she's not allowed to have actual alcohol.
Slamming the refrigerator close, she rewind the lid and brought the box to her lips but paused mid-way, a scowl visible on her face as she drops her hand.
"What's the use of staying dieted when I can't even work?" She asked herself, dropping the open box and reaching for the fridge again. She scrambled through the refrigerator in search for anything alcoholic.
"Come on... Don't tell me Lucy doesn't drink behind my back" Melanie muttered as she continues to search. "There's gotta be something... Anything, oh fuçking hell!" Melanie slammed the refrigerator close in annoyance, breathing heavily as she grabbed her strawberry milkshake and gulped down half of the thing.
She huffed, pushing more down her throat as the main door opened and Lucy stepped in with a bright smile plastered on her face.
"Lucy. I need you to get me the strongest alcohol you can find. And don't even question me right now. I just wanna get drunk" Melanie muttered as Lucy closed the distance between them. Dragging Melanie for a hug.
"Woah.... what's going on?" Melanie chuckled lightly. "Finally got asked out on a date?" Melanie asked and Lucy pulled away from the hug to give her a pointed look.
"Well no" Lucy huffed. "Guess what?"
"You know I stink at that so just spill" Melanie muttered and Lucy shakes her head in exasperation.
"Well. You gotta get ready because you are having a shoot tomorrow. Your agency just called and we're back in business" Lucy muttered and Melanie's eyes widened.
"Are you fùçking with me right now?" Melanie asked, her lips quivering as she drops her milkshake box. "Are you serious?"
"Yes.... Although not all of our accounts are working yet but you are free to get back in business. Your mails have been blowing up with appointments. We're back!" Lucy yelled and Melanie shireks happily.
"Fuçking yes!!" Melanie jumped happily. "This is good news!. Now we're definitely getting drunk" Melanie muttered, side passing Lucy but Lucy grabbed her forearm and pulled her back.
"No. No" Lucy shakes her head. "You need to burn the fat you've been consuming for the past few days, you have lots of shots to cover up and you look like a mess" Lucy muttered. "What you need is to hit the fuçking gym so you will be able to fit into clothes" Lucy muttered, pulling Melanie by the arm towards the private gym upstairs and Melanie groaned.
"You are no fun" Melanie whined. "I look perfect in anything" Melanie muttered and Lucy chuckled.
She was about to say something when the door bell rang and they both looked at the door at the same time. A confused expression on their faces.
"Are you expecting anyone?" Lucy asked and Melanie shrugged.
"Nope" she replied and Lucy nods lightly. Reaching for the door and pulling it open, her face falls immediately as Martinez stepped in, pushing Lucy out of the way and she staggered backwards.
"D... Father?" Melanie muttered, correcting herself at the last minute and Martinez looked around the living room before facing her properly.
"So this is where you live now?" He asked and Melanie glared at him. How dare he? She has been trying to reach out all this while but he simply ignored her and now he's here asking weird questions.
Lucy closed the door and leaned on it, glaring at Martinez as well.
"How did you find my house?. I thought was very clear when I told you that no visitations are allowed indoors. You could have simply called me" Melanie muttered, moving forward and plopping onto her expensive couch.
"I'm sick and tired of you changing your houses everytime I figure out where you live and no. You don't get to tell me what to do, princess" Martinez muttered coldy and Melanie sighed.
She's definitely moving out of this place.
"What do you want?. Don't tell me you were missing my presence so much that you decided to visit?" Melanie asked and Martinez gave her a pointed look.
She rolled her eyes. Her Dad is a real àsshole sometimes. Infact make that all the fùcking times.
"You need to start getting ready" he muttered curtly and Melanie raised an eyebrow.
"Ready for what?" She asked. Hating the fact that he's been standoffish.
Martinez paused, taking a deep breath before reaching for his pocket and pulling out a neat envelope. Melanie sits up immediately, grabbing the envelope and opening it hastening.
"The decision has been made, princess..." Martinez muttered as Melanie straighten the neat paper and her heart skipped several jagged beats.
It feels like the walls are caving in on her as she jerks off the couch. Lucy immediately closed the distance between them, trying to read the shock expression on Melanie's face.
"Father... W-what is this?" Melanie asked, chosing to be oblivious despite reading the paper. Her hands are shaking as Lucy grabbed the paper and after a few reads, her jaw dropped instantly.
"A marriage contract....." Martinez trails off and Melanie shakes her head. Panick crossing her eyes.
"No. No. It can't be... Please don't say it..." Melanie pleaded.
"Between you and Thane King" Martinez finished the sentence and Melanie's eyes widened fully.
"NO!"
★
TBC.
★