FLASHBACK – GRAY MANOR – YEARS EARLIER
Sunlight filtered through the large stained-glass windows of the manor. Patrick Gray sat in the family office, his eyes fixed on documents. Contracts. Figures. Debts.
His brow was furrowed. His fingers drummed on the wood.
"You're going to wear a hole through the desk at that rate."
Patrick looked up. Yohan stood in the doorway, a mischievous smile on his lips.
"Shouldn't you be in class?"
"I skipped."
"Yohan…"
"You need me."
Patrick sighed. Yohan approached and sat on the edge of the desk.
"What's bothering you?"
Patrick looked at the papers. "Nothing you'd understand."
"Try me."
Silence.
"I can't find a solution for this acquisition. The investors want to pull out. If I don't reach an agreement, the Gray empire will crumble."
Yohan thought. Then his face lit up.
"What if you offered them a partnership instead of a buyout?"
Patrick looked at him.
"They don't want to lose their investment. But they don't want to stay. So give them an exit that still earns them something. A percentage of future profits. That way, they leave happy, and you keep control."
Patrick froze.
"Where did you learn that?"
Yohan shrugged. "I watch the news."
Patrick burst out laughing. A frank, sincere laugh that echoed through the entire office.
"You're incredible."
Yohan smiled. "I know."
---
THE GARDEN – A FEW DAYS LATER
They walked among the rose bushes. Patrick had his hands in his pockets. Yohan ran ahead, catching insects with his fingers.
"Do you think someday I'll be like you?" Yohan asked.
Patrick stopped.
"You'll be better than me."
Yohan turned around.
"Why do you say that?"
Patrick crouched down. He placed his hands on Yohan's shoulders.
"Because you're smarter than me. More creative. More daring."
He smiled.
"You have a quality I don't have."
"What's that?"
"You never doubt."
Yohan blushed.
"That's not true."
"Yes, it is. And it's your strength. Never lose it."
Yohan nodded. He didn't understand everything, but he would keep that sentence. Forever.
---
THE ARGUMENT – FAMILY DINNER
The table was set. Candles. Silverware. Guests in suits.
Yohan's father, Patrick's brother, stood, his face closed.
"Are you going to tell him?"
Patrick lowered his eyes.
"Tell him what?"
"That you've met someone. A Jipanguese woman."
Silence.
"You're going to leave the family for her?"
Patrick looked up.
"I'm not leaving the family. I'm going to live elsewhere."
"It's the same thing."
"No."
The brother slammed the table.
"You're the genius of the Gray family. Everything rests on your shoulders. And you want to throw it all away for a woman?"
Patrick didn't answer.
"You're a disappointment, Patrick. I thought you had ambition."
"I do. Just not the same as yours."
The brother stood up.
"Then leave. But don't come back."
Patrick looked at Yohan, who was listening, hidden behind the door.
He wanted to say something to him. A word. A gesture.
But he did nothing.
He turned on his heel.
---
THE DEPARTURE
Yohan watched the car drive away through his bedroom window.
His father entered.
"We must not speak of him again."
Yohan didn't answer.
"Do you hear me?"
"Yes."
He was lying.
---
BACK TO THE PRESENT – DIAMOND CASINO – YOHAN'S OFFICE
The fight raged.
Yohan was diamond. His fists hammered Midas. Midas fought back with his golden hands.
The room exploded. Walls collapsed. Beams fell.
CRACK.
Midas's left arm fell off.
He screamed.
CRACK.
Midas's right leg fell off.
He collapsed.
"AAARGH!"
He crawled across the bloody floor. Yohan approached, out of breath, his face bloody, ready to finish him.
Midas jumped.
His remaining golden arm pierced Yohan's stomach.
"W…"
The arm came out through his back. A donut. A gaping hole.
Yohan coughed. Blood. Pieces of diamond.
Midas fell back. His arm detached. His stump burned.
Both lay dying on the floor, face to face.
---
OUTSIDE – DIAMOND CASINO PARKING LOT
Perfecto was still talking to Antelope.
"What I'm proposing is simple. You'll have access to a port. Entirely dedicated to your activities."
Antelope narrowed her eyes.
"And in exchange?"
"You will say that Midas is on your side. And you will have him sign this paper."
A man approached the window. He handed over an envelope.
"A paper that Yohan must sign. He bequeaths all his assets to Midas Gray, his cousin."
Antelope took the envelope.
"Why me?"
"Because you're the only one he'll listen to. He respects you. He fears you. He will obey you."
Antelope looked at the envelope.
"…Deal."
---
BACK IN THE OFFICE – ANTELOPE'S ARRIVAL
The door exploded.
Antelope entered, tall, elegant, relentless.
Behind her, a man. A colossus. Taller than the door. He had to break the wall to get in.
Bull. A wall of muscle. An impassive face. Cold eyes.
Antelope approached Yohan, on the ground, his stomach pierced.
"Yohan."
Yohan turned his head.
"Sign this."
She handed him the paper.
Yohan looked at it. He burst out laughing. A broken laugh, mixed with blood.
"You think I'm going to sign?"
Antelope didn't answer.
Bull approached. His hand closed around Yohan's neck.
"Sign."
Yohan spat blood.
"Never."
Bull squeezed. Yohan's neck cracked. Not enough to kill. Just enough to hurt.
"Sign."
"NEVER!"
Bull squeezed harder. Bones cracked.
Yohan began to panic. He laughed. He cried. He screamed.
"AH AH AH – NO – DON'T HURT ME – I'LL SIGN – NO – PLEASE – AHAHAH –"
He tried to hit himself. Bull grabbed his wrists.
"SIHIHIHIGN!"
Bull broke his neck.
Yohan's body collapsed. Bull took his finger, dipped it in blood, and pressed a print onto the paper.
Bull turned to Antelope.
"It's done."
Antelope put the paper away.
"Let's go, my dear. We're out of here."
She turned to Midas, on the ground, his body in shreds.
"You're pathetic, Midas Gray."
She crouched in front of him.
"You should consider yourself lucky to have an ally like Perfecto."
She stood up.
"Because without him, you'd already be dead."
She walked out. Bull followed.
Midas lay there, in the blood, the debris, the silence.
He closed his eyes.
---
TO BE CONTINUED…