♜

MAX WALKS HIS WAY towards the meeting room when Étienne suddenly grabs his arm and drags him to somewhere no one could see them. "Was that necessary?" He asks Max with a serious tone, but Max decided to ignore the question.

     "Maximilian Leigh Sinclaire," he bravely calls out, making Max pull his arm angrily away from his butler.

     "How dare you. Have you forgotten to show me respect like that woman who had the nerve to smile at me while knowing she was just in bed with my father a few hours ago?" Max asks him, and this time, it was Étienne's turn to not say anything back.

     "You might not know but seeing a slut early in the morning isn't very pleasant," Max continues.

     Étienne sighs and massages his temple. "She is still your brother's mother."

     As soon as Max heard Étienne's statement, he instantly becomes silent. But soon after, his hand reaches Étienne's cheek. He slapped him as if Étienne said the most offensive thing in the world.

    "My brother does not deserve a mother like her. She attended my mother's wedding, congratulated her, and still decided to seduce my father. She was so proud of being able to fuck the CEO that she even boasted about it with other employees. She was also the one who begged my father to take Marcus to our household because she knew it would pain my mother more. She's the reason why mom hit rock bottom."

     "Leigh that's not true," Étienne tries to say, but Max continues to ignore him.

     "How would you feel if you found out that your husband actually has a four-year-old son with another woman? She's laughing behind your back and you didn't even know. How ignorant you must have been," Max finishes, his hands now trembling like he was a few moments away from breaking down.

     Étienne doesn't say anything anymore because he knew that silence was better than trying to comfort him. Not like his arm and leg injuries, Étienne can no longer heal the wounds that Max has had since he was a child.

     "You ask if it was necessary; my answer is no. But don't be fooled by her Étienne. She looks like a sheep around us, but she's a feisty wolf. If you're not careful enough, she might eat you up too. And I don't want another kid in my house," Max says, pushing Étienne away from him so he could walk away.

     "That's not going to happen, master Leigh," Étienne answers.

     "Really now? Then let's wait and see."

     The two arrive at the meeting room shortly after. There were two employees awaiting for them outside, and amongst them was Mr. Emmanuel Arnault, the company's vice-president.

     It's strange to see the vice president of the whole company waiting to greet a teenage boy like Max, but this scenario was usual for everyone. Because other than being the vice-president, Emmanuel and Max go way back. He was a regional manager before and was Luna's closest friend. Max could even say he's family.

     "Good morning vice president," Max greets first with a slight bow.

     Emmanuel smiles and bows his head back. "I was informed that you will be handling the board meeting today."

     "I was just informed about it as well. But you must be happy that your work lessened because when the chairman isn't here, the vice president is supposed to take his place, not his son." Max tells him, making him chuckle.

     "It just goes to show he trusts you more than he trusts me," Emmanuel says, making Max chuckle this time.

     Of course, Denzel wouldn't trust Emmanuel. He's in the Lemieux side, and whatever happens, he'll definitely turn his back on Max's father, and that old man knows that.

     "Then he's greatly mistaken for trusting me instead," Max says before heading inside the room first.

     Everyone waiting inside became quiet as soon as Max made his entrance. Max was facing the fifteen members of the board of directors, each of them coming from different shareholders. A bunch of them looked unhappy to see Max, especially when most of them are pro-Sinclaire and not pro-Lemieux.

     These people are the most important people in the company. The reason is that they elect the chairman and the CEO, and at the same time, they have the power to fire them too.

     Yes, even if you're the founder of the company, they can kick you out. That's why Max's mother always told him this simple reminder: "always be at their good side no matter what happens."

     Sadly for her, Max has never been consistent about that particular reminder.

     Everyone looks at Max as he walks his way towards the chairman's seat while Étienne stood near the door.

     "Please show your respect to master Maximilian Leigh Sinclaire, who has officially been given power by chairman Denzel Sinclaire to take charge of this board meeting," an employee announces.

     The directors pause for a moment before finally standing up. "Good evening sir Sinclaire," they greet, instantly making Max smile.

     This is the reason why Max somehow understands Viktor a little. The power Viktor has over J.S High feels just as good as the power Max has outside. And once you get a chance to taste that power, you'd definitely want more. It's like an addictive poison.

     "Good morning directors," Max greets back. "I'm only here to report everything to my father, so if you have any concerns, don't hesitate and speak of it now so that I may address it to him," he says, and everyone nods their head in agreement.

     Max may not look like it, but like how he respects the system in his school, Max respects the system in their company as well. He respects their position and his own, and that's what makes him different from his mother. Luna didn't respect anyone regardless of their position, and that became a problem.

     "Alright. Then let the board meeting begin."

     Max sits down first, followed by everyone else in the room. Immediately, someone hands everyone folders that contained important documents. Before Max could even say anything, one of the directors, director Silva, clears his throat and says, "President Dante Sinclaire of Sinclaire Italy is planning to open up another hotel-casino in Milan."

     The moment Max heard what he said, Max places the files down and looks at the director with surprise. "What did you just say?"

      Even the vice president, Emmanuel, looked shocked by the news. "What is the meaning of this? We just finished the construction of Sinclaire Rome a year ago," Emmanuel reminded him.

     "Chairman Denzel has not said anything about it yet, but I'm sure he will approve of this," Director Silva, who represents Sinclaire Italy, answers.

     "Approve of it because he's his brother?" Director Fisher then comments, immediately making Max interfere.

     "Let us not include our personal comments in this meeting please," Max says, making the director awkwardly look away from him.

      "We're already working on opening up a hotel in Las Vegas. Madam Catalina has been studying this for four years because this will be the first time we're opening in North America. Four years director Silva," another director answers back.

     Max quietly listens to the directors. He doesn't want to be biased, but he knew that he was right. They're focusing on the grand opening of Sinclaire America Company. They already have hotels all over Europe and Asia. They don't need another one in Milan at the moment.

     "We have hundreds of hotels and casinos, and seven resorts. This year, we'll start the construction of Sinclaire America Hotel and Casino. A large amount of our budget is going there. That decision has already been approved. Trying to open another one in the same year will make our shareholders unhappy, don't you think?" Max asks, and the board of directors started talking with each other.

     "So we'll pretend that president Dante's idea is worthless without even discussing the benefits? If you ask me, we should postpone the construction in America, especially when madam Delton is handling it," another director says.

     "Excuse me?" Director Fisher immediately asks with an angry expression.

     "Why? She opened up the hotel in Beijing and it's currently the lowest profiting hotel in our company. Why are we even trusting that woman to handle such a big project?" Director Silva fires back, making Max sigh and massage his head in frustration.

     "Director Silva, let me remind you that madam Catalina Delton is the president of Sinclaire Casinos for fifteen years now. She opened the world's most famous casino in Monte Carlo and Macau. Sir Dante Sinclaire is the president of Sinclaire Italy. He opened hotels in cities such as Rome and Venice. Now tell me, what sounded better?" Max asks, and everyone could tell that director Silva didn't like it.

     "What does an ignorant child even know?" He mumbles to himself, but it was loud enough for Max to hear.

     Surprisingly, Max remains calm even after hearing the rude comment. He takes a deep breath and looks back at Silva before telling him, "Alright, since I don't know anything then answer me this. Why are some of the workers in the Sinclaire Hotel in Rome underpaid? Why has president Dante been having meetings with a Chinese investor in secret? Why is his daughter - the management head of Sinclaire Italy - using the company's budget to buy...what was it again? Oh yes, four Birkin bags that cost more than a million each. Was that the reason why they had to cut the salary short? If you answer me these questions, then this ignorant child will personally propose the hotel in Milan to the chairman."

     Everyone in the room becomes silent, especially director Silva. But before anyone could even think of an answer to Max's questions, someone barges inside the meeting room and says, "Well then Mr. Silva, looks like you got owned by a child."

     Everyone looks at the door in shock, except for Max who instead of looking shocked, looked at the man with annoyance.

     Mr. Jean Paul D'Amboise, the CEO of Sinclaire Corp., and also Max's second cousin. He's not only charming, as he says, but he is also the youngest officer here since he's only 27 years old. CEOs are usually the senior officers, but Jean is so good at what he does that the board of directors didn't hesitate to elect him.

     Other than Max, he's the only second-generation left on Max's grandmother's side. His parents died in a plane crash, which is why Alphonse D'Amboise took care of him. He might not be a Lemieux, but he's Max's closest cousin out of all the cousins he has.

     "Please don't belittle sir Leigh here. He is an outstanding man who has been exposed to the business world since he was only five. He's smarter than half of the people here, so please don't insult him. Let's at least keep it professional, okay?" Jean asks as he approaches his seat, his secretary following right behind him.

     "You're late," Max tells him, and Jean casually sits close to Max and answers, "I was talking to a few executives about the strategies we'll be doing for our meeting with the foreign investors. I know you'll understand."

     "I do, but do you know about-"

     "President Dante's plan to open up another hotel in Italy? Of course, I know. What kind of CEO would I be if I didn't?" He immediately answers.

     "And you did not even bother to inform the chairman about this?" Max asks him, and Max's dear cousin just smiles and answers him confidently, "The chairman is too busy with his international affairs. But don't worry, I already talked to the representative of Sinclaire Europe and it is certain that a hotel will not stand until the one in America is finished. Is that clear now?"

      Everyone was surprised by what they heard, especially director Silva, but no one dared oppose it.

     "Well, since it looks like we already had that covered, shall we move on to the next portion of our meeting?" Max asks, and the directors, who were a bit fazed by the CEO's sudden appearance, awkwardly nod their heads in agreement.

     "Alright, then let's begin."

...

"You shouldn't talk back to the directors. That's my job. You on the other hand have to look pretty and kiss their asses for the time being so you could have a clear position in the chairman's seat." Max's cousin, Jean, suddenly tells him while they were hanging out on the rooftop.

     "If I get the most stocks, they wouldn't really have a choice," Max answers while looking at the city lights.

     Jean chuckles and pulls out a cigarette stick and a lighter from his pocket. "Do they now?" he then asks before lighting the cigarette up and putting it in his mouth.

     He inhales and slowly exhales the smoke before glancing back at Max. "Your mother had the most stocks too but they were going to remove her nonetheless. Don't put your hopes too much on that. We're not even sure if your father's going to give you an inheritance, considering how you're only the second child thanks to our dearly beloved Ms. Edith."

     "I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case. But if it gets to that point I'd just sue him. After all, my mother left me all of her properties, and legally speaking, since they're married, that property is being kept by my father till I turn eighteen. That's the beauty of prenup."

     Jean laughs at Max's statement. "You're crazy if you do that. You'll be the first heir to actually sue a parent; most of the time they'd just murder them. But I won't lie though, that would be entertaining to watch," he says as he exhales the cigarette smoke.

     Max doesn't say anything, but he snatches the cigarette stick from Jean's hand and uses it.

     "Anyway, you're already seventeen. You have to think of something fast, which means you have to be ready to take your inheritance from both families. And at the same time, you have to be able to choose who you'll be loyal to. Will it be the Lemieux or the Sinclaire? In your case I know it would be difficult, considering the fact that you hate both," Jean tells him, turning his back on the city lights so he could lean on the balustrade.

     Max slowly exhales the smoke from his mouth as he continues to stare at the city. "Do you think they really did it? Do you think the Lemieux family killed my mother?"

     Jean looks at Max, and then he exhales and looks up at the sky. "I'd be lying if I say that it's impossible. Aunty Luna wasn't the nicest woman, even to her own family. If her death wasn't an accident, then the Lemieux's would be my first suspect," Jean answers before snatching the cigarette stick from Max's mouth this time.

     "But this is a Lemieux company. Always have been, and always will be. The Sinclaire's have wanted a piece of it for ages, and now that they have a piece, they want to take the whole cake. We're the only ones who are left from the old family, and you're the last of the original bloodline. You have to remember that and choose your opponent wisely," Jean adds before finishing off the cigarette and throwing it away.

      "Are you lecturing me right now Mr. CEO?" Max asks, making Jean laugh as he pulls out a box of cigarettes this time.

     "For someone with your attitude cousin, you'll need all the lecture you can get. Believe me."

     Max doesn't say anything anymore and nods his head in understanding. Afterward, Jean pulls out another cigarette stick from the pack and lights it up with his lighter. When Max saw the brand of the cigarette, he couldn't help but chuckle.

     "No wonder it tasted shitty," Max says, making Jean look at him with furrowed brows.

     "What do you mean?" He asks.

     "I know the son of the owner of that brand," Max answers, making Jean look at the box with his right eyebrow raised. Max then starts walking away. He ends the conversation by saying, "He's a total jerk. And apparently, a close friend of a Joker that I just conquered."

- END -