A good sign

Noah rushed from the meeting room back to his own office, and as soon as he came, Max followed inside behind him. After he closed the door Max asked, "How did the meeting with Westfield Incorporated go? Did they sign with us?" Noah nodded and said, "Of course. Our plan was well thought out and we are at the top of our industry. It would be difficult for them to find a company who can do what we do or do it better." Max agreed. "That is indeed true. I just wasn't sure because the meeting was over so fast and it has been a while since you have last done a meeting like this. So, I couldn't tell if it was a good sign or a bad one."

Noah looked up with a look of disbelief. As if he was asking 'Really?' with just his facial expression. Max just shrugged and replied, "You know I have the utmost respect for you and have greatest faith in your abilities, but interpersonal relationships aren't your forte. It is my job as your personal assistant to be honest. Me pretending your flaws don't exist, won't help me do my job or you do your job well." Noah started glaring at Max as he spoke before he said, "You sure woke up brave today. Not my forte and my flaws eh? You are lucky that you make yourself so useful on a day to day basis, and that you have information I am interested in today. Make sure that you keep yourself this useful, otherwise I might not be so forgiving of your words next time."

Although Max didn't show it, he was quite amused with his back and forth with Noah. Noah's words already revealed that he knew that it would not be the last time Max spoke to him like this and that he would then let it slide as well, which worked for Max since he didn't plan on not being his impressive self each and every single day he was at work, nor did he plan on not teasing and sassing his boss. The ice cold prince that many feared yet admired. He was one of the rare few that only felt admiration and could see through the harsh words he spoke for what he really meant. So, he responded by saying, "That won't be a problem sir. I plan on being even more perfect and brilliant tomorrow than I am today. After all, with a boss so impressive as yourself, I as your assistant can hardly fall too far behind."

Noah let out a sigh as he dropped his head and admitted defeat. He waved his hand as he dismissed the topic and said, "Just tell me what they found in the warehouse." But underneath that hard front, he was smiling. The moment he dropped his head, his smile came out. He was happy to see that even after all these years Max was not afraid to speak his mind and insisted on telling him the truth on all matters, even those he thought might offend him. Since he was blessed with an assistant that understood him so well and who was so good at his job, he could be carefree in these moments and joke with Max the way he did. The same way Max did with him.

Max wasted no more time and finally told Noah the information he had been waiting to tell him. "Well, he might be a scummy person and a crook, but he certainly was a meticulous crook, because in the warehouse we found documentation of every 'off the books' transaction he ever made. It was books and ledgers with what he sold, who he sold it to and even how he laundered the money. It is quite something to see all the things he has managed to make money in. From giving out loans to gambling halls and forged paintings. Not a single field was untouched, which explains how he was able to pay off his debts and rise back up so quickly again after leaving town. But I think he is looking for more legal means of income, because as long as he doesn't manage to expand his legal business, he loses a big part of his income to paying people for laundering the money for him. If he currently tries to use his own company to launder all his income from his illegal activities, it would stand out to the tax authorities."

Noah nodded. Max was right. That would indeed explain why, despite earning as much as Max claims, he would play such a dangerous game to steal business from him. His need for revenge had made him careless in many ways. By being active in so many different area's of criminal activity, he had increased his chances of getting caught. Although it was a great way to make money fast. Using your profits from one field to fund your start in the next field. Generating income from different sources. But each venture carries risk. Risks which in his case had been stacked on top of one another. Risks which would now bite him in the ass as each of the crimes he has committed, carry their own punishment, all adding to his final sentence.