A PLAN IN MOTION

ANTHONY'S POV 

What do I want? I want more engineers for the extension of The New Orientals Hotel in the African continent. I want a time machine so I can change some fucked up things I did in the past. The list goes on.

What do I need, though? I need Grandpa's estate in Saddle River! Calling it an estate alone sounds quite insulting if I'm being honest. 

That estate is a gold mine that has been in existence long before I was born. It seems just like a regular piece of land to outsiders but every man born to our world knows the power that comes with owning that property. It's secluded and picturesque scenery gives its owner a level of secrecy and exclusivity, creating a contrasting image with the criminal activities that goes on beneath the estate grounds. A perfect distraction from the prying eyes of the cops, if you ask me.

My favorite part of its location in Saddle River is its closeness to New York City and the other major hubs, allowing for easy access to the underworld networks and business interests; both of which would be at an advantage to me when Papa finally hands over power to me.

These are its perks and this estate is exactly what Grandpa has put on the line on the condition that one of his grandson's marry and produces a child first. 

Of my two cousins, Dexter and Axel, Dexter seems to be the only one standing in my way. Axel doesn't seem like much of a problem but Dexter… that one is an unhealthy competition I usually wouldn't engage with. Still, desperate times, they say calls for desperate measures. 

But right now, I just want this fucking meeting to come to an end.

"Sir, with all due respect, my clients company hasn't even recovered enough of the capital you gave them to start raking in interest yet. Perhaps, we can start paying you back in 2 years?"

I grit my teeth in disgust, hating that murder is a crime in this part of my life. "I will give you three seconds to rethink that, Paul." 

"Mr. Romano, please," The lawyer is quickly on his two feets. "Surely you can give us more time. I beg you!"

"Your time was over a year ago." It takes everything in me to contain my anger. "I have been more than lenient with you, Paul. Unfortunately, neither you nor your client see it that way." I'm on my feet now and the entire board follow suit.

"Sir, I beg you. I…"

"Enough. The next time we'll be having this conversation will be in court. Either that or you have them pay up. Relay this to your client." I finish, saying one of the most legal things I've ever had to say. Taylor would be cackling his ass out where he here but then I remember my best friend and right hand has a thing or two to learn in the humor department. An overtly serious bastard.

The normal route would be offing Paul's clients myself for going back on their word, but there's time for everything and now wouldn't be a good time to get that sort of attention on myself especially since I'm this close to achieving my goals.

As usual, Taylor is waiting for me at the door to the board meeting room. He looks up when I approach him.

"Someone looks flustered." He mutters, falling in line beside me as we exit my office building.

"It's because I couldn't make use of my gun in there." I mumble. "I was this close, Taylor."

"It's a good thing I got a hold of your pistol, then."

I only grunt in reply, not bothering to ask how and when he took my pistol. I mean, it's Taylor we're talking about. I thought I had it on me the whole time I was in there.

Our next stop is Grandpa Alistair's men's club located just twenty minutes away. His smile when I and Taylor walk in is as bright as I've always remembered it to be.

"My boys!" He leaves his chair as he walk towards us with his arms opened. Usually, he calls me his 'favourite', so given the purpose of this meeting, I won't be surprised to find Dexter and Axel somewhere behind me. 

"Hey Grandpa." I reply in greeting. 

He pats us both on the back as Taylor nods politely in greeting. 

"Taylor Taylor, I won't stop encouraging you to loosen up a bit." 

"I tell him that all the time." I mutter under my breath, walking to get a drink.

When I get back, Taylor is gone and Dexter and Axel are having a chat alongside Grandpa. Axel looks up and raises his glass to me. "Hey cuz." He greets in that annoying drawling manner of his. 

Dexter looks at me and there's no mistaking the venom in his expression. "The latest married man. Where's your wife?"

Either Grandpa Alistair is oblivious of Dexter's tone or he just doesn't want to acknowledge it. 

"That's nonsense talk, Dexter," Grandpa laughs. "This environment is hardly one for a female to be in."

"I'm sure exemptions can be made. Considering I haven't met your fine lady." Dexter says.

"You were invited to the wedding, D. Along with the rest of us." Axel chips in, laughing as he nearly spills his drink. I let out a sigh because I know this one is most definitely oblivious to the tension Dexter's trying to cause.

"I had business to attend to." Dexter spits.

"Well, how was it?" I ask, drawing Grandpa and Axel's attention to him. 

"It's a work in progress." He replies over his glass of scotch, eyeing me. We both know he had no business to attend to. His lack of presence at my wedding was solely because he couldn't stomach the fact that I'm halfway to the finished line of getting Grandpa's property when he hasn't even begun the race.

"That's enough about work, please." Grandpa interjects. "I called us here to toast to our own. I can only wish for a love as dear as mine and your late Grandmother." There's a brief wave of sadness that passes over his eyes before it disappears. "That's all I want for all three of you."

"We appreciate that, Grandpa." Axel says.

"Thank you, Axel." He waves a bartender to take his glass. "Now, are there any potential brides I need to know about?" Grandpa has an expectant smile on his face as he directs the question to Dexter and Axel. 

"I think we need time to get to know one another before putting a ring on it, right D?" 

Dexter only chuckles in reply to Axel. "In due time, Pa."

"Well, you don't have all the time in the world, son. Hopefully, dear Sonia might conceive and when that happens, surely you know what happens next."

Dexter tries to hide the clenching and unclenching of his jaws to no avail as I'm quick to spot it. I smile at that.

"It's nearly been a week since the wedding, Anthony. When's the honeymoon?" Dexter asks with a stupid smirk pasted on his stupid face and my smile is quick to disappear. 

Grandpa and Axel look at me, expecting an answer.

"Well?" Grandpa prods.

"We will be leaving this weekend." I force a smile on my face. Fuck Dexter and his stupid mouth. "We would've left sooner, of course, but I had important business to attend to."

"Everything's taken care of, I hope?" Grandpa asks and I nod. He gets up and we follow suit. "Well then, it's high time I left. I have a long day tomorrow and your old man has to sleep. You boys have a good day."

As soon as Grandpa Alistair is out the doors, Dexter picks the opportunity to pounce on me like the pussy he is. 

"You might fool your father and even Grandpa about your sham of a marriage, but you can't fool me, Anthony," He spits. "I've never for once seen you with anyone younger than you for as long as I can remember and then all of a sudden you show up with her. What's next? You're going to announce her pregnancy at the next meeting, huh?"

He laughs bitterly. "Cousin, you might have so many tricks up your sleeve, but this one is mine. I'm older and more deserving of that estate. You've achieved your shit, allow me achieve mine."

I look at my Rolex for the time. 

"Are you done threatening me?" My tone is dry, bored even. "Because I have somewhere else to be, Dexter."

"I will expose you." He bites out.

"I mean, you can try, cousin." I spot Taylor walking towards me so I walk around Dexter, ready to be on my way out. "But there's hardly anything to expose in my marriage. Good luck, though." Patting a fuming Dexter on the back, I wave at Axel and leave them both.

"What did he want?" Taylor asks as soon as we meet in the middle and change direction to the exit.

"He thinks my marriage is fake."

"Oh yeah? How did he come up with that?" 

"Beats me." 

We're now out in the cool night of Jersey City and walking to where the car is parked. The stares we receive should normally be unsettling considering how often we get them, but it's something we're used to. Especially since I know that I'm not exactly the only one getting all the stares as there's a 6'5, scarred face man walking beside me, 

His phone rings in his pocket. "Hello?... Noted. I will relay your message and revert to you." He finishes before ending the call. "That was your wife. She called with Chiara's phone."

"What did she want?"

"She wanted to know if you have any intentions of coming back home."

I blow out an exasperated breath knowing that I'm going to hate this stage of my life very much. I left the penthouse for Sonia, not because I thought she needed the space, but because I needed it. I've been at my other property in the city since after the night of the wedding and everything's been going fine up until Dexter had to open his big mouth to mention a honeymoon. 

I don't wish to be in the same space with my wife for long, not now nor ever, but it seems like life forces aren't on my side this time.

"Ignore her."

I'll be home since that's what she wants and then she's going to be damn sick of seeing my face.