JON WALKED INTO his office in confident strides. His head was already planning what next to do. "Oh, I thought you lot had gotten lost," Lucas said when he saw Jon walk in. "Shut up, Lucas," Jon snapped. He walked to his table. "What is going on with you?" Lucas asked even though he did not really care. Jon ignored the question, "What colour are you wearing tonight?" He asked. Lucas shrugged, "What does it matter?" "Dad said we need to show a united front," Jon explained. "That doesn't mean we get to dress alike," Lucas said, patting his hair. "Just tell me –" "I am wearing the normal traditional black suit," Lucas snapped, "Happy now?" Jon nodded and glanced at his watch, He had about some hours to prepare. Nicole Bishop had not still returned his call, He sighed. She was the fiance of one of his rivals, he should not think about her this much."I'm headed back home," Jon said, "Stay here and run the company," He walked out muttering, "That's what you want anyway."Lucas

LUCAS WAS SURROUNDED by a group of about 7 people and he was in their middle. Their eyes and concentration was focused on whatever it was that he was saying. They had even forgotten to drink their wine, the glass cups just hung loosely on their fingers, like it would drop at any moment. Jon walked closer to them and heard Lucas just ending his story, "... AND SO I concluded that those Spanish have no idea how to do business," Lucas ended his story wuth a mock bow and the people around him burst out in laughter. Jon shook his head, his stepbrother was really a natural in this setting. It was like he was born into wealth. Jon rested his hand on the counter of the bar and looked around. There was no familiar face. He saw no reason for him to be here anymore since he had already known that it was Maxim and Antonio Orsatti that was behind the building on his shore space. Jon rang Luke and told him to bring the car over to the front door. He walked up to Lucas and his circle of friend

IN A FEW minutes, Jon had arranged a meeting with Nicole. More like a date in Jon's point of view. If Maxim wanted to play dirty, Jon could play even dirtier. He smiled as he ended the call and turned to his friends and stepbrother that were watching him. Jeff raised an eyebrow, "Well?" "I have it under control," Jon said, feeling important. "Bullshit," Lucas snapped, "You are incompetent and should not be let to run the family because the only place you can run us, is to the ground." Jon glared at him but did not say anything before taking a deep breath and entering the next room. Stefan still sat at the table as their help cleared away dirty dishes. Jon took a seat opposite his father and said, "I have it under control." Stefan nodded, "I'm sure you do," He pinned Jon with a dead pan stare and said, "But that is bad, Jonathan. Bad for you, bad for the family name." Jon nodded, "I know.""What do you have in mind to do now?" Stefan asked. "I am not still sure yet," Jon sai

NICOLE SMILED AND asked, "I know of the rivalry between you and Maxim." "Hmm," Jon said. A waiter came by, "Can I get you anything?" "We'll think about it, but for now, just get a glass of coffee please."The waiter nodded and bowed before leaving them. Nicole leaned closer before continuing with what she was saying, "You seem like a pretty decent guy," She said, "Don't let Maxim drag you down…" Jon smiled, "You don't seem like you fancy your fiancé so much." Nicole scoffed, "Trust me, I don't. I think I told you before, I'm only with him out of family duties." "Well, he's a lucky guy," Jon said. "He surely doesn't see himself as lucky," Nicole replied. Jon started to say something but stopped as the waiter approached. The waiter carried a jug of black coffee in a wide tray that held small empty cups, and cups of milk, cream, sugar and little spoons. "Thank you," Nicole mouthed silently to the waiter, while Jon simply nodded. The waiter poured some black coffee into the two

A WEEK HAS PASSED since Mr Bach's meeting with Lucas but it still bugged Jon's mind at the strange way that the meeting ended. Mr Bach seemed very hurried in his leaving. Jon came downstairs to breakfast wearing a simple t-shirt and jeans."You're not going to work today?" Paxton asked. "I guess I am," Jon replied, sitting down and reaching for the daily newspaper. He had adopted his father's way of eating breakfast while going through the paper. The business world was quite calm and stable at the moment. No scandal. No hearing of Maxim Ivanov or The Orsattis in any article. Jon sighed in relief and closed the paper. "Hey, man," Rick said, coming into the dining room, "Look at this," He held out his phone for them to look at his screen. "Amanda is hosting a party?" Jon asked. "Yeah!" Rick nodded, slumping into a seat beside Jon. "Party for what?" Paxton asked"I don't know," Rick shrugged, "What does it matter? So listen, Jon," He said in a serious tone, "How cool would it be t