The Underdog Turned Kingpin

Chapter 37: Five Percent Paradise

Ethan stiffened. "Matter with you? This is pure profit."

Sophia traded a look with Sergei. "Then we'll make that call ourselves."

Ethan's glance dropped to his watch. The bruise from Ramirez throbbed. He exhaled. "How about you make it fast."

Outside, the L-train thundered overhead as Sophia punched in Mason's private number.

"Talk." Mason's voice cut through the train's clatter.

"Recording's solid. Got Ramirez, the payment structure-" Sophia dropped her voice. "Plus a bonus. Our friend wants the wife installed as Operations Director. Overseeing his remaining stake."

Mason's laugh had teeth in it. "Perfect." The L-train screeched around a corner. "That's better than we originally planned. Having her in-house... that's poetry."

"What about the media leak? The investigation?"

"New play. Give him everything - Ramirez's payment, his cut, the wife's position. Let him think he's won." Steel crept into Mason's voice over the train's screech. "Olivia under our thumb beats any scandal."

Someti