Chapter 71: The Day of Reckoning
It was the day of the negotiation and Ezra knew he wasn't imagining the tension in the air as he and Olivia made their way to the secure conference room in the Count's sanctuary where the negotiations would be taking place.
They passed familiar hallways before diverting to a new.path they hadn't taken before. This part of the hotel was more practical and geared towards business instead of individuals. Ezra's mind raced as they walked. Olivia walked beside him, her face a mask of serene calm. This is it. The moment of truth.
They entered the conference room, noting that they were the first to arrive. The room was spacious and elegantly furnished, with a long polished table dominating the center. Ezra and Olivia took their seats, facing the door, settling into the silence that enveloped them.
Minutes ticked by, each one stretching the silence into something almost tangible. They'd made plans before coming so there was no need to review them. Ezra continuously had to kill the urge to fill the silence. There was no need to give their opponents ammunition. The vampires would be able to hear them before Ezra or Olivia noticed their presence.
Finally, the door opened, and vampires who could only be Macmillan and Aaron entered the room. This was the first time Ezra had seen them, and he took in their appearances with interest.
"Macmillan and Aaron." Olivia gestured, introducing them.
Macmillan was thin and dressed sharply in a suit, exuding a posh and refined aura. He wore wireframe glasses with no lenses, giving him a scholarly yet strange look. Aaron, on the other hand, was dressed in a black wife beater that showcased his defined but not overly bulky muscles. His spiky long hair reached the small of his back, adding to his imposing presence.
Both were the same height, standing with an air of casual confidence that spoke of their power.
Ezra couldn't shake the feeling that either one of them could be the vampire in the robe he had fought at the weapon stash. Their eyes met his, and a smirk played on their lips.
"This must be the newborn who requested the meeting." Macmillan began, his voice smooth and taunting. "I see you need your wife holding your hand through this deal."
Aaron chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest. "It's almost cute, really."
Ezra's eyes narrowed, but he kept his tone steady. "I wasn't the one needing hand-holding when I fought your robed champion at the weapon stash," he smirked. He hummed thoughtfully, his gaze sweeping over both men. "Tell me, was it by any chance one of you that I fought?"
Macmillan's face darkened, anger flashing in his eyes. He opened his mouth to retort, but before he could speak, the door opened again, and Count Griffin swept into the room, his assistant trailing behind him. The presence of the Count immediately shifted the atmosphere, imposing a weight of authority and finality.
Griffin took his seat at the head of the conference table, his eyes briefly scanning each party. "Let's begin," he announced, his mechanical voice cutting through the tension. "I have much to do and little time to waste."
Macmillan, and Aaron took their places on the other side of the table, the divide clear and palpable. The room settled into a tense silence as Griffin began to outline details of the negotiation. "Today's negotiation pertains to the potential change of ownership of the Three Axe gang."
The moment the words left Griffin's mouth, Ezra felt a sinking sensation in his stomach. The Three Axe gang was the one holding his debt. He had hoped that the gang belonged to Malachi so that he could take it by force, thus negating his debt. This turn of events was far from what he had anticipated.
Ezra's clenched his teeth. This was not the end. This was just the beginning. The moment they had been preparing for, and he was determined to see it through. Whatever it takes.
Macmillan, sitting across from him, leaned back in his chair with a smug expression. "I'm not prepared to relinquish my claim on the gang," he announced, his voice smooth and confident. "My assets are tied to the gang, and I would need more than a month to move them. Which is time you don't have."
Ezra leaned forward, trying to keep his tone even. "Whatever assets you have, they can still be moved if you hand over the gang to is. We can facilitate the transfer without any issues."
Macmillan smirked, shaking his head. "I can't trust you not to stab me in the back once the deal is done. The only way to get the gang from me is to buy it."
They'd already planned for this possibility. Olivia placed her hands on the table. "How much?"
Macmillan leaned back, relaxed. "I'll part with it for a sum of seventy million credits."
Ezra and Olivia exchanged shocked glances. "Seventy million?!" Olivia echoed, disbelief clear in her voice. "The gang isn't worth that much."
"The sum reflects the outstanding debts the gang is owed," Macmillan explained, his eyes glinting with satisfaction. "That's the price you'll have to pay for me to prevent a significant loss."
Ezra's mind was running a mile a minute. If Macmillan knew about his personal debt, he would have used it as leverage. This meant Macmillan was unaware. Thank God. We wouldn't want to add that to the negotiations.
"Seventy million or no deal," Macmillan stated firmly, his smirk widening.
Ezra took a deep breath, leaning forward with a steely glint in his eyes. "How about a new deal?" he suggested, his voice.
Macmillan waved at him to continue with interest.
"Hand over the gang, or for every day you choose to hold on, I'll kill someone in your ranks. I'll start with your gang leadership. I'll start with one and keep doubling it until there's no one left."
The room fell into a tense silence, the weight of Ezra's threat hanging heavily almost like an Aura in the air. Macmillan's smug expression faltered, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. Olivia remained silent, ready to back Ezra's play.
Macmillan's eyes narrowed, assessing the seriousness of Ezra's threat. "You wouldn't dare," he said, though his tone lacked its previous confidence.
"Try me."