The heavy double doors swung open, and Darno stepped through, escorting Karen with the practiced, silent professionalism of a high-end security detail. He gestured for her to walk ahead into the expansive office, then bowed slightly.
That was his cue to leave. He stepped back and pulled the doors shut behind him, the latch clicking with a finality that seemed to make Karen’s shoulders jump. Although Darno was intensely curious about what a conversation between these two would entail, he knew it wasn’t his place to pry. He had his orders, and in the Billion Bloodline Group, loyalty was measured in silence.
Behind his desk, Max watched Karen through the cold, unyielding eyes of his mask. He was smiling, though she couldn’t see it.
’I haven’t met with Karen often, but every time I have, she’s made it her mission to push Max down,’ Max thought, the irony of the situation tasting sweet. ’She was always worse than her son or daughter, treating me like a stain on the Stern family name. And now? Look at her. In the position she’s in now, it’s clear she needs a massive favor.’ He felt a surge of adrenaline. ’Oh, how badly I want to rip off this mask right now just to see the look on her face. But it wouldn’t do me any good. Gloating is a short-term satisfaction; I’ll save the reveal for when it can truly destroy her.’
"It’s a pleasure to meet a member of the prestigious Stern family," Max declared, his voice modulated and laced with a mock joy. "Although I have to say, I’ve heard quite a few things about you from another member of your family... someone who works closely with us."
Karen bit her lip, her expression tightening. She was certain he was referring to Max. That boy must have been complaining about me again, she thought bitterly.
"Yes, at times I can be quite harsh as an aunt," Karen explained, smoothing out her skirt with a forced poise. "But the world of business and the world of adults is unforgiving. I am only trying to toughen him up for the real world. He wouldn’t survive a day out there without a thick skin."
’Good excuse,’ Max thought. ’You’re practically a philanthropist, aren’t you?’
"I granted this meeting because it came as a surprise," Max said, leaning forward and interlacing his fingers. "The Curtis family pleaded your case, stating that you were in need of some... unique assistance. So, please, explain the situation."
Karen took a breath, trying to find the right words to maintain her dignity while admitting defeat. "Right. You see, there is an ongoing issue at my flagship department store..."
She went on to explain the "troubles" she had been facing: the mysterious vandalism, the intimidated staff, and the strange drop in foot traffic. She mentioned that she had hired additional security already, but they had proven to be incompetent and weak.
She told him enough for anyone to figure out she was being targeted by a professional entity, but she was careful not to go too deep. She didn’t want to make it clear that she had already been rejected by several other firms who were too terrified to take the job.
The whole situation had fascinated Max from the moment he was informed Karen was seeking a meeting. He had done some extensive research of his own, which was the only reason he had agreed to see her. He already knew what she was hiding.
"I was told that the Billion Bloodline Group had recently acquired one of the best private security firms in the world," Karen said, her voice gaining a hint of desperation. "This is why I am here asking for your help. We will be in your debt if you take on this case, and I’m sure it would be mutually beneficial for the Billion Bloodline Group to be on friendly terms with the Stern family."
This line might have worked on a typical CEO looking for social climbing opportunities, but Max knew the truth. Favor with one desperate member of the family didn’t mean favor with the entire Stern estate. In fact, if Karen fell, the rest of the family would likely step over her body without looking back.
"Debt is not a currency we trade in," Max claimed, his voice turning cold and businesslike. "I am willing to take on the job, but we must be paid in full, and in cash. Also, I think you should start being honest with us."
Karen shifted uncomfortably in her chair.
"I’m telling you now, as long as the price is right, we won’t shy away from the task," Max continued. "But you must have looked into who was behind this. You’ve done your own investigation. So, who is it that’s targeting you?"
Karen gulped, her throat feeling dry. This was the moment of truth. Every other firm had turned tail the moment this name was mentioned. Would this masked man do the same?
"They call themselves... the Gilt Rats," Karen answered, her voice barely a whisper.
Although Max had done his own research, he had only looked at the surface-level reports of the attacks. He knew it was most likely a gang, but hearing the name "Gilt Rats" changed things.
A dark spark of interest lit up behind his mask. If anything, the involvement of the Gilt Rats made him even more inclined to take the job. He wondered why that specific group was going after Karen’s department store. He had been half-expecting them to strike against the Billion Bloodline Group itself after their recent moves; perhaps they were too preoccupied with Karen to focus on him.
"I see," Max said, his tone remaining unreadable. "As promised, I am still happy to take the job. But because of who you are going up against, the risk premium has just gone up. It will cost you."
Karen nodded quickly. She had already decided she was willing to pay. She still had a significant amount of capital left over from her various holdings; she was currently using a lot of it just to keep the business afloat, and she viewed this as a necessary operational cost.
"One million per person," Max declared. "And that is per day."
"What?!" Karen shouted, nearly leaping out of her seat. The price wasn’t just high; it was astronomical. It was beyond anything she had ever heard of in the private sector.
"You can’t be serious! With those prices, even I can’t justify the expense! I could hire a whole mercenary army for that amount of money!"
"Right, you could," Max explained calmly, leaning back in his chair. "But hiring a whole army to stand in the aisles of a luxury department store will only cause your customers to flee in terror. It would confirm that something is wrong. You need specialists. People who can blend in and neutralize the threat before a single shelf is broken."
Max watched her fuming for a moment before delivering the final hook. "Look, if we don’t do the job and the store remains under attack, you don’t have to pay us. We only bill for success. And I think you’re misunderstanding something—if you’re truly on such a tight budget, you won’t need an army. I believe you’ll only need to pay for five of my people to handle this entire problem."
Karen stared at the masked man, her mind racing. Five million dollars a day was a staggering loss, but if the Gilt Rats destroyed the store, she would lose billions.
"Five people?" she whispered. "You think five people can stop the Gilt Rats?"
"My five people can," Max replied.