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"For many months, we’ve been buying shares inGordonBank," says Christos.
"That’s not possible,” interrupts Zeus. “He’s been preventing any sales linked to my surname, and everyone knows we’re cousins."
"We’re using small companies that are part of our conglomerate, mine and Odin's, but that aren’t directly linked to us," Christos says. "Separately, we don't own enough shares to have the board in the palm of our hands, but when we add our shares together, we're only one percent away from achieving majority ownership. Fifty-one percent. When that happens, we’ll create a third company that will have complete control ofGordonBank."
"And then we’ll sell it to you," Odin adds, while I notice my brother trying to absorb that game-changer.
I know his way of thinking. Zeus knows that if our cousins' plan works, we will obtain our revenge against the Gordons, he will be free from the old man's blackmail, and at the same time, he won't fail to fulfill the promise he made to our grandfather.
"Say something," Hades says.
"How long until you get that one percent?"
"It's been more challenging than we thought because the current owner isn’t a professional but an orphan girl, represented by her guardian," Christos explains.
"Offer them triple."
"We're trying, but he's resisting because it seems like it's the only inheritance left for the girl, who’s been living in an all-girls orphanage since she lost her parents."
"Either way, when my plans come to fruition, there won’t be anything left of what was once known asGordonBank,"he says. "The shares will be worth less than discarded candy wrappers. Selling will be a good move for her."
"What are you going to do about the employees?" Odin asks.
"Redistribute them among my companies and my brothers' companies. I won't leave over a hundred and fifty thousand people unemployed."
"It's a high number," Christos says. "But we can also relocate them to some of our businesses. And for those who are of retirement age, offer some sort of incentive."
"Why did you do this?" Zeus asks.
"I wouldn't let you ruin your life over a promise," my cousin Odin replies.
"The penalty for breaking the contract with Gordon will be high," I say.
"No. For him to enforce our agreement, he would have to hold the majority of the shares," Zeus explains. " If Christos and Odin can secure that last one percent, he's finished. Even if he negotiates with all the other shareholders, which is highly unlikely, he'll never get more than forty-nine percent."
"It's going to be a blow to the old man." Dionysus laughs, because there is no mercy in our hearts for anyone who bears the surname Gordon. Because of that damn family, our father gave up on life.
“Gordon is made of tough stuff,” I say. "Besides, he's no better than that bastard's dead son. Emerson is nothing more than a damn blackmailer."
After weeks of being tense as hell, I finally feel a little more relieved.
If everything goes well, the promise to our grandfather will be fulfilled and my brother won't have to destroy his future for it.
* They are the protagonists ofAbout Love and RevengeandThe Tycoon's Obsession, respectively.
* He is Dionysus's son. It's important to note that, at this point, Cici, the protagonist of book 2 in the current series had not yet entered Dionysus's life.
Ares
CHAPTER THREE
Months later
NEW YORK
"Any newsabout the damn one percent?" Zeus asks me on the phone. Odin and Christos have not been successful in acquiring what is missing yet.
"No, but I have a plan. The girl's guardian is almost a hundred years old, and I think he fears for his ward's fate," I say.