Page 20 of Volatile King (The Kings of Wayward Academy #6)
“So, you really didn’t know.” Mr. Genovese’s smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. He stepped in close, lowering his voice. “Let me enlighten you.”
He paused. No one moved. It was like we were all holding our breath so we didn’t miss a single word.
“For months, Nash has been handing me pieces of your empire. One stock at a time. One brick. One client. One account. I didn’t need to storm your gates…I dismantled the foundation while you were still looking at your reflection in the glass.”
He let it sit there a beat, then leaned in with the killing blow.
“As of last night, I not only own the building that Collier Enterprises operates out of, but I own seventy-three percent of everything that Collier Enterprises touches. That includes intellectual property, investments and loans. Nash owns twelve. I know numbers aren’t your strong suit, but that makes eighty-five percent.
Far more than what is needed for majority control. ”
Edmundo’s eyes glittered like he’d been waiting to do this for a very long time. “We had a board meeting this morning. It was a unanimous vote. You’re out as CEO. I’m sorry you missed it, Nash tried to reach you.” He tilted his head toward Nash. “You did call him, didn’t you?”
Nash shrugged. “I think I did. I have a lot going on. It may have slipped my mind,” he said with a smirk.
“No matter. So in case I haven’t been clear…you’re fired,” he smirked. Lawrence stumbled back and gripped his shirt like he might be having a heart attack.
Mr. Genovese wasn’t finished, though, and turned his stare on Christov, who had inched backward like he was hoping to go unnoticed. Edmundo was having none of it and stalked the man until he hit the nurse’s station and was trapped.
“Don’t worry, I didn’t forget about you, Christov.”
“I have nothing left for you to take,” Christov said.
“Really? How is your son? What is his name…Sabastian, that’s it, how is he doing?”
“You wouldn’t. He’s innocent,” Christov said, which was news to me.
“Isn’t it terrible when someone goes after what you love and crushes it?” Mr. Genovese held up his hand and made a fist. It was like watching him reach into their chests and rip out their souls.
“Consider this your official notice. I’m coming for both of you, and when I’m done, there won’t be anything left. Not even scraps on your bones for the scavengers to pick off.”
Mr. Genovese was all nails. His presence filled the hallway as he threatened them.
The sound of footsteps caused me to look over my shoulder. A wall of his men marched toward us.
“You’re lucky we’re in a hospital, tick tock, gentlemen. Get your affairs in order,” he said.
Lawrence didn’t even wait for Christov. He just turned and marched away. Christov was quick to follow. Mr. Genovese stood in the middle of the hall and watched them leave. He was a fortress. All power. And like no other leader I’d ever seen.
“Marcus?”
“Already on it, boss,” he said, walking past with half of the soldiers.
With them gone, Mr. Genovese turned to us and winced. The first crack in his steely armor. I didn’t doubt that if they had wanted to fight, he would’ve jumped in, broken leg be damned.
There was an empty wheelchair down the hallway, and I went to grab it.
“Here you go.”
Mr. Genovese grumbled under his breath but slowly lowered himself into the chair.
“Thank you.”
“I’m sure I enjoyed that as much as everyone else, but they aren’t going to just scurry into a hole and disappear. What do we do next,” Nash asked.
“For now…nothing,” Edmundo said with a sigh. “The most important thing is to make sure Lilya gets the help she needs, and for all of you to graduate.”
“Shouldn’t we finish it now that they are on the run?”
“Are you confident that you can take over right now,” Edmundo asked, giving Nash a pointed stare.
“No, but I assumed that you would, now that you have control of Collier.”
Mr. Genovese shook his head. “No, Nash. That is not the deal we made. I am in this to destroy your father, but the company is yours, and right now, you need to focus on finishing school and earning respect so that you can take over. You will be ready, but this…” Mr. Genovese waved his hand, indicating Lawrence, Christov, and the hospital.
“Was not our plan, and now more than ever, we need to make sure that nothing we do leads to more trauma for Lilya.” He looked down the hall and lowered his voice. “She’s coming.”
Ren was in a wheelchair with a bag on her lap, her eyes searching ours as Blake pushed. He stopped, and Ren smiled over at her father. Edmundo smiled back.
“Hello, Ren. Good to see you again,” Mr. Genovese said.
“Gen…o…vese.” Ren straightened her shoulders. “Hello.” She tilted her head and stared at him. It felt like we were all waiting to see if something jogged her memory.
He held out his hand, and she slowly took it. The smile that lit up his face was almost enough to make me emotional for them.
“You’re doing amazing. I hope to see you again soon. I’ve got business in town, so I’ll be staying awhile.” He released her hand, and even though he kept his smile firmly in place, the hope that she would recognize him faded from his eyes.
“Soon…see…you.”
“We’d better go. It was good seeing you, Mr. Genovese,” Nash said, spurring us on.
As we walked away, I looked over my shoulder and wished I hadn’t. I would never get the image of such a powerful man, sitting alone in a hospital hallway with tears in his eyes, out of my head.