Chapter 13 Apologize To My Brother.

Vinnie exhaled the last puff of smoke from his cigarette, dropped it to the ground, and crushed it under his shoe. Kane watched him closely, noting how rare it was to see his brother like this. Vinnie only smoked when something was weighing heavily on him.

“Just say it, Vinnie,” Kane said as he crossed his arms. “What’s the problem?”

Vinnie sighed first. “It’s Elizabeth,” he began. “She wants me to secure a deal with Monroe Business Enterprises.”

Monroe was one of the biggest names in the industry, a company with a reputation for being nearly impossible to negotiate with.

Vinnie continued, “It’s the same company she’s been trying to close a deal with for months. She couldn’t make it happen, Kane. And Elizabeth… she’s brilliant. She’s got more experience in this world than I ever will. If she couldn’t do it, how the hell am I supposed to?”

Kane could see the deep worry in his brother’s eyes. Vinnie was not just worried about failing — he was terrified of disappointing Elizabeth.

Kane stepped closer and patted his shoulder. “You’ve got this, Vinnie. I believe in you. And if Elizabeth thinks you can do it, then she’s already seen something in you that makes her sure you’re the right person for the job.”

Vinnie looked at him for a moment as if he wanted to say something more, but then his phone buzzed again.

“I’ve got to take this,” Vinnie muttered, stepping away to answer the call.

Kane watched him walk away. He wanted to help his brother, but this was Vinnie’s world, not his. All he could do was stand by him and hope he would find his footing. Kane walked back into the company building. The air inside was cooler and quieter, but it did nothing to calm the storm brewing in his head. He made his way to the manager’s office — the one officially assigned to Vinnie. Deputy managers did not get offices, just a desk somewhere in the open area.

The room was simple — a single desk, a chair, and a nameplate that read “Manager.” Elizabeth had originally wanted to make Kane the manager, but he had insisted she give the title to Vinnie instead.

Kane did not linger long. After a quick glance around, he stepped out into the hallway, his thoughts still tangled. That was when he saw her again — Delilah. She was walking toward him with a smile on her face.

“Well, we meet again,” Kane said.

Delilah’s smile widened as she stopped in front of him. “Congratulations, Kane.”

“Thanks,” he replied.

Her gaze lingered on him longer than expected, and then, suddenly, she bit her lip in a seductive way. “So… could you come to my room tonight?” she asked, her voice low and inviting.

Kane blinked, caught completely off guard by the invitation. “What?” he managed, staring at Delilah as if she had just asked him to scale a mountain.

Before he could process her words or even think of a proper response, the sound of footsteps approached from behind them. Both of them turned to see Elizabeth walking toward them, accompanied by a group of people dressed in the kind of luxury that screamed wealth and power. Among them was an old woman with striking white hair whose presence commanded attention without her needing to say a single word.

Vinnie came rushing in, looking flustered. His eyes scanned the room before locking onto the old woman. “Good afternoon, ma’am,” he greeted politely.

The woman did not even look his way, let alone respond to him. She walked straight inside the building, making it clear she did not acknowledge Vinnie and found him unworthy of her time. The group she came with, including Elizabeth, followed her inside without a word. Vinnie adjusted his tie nervously and hurried after them.

Kane turned back to Delilah. “Who’s the old woman?” he asked.

Delilah explained calmly, “That’s Margaret Hawthorne. She’s Elizabeth’s grandmother — her father’s mother. One of the most powerful figures in the Hawthorne family.”

“Hawthorne,” Kane repeated the name. Everyone in the city knew the Hawthornes. They were not just wealthy — they were one of the top five most influential families in the city. Their reach extended far beyond this company.

Delilah nodded. “Yeah, the Hawthornes. Margaret’s no ordinary family member, though. She holds the largest shares in the family business. Every major decision runs through her, and she’s known for being ruthless when it comes to protecting the family’s legacy.”

“So why is she here?” Kane asked. “I thought people like her didn’t bother with day-to-day business.”

“That’s just it,” Delilah said, lowering her voice. “She rarely comes out. When she does, it’s usually because something big is happening. And trust me, it’s never good news. If Margaret Hawthorne’s involved, it means trouble.”

Delilah’s phone suddenly started ringing. She stepped away to answer the call, leaving Kane standing alone in the hallway. He turned to leave, but a sharp voice from inside the room stopped him in his tracks. It was Margaret Hawthorne’s voice.

“Elizabeth,” she said coldly, “I’ve had enough. Everwood Business Enterprises must be closed immediately. If you can’t secure the deal with Monroe Business Enterprises, then this company has no future. It’s bleeding us dry.”

Kane froze and listened intently from outside the door.

Margaret turned her attention to the tall man beside her. “Mr. Calloway,” she said, addressing the family lawyer, “give us the financials.”

Mr. Calloway stepped forward, pulled a sleek tablet from his leather briefcase, adjusted his glasses, and began to read aloud in a calm, professional tone.

“As of this quarter, Everwood Business Enterprises has accumulated debts amounting to $25.3 million,” he began. “Operational costs are currently at $1.8 million per month, with no significant revenue growth in the past six months. Furthermore, the failed negotiations with Monroe Business Enterprises have resulted in the loss of potential contracts worth approximately $40 million.”

Margaret didn’t miss a beat. “Enough,” she said firmly. “This is unacceptable. Mr. Calloway, prepare the paperwork for liquidation. This company is a liability, and I won’t allow it to drain another cent from this family.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Mr. Calloway replied without hesitation.

“No, please, wait!” Elizabeth pleaded desperately. “Grandmother, just give me a little more time. I can fix this. I will fix this. Please, don’t shut it down.”

Margaret’s hand came down on the table with a sharp smack, her face twisted in anger. “Explain to me, Elizabeth, how you plan to fix this disaster. You’ve had every opportunity, every resource, and even when you were pulling the strings, you couldn’t get Monroe to budge. And now you expect me to believe you’ll succeed?”

Margaret leaned forward with clear disdain on her face. “Or is this some laughable attempt to use that pathetic excuse for a husband you brought into this family? Vinnie? A man who can’t even manage his own life, let alone a company? What’s he going to do, charm Monroe with his lack of competence? The man’s a walking liability, Elizabeth. A hanger-on who only knows how to leech off your name and my family’s reputation.”

Her words grew even harsher as she continued. “Vinnie couldn’t negotiate a deal if his life depended on it. He’s a spineless, visionless little man who has no place in the world of business. You might as well send a dog to do the job — it’d probably have better instincts than him!”

Elizabeth stood frozen, clearly unhappy with what she was hearing from her grandmother, but she remained silent. Margaret pressed on without mercy. “You married beneath you, Elizabeth. You brought shame into this family. And now you’re staking everything on him? On a man whose only talent is being an embarrassment?”

Vinnie stepped forward, his voice steady despite the humiliation. “You can say whatever you want about me,” he said, meeting Margaret’s cold eyes directly. “But don’t blame Elizabeth for her choice to marry me. She’s stood by me, and I’ll stand by her. This time, I’ll do everything in my power to secure the deal with Monroe.”

Before Vinnie could finish speaking, a sharp crack echoed through the room. A man had slapped him so hard that he staggered and fell to the floor.

“How dare you lecture my mother?” the man barked. “You think you have the right to speak here? A man like you. Know your place!”

Kane could not take it anymore. His blood boiled with rage. Before he realized what he was doing, he kicked the door open and stormed into the room. Every eye in the room turned toward him instantly.

“Apologize to him,” Kane said, his voice low but firm as he pointed at Vinnie, who was still on the floor.

The man who had slapped Vinnie turned to him with a sneer. “And who the hell are you to barge in here?” he asked, looking at Kane with pure disdain. “A mere cleaner? Who let this filth into the room?”

He stepped closer, his tone dripping with arrogance. “Do you even know who I am?”

Kane held his gaze without flinching. “I don’t care who you are,” he said coldly. “What I care about is you apologizing to my brother. Right now.”