Chapter 455 - Cabin (5)
"Is that all?" Gael asked.
"For now," said William.
"For now? You mean you intend to demand more later?"
It was Damien who responded next. "You have to understand. This has only been brought up today. We're honestly exhausted, and other things might come up later after we've rested. Also, this isn't a one-time deal. Considering we're not merely talking about being in territories but rather sharing businesses, this will be an ongoing partnership moving forward. For as long as your family and mine benefit from each other."
Gael nodded, and so did Giovanni, then he said, "There's one thing, though. I'm certain that the council will sanction punishments to the Morellis—likely to Marino and Filippo since the two of them are the ones personally handling the drugs. All I ask is that when you bring this up, leave out Mariano and his wife."
The cousins looked at each other, seemingly confused at his request. Then Damien muttered in curiosity, "I heard that your families were supposed to marry."
"The order was revoked… But in the end, my sister married Mariano."
"They're likely to give the penalty for the whole Morelli family. I'm not sure I have the power to sway the council to make exemptions. After all, it's our family against the council."
"I know. But we'll bring it up. And I expect you to back it up. After all… We're almost certain that your uncle is behind this too, aren't we? Of course, we don't have to mention it…" Gael didn't care about Frederick Park.
Damien narrowed his eyes at Gael. He knew what the other was implying. The evidence they had at hand only implicated the Leos and the Morellis. When this would be brought up to the meeting, the Parks didn't need to mention Frederick's possible involvement, which might lead to penalties or whatever crazy shit the council might think of to wash their hands in having to deal with the Parks being offended because the treaty was dishonored in their territory.
Before Damien could answer, Giovanni cut in, "Actually… That wouldn't be such a big problem. We'll just have to ask Mariano to spin the tale for us. Pin all the blame to his father and brother dearest and leave the Parks out of it." He grinned.
A snort came out of William who was leaning against a tall bookshelf. "You sure he'll do your bidding? He might be your niece's husband, but he's still a Morelli."
"He'll do it," Gael reassured.
"If you say so."
Damien nodded, exhaling a sigh as he headed towards the door. "Very well. My lawyer is here. I'll get him working on the papers right away." He called out to Markus by the door, and the latter came inside the office. The two huddled in the corner for a few moments as Damien listed important things that needed to be in the papers.
"So… That's it?" Giovanni probed. "The six families are now free to come and go…or do business here? You're okay with that?"
Markus strolled towards the desk, plopped himself onto the chair, and worked on his laptop. The Park and the De Luca men moved back to the lounge area.
It was Damien who responded, "You're mistaken. Apart from the other basic agreements in the original agreement, a formal statement will be given to the council regarding your first request, stating that retribution will be measure for measure."
"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Death for death," William added with a smug look on his face.
Then Damien continued, "However, the other two requests will be solely offered to your family alone. We have no intention of working with the others. And they are still not welcome here. This is our home. They can visit, but they can't shit here."
Gael and Giovanni exchanged looks. This was not what they thought or expected, though this certainly was in their favor. However, this could create a shift among the Italian families once they find out the Parks favored the De Lucas. Not that the De Lucas were going to refuse it. Only idiots would. Whatever. Competition, jealousy, or hatred from the other families weren't new to them anyway.
"Then I guess that's settled." Gael smiled, extending his hand towards Damien.
Damien curled his lips into a crooked smirk as he shook Gael's hand and then Giovanni's. William also shook their hands, and then he walked over to the cart that stored top-shelf liquor bottles. Then he started pouring each of them a drink, saying, "Now, this calls for a real drink."
After handing them their glasses, William took a seat on the armchair and nodded at them. "What about Filippo?"
Gael told them what happened before they met William on the road, relaying information that his men reported to him. "We'll keep searching for him."
"And that Leos outside? What would you have done if we didn't meet today?"
"I planned to get Filippo's whereabouts from him. So I was going to bring him outside of Esmea to beat the information out of him and then end him there."
"We would have invited you to spectate," said Giovanni.
Damien and William stared at them, their eyes laced with confusion.
Gael couldn't stop the chuckle escaping his lips. "To make sure you see we're outside the borders and not breaking promises. Like I said, I respect the treaty."
The others laughed too. That was the only loophole that Gael thought he could get away with if he wanted to string the life out of Evan. When Angela was kidnapped, this was the plan he ordered his men to follow. This had been his plan all along when he decided he'd come back to Mayne City and be there for Angela after he learned about her history with Evan.
Being in Esmea left Gael vulnerable. This was why Giovanni had been against him staying long in the state because of the treaty. Giovanni didn't like that Gael disregarded his safety. Because if something happened to Gael while he was here, his family wouldn't be able to do anything in the state unless they wanted to risk an all-out war against the Parks. They would be helpless. And something did happen to him. Gael could have died in the hands of Evan.
After connecting the dots between the Leos and the Morellis, Gael revised his original plan and thought he could use Evan first. Despite the near-death and gruesome incident he and Angela experienced last weekend, good things fell into place because of it. Now, he was here with Giovanni and the Parks, planning about the future ahead of them and looking forward to it.
Gael couldn't place a finger on how this meeting with the Parks ended up being more pleasant than he expected it would be. He still thought both William and Damien were arrogant assholes, but they were tolerable assholes—no, fuck that… Gael would never admit it, but he might, possibly, probably like the two of them. He'd never say this to anyone.
"To new friends." Damien raised his glass, and the others followed suit, echoing him before taking a swig of their drinks.
A moment later, Gael glanced in Damien's direction. Something was bothering him in his head earlier, but he ignored it then. Now, he wanted answers. "Why did you block my oil company? How did you even know it's mine?"
Damien regarded him as if he contemplated whether he should answer. He took a sip of his drink and leaned back against his seat in a lazy yet prideful manner. "EM Petroleum. They just entered Esmea a week ago."
"What about them?" Gael drew his brows together. EMP was one of the largest oil companies in the country. He didn't aim to be the best in that industry, and he certainly wouldn't back out of an inevitable competition.
"A few months ago, I bought a considerable amount of shares from them. So when they planned to come to Esmea, of course, I had to do my research. I'm not blocking your oil company, really. I'm just slowing down its entry."
"Motherfucker," Giovanni muttered under his breath with a chuckle. He commented the same earlier too when Damien admitted he was behind the delay of its completion.
Gael shook his head but his lips slowly curled into a grin before he took a sip of his drink. Damien Park wasn't called the Resort King and a ruthless billionaire businessman for nothing. Gael liked him a bit more for that.. Still, he would never admit that to anyone.