Welcome, dear reader!

We’re about to get into some undercover mission adventure with this agent! It might not be long, but one thing it won’t be is boring! Let’s get into it!

“You know one of the most painful experiences in the world, my dear? To be on the wrong end of ingratitude.”

Melitta Page nodded, legs crossed as she took a sip from the glass of Scotch whisky he had just handed her. She looked at it and nodded.

He noticed her approval and commented. “The Macallan 12-Year-Old Sherry Oak Cask. One of the finest in the world.”

She nodded and put the glass down. “I wouldn’t expect anything less than fine from a man of your standing, Mr. Rivers.”

He smiled. “Of course. I am Silvius Rivers. Owner of the biggest real estate company in this country. And the richest, too. Nothing but the best and the finest will do, no matter what it is.”

A man in his late fifties with salt-and-pepper hair and piercing eyes, Silvius Rivers was one formidable tycoon in the city of Ruthington with an appearance that reflected a lifetime of experience in navigating the intricacies of the business world. Owner of Silvius Towers and Silver Estates, he was a legend in the construction and real estate industries. If there was one thing he always claimed to be big on, it was winning, no matter what. To be among the best and most important was an insult to him; he had to be the best and the most important. Nothing else would do.

Another thing that mattered to him a lot was loyalty. If you were on his team, or had ever received some form of assistance from him, he expected some allegiance from you. Anything that looked or smelled like betrayal would immediately get you in his bad books.

And that was why Melitta Page, this freelance undercover agent, sat across the table from him in his office on the thirtieth floor of Silvius Towers. He had been betrayed, and payback was on his mind.

Melitta put on a small smile and nodded in agreement. “Most certainly, Mr. Rivers. Now I believe you were just about to get to your story.”

“Oh, right, right.” Silvius took a sip of his Scotch, his eyes fixed on the city lights below for a moment before he turned back to her and began.

“So, I once had a protégé, a young man with ambition and hunger for success. You probably have heard of him. His name is Morton Gobbo, a name that used to mean absolutely nothing in the business world. I still remember it like it was yesterday, when he walked into the reception around about 6:30 pm. My secretary at the time, Roselyn, she told him I wasn’t accepting any visitors, but he begged and begged and begged. Luckily for him, and unfortunately for me, I stepped out to see what the ruckus was all about. And this young man started to wax lyrical about how much he admired me, how he wanted to learn me, and that he’d do whatever he had to get that chance, which was why he had come. Such a convincing speech. And a deceptive one.”

Silvius’ face darkened as he spoke that last sentence. He took another sip, then continued.

 “I was moved. Very moved by that show of honour. I take it very personal when people go out of their way to honour me. It shows me they know what they’re about when dealing with me. So, I took Morton under my wing as a greenhorn. He served as my personal assistant. I can’t lie, I pushed him pretty hard sometimes, but he always delivered. And through it all, I saw potential in him, a raw talent that needed molding. So I continued to mentor him, guide him through the intricacies of the trade. I shared my network with him. Hooked him up with some very strategic people as time went by. I did so much for him.”

He paused, a flicker of nostalgia crossing his face. “And how does he repay me? By stabbing me in the back.”

Melitta raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. “That’s quite unfortunate to hear, Mr. Rivers. What exactly did Morton do?”

Silvius leaned forward, his gaze intense. “Simple. I extended my influence to help him secure crucial deals, facilitated partnerships that catapulted his career. And of course, they paid off. Before we knew it, he was hitting the big time. But when he tasted success, he forgot the man who paved the way for him. The one whose office he was at, crying like a little bitch. He left me, started spreading rumors about me, false rumours slighting on my integrity, calling me a crooked man with no morals and no soul.”

Silvius took another sip, his eyes narrowing with determination. “Morton betrayed me, Agent Mel. He turned his back on the one person who believed in him and gave him the push he was desperately searching for. Now he’s slowly but surely becoming a threat. And I don’t take threats lightly. I already have one major threat I’m trying to deal with.”

Melitta nodded. “F. A. Chylton?”

“F. A. Chylton.”

In the city of Ruthington, there were two men known to be the richest and most powerful: Silvius and Frederic Arnold Chylton. The latter was the owner of a hotel chain, BV Hotels, that had quickly become one of the biggest in the world. Focused on his work and his work alone after losing his wife early on in their marriage to cancer, he had built a formidable empire and wanted the top throne in Ruthington.

Which meant he would butt heads with Silvius. He had done so on many occasions, and it was no secret that the two richest men in town despised each other with a burning passion. For them, the sky wasn’t big enough for two giant eagles to fly; only one had the right to soar in this city.

And if the murmurings on the street were anything to by sooner than later, these two eagles were set to clash one day, and one of them would have to take a long crashing trip down to earth from which he would never rise.

“That man is a thorn in my flesh, honestly. The son of a bitch thinks he’s smarter than me, always goading me that he’s a step ahead of me, and all sorts of bullshit. I’m gonna make sure he has his day, oh yes, I will. But for now, time to attend to other matters.”

“Fair enough. Gotta clear the hyenas before you set the stage for the lions’ battle, I guess.”

Silvius smirked as he took a sip from his glass. “You have quite a way with words, Agent Mel. I like that.”

Melitta shrugged. “That and my legs are the only two good things to like about me, so that’s an honour, I guess. So, what do you want me to do?”

Silvius leaned forward, his sharp eyes boring into hers. “I hired your services for a simple task, Agent Mel. I want you to bring him down. I want him to admit that he sullied my name for no good reason, and that he’s an ungrateful little piece of shit. And you, my dear, will be the instrument of my justice. Make him confess to all the shit he did. Show him no mercy till he spews it out.”

Melitta nodded. “Well noted, sir. So I hope you’re not into hits for this target.”

Silvius shook his head, a look of horror on his face. “Oh no, no, no, no, no, Agent Mel. I’m not looking to have Morton killed. Not at all. He’s just a young child. I might be ruthless in my dealings, but I know who deserves to go down and who doesn’t. A little roughing up should bring him back to his senses. Who knows, maybe after it all, he’ll join me to deal with Chylton. The hyena joining the lion to fight his rival.” He sat back and grinned. “Sounds very familiar, doesn’t it?”

Melitta shook her head and smiled wryly at the Lion King reference. “I’ve hated Scar since I was a kid, Mr. Rivers. I don’t think my seven year old self will be very proud to see me helping to create another one.”

Silvius laughed out loud. “Oh, you’re such a witty woman! No wonder Blythe insisted I go with you.”

“Thanks for the compliment, Mr. Rivers. I know a lot more men who’d rather appreciate my legs over that.”

“Well, I can assure you of one thing, Morton will definitely be one of them. The fucking idiot can’t control himself when it comes to women. Drools like some dumb puppy at the mere sight of cleavage.”

Melitta chortled. “He’s that easy? Then this should be fair game.”

“I hope so. But take your time with him… or on second thought, I think you know what to do.”

Melitta nodded. “Oh yes, most certainly. The assignment is well noted, Mr. Rivers. Gain the trust of Morton Gobbo, get him in a vulnerable position, then strike when the iron’s hot and make the ungrateful bastard confess to being an ungrateful little prick and acknowledging that he owes you some level of gratitude. Not a problem.”

Silvius smiled and nodded. “Perfect. I’ll forward fifty percent of your fee to you while you’re on your way downstairs. You should get that bank alert by the time you reach ground floor.”

Melitta grinned as she rose to her feet. “A client that pays on time. Such an amazing motivator.”

Silvius laughed. “I’m a businessman, my dear. I know what motivates a person who works for me. So don’t worry at all. Just do what I hired you to do.”

“Got it, Mr. Rivers.”

“Brilliant. All the best, Agent Mel. Make me proud.”

She gave him a thumbs up sign, then exited the office.

The office empty, Silvius leaned back in his seat and rubbed his hands together. “Perfect,” he sniggered. “It’s in motion now. It’s in motion…”

Okay, so the man isn’t happy with an ungrateful understudy of his. Quite understandable. How will this go? Let’s see…