“Welcome to Dese-Tome Factories!”

A few days had passed by since the dinner, and they had already agreed on a Wednesday for the tour of Morton’s factory. During that period, Melitta had filled Silvius in on how the dinner went, and Morton’s cocky little tribute to himself where he refused to acknowledge help from any man.

As expected, Silvius was not pleased.

At all.

“Really? He managed to set up his own construction firm and factory on his own? With no help? Unbelievable!” he seethed. “The ingratitude! The fucking ingratitude! You stoop low to help a man to make something out of his life, and this is how he pays you back! By acting like you were absolutely non-existent in his journey! Stupid piece of shit!”

Melitta had to endure three straight minutes of Silvius at his most furious as he ranted about all he had done for Morton, before passionately appealing to her to give him the arm-twisting of his life when she finally had him pinned down.

Not that Melitta needed any encouragement, though. Her impression of Morton was as low as could be, and she was looking forward to the day she would force him into admission of Silvius’ role in his life. She’d really give him a few kicks up the ass to teach him some good lessons.

For now, of course, she had to continue to play the game. So there she was, comfortably arriving at the factory site in a posh white limousine which had picked her up at the mall and given her about an hour’s journey through the city as they arrived there.

Clad in safety gear from head to toe, with an excited grin on his face as she stepped out of the limousine, Morton greeted Melitta, taking her by the hand. He nodded at her simple T-shirt and jeans and sneakers. “Good to see you dressed for the occasion.”

She nodded and shrugged, a smirk slowly forming at the corners of her mouth. “Yep. And it’s good for you to see me in boring attire for a change.”

Morton stifled a laugh and shook his head. “Amarita, you do not look boring in this attire, trust me. You could be covered from head to toe in a ghost outfit and you’d still be one hell of a sight to behold.”

It was her turn to shake her head. “Nice attempt at making me feel way more beautiful than I actually am. By the way, you weren’t kidding; this place really is out of town. Took us about an hour to get here, even with the right of way we were granted in the areas with traffic.”

“Yep, I told you. We’re quite a distance away from the main city. We needed a huge stretch of land to set this up, and of course, we didn’t want the city authorities breaking down our necks about safety issues and pollution risks and all that. And I guess it worked perfectly for us.”

“I can see that,” Melitta agreed, looking at the expansive landscape before them. Indeed, it would not have been a good idea to set up the factory in the city; this place was just perfect for them.

“Anyways, here’s your safety gear,” Morton offered, handing her the gear.

“Right, right,” she answered, taking the reflector, hard hat and goggles. “This should be interesting.”

“Oh, it most certainly will be. Let’s go!”

***

The hum of machinery and the rhythmic clanking of metal echoed through the vast expanse of Dese-Tome Factories as Morton led Melitta through the bustling production floor. The air was filled with the scent of freshly cut steel and the energetic buzz of workers engaged in the creation of building components.

“So this, my dear Amarita, is the heart of DT Constructions, my firm,” Morton declared with pride, gesturing expansively at the busy factory floor. “Dese-Tome Factories are where innovation meets precision, and where dreams are turned into reality.”

Melitta nodded, her eyes keenly observing the ongoing activities with fascination. “It’s incredible, Morton. I had no idea the process behind constructing buildings was so intricate.”

Morton chuckled, pleased by her genuine interest. “Indeed, Amarita. We manufacture everything from steel beams to specialized concrete mixes right here. Most of the buildings you’ve seen popping up in the last three years all got their building materials right here.

“Wow. So like, that new casino… what’s the name again…”

“Western Orb Casino? Yep, we supplied them with the materials for their building. The new courthouses, too. And Robin’s Nest Childcare as well.”

“Amazing! No wonder that childcare center looks so magnificent.”

“Oh, there’s no doubt about that, Amar. Our commitment to quality and efficiency has made Gobbo Constructions a name synonymous with excellence in the industry. Anywhere you find an excellent structure, best believe we’re behind it.”

As they strolled past rows of towering steel structures and workers clad in safety gear, Morton pointed out various sections of the factory. “Over there, we have our state-of-the-art steel fabrication area. And just beyond that is our cutting-edge concrete production facility. We spare no expense when it comes to ensuring our materials are second to none.”

Melitta had to hand it to him, he had created something worthy of praise with this construction factory. “It’s like a symphony of construction,” she mused, following him.

Morton grinned, very pleased by her analogy. “I knew I could trust you to put it in a splendid way. That’s exactly how to put it; a symphony of construction. I’m glad you like what you’ve seen.”

Melitta nodded. “I mean, when something’s top quality, you’ve got to admit it, don’t you?”

“Exactly, my dear, exactly. And speaking of symphonies, let me show you something truly special.”

He guided her towards a glass-walled observation deck overlooking the factory floor. As they ascended the staircase, Melitta’s heart pumped with anticipation. What could it be?

From the elevated vantage point, they had a panoramic view of the entire operation, a sight that left Melitta in awe. This is incredible, she breathed to herself, fully taken in by the scenery.

Morton leaned against the railing, his gaze fixed on the bustling activity below. “This, my dear, is where I envision the future. The future of construction, of progress, and perhaps even something more.”

Melitta gazed down with him. “Mmmm. I can’t lie, I like your ambition. You’ve got something this astounding and impressive, and you’re not complacent. I like that.”

Morton looked at her, a rather grim expression on his face. “Yeah. Even though it comes at a price.”

Melitta raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean? What price?”

Morton sighed, then straightened himself and faced her. “You know, I’ve learned that success comes at a price. In this industry, there are those who see me as a threat because of my achievements, especially at so young an age. I’ve built something substantial, something that challenges the status quo, and not everyone is thrilled about it, so… I’ve made enemies for myself.”

Melitta pursed her lips. “Mmmmm. Some people think you’re trying to usurp them or something?”

“Absolutely. You know this city, Amarita. Unfortunately, it’s a cutthroat society we live in, where success is apparently supposed to belong to one person. It’s pretty ridiculous when you think about it. You’re on your way to the top, and suddenly, certain people in certain places think you have no right to be up there with them. You should be at the bottom so they can trample upon you as much as they want to. Utter bullshit. And it’s those two billionaires that are the cause of it all.”

Feigning ignorance, she spluttered, “Uh… t-t-two billionaires?”

looking at her in surprise, Morton blurted out, “You mean you don’t know those Silvius and Chylton guys?”

“Ohhhhhh, right, right, how could I forget? Ugh, yeah, of course. Those two moguls of Ruthington.”

Morton nodded. “Two lowly crooks with a lot of money, that’s what they are. I dunno who I despise more, Silvius or F.A. Chylton… nah, scratch that, it’s definitely Silvius I despise more. That old son of a bitch thinks he can walk all over everyone in this town. It’s sickening. Can you imagine he tried to buy me out of this place?”

Feigning surprise, she gasped. “Seriously?”

“I’m telling you! This man called me up one morning. Out of the blue. Told me he likes what I’ve built, and he’s willing to pay me whatever I want to sell it all to him so he can advance his own empire. Amar, you cannot even begin to imagine the rage bubbling in my chest at that moment. The nerve of him! The absolute fucking nerve of him! I barely know you from Adam, and you just pop up and expect me to hand over the results of my blood, sweat and tears to you? Honestly, fuck that man!

“So of course, I told him hell no, that Dese-Tome is not for sale and will never be for sale, and that he’s not even allowed to hold shares for daring to come at me with that rubbish. Obviously, he was super pissed, and he’s never liked me since then. As for that Chylton guy, I met him once at a function, about a year or so before his wife died. I tried to make acquaintances with the man, and he totally ignored me. Like, three times or so. And at the fourth attempt, this man told me point blank that he runs this city, from top to bottom, beginning to end, A to Z, and that I should not even attempt to get in his way, because it’ll get ugly real quickly.

“Real talk, I know those two bastards have got people watching me. And if they think they’re gonna snuff me out, they’ve got another thing coming. I know their tricks. I know them all. And I’m way sharper than they are. Those plans they have for me? It’ll turn on them before they know it. You try to harm me or my interests, I’ll respond with equal force. It’s the harsh reality of success in a competitive world.”

Melitta’s very darkened expression had now turned into a slightly fearful one. She was now getting to see this side of Morton, and she had to admit, it was pretty unsettling. Her heart pounded as she pondered just how serious his words. Because if they were serious, then this job was not going to be as smooth as she had anticipated.

Not that it would be too much for her to handle; for a woman who had dealt with far more dangerous tasks. But this was still quite a shake-up for her. Suddenly, Morton didn’t seem like such a dumb bum anymore…

***

As the tour of Dese-Tome Factories came to an end, Morton Gobbo guided Melitta towards the exit, the echoes of industry fading into the background. The air outside carried a refreshing contrast to the factory’s controlled chaos with its silence. Morton then turned to Melitta with a twinkle in his eyes.

“So, that’s Dese-Tome Factories for you,” he declared proudly. “I’m glad you were thoroughly impressed by all you saw.”

“Oh, I was. I most certainly was. This is an amazing empire you’re building, and I am deeply moved by everything I’ve seen and heard,” Melitta confirmed. She truly had been moved, but not in the way he was thinking.

“Marvellous! Well, since that’s out of the way now, I was just thinking…

Melitta inwardly groaned to herself. What is it now?

“…how about we escape the hustle and bustle of the city this weekend? A little getaway, perhaps to a charming hotel in the countryside. What do you say?”

Taken aback would be an understatement to describe Melitta’s reaction to the unexpected proposal. She was expecting him to request for another date or something. Not an entire weekend away.

She hesitated for a moment. “Ummm, that sounds lovely, but… I’m not sure if I can make plans on such short notice.”

Morton chuckled, his tone persuasive. “Come on, Amarita, I’m sure you need a bit of a a break. Let me give you that. We can relax, enjoy good food, maybe take in some scenic views. Trust me, it’ll be the perfect way to unwind after a hectic week.”

Melitta sighed. “Morton, it’s just that… we’ve only recently met, and a weekend away feels like a big step, you know?”

He leaned in, his eyes softening. “I understand. But you know, sometimes, you just know when something feels right. I dunno about you, but I feel a genuine connection with you, and I think a weekend together could be incredible. No pressure, though.”

One side of her brain was yelling: It’s a trap! Don’t fall for it! He knows what’s going on. He’s gonna catch you before you catch him! Don’t do it!

The other side: Take it! This is the perfect opportunity, woman! You can get the mission completed this weekend! You’re stronger than whatever he claims to have, and who knows, he’s just bluffing. Take it up! Quick!

Despite the pit of fear that had opened up in her belly, the second side appealed a lot more to her. She was never really one to be ruled by fear, especially if it was an assignment.

“Alright, Morton,” she conceded, her hesitance replaced by a smile, “let’s do it. A weekend away sounds like just what I need.”

Morton’s face lit up with satisfaction. “Fantastic! I promise you won’t regret it, Amarita. It’ll be a weekend to remember. I’ll start working on the reservations right away…”

She nodded, her mind drifting.

I sure hope this ain’t no trap…

Hmmm, has Morton been faking his naivete all along? That speech subtly seems to suggest so. What next for our agent?