Page 73 of Grumpy Boss of the Year

“You know, if you did that, I wouldn't sell you the hotel chain, and you've spent a lot of money already on the development of these hotels.”

I'm silent. He's correct. The hotels I was going to purchase from him in Greece and Italy were integral to the plan of my hotel empire for Oasis Paradise Hotel chain, but I didn't know if it is worth selling my soul to attain them.

“So get off the phone with me and go make my life easier and my daughter's life miserable so that she will come and work for me.”

“Work for you.” I pause. “I thought you wanted to get her married.”

“Well, the fact of the matter is that she'll be doing both things.”

“What do you mean by that?” I can't believe what I'm hearing. “What do you mean, Franco? Explain!”

“The man she's getting married to has some investments I'm quite interested in attaining, and I don't know that he'scompletely on the up and up. So, once Elisabetta becomes his wife, she can find out his secrets and help me to…”

“Are you fucking kidding me right now? You're trying to use your daughter as some sort of spy for business purposes? Are you crazy?”

“How I live my life is none of your business.”

“You know, she thinks you're in the mafia, right?”

“She's always had an active imagination, my darling Elisabetta.”

“You’re a punk, Franco, and I don’t think you have any right to call her darling. You’re a shitty-ass dad.”

“You’d better tread very lightly here, Liam, because I don't really appreciate…”

“I don't care what you appreciate. We're gonna come to a deal.”

“What do you mean, we're gonna come to a deal? “

“You heard me. You and I are going to come to a deal. Because I'll have you know, I know all your dirty little secrets.”

“You what? What are you talking about?”

“I know all your dirty little secrets, every asset you have hidden.” I pause. “Everythingyou have hidden.”

“What's that supposed to mean?” There's an edge to his voice.

“It means I know your secret.” The fact of the matter is, I'm not 100 percent sure whether I do or don't know the truth about the situation, but I know by the way that he responds to my statement will tell me everything I need to know.

“I don't know how…” His voice cracks. “What do you want?”

And in that moment, I know it's all true. I don't need the investigator to come back with cold, hard facts, because I already know the answer. I know that this is a secret so devastating that it could ruin Elisabetta’s entire life.

“We're gonna make a deal,” I say, “and I'm gonna come up with the rules. They'll be fair to you, but you're not going to pull any fast ones on me. Okay?”

“And what do I get?”

“You get the money you need to pay off your debts and to survive and to even continue in a legitimate business for the rest of your days. You get to walk away from whatever criminals you're trying to get into bed with…”

“I get to keep my secrets.”

“Franco, I think she has a right to know.”

“Everything is off if you tell her. You hear me?” He is shouting now.“Every fucking thing.”

“I won't tell her.”

“I love my daughter, Liam. I love her with all my heart. I've always loved her. I will not let you ruin her life.”

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