Page 188 of Malicious Claim

"Getting too eager?" he asked, tersely. "You know, the average dog can survive four days in a cage without food or water."

That made her throat tighten. Was that a threat? A joke? Or what?

"I'm not a dog, Makros," she replied, narrowing her eyes.

"Then you better be on your best behavior—especially at work."

"Work?" she echoed, blinking. "Is that... a thing now?"

He crouched slightly, unlocked the cage, and swung the door open. "Who did you think was going to replace Caterina?"

"I—I don't want to work in your shoe factory," she stammered, stepping out, stretching her limbs like a prisoner who'd forgotten what standing upright felt like. "You didn't even consult me."

Makros scratched his temple, completely unbothered. "Consult who? You? I've told you before—what you want is irrelevant."

"Yeah, except when it comes to your dick and sexual gratification," she shot back.

He gulped but didn't back down. "Can't blame those for having loopholes."

"You're painstakingly annoying."

"Bear it," he said, already turning toward the other room. "Hurry up. We're going to be late."

"Late?" She blinked. "Makros, you own the fucking company."

"And I'm telling you we're going to be late."

"How? Who's going to write you up? God?"

"No," he replied smoothly. "But I lead by example. That's why they respect me."

"Respect?" She scoffed, trailing him now as they moved through the other room. "I thought it was fear."

"I wield both," he said simply. "They respect me because of my consistency. They fear me because of my actions."

When they arrived at the factory, it didn't take long before Kim descended on them like a hawk with her tablet in hand and heels stabbing the tiles.

"Good morning, Signor. Signora," she greeted quickly, then turned to Makros, voice lowered. "I have regrettable news, sir."

"Let me guess," he said without missing a step. "Caterina pulled back her investment along with the Gallanis partnership."

Kim faltered mid-step. "You... already knew?"

Makros gave a lazy nod. "Yeah. I kicked her out myself."

Leila tried not to roll her eyes but failed. That wasn't how it happened. She'd been there. But she understood the performance. This version made him look like the man who held every string. Made him look infallible like the indefatigable rock of Gibraltar.

"But Signor," Kim protested, catching up again. "The Gallanis are our biggest suppliers of leather, the active material we use to produce nearly eighty percent of our shoes."

Makros didn't flinch. "Kim, my beautiful wife Leila has taken Caterina's position. That name, Gallanis, will not be mentioned again in this factory. Got it?"

Kim turned to Leila with raised brows. "You don't own a leather-making company... Do you?"

"No," Leila said simply, alighting from her train of thoughts. "But it's high time we started producing our own leather."

Makros pushed open his office door and turned around. "You see, Kim? Problem solved. Work with my wife. Find out what it'll take for us to start producing our own leather from scratch."

"Yes, sir," Kim nodded, pulling a folder from her crossed bag. "Also, the rebranding is ready. The new logo and name suggestions."

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