Page 32 of Rio
We parted on bad terms again and I’m not any wiser.She pushed me away with her words, and yet her eyes, her body, and the way she moved when I reached for her hand ...say otherwise.
Here I am, more conflicted than before I left for Miami, but one thing is crystal clear—I need to stay the hell away from her.It’s best for me, for her, for everyone.
When my father calls me in for a meeting, I’m little distracted.I brace myself as I walk into his office and find him at his desk, flipping through a messy pile of newspapers and shareholder briefs.He doesn’t look up until he’s good and ready.
It’s always a classic power play with him.
“Come in.Sit,” he says flatly.
There’s a folded paper on top of the stack.I catch a glimpse of a photo—me, Dex, Dani… and Raquel.Taken outside a restaurant in Miami.
My gut tenses.I hate the intrusion by the paparazzi.That picture of the four of us must piss him off.Me and Dex, with women, on what looks like a date, looking happy.Yeah, he won’t like that.
“Good weekend?”he asks, pretending to skim a letter as I sit down hoping this will be over soon.But I instinctively know that something’s up.The old man doesn’t ask about weekends unless he’s hunting for leverage.Or sniffing.
“Not bad.You?”
He doesn’t answer, and lets the silence hang for a few seconds, before sliding a file across the desk.
“I have something I need you to handle.”
“I’m about to fly to Verona, to meet with Nico Cazale.You recall the Cazale hotel empire I was telling you about?”
He dismisses my comment with a blink.Verona isn’t far from Soave, the place where we grew up.The place the old man knows too well.I was planning to visit Mama at the same time.
“Verona can wait.”
“What can’t wait?”It’s something pressing.Something he needs taken care of.I wonder what fire I’m about to put out now.
“We’ve got a situation in Belize, with the new eco resort.”
“The Blue Star?”This is my area.Hotels and real estate.I overlap with Enzo on the real estate.“It’s about to open within the month.What’s the problem?”
“It won’t open if this mess isn’t cleared up.”
He nods at the file.“Legal threats.Locals protesting.Rumors of environmental violations.We’ve been contacted by a non-governmental organization there, a pain in the butt group claiming water pollution, displacement, the usual activist drivel.If this hits the press, we’re screwed, so I need you to contain it, and fast.I need you to work your charm.”
“Containment and charm,” I repeat, voice dry.“I can do that.”But at the same time, something niggles me.What’s caused this?Did we do something wrong?Funny how the old man is all about cleaning up the mess, but what if we’re the ones responsible for the mess?
“I need this buried, and quietly.I don’t want any headlines, or courtroom drama.This could blow up in our face, so just deal with it.”
I glance down at the file.“This isn’t a Knight Enterprises internal project.”
“It’s tied to one of our subsidiaries and naturally, if they have a problem, we have a problem.But we have more to lose.I don’t need that heat.The resort will be an absolute showpiece.This is where luxury meets sustainability.I plan to open more resorts like this in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and as many far-flung destinations as we can.But if this turns into a PR mess, it’ll ruin everything.It won’t open on time, and that’s millions down the drain.”
My jaw tightens.“Are we legit on this?”I find myself paying attention to Raquel’s words and all the ethical problems she always accuses Knight Enterprises of.
The old man leans back.“Legally, yes.Ethically...we’ve seen better days.But that’s not your concern.The case is baseless.Politically motivated.You’re going down there to smooth it over and make it go away.Quietly.”
That right there tells me it’s not squeaky clean.Which means I’m going to have to rely on the people on the ground at the site in Belize.
I hear Raquel’s voice in my head.I hear her accusations; about the damage we’re doing.I’m starting to take note.I never listened.Never wanted to.But now I can’t help wondering, just like I wonder why we stay and put up with the old man’s bullshit.What he did with Jett, what he did with Dex, that shit with Dani’s father, it’s not normal.
I stay because the Knight legacy is worth billions.Because Knight Enterprises isn’t just a company.It’s a global, multibillion-dollar empire.Walking away isn’t like quitting a job.It’s walking away from the chance to inherit serious power, wealth, and global influence.We’re not fighting to be loved.We’re fighting to be the last man standing when the old man falls.
So, I nod.“Fine.When do I leave?”
“As soon as you can.”
