âIâve been investigating you. It has nothing to do with Nolan. If you want my life, just take it!â Reginaâs voice rang out with a desperate edge.
Nolan yanked Regina back to his side and gripped her shoulders as he looked into her eyes, his voice tinged with frustration. âHave you lost your mind? Whatâs the point in reasoning with this guy?
Do you really think your words will touch his heart?â
âBut itâs all because of me! If it werenât for me, you wouldnât be digging into this mess. You wouldnât be stuck here with me, I canât stand by and watch you lose your life over this,â Regina protested, her voice trembling with emotion.
Domingo burst into mocking laughter at the sight of their obvious affection for each other. He pointed at them and sneered to his henchmen, âLook at these two, playing the tragic lovers like theyâd actually die for each other. But put a knife to one of their throats, and I bet theyâd sell the other out to save their own skin. Who are they trying to fool here? You think Iâve been in the game for all these years for nothing?
Couples like you, whoâd split the moment money is on the line, are a dime a dozen.â
Once again, Nolan positioned himself protectively in front of Regina, his brows furrowed as he stared down Domingo. âListen, Domingo, Iâm calling you by name now. Our beef isnât irreconcilable. You say Regina and I are all about personal gain, but isnât that what our dispute is about too? Let me put it this way: I came here today to clear up the issue with the land you sold me. If I agree not to hold that against you, regardless of how shady that deal was, can you spare us today? Iâm not asking for much-
just let Regina walk out that door unharmed.â
As Nolan finished his plea, he felt Reginaâs hand tighten in his own, and he gave it a reassuring squeeze.
Domingo was about to refuse when one of his cronies sidled up and whispered, âMr. Skinner, itâs not smart to burn bridges with Mr. Harris. We made a killing off that land deal with him. If heâs willing to bury the hatchet, we might even land a partnership with the Harris Group down the line. Remember, heâs the hottest young investor right now. Even his scraps could keep us living high on the hog for life.â
No sooner had the words left the henchmanâs mouth than Domingo cuffed him on the back of his head.
âWhereâs your pride, man? Since when do I bow down for cash?â
âBut Mr. Skinner, weâre talking about the kind of money we couldnât make in a lifetime here; last yearâs profits from the Harris Group aloneâ¦â
The henchman was determined to persuade their boss to sit down and hash things out with Nolan.
What if Nolan, being the bigger man, decided to let bygones be bygones?
Despite seemingly having the upper hand, they couldnât help but lower their gaze before Nolanâs commanding presence. They knew, in reality, the power was still in Nolanâs hands, 08:24 #
!
even as they stood there with their boss looking like they had the advantage.
Nolan stood unruffled, his demeanor calm as if he held a winning card up his sleeve. The henchmen knew they had to think about their own futures too.
It might be easy for Domingo to dismiss a small sum, but this was no pocket change. With his henchmanâs words ringing in his ears, the money suddenly became too significant to ignore.