Mafia Kings: Roberto: Chapter 12

Once we reached the heart of the city, the limousine pulled into underground parking beneath a massive skyscraper. Han and I took an elevator to the lobby, which was decorated in cream colors and filled with bustling crowds of people. From there, Han guided me to a private elevator that carried us rapidly to the 70th floor.

We entered another lobby with a magnificent view of the harbor. Han didn’t even acknowledge the young female receptionist as she buzzed us through the glass doors. I smiled at her politely; she bowed her head without smiling back.

We made our way to a massive corner office with a closed door and a secretary out front – a severe-looking woman in her 50s.

Han raised an eyebrow at her as though asking for permission. She gestured her head towards the door, at which point Han knocked.

A muffled voice said something in Chinese – probably, Come in.

Han led me into a minimalistic office. There was a beautiful wooden desk, several black leather chairs, and nothing else other than a stunning view of the glass and steel canyons of Hong Kong’s skyscrapers.

Behind the desk sat an Asian man around 60. Despite his receding hairline, his hair was still black. He had a soft face and a grandfatherly smile, but his eyes were sharp and cunning. He wore a grey suit jacket with a Nehru collar that looked like it was from another era of Chinese history.

“Mr. Lau,” I said.

“Mr. Rosolini – welcome,” he replied with a British accent. “Please, sit.”

I took one of the seats across from him. Han sat in the other chair.

I glanced at Han, perplexed, as Lau continued with mundane pleasantries. “Did you have a nice flight?”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Good, good. You know, I was surprised to get your message this morning. It was… unexpected.”

“Mr. Han used that exact same word,” I said with a forced smile.

“Perhaps because it describes the situation perfectly. What brings you to Hong Kong?”

“I would prefer to speak to you about that in private.”

Lau smiled. “Mr. Han is completely trustworthy. Anything you can say to me, you can say in front of him.”

“It’s a matter of some delicacy.”

“I assure you, Mr. Han is very discreet.”

“I must insist,” I said coolly.

Lau dropped his smile and all pretense of pleasantness. “And I must insist otherwise. If that is a problem for you, Mr. Rosolini, there is the door.”

I silently cursed myself. I was in the weaker position; starting out with a demand that could so easily be denied was stupid. Niccolo wouldn’t have made such a strategic blunder.

But then, that was why he was consigliere.

I was the money man. My strength was numbers – and I had to believe that numbers would carry the day.

But first I needed to establish why I needed Lau’s help.

“Alright,” I said. “You’re aware of what my family does for a living?”

Lau’s smile returned. “Yes, I am.”

“My uncle is in the same business. In fact, he used to be my father’s right-hand man. Over the last 24 hours, he tried to have two of my brothers killed.”

“Oh, my,” Mr. Lau said, sounding surprised and compassionate.

“We also discovered that eight months ago, my uncle paid someone to murder our father – his own brother.”

“Oh dear,” Lau said, looking pained. “That’s horrible.”

“In addition to his acts of violence, my uncle has also attacked us financially. By using threats, bribes, or blackmail against bank officials, he managed to steal 28 million euros from our accounts.”

“How terrible,” Mr. Lau said, then frowned slightly. “But I fail to see how it explains why you are here.”

“Considering the danger we find ourselves in, I came to ask you to temporarily return my family’s initial investment so we can combat my uncle’s attempts to destroy us.”

Mr. Lau smiled sympathetically. “You could have called, Mr. Rosolini. There was no need to come all the way to Hong Kong.”

My heart sank. His words weren’t those of a man agreeing to a request.

“I wanted to ask in person,” I said, “given the unusual circumstances.”

“My heart goes out to you – it truly does. But you know the company cannot release any funds for 24 months after the initial investment.”

“I realize that’s the ordinary way of doing business – ”

“It was in the contract you signed.”

“Yes, but – ”

“I’m afraid I can’t help you, Mr. Rosolini. ”

I soldiered on, refusing to take ‘no’ for an answer.

“The initial deposit was in Bitcoin. Assuming you’ve kept it in Bitcoin, you’ve seen a 50% increase in value over the last two months. Keep the 50% as a penalty. All we ask is the return of the initial 50 million euros.”

Lau sighed. “Mr. Rosolini – ”

“My brothers and I intend to re-invest with the Syndicate after this business with my uncle is concluded. The Syndicate could dictate terms more beneficial to itself when we resume our relationship.”

“I’m afraid that any release of funds before the 24-month period ends is quite impossible.”

Desperation began to set in. “My brother, the CEO of my family’s business, has authorized me to negotiate terms. We would accept less than the full 50 million euros, depending on the offer. Obviously, you would keep the remainder as a penalty for early withdrawal.”

Lau gave me his grandfatherly smile again. “I’m sorry… but no.”

His refusal to meet me halfway – or even one tenth of the way – made me angry.

“You realize I’m not asking for the funds to buy a yacht,” I said curtly. “We need the money as a matter of life and death.”

“And I hope you realize that I’m not being difficult for the sake of being difficult,” Lau replied. “You signed an agreement that all our investors are subject to. Making an exception for you would be highly unfair to the other partners.”

“In that case, I’d like to request a meeting of the partners,” I said, playing my only trump card. “Under the bylaws, as one of the Syndicate’s major investors, I have the right to request an emergency meeting at any point – correct?”

Lau’s smile disappeared. “Technically, yes, but not for – ”

“I would like to speak with the other investors, especially those who are in a position to understand my situation. Specifically Mr. Gota and Mr. Xi.”

Gota (pronounced GO-tuh) was a high-ranking figure in a branch of the Yakuza, Japan’s version of the mafia.

Xi (pronounced Zee) was the head of a triad group, China’s system of organized crime.

I had met them during my previous trip to Hong Kong months ago.

Lau knew I thought that the other gangsters would be more sympathetic to my plight and thus more willing to negotiate.

He wasn’t happy about it.

“The purpose of emergency meetings,” he said sharply, “is to discuss developments that could influence all members’ investments.”

“Considering that they could make 25 million euros with absolutely no risk on their part, I think they might want to hear my proposal.”

Lau clenched his jaw. He knew Gota and Xi might be angry if he didn’t at least present them with my offer. After all, they stood to make millions simply for letting me out of my contract.

And if Lau refused to deliver my message, I would absolutely make sure Gota and Xi found out – even if I had to go see them in person.

After all, I was already in Hong Kong. Tokyo and Beijing weren’t that far away.

Lau gave me a grim smile. “Alright… I’ll present your request to the other partners and notify you of their decision.”

“Thank you. I’ll remain in Hong Kong until we meet or the matter is otherwise resolved.”

“Where are you staying?”

“I hadn’t gotten that far.”

“You didn’t reserve a hotel room?” Lau asked in surprise.

“If you had agreed to my request, I would have immediately turned around and flown back home.”

I was hoping Lau might relent just to get rid of me – but he didn’t play along.

However, he did play at being nice.

“The Syndicate owns several excellent hotels in Hong Kong. We’ll put you up in a penthouse at the Continental. Complimentary, of course.”

“I appreciate that, but – ”

“I insist,” Lau said, but this time he used the grandfatherly smile. “It’s the least we can do after you’ve come such a long way.”

Mr. Han spoke for the first time since we’d walked into the office. “His twin brother is in Macau at the El Dorado.”

Lau raised his eyebrows in surprise. “You have a twin brother?”

“Yes.”

“Well, he’s welcome to stay with you, too. Regretfully, I have other plans this evening – but Mr. Han will take you to Macau in my stead. Anything you and your brother desire, just tell Mr. Han, and he will take care of it.”

“Thank you, but that’s not necessary.”

“Ah… but I insist,” Lau said, again with that grandfatherly smile.

I once read a Forbes article about a tradition in Japan. Japanese CEOs and department heads were expected to personally entertain out-of-town visitors who had come for business. Not to do so was the height of rudeness.

The article told the story of a Japanese CEO who ‘apologized’ for his inability to entertain an American businessman and instead gave him thousands of dollars so the American could go out on his own.

The American was delighted, not realizing that the Japanese businessman had gravely insulted him. To put it crudely, the CEO had treated the American like a whore and paid him to go away.

I had no idea if Chinese and Japanese business culture was the same in that regard.

Was Lau treating me with contempt by pawning me off on an underling?

Or was he just saddling me with a babysitter to keep an eye on me?

Whatever the case, I decided not to fight it. After my veiled threat to speak with Gota and Xi behind Lau’s back, I didn’t think it wise to antagonize him any more than I already had.

Not if I wanted my 50 million euros back.

I forced myself to smile. “In that case, I would be delighted.”