New Business Partner

Jake knew about what his father had done. He knew it when Lanie told him that story. At first, he got mad at her because he thought Lanie was just bluffing. Maybe Lanie was just too shocked that night but she wasn't. It took him too long to accept it. He promised her that if the truth came out, he would accept it and make his father pay for what he had done after all that was a big crime. He's willing to testify with Lanie. He remembered that night when his father went home, he was not in his proper mind and was laughing by himself. He will drink and will babble nonsense. One time, he heard his father and his mother talking about that. He also investigates what happened. And all of that goes to one thing. The Gerpacio's massacre. Jake didn't know why his father did that. He didn't know his connection to the Gerpacios, Wangs, and the other person they were with that night. Jake didn't say anything about that tragedy for years now.

"Good day, my Lady!" Kathy greeted her, she was jolly as usual.

"Hi, Kathy! Are you alone?" Lanie moved aside the serving wheel tray.

"Nope. My brother and Tyler were in the office. They are having a meeting. I heard they have a new business partner." Kathy explained to her.

"Lady," Mark called Lanie. "Oh? Are you done?" He nodded and looked at Kathy.

"Ah, Kathy, this is Mark. Mark, this is Kathy." Mark nodded, not interested in what Lanie said. He just looked at her. Lanie saw Kathy pout and rolled her eyes.

"You're going to escort Mrs. Bautista. She will be checking out by now." He said before he left. He also got the serving wheel tray that Lanie used and brought it to the kitchen.

"So snobbish," Kathy murmured.

"He was just like that," Lanie said and chuckled.

"Hmmph! Anyways, I should go... Bye!" She said then went to the office.

Lanie successfully escorted Mrs. Bautista. She said thanks for accompanying her during her stay here. When Lanie came back, Mr. Lancaster, Kieffer and Kathy, and a woman... probably their new business partner were already in the lobby. She slightly bowed her head, "Good afternoon, Ma'am, Sir." Kieffer smiled at her. Kathy waved her hand. Mr. Lancaster simply nodded his head. While their new business partner smiled at her.

She's in her forties. She looks so elegant and firm. She's wearing an old rose silky-smooth dress sleeveless. Her body is still fit in her forties, and so is her beauty. But Lanie's eyes glued on her collarbone. Kieffer followed Lanie's gaze.

She looked at the face of the woman and she thought she was not comfortable. That's why she suddenly touched her collarbone.

Lanie smiled again at them, "I'll escort you." She said and motioned them to walk first. A luxurious black car parked in front of them. The woman went there and bid her goodbyes to Mr. Lancaster and the siblings. Then, Mr. Lancaster's car followed. The siblings said goodbye to Lanie and went inside the car. Mr. Lancaster stared at her for a second before he entered the driver seat and drove away.

***

"She knew it already, right?" Mr. Lancaster said as he watched Lanie in the mirror.

"Probably," Kieffer answered. "You already knew who the enemies were. Why can't you just end this?

"She is our ace. To all the evidence we are holding, she is the strongest one."

Kieffer just smirked at Tyler, "That's why you are bringing the enemies to her. Hmm. Maybe that is a good idea too so she can face the past she always wanted to get lost. But Tyler," He tilted his head and looked at Tyler.

"About Mrs. Hossler's mark. Where is that again? Collarbone?" Tyler's brows furrowed.

"Yeah, how did you know that? You can't see our marks." Kieffer shook his head.

"No. Not me. Lanie. Her eyes moved to Mrs. Hossler's collarbone and stared at it for seconds." He answered. Tyler became serious right now.

"She can see... the marks?" He whispered. Kieffer stayed silent as he thought deeply about it.

****

Lanie silently went inside and went to Althea's place. "Who is that new business partner?" She asked her.

"Oh! That woman? She's Mrs. Hossler. Owner of a beach resort and I heard that she wants to expand her resort and build a new hotel there."

"Hossler? Wait, is she related to that senator candidate before? Bryce Hossler?"

"Yup. She was his wife. His husband died in an ambush so she became a widow."

"Ambush?" Lanie doesn't know about that ambush.

"Yes, sister! As far as I remembered, there was news before that the Gerpacios was the suspect in that ambush. Austin Gerpacio was also a candidate for that senator position, that's why they did that. But a year after he died... the Gerpacio massacre happened. Geez, elite families are scary... so many enemies." She said before going back to work.

Lanie went to the rooftop for her break time. While looking at the city lights, she dialed Jeybi's number again.

"What's the tea, darling?" She just shook her head when she heard his greeting.

"Mrs. Hossler. Wife of the deceased ex-candidate senator Bryce Hossler." Lanie said while tapping her finger on the railings.

"Wait a sec, darling. You're unbelievable! You are asking me about these people. If ever, this will be a big scoop and I'll be getting so many death threats!" He joked. Well, Jeybi's not a famous reporter for nothing. His every news is really big time. His every piece of news is no filter, just full truths. One time, he was shot but he was lucky the bullet didn't touch his body. Sometimes, he gets scolded by his management when he is reporting something that will make his station at risk.

"Girl, did you know that Austin Gerpacio ordered someone to kill him?" He said.

"I heard about that." Lanie looked at the whole rooftop to check if there was anyone there before she turned the loudspeaker on her phone. She got her cigarette and lit it. Ah, her stress reliever.

"It was true. But the family denies it or maybe, covered it because you know rich people have their ways. And I can't imagine Gerpacio and Hossler as senators. Their visions are completely different. That's too much. We know how dirty politics is. Then the news died down when the massacre happened." He continued.

"So, the two families are connected?"

"Hmm. Not totally. They were rivals. Both in politics and... let's say in business, too. Mrs. Grace Hossler took over her husband's place in their company when he died."

Lanie understands the political part but in business...

"Wait up, babe. Why in business? Hosslers in beach resorts and the Gerpacio in hotels... Wait." Lanie stopped when she noticed something.

"Right, darling. In case you forgot, Gerpacio's Hotel is a five-star hotel and has an amazing quality of service and they also have many branches in different places. So yeah, when we look at it, Gerpacio's is the Top 1 among all the hotels here. And the Hasslers want that spot."

***

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