Misfortune

TAKAHASHI

She was wearing a gold dress and she was laughing. I remembered when I first heard her laugh. It was music to my ears.

I sipped my second glass of wine for tonight, watching my beautiful fiancé. She seemed to have added a new highlight on her hair. It accentuated her pretty face.

I was about to go and greet her when Daisuke, my underboss, pulled me aside.

He whispered something in Japanese. I gave him a brief nod.

The men that we needed for the evening were all set and ready. I just need the perfect timing to showcase the special performance I had prepared for the evening.

I can't help but smirk. After a few minutes, Myojo came over, a champagne flute in his hand.

"It has begun." He said. I lifted my champagne glass and clinked it with his.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Margaux Cortez getting on her feet. I watched her walk towards her mother.

Something must have happened. There was a strange look on her face.

Together with their bodyguard whose name I had learned was Antonio, she appeared to have had a mission at hand.

It seemed intriguing.

But if I should make a guess, I think it had something to do with her younger sibling, Michael.

The kid has a lot of tricks up his sleeve.

I could recollect a few instances from past events which involved a few mishaps due to the youngest of the Cortez.

I can't help but wonder what he had done this time. Margaux seemed to have assigned herself the task of picking up after her younger brother's mess. Or at least prevent it.

She's a good kid.

I was back to pondering between feeling sorry for her and her family or not feeling anything at all.

Except for her parents and elder sister, both Margaux and Michael are too young.

I began swirling the wine in my hand, moving it in slow motion. It was a habit.

"Takahashi," a familiar voice got me out of the self indulgent thoughts I was having.

I smiled, seeing Allan Cortez standing in front of me. The man was in his late forties. He had a typical Filipino descent, olive skinned and raven black hair.

However, he has an air of charisma and a mix of hispanic blood was also evident in his physique, making him stand out a little amongst the crowd.

"Allan." I greeted him back. His smile broadened.

"How are you enjoying the party?" I shrugged, toying with him.

"Same as usual," I paused for effect, "your hospitality never fails to amaze me."

Allan Cortez chuckled, clapping a hand on my shoulder.

"And your humor doesn't get old."

"Ah, only my age is growing old but not me."

"Indeed. Which reminds me," I watch the man scan the sea of people, "you have yet to meet my daughter, Margaux." I smiled.

"We have met, unofficially anyway."

"Exactly. We must fix that."

I let him search for his daughter, allowing my eyes to wander around as well.

Both of our Mafia insignia's were etched across the streamers hanging on the balconies.

The alliance had been formed 10 years ago. I had foreseen it before my father had made the announcement to officially seal the pact with Golden Island.

I could vaguely remember the countless times he had mentioned the Mafia name and also Allan Cortez.

Going back to the present, it seemed that Allan had finally found his daughter. He was now gesturing for me to follow him.

Margaux Cortez has a charm of her own. On the rare occasion that our paths had crossed, she had always been a head turner.

Tonight, her midnight blue gown was emphasizing her beautiful features.

"Margaux, this is Takahashi Ryuji. Takahashi, this is my daughter, Margaux." Allan Cortez had started with the introduction.

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance Miss Cortez."

"The pleasure is all mine Mister Ryuji." I cocked my head.

Mister Ryuji was what people called my father. I find it strange for someone to call me the same.

"Please, call me Takahashi. Mister Ryuji seems too formal." I said. It was always an effective excuse.

"Oh, alright. It's nice to officially meet you Takahashi. I'm sorry to have missed your announcement ceremony and my condolences about your father, he was a great man."

Ah, yes. The announcement ceremony. It has been a tradition for each Mafia group to hold one to formally introduce the next leader when the current one passes away.

In my case, my father had died before he could officially bestow the position to me.

Nevertheless, it was still obvious who should take over.

I forced a smile in her direction. Though the mere mention of my late father was a little dissatisfying, I can't let her know that.

I don't hate my father. But I dislike him for some personal reasons no one knew except for my mother.

Sadly, my mother had taken our secret to her grave. She had died of a brain tumor 3 years ago.

"Thank you and I'm sorry for missing out on yours too."

Margaux Cortez smiled.

"Oh, congratulations on your engagement to Mary Serrano by the way," the smile was still plastered on her face. However, it seemed different from the previous one.

It just occurred to me then that she and Mary were best of friends.

With the two of them together, they can make every guy in this room stop and turn in their direction. They were quite the duo.

"Thank you," I said. "You must have some potential suitors asking for your hand, I reckon."

Instead of answering, Allan Cortez belted out a laugh. I recognized that laugh. It was him being the protective father that he was.

Margaux chose that moment to excuse herself. I watched her following one of Mary's brothers. It was Patrick.

I strained my ears to hear what she was trying to tell him.

Unfortunately, I was only able to grasp the word father and passed out.

The ear-piece hidden in my ear cackled to life.

"Boss," Diasuke's voice came on. "There was a misfortune."

"It seems Margaux got preoccupied. Come now Takahashi, it's almost time for the toast."

"You're right." I said, searching for my under boss. Catching his eye right by the entrance's door, I strategically touched my ears, indicating for him to tell me what happened.

Turning my full attention towards Allan, I smiled for the nth time tonight.

"Let's go and have that toast."

My ear-piece cackled once again.

"Mister Serrano," I perked up. "He was being nosy."

For a minute I wanted to scold Daisuke. He was lucky we were in the middle of a party.

I had to maintain my composure.

The few words which I had heard from Margaux earlier now made sense.

She had found Mister Serrano's body.

Luckily, she had assumed that he was drunk and not dead.