Power

**Dimitri**

"I'm impressed with the knowledge you seem to have when your father claims you've never worked a day in your life," I said, raising an eyebrow at Locke as we sat at the bar. This being our first 'meeting' after his father handed everything over to him, well, after announcing it, I was surprised at how he handled things and his ideas.

"I may not have my father's experience, but I'm neither ignorant nor reckless," he said, and I nodded, looking at the plan he had. An annual plan for what he intended to do at the club. He owned the majority, but since I had the second largest share after him, making me his right-hand man in this, he knew he should consult me before the other men. "I intend to make this grow, a larger franchise, and if we're smart enough, an international one."

"Your father was always against going to the cities you mentioned. China and Japan were something he wouldn't discuss. Why are you choosing to do this now?" I asked, shaking my head in question. "And as far as I understand, you're making your hotels and franchises there cheaper in dollars than here in New York or Los Angeles. I won't even discuss Vegas, as that's too far in comparison."

"It's called being smart, Dimitri. I'm not just targeting the rich and naturally, not just tourists. So, imagine this, the hotel being a safe haven but also open to locals. The prices would be affordable for them, and if I only count honeymoon couples, I'll make more than I do here. Now, if I'm targeting those traveling within the countries for vacations, moving from city to city, we have more. This way, I create more jobs, secure more clients..."

"And you'll ruin a reputation your father managed to maintain for so long. There's a certain criterion and class your father had when it came to the hotels. Do you really think you'll manage it when you open it for everyone to come? Tourists or not?"

"Your arrogance won't get you anywhere, Dimitri," he said, and I raised an amused eyebrow at the man. His eyes studied my expression, and I knew he was underestimating me much more than he wanted to admit. And although I wanted to see where he would take things, I knew I would stop him when necessary. The man would end up making a fool of himself and his father, and I wouldn't allow that easily.

"It's not arrogance, Locke. It's called business and a reputation you want to maintain for a franchise. Do you think others would come? Our allies and our partners would choose this hotel when they see it was opened to commoners? And do you believe everyone will follow basic safety rules? You're just going to attract the police to it, and if they start with that, I believe you don't intend to break the web we've been holding for so long in the few months you'll take your place," I said, and the man raised an eyebrow at me. His eyes were darker than usual, and I knew I had hit a nerve.

"Nobody forces them to come if they don't want to," he said, and I smiled, shaking my head at what he clearly wasn't. He was an amateur, and if this was how he was going to start, I could already see the downfall of it.

"Then you can say goodbye to everything you plan to build. You can even say goodbye to what your father worked for so long, and you'll end up with nothing in a few months. And believe me, nobody will buy a collapsing company or a company that's in debt. And I can say, judging by your poor contribution, that's where you're heading," I said, and he scoffed, shaking his head at me.

The men sitting around the table with us were quiet, and although they hadn't said a word throughout the discussion, I could tell they agreed with me. If each of the council members chose to withdraw their share, the man would be losing more than he should be able to pay, and if that happened, he would probably end up with nothing. And that wasn't something he wanted.

"You know he's right, Locke. You don't have the experience your father had, and even he wouldn't have agreed to make such a bold move on the first day you were appointed to sit in a chair. One that I don't understand how you had the chance to make in the first place," said Erik, one of the men, raising an eyebrow at him. The man was a leader in his place, his mother was a strong woman from where she came from, and his father knew how to keep his head down, away from trouble, something his son didn't understand. "I'm sorry, but unless we have a reason to trust what you're proposing, I'm out of this project and, if necessary, will opt to cut the partnership entirely."

"You're opting to cut a partnership instead of an idea that will be profitable?" the man asked, startled by Erik's words. He and the other men beside him nodded in response.

"We're cutting it because you seem more childish than understanding the project and what you need or want with it. Don't get me wrong, son, but even your father would have agreed with what I'm doing if he were sitting at this same table," he said, signaling to the bartender. "I need a drink to swallow what I just heard from you. I swear, it's much more ridiculous than a woman trying to run her family as a leader."

"You seem to really underestimate women, don't you?" a woman said, walking up to us. Her eyes met mine, and I couldn't help but frown, recognizing her as one of my former partner's daughters. Her black hair draped over her shoulders, and she smiled, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Genevieve," I said, and she nodded at me.

"It's good to know you still remember my name, Mr. Dimitri," she said, extending her hand to Erik. "Genevieve Dubois at your service..."