Gentlemen, shall we begin?

IVAN
~•~
The weekend came and left faster than I had expected, but by Monday morning, I was ready to take the world by storm. I was ready to take back that which Ian had dared to steal from me.
The audacity amused me, even till now.
I packed my briefcase myself and slipped my phone into my pocket. My favourite Armani three piece suit was the best clothing for this occasion. My leather Rolex on my wrist, and Tom Ford on my feet. I felt powerful in my designers, I was and forever would be powerful.
I picked up my briefcase from my bed and stepped outside my room. Antonio was in front of my door with a cup of coffee in his hands.
He called it the "welcome back to life" coffee.
For the first time in months, I was going to be outside, making an appearance at the office.
My personal assistant, O'Bryan James, squealed, and I'm not exaggerating, over the phone when I told him I would be coming to work.
"Finally! Now I know I didn't lose my job!" I had heard him mutter under his breath.
With a wry smile, I ended the call. Holloway Empire was mine from the day I stepped foot into the three story building on Daniel's axis in Berkely. It is still mine now that it's a twenty feet building in the heart of Los Angeles with buildings just like it all over the world. It was my sweat, my blood, it was all MINE.
I drove to work in my Tesla. Antonio had insisted I take my convoy along with me, or he wouldn't let me leave the house. Even though I knew it would attract unnecessary attention to me, I listened to him. My Hilux and Range Rover were before and after my Tesla respectively.
I could not ignore the wave of nostalgia when I stepped into the Holloway building. I felt my father's presence everywhere I looked. I saw him smile down at me, with the same proud look I always saw in his eyes. I felt him tap my shoulders, and whisper in my ears "I'm proud of you son."
I could never let go of this company, even if I tried.
Gloomy faces brightened the instant I walked in. My receptionist's eyes glowed with glee. She gave me the most charming smile I had ever seen from her.
"Good morning mister Holloway! We are glad to have you back!"
From the look on her face, I knew she wasn't joking.
I walked past the ten feet high reception with glass walls, and stepped into an elevator. The board room was on the tenth floor, the same with my office. Immediately the doors of the elevator parted open, I stepped out of it. O'Bryan was in front of the elevator with another cup of coffee.
"Welcome back mister Holloway! This office was nothing without you."
His eyes sparkled as he spoke. I shook hands with him and picked the coffee from his hands.
I took one long sip and a broad smile formed on my face.
Two cubes of sugar and enough cream, just how I liked it.
He had not forgotten.
O'Bryan stood beside me, he took my briefcase from my right hand and held it close to his chest. He made a joke of nuzzling it against his cheek and kissed it, saying he had missed the love of his life.
It was funny, so I laughed.
The glass doors of my board room stood ajar. From the glass windows, I could see that everyone else was seated, except me. My eyes caught sight of Ian, dressed in a black suit, just like me.
Once again, his audacity amused me.
Contrary to what he thought, Ian could never be half the man I was, no matter how hard he tried. No, not even if he fucked my wife.
All eyes rested on me immediately I stepped in. Elina was the only woman in my board of directors, she had worked her way up in the days of my father and her contribution to my company was second to none, except mine.
They all adjusted their chairs to look at me. I wanted to throw my head back and greet them all with a scornful laughter. Eighteen years of working with my father, ten years of working with me, and they trusted the words of someone they all knew my father banished to Europe?
How smart.
My board room was the most exquisite room in my office building, after my office room of course. Surrounded by high glass walls, equipped with powerful air conditioners. The circular table they all sat around was customized by Microsoft, my father liked to call it "the smart table".
We didn't need to stand up or move to the wall to use the projector, the table was our projector. Except, on special occasions of course.
And on the smart table, I settled into the seat my father had sat, the one he handed over to me in his death, the one I would cherish.
I leaned into the table and crossed my hands on it. No one had bothered to greet or welcome me back. Why would they? When they were about to give me bad news?
I put on my most daring smile as my eyes swept around the room, taking note of all their stupid faces.
"Ladies and gentlemen, you asked for my presence, now you have it." I leaned back into my seat after I spoke, I stroked my bearded chin gently, locking eyes with my brother who sat opposite me.
He had a smug smile on his face. Something in his eyes mocked me, but I stayed calm.
He was in no way prepared for the plans I had for him, no way at all.
Elina was the one who rose from her seat first. She looked around the room and landed a wink when she got to me.
She cleared her throat, stood straight. The eyes of the men moved to her hips, I scoffed.
"Gentlemen." Her endearing voice filled the room, capturing every ear and eye.
She leaned into the table and placed her both palms on it.
"Shall we begin?"