Chapter 24

After a hectic week at work, it was finally Friday. Today was especially tiring, since we went through all the preparations for the chemical supplier challenge with Johanson and his guys.

After hours of arguing, we managed to agree to use one production line for each supplier’s mix and then compare the results. We’d set it up next week, and the week after that, during my visit to the CFZ facility, the challenge would take place. I’d be able to swipe samples, and then Luz would analyze them at the local university lab I got access to by way of generous personal donations.

Being present, I’d also be able to talk to all representatives of the companies and get the lay of the land. There’d be four in total, including Luzon Chemical. I was confident that I’d have all the answers after the trip. It was just a matter of preparation now, because I was sure my enemies thought the same.

So far, there had been no incidents, though. I hired security to shadow the girls and a detective agency to snoop around the likely suspects. Neither had come up with anything thus far, but it was early days. It was probably for the best if it turned out the security was a waste of money on my part anyway.

The day was far from over, however. Even as I left work at 6PM, I knew that the difficult half of the day was just beginning. In two hours, Luz and I would be having dinner with the Gallardos. The parents and two of Luz’s four siblings, the twins Ligaya and Milo, plus their spouses.

There was one more Gallardo sibling, though she wouldn’t be making it. Elena, the eldest and about my age, was something of a black sheep. Luz didn’t know the details, but she had a huge fight with their parents and moved to the US shortly after her eighteenth birthday, when Luz was just two years old.

Luz didn’t have much of a relationship with her sister, though she didn’t seem to mind much. She did love her other siblings, so perhaps that was good enough. Mayu and Paz had limited knowledge of Gallardo family drama, so they weren’t much help. Still, they did have valuable intel.

“ ... and make sure you take some time to smoke cigars with Filipe when he offers,” Mayu said as she drove us to Paz’s office. “And he will. If only because he wants an excuse to smoke cigars.”

“Noted.” I was actually taking notes. “Anything else?”

“Ligaya and Milo will try to fuck with you. You have to give them one win, or they won’t like you. But not more, or they won’t respect you.”

“They’re thirty-six,” I said. “I doubt they’d do that to a stranger.”

“Doubt at your own peril,” she said grimly. Likely from experience. “Also, Milo’s wife Natalie is incredibly hot. Don’t stare at her tits.”

“I think I’ve got that in the bag,” I said wryly.

“She’s super hot, though. It’s harder than it sounds.”

“Mhmm, good to know.” I doodled a little flower on my notebook to make it seem like I was writing something down.

Mayu rolled her eyes and giggled. “And that’s about it, really.”

“Cool,” I said, and slipped her my black card and a little piece of paper. “Just don’t go too crazy, alright? And for the love of God, don’t lose that pin number.”

“Hell yeah!” she shouted, swiping the card. “You’re the best, Daddy!”

“You deserve the best, sweetie,” I said, lightly caressing her cheek before retreating to make sure she didn’t crash or anything.