Chapter 7 - THE MAFIA BOSS WHO COULDN'T BUY HER SILENCE
Lucas DeLuca had faced men who threatened to destroy his businesses.
He'd negotiated with hostile investors.
Refused pressure from powerful families.
And survived betrayals that would have ruined weaker men.
But nothing prepared him for Grace Mercer arriving at his office carrying a cardboard box full of cat photographs.
His assistant, Daniel Price, appeared in the doorway.
“Mr. DeLuca?”
Lucas looked up.
“Yes?”
“Miss Mercer is here.”
Lucas smiled faintly.
“Send her in.”
Daniel hesitated.
“She has a box.”
Lucas frowned.
“What kind of box?”
“Cardboard. Covered in cartoon cats.”
Lucas laughed.
“Of course.”
Grace entered wearing a cream blouse, tailored black trousers, and sensible heels.
No oversized glasses.
No cat cardigan.
Her hair fell loosely around her shoulders.
She looked confident.
Beautiful.
And furious.
Lucas stood.
“Grace.”
She placed the box on his desk.
“Your family has a problem.”
He glanced at the cartoon cats.
“I assumed this was about Gerald.”
“Focus.”
He smiled.
“Understood.”
She opened the box.
Inside were copies of public financial filings, annotated valuation models, and summaries prepared by her attorney.
Lucas studied the top page.
His smile disappeared.
“Where did you get these?”
“Public records and documents my attorney has cleared me to share.”
He nodded.
“Good.”
Grace pointed toward a transaction.
“Bellwether Capital has been extending financing to distressed hotels, then exercising unusually broad control rights after covenant breaches.”
Lucas leaned forward.
“I know.”
She stared.
“You know?”
“I suspected a pattern.”
“Then why haven't you stopped it?”
“Because suspicion isn't enough.”
She studied him.
He continued.
“I've been reviewing Victor's transactions for months.”
Grace placed another document on the desk.
“My mother's former accountant confirms Bellwether approached Mercer Hospitality five years ago.”
Lucas frowned.
“Before your mother died?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
“She refused.”
He looked down.
Grace continued.
“Then Father took the same financing after her death.”
Lucas exhaled slowly.
“Victor waited.”
“Exactly.”
She sat opposite him.
“Here's my theory.”
He smiled faintly.
“I'm listening.”
“Victor identifies hotels with strong underlying assets but weak short-term cash flow.”
Lucas nodded.
“He offers financing.”
“Then structures terms that become difficult to maintain if renovation costs rise or projected revenue misses expectations.”
Lucas studied the figures.
“And once the borrower defaults?”
“He gains control at a discount.”
Lucas leaned back.
“That's a serious allegation.”
“I know.”
Grace looked directly at him.
“That's why I want an independent investigation. Not a private arrangement between our families.”
Lucas studied her.
“You came prepared.”
“I always come prepared.”
He laughed softly.
“I noticed.”
She folded her arms.
“And don't offer to buy my company.”
Lucas blinked.
“What?”
“My consulting company. Men like you love solving problems by purchasing the person who found them.”
He smiled.
“I hadn't offered.”
“You were thinking about it.”
He considered denying it.
Then laughed.
“Perhaps briefly.”
Grace shook her head.
“Unbelievable.”
Lucas leaned forward.
“Grace, I don't want to own your company.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“Good.”
“I'd like to retain your services for a legitimate independent review of our hospitality portfolio, subject to conflict checks and your approval.”
She stared.
“What?”
“You're clearly capable.”
“I know.”
He smiled.
“And my current advisers failed to identify several problems you've already found.”
She considered him.
Then said, “My fees aren't cheap.”
“Neither are my mistakes.”
I stared at him.
Then laughed despite myself.
He smiled.
For a moment, the room felt unexpectedly comfortable.
Then Lucas became serious.
“Grace, there's another reason I want you involved.”
My expression changed.
“What?”
“Victor has been pressuring my mother to support a restructuring of the family hotel division.”
I frowned.
“Why?”
“Because if he controls Blackwater Grand and several related properties, he can influence the valuation of the entire portfolio.”
I looked down at the figures.
Then understood.
The Blackwater Grand wasn't the final target.
It was leverage.
A single hotel that could shift control of a much larger group.
I looked up.
“Lucas.”
“Yes?”
“Your uncle isn't trying to buy my father's business.”
He remained silent.
“He's trying to buy yours.”
Lucas nodded slowly.
“That's what I'm afraid of.”
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then I smiled.
“Well.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
“Looks like Gerald was right.”
Lucas frowned.
“About?”
“Emotional dishonesty.”
He laughed.
May you like
And for the first time, the most feared man in Chicago felt grateful that an extraordinary woman had decided to stop pretending she was ordinary.
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