Life at the Top

Fletcher replied grimly, “No matter what the actual situation was, he did break Ned’s arm. The Adkins family can forget about working in Reed City if I’m not even going to get justice for my son.”

Nodding, Len replied, “Alright, it seems like we’re on the same page, then. The Coine and the Adkins families have been close since our father’s generation. There’s no way I’d stand still and watch as someone bullies Ned.”

“Dad, Uncle Adkins, I don’t plan on giving the city government that 950 million,” Marcus spoke darkly.

“They’re obviously targeting us. The past few years of work would’ve been for nothing if I just gave them that money.”

Len was about to speak when Marcus’ phone rang.

“It’s Mr. Powers from the city government.” Marcus’ expression changed as he accepted the call.

After a moment, Marcus hung up the call angrily and spoke, “Dad, Uncle Adkins, Mr. Powers wants me to pay the 950 million bidding price within three business days as per the regulations. What the f*ck is that supposed to mean?”

“Don’t spout nonsense!”

Len glared at Marcus who did not seem to know how to choose his words properly and growled. “There are some things that you can just keep to yourself, okay? You don’t have to exclaim every single thought that comes to your mind! How old are you, huh? Can you still not tell the difference between what you can and cannot say?”

Marcus replied angrily, “Mr. Powers sounded really stern on the phone. He said that if I don’t pay up, the city government will then sue us and we’ll be brought to court. By then, they’ll even investigate and charge me for defrauding state-owned property! It’s not even that big of a deal and they’re blowing this out of proportion!”

At that, Len’s expression changed as well.

He looked at Fletcher and spoke grimly, “It’s that person who newly took office in the city government, isn’t it?”

Fletcher sneered, “It has to be. He’s the only one who doesn’t like us. They’ve made quite a few moves against us recently so there’s no way they’d let go of this opportunity.”

their punching bag.” Len scoffed and turned to Marcus, saying, “You have three more days, right? So before those days

it?” Marcus

bribed this man called Chad? Then go

…

in Reed City. The following night, Jasper

Jasper and Julian arrived at a skewers stall and saw Chad smoking

Chad quickly snuffed out the bud of his cigarette

Chad was also speaking to Jasper

the small pool of cigarette buds on the floor beside Chad with a smile. “Is something

“You don’t have to

sit, I’ll tell you as we

and spoke, “I love skewers, Mr. Laine, so much that I’d eat it every few days. So forgive me for not inviting

about how cheap the food is, especially when it comes to supper.

at the owner, “I’ll have ten more

bottles of non-alcoholic drinks since he knew that Julian

Wright. What happened?” Jasper

going to transfer me to a small

a city to being demoted straight to a small village? Not even to

the Coine family’s work.” Chad scoffed and downed a large gulp of beer

I banged my hand on the table and gave up. I exploded and vented all the unjust I’ve been keeping bottled

working with you, Mr. Laine. So I was wondering if I still had a

he had grown attached to this job he had done for more than half his life, he was not anymore now that he had seen through