Chapter Four ~
Diandra was talking to her aunt and uncle when Tony came back inside the hotel. He waved his hand in her direction until he caught her attention. After excusing herself, Diandra quickly made her way across the ballroom to the entrance where Tony was waiting. "I thought I told you and the others to wait in the car," she said in an irritated tone. "You know how much I hate having my patience tested."
"Sorry, San Gi," he said," but this is important."
"Well spill it," she said as she crossed her arms over her chest. "I haven't got all night, besides, it's rude to keep others waiting."
"The guys and I just saw Mishima and Chaolan leave just a few minutes ago. Apparently, he's anxious to check out your surprise."
"Really, I didn't even notice that the bastard and the b***h were gone."
"What are you gonna do now?"
"Wait, just wait. Have Freddie to drive ya'll around Manhattan for a while, I have some important business to tend to."
"Not a problem," he said as he turned on his heel and went back outside the hotel to the waiting limo. Diandra smiled smugly as she went back to the party. This was only the tip of the iceberg for her and Kazuya, after all, there was so much more she had in store for him. 'You burn me once,' she thought as she went back to the table where she had been sitting, 'I burn you twice then three times or until I feel that you have learn your lesson about playing with Lady Death.'
~~~?~~~
Kazuya and Lee watched from their limo in disbelief at the chaotic scene outside. Shanghai Avenue looked like a war zone in a third world country. Debris from the warehouse and the two buildings that once stood beside it was everywhere. The FDNY and NYPD swarmed the scene trying to do their best to contain the blaze and the crowds that were beginning to form around the scene. Even members of the press were there covering the explosion. "Holy s**t, she wasn't lying about leaving a surprise for you, Kaz," Lee said as he lit a cigarette. "Whatever you did or said to her must have really pissed her off."
"Diandra is nothing more than a vindictive b***h who thinks she's bigger than me in the underworld, that's all. And just because people refer to her as the 'Queen of Ice Hearts' or 'Satan in a skirt' doesn't mean that she's in my league or has the same level of ruthlessness as me."
"Is it my imagination or did I actually hear a ring of worry in your voice?"
Kazuya glared viciously at his brother. The look was enough for Lee to keep his mouth shut for the time being. After several tense moments of silence, Lee spoke again, "I'm curious as to what the h**l happened between you two that has led to all this? I've heard of a man and woman hating each other but not to this degree."
Kazuya sighed heavily as he laid his head back against the black leather seat and closed his eyes. He silently debated as to whether or not to tell Lee the entire truth of his hatred of Diandra. He regarded it as a private matter for he considered himself a private person, not one to tell his business to the world. "I'll tell you the whole story after we get home," he finally said to Lee. "I have the feeling that I'm going to need a bottle of vodka to get through this story."
~~~?~~~
Diandra had finished her second glass of champagne when she told Benicio that she needed speak privately with him. After excusing themselves from the table, Diandra and Benicio walked arm and arm towards the lounge.
"What is this about?" he asked her as he pulled the chair out for her. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end for the way Diandra was behaving was beginning to trouble him. She never acted this cold unless something was wrong, very wrong.
"Oh nothing, it's about a rumor I heard about you and the planned sale of SG Pharmaceuticals to the Tekken Zaibatsu. Is what I hear true, Uncle Benni?" Diandra coolly replied.
Benicio drew a deep, shaky breath as he sat in the chair across from her. The look in her eyes dared him to be evasive; eventually she was going to learn the truth, one way or another. "I may have mentioned the idea to a few people, San Gi, nothing serious. Why?"
"Funny you should say that, because Kazuya Mishima informed me this evening that you asked if he was interested in buying SG Pharmaceuticals. Is that what that phone call was all about when I came to the office this afternoon? And remember to choose your words carefully, Uncle Benicio."
Diandra's cold demeanor was beginning to alarm him even more. "I may have mentioned it to him, but not seriously."
"Define 'seriously' for me? I'm curious as to how you see its meaning."
"It's nothing definite, Diandra. What the h**l has gotten into you? You're acting like a mafia don that's been betrayed and is looking for revenge."
The corner of her mouth twisted upward into a slight, sinister smile as Diandra folded her arms across her waist. "Don't play me for the fool, Uncle Benicio. Remember, it was I who bailed you out of trouble you out when the IRS was dogging you for eight years of backed taxes. If it weren't for me, you would have lost everything you owned; the cars, the houses, and all your bank accounts. Like it or not, you owe me. Now, tell me of this business with Mishima. I had the feeling you were hiding something the moment I stepped into your office this afternoon."
"Fine, you want to know the truth? The answer is yes; yes, I asked Kazuya if he was interested in buying SG Pharmaceuticals. There you happy?!"
"Not yet, tell me why all the deception? You know I don't approve of Kazuya. He's been the same arrogant a**hole who derives pleasure from others misery."
"Sounds like someone I know," Benicio mumbled under his breath. He then took a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped his forehead. Being grilled by her was worst than looking down the barrel of a gun, a bullet ended your suffering while Diandra prolonged it.
"What was that?" she whispered viciously as she grabbed his wrist.
"Nothing, Diandra. I was just talking to myself."
"Selling SG Pharmaceuticals to Kazuya Mishima is not as clear cut as you think, Uncle Benni," Diandra said as she relaxed against the back of her chair. "You failed to consider one thing."
"And what is that?"
"I own SG Pharmaceuticals, not you."
"How the h**l-, how the h**l did you do that?" Benicio said angrily. "I built that company from the ground up. I invested my life and savings into that company and now you have the gall to tell me that I have no say so in selling?! You must be out of your mind!"
"Sad but true, Uncle. That's the way it is." She smiled sardonically at her uncle as she watched him tremble at the thought of not owning the one thing he had nurtured and watched grow for so long. "You work for me."
"How did you manage to snatch my own company from under me without rising flags?"
"Two words, bought it. You see, when the IRS wanted their money, you had to sell off some of your stock and properties before I stepped into the picture, right?"
"Right."
"I in turn, bought your properties and stocks from the people you to whom you originally sold them to. Then came the matter of SG Pharmaceuticals, you didn't want to relinquish that to me, so I hatched a little plan. I called the IRS and that was when they began investigating your company finances. That only gave you two choices; either sell SG Pharmaceuticals or lose it to taxes. You choose to sell a percentage of it, and I bought it. I assumed you hadn't read the paperwork because if you had, you would have seen my signature on the documents and percentage of ownership."
"You b***h, how could you do this to me?! Especially after all the things I have done for you! You're my niece, my blood and this is how you treat me?"
"You did it to yourself, Uncle Benni," Diandra said as she stood up from her seat. "You bargained with the devil when you decided to lie on your tax sheet. Then you sold your soul when to him when you unknowingly sold SG Pharmaceuticals to me. Live with it. Don't do anything rash, because if you do, I know where you live. Kiss Aunt Helena for me."
All Benicio San Giacomo could do was watch as Diandra walked out of the lounge. He had taken for a ride and not just by anyone, but his own niece. He had heard from other mobsters that she was cold, cunning, and ruthless but never in his wildest dreams had he ever expected to be conned out of his business by her, his own blood.
~~~?~~~
Kazuya went straight to the shower when he and Lee arrived back to his high- rise apartment. His mind seemed clearer and his thoughts flowed more freely whenever he was in the shower. He sat in the middle of the custom-built shower while the hot water from jets rained down upon his muscular body. Kazuya was lost in his own private world as the water played with his thick black hair, which was below shoulder length when not in its usual style. He ran his hands through his water-slick hair as he thought of the events that had transpired throughout the day. First, his meeting with Benicio San Giacomo; even thought he and Benicio were old friends, he was still a bit puzzled by his offer to buy out SG Pharmaceuticals. It was only a week ago that the Wall Street Journal had done an article about the company, stating that it was 'one of the most cutting edge, technically advanced pharmaceutical firms in the world'. Kazuya had also been impressed by their profits within the last year, over a billions dollars by year's end. Why would someone want to sell a company that has made the Fortune 500 top 40 from the time it came into existence?
Then there was the little matter of Benicio's niece Diandra. Kazuya had gone to school with her when she and her parents moved to Japan for a while. From the moment they met, they never liked each other. She thought he was an arrogant bastard while he thought she was major b***h. However, Kazuya did have to admit that Diandra was extremely beautiful and that soft, curvy figure of hers was incredibly sexy. 'If only we didn't dislike each other so much,' he thought quietly, 'I'm pretty sure I would date her or have her as a lover.' A smile tugged at his lips with this thought, 'If only she wasn't such a vindictive b***h.'
Kazuya slowly rose from his sitting position and turned the shower off. He then grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist then got another one to dry his hair with as he went back into his bedroom. Suddenly an idea about SG Pharmaceuticals struck him. 'Recheck their financial statements.' He went to his desk and turned on his laptop PC, there was something about SG Pharmaceuticals accounting that hadn't made sense when he first read over their books. When the laptop had booted up, he put the disk he had got from a 'friend' within the company, and put it into the disk drive and opened up the file. Maybe it would explain Diandra's behavior when he brought up the possible sale of her uncle's company. As he slowly scrolled down the pages of financial records and reports, Kazuya immediately noticed several payments made to an unknown person or company. The payments were made on a monthly basis to an overseas account. 'This interesting,' he thought as he stroked his chin, 'it appears the b***h is shaking down her own uncle.' He scrolled down a few pages until he came to an e-mail dated February 23:
To: belladonnaenterprises@yahoo.com
From: m_smith@sgpharmaceuticals.com
Re: Canceling Funds Transfer
Ms. San Giacomo
You uncle has requested that the pending funds transfer be canceled do to an IRS audit. We cannot perform the task without arousing the auditors' attention. The amount ($250,000) will be wired to your account once the audit is complete. If you have any questions please call me at (280)555- 6707.
Sincerely,
Mark Smith Senior Manager of Accounting
Kazuya leaned against the back of his chair and stared at the screen. 'Well, I'll be d**ned. San Gi is shaking down the old man. But why?' The question echoed through his mind as he thought up his own plan to shake up the San Giacomo crime family head. A twisted smile form on his lips as he continued reading the file. This plan was going to drive Diandra insane. 'Game set and match.'
Diandra was talking to her aunt and uncle when Tony came back inside the hotel. He waved his hand in her direction until he caught her attention. After excusing herself, Diandra quickly made her way across the ballroom to the entrance where Tony was waiting. "I thought I told you and the others to wait in the car," she said in an irritated tone. "You know how much I hate having my patience tested."
"Sorry, San Gi," he said," but this is important."
"Well spill it," she said as she crossed her arms over her chest. "I haven't got all night, besides, it's rude to keep others waiting."
"The guys and I just saw Mishima and Chaolan leave just a few minutes ago. Apparently, he's anxious to check out your surprise."
"Really, I didn't even notice that the bastard and the b***h were gone."
"What are you gonna do now?"
"Wait, just wait. Have Freddie to drive ya'll around Manhattan for a while, I have some important business to tend to."
"Not a problem," he said as he turned on his heel and went back outside the hotel to the waiting limo. Diandra smiled smugly as she went back to the party. This was only the tip of the iceberg for her and Kazuya, after all, there was so much more she had in store for him. 'You burn me once,' she thought as she went back to the table where she had been sitting, 'I burn you twice then three times or until I feel that you have learn your lesson about playing with Lady Death.'
~~~?~~~
Kazuya and Lee watched from their limo in disbelief at the chaotic scene outside. Shanghai Avenue looked like a war zone in a third world country. Debris from the warehouse and the two buildings that once stood beside it was everywhere. The FDNY and NYPD swarmed the scene trying to do their best to contain the blaze and the crowds that were beginning to form around the scene. Even members of the press were there covering the explosion. "Holy s**t, she wasn't lying about leaving a surprise for you, Kaz," Lee said as he lit a cigarette. "Whatever you did or said to her must have really pissed her off."
"Diandra is nothing more than a vindictive b***h who thinks she's bigger than me in the underworld, that's all. And just because people refer to her as the 'Queen of Ice Hearts' or 'Satan in a skirt' doesn't mean that she's in my league or has the same level of ruthlessness as me."
"Is it my imagination or did I actually hear a ring of worry in your voice?"
Kazuya glared viciously at his brother. The look was enough for Lee to keep his mouth shut for the time being. After several tense moments of silence, Lee spoke again, "I'm curious as to what the h**l happened between you two that has led to all this? I've heard of a man and woman hating each other but not to this degree."
Kazuya sighed heavily as he laid his head back against the black leather seat and closed his eyes. He silently debated as to whether or not to tell Lee the entire truth of his hatred of Diandra. He regarded it as a private matter for he considered himself a private person, not one to tell his business to the world. "I'll tell you the whole story after we get home," he finally said to Lee. "I have the feeling that I'm going to need a bottle of vodka to get through this story."
~~~?~~~
Diandra had finished her second glass of champagne when she told Benicio that she needed speak privately with him. After excusing themselves from the table, Diandra and Benicio walked arm and arm towards the lounge.
"What is this about?" he asked her as he pulled the chair out for her. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end for the way Diandra was behaving was beginning to trouble him. She never acted this cold unless something was wrong, very wrong.
"Oh nothing, it's about a rumor I heard about you and the planned sale of SG Pharmaceuticals to the Tekken Zaibatsu. Is what I hear true, Uncle Benni?" Diandra coolly replied.
Benicio drew a deep, shaky breath as he sat in the chair across from her. The look in her eyes dared him to be evasive; eventually she was going to learn the truth, one way or another. "I may have mentioned the idea to a few people, San Gi, nothing serious. Why?"
"Funny you should say that, because Kazuya Mishima informed me this evening that you asked if he was interested in buying SG Pharmaceuticals. Is that what that phone call was all about when I came to the office this afternoon? And remember to choose your words carefully, Uncle Benicio."
Diandra's cold demeanor was beginning to alarm him even more. "I may have mentioned it to him, but not seriously."
"Define 'seriously' for me? I'm curious as to how you see its meaning."
"It's nothing definite, Diandra. What the h**l has gotten into you? You're acting like a mafia don that's been betrayed and is looking for revenge."
The corner of her mouth twisted upward into a slight, sinister smile as Diandra folded her arms across her waist. "Don't play me for the fool, Uncle Benicio. Remember, it was I who bailed you out of trouble you out when the IRS was dogging you for eight years of backed taxes. If it weren't for me, you would have lost everything you owned; the cars, the houses, and all your bank accounts. Like it or not, you owe me. Now, tell me of this business with Mishima. I had the feeling you were hiding something the moment I stepped into your office this afternoon."
"Fine, you want to know the truth? The answer is yes; yes, I asked Kazuya if he was interested in buying SG Pharmaceuticals. There you happy?!"
"Not yet, tell me why all the deception? You know I don't approve of Kazuya. He's been the same arrogant a**hole who derives pleasure from others misery."
"Sounds like someone I know," Benicio mumbled under his breath. He then took a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped his forehead. Being grilled by her was worst than looking down the barrel of a gun, a bullet ended your suffering while Diandra prolonged it.
"What was that?" she whispered viciously as she grabbed his wrist.
"Nothing, Diandra. I was just talking to myself."
"Selling SG Pharmaceuticals to Kazuya Mishima is not as clear cut as you think, Uncle Benni," Diandra said as she relaxed against the back of her chair. "You failed to consider one thing."
"And what is that?"
"I own SG Pharmaceuticals, not you."
"How the h**l-, how the h**l did you do that?" Benicio said angrily. "I built that company from the ground up. I invested my life and savings into that company and now you have the gall to tell me that I have no say so in selling?! You must be out of your mind!"
"Sad but true, Uncle. That's the way it is." She smiled sardonically at her uncle as she watched him tremble at the thought of not owning the one thing he had nurtured and watched grow for so long. "You work for me."
"How did you manage to snatch my own company from under me without rising flags?"
"Two words, bought it. You see, when the IRS wanted their money, you had to sell off some of your stock and properties before I stepped into the picture, right?"
"Right."
"I in turn, bought your properties and stocks from the people you to whom you originally sold them to. Then came the matter of SG Pharmaceuticals, you didn't want to relinquish that to me, so I hatched a little plan. I called the IRS and that was when they began investigating your company finances. That only gave you two choices; either sell SG Pharmaceuticals or lose it to taxes. You choose to sell a percentage of it, and I bought it. I assumed you hadn't read the paperwork because if you had, you would have seen my signature on the documents and percentage of ownership."
"You b***h, how could you do this to me?! Especially after all the things I have done for you! You're my niece, my blood and this is how you treat me?"
"You did it to yourself, Uncle Benni," Diandra said as she stood up from her seat. "You bargained with the devil when you decided to lie on your tax sheet. Then you sold your soul when to him when you unknowingly sold SG Pharmaceuticals to me. Live with it. Don't do anything rash, because if you do, I know where you live. Kiss Aunt Helena for me."
All Benicio San Giacomo could do was watch as Diandra walked out of the lounge. He had taken for a ride and not just by anyone, but his own niece. He had heard from other mobsters that she was cold, cunning, and ruthless but never in his wildest dreams had he ever expected to be conned out of his business by her, his own blood.
~~~?~~~
Kazuya went straight to the shower when he and Lee arrived back to his high- rise apartment. His mind seemed clearer and his thoughts flowed more freely whenever he was in the shower. He sat in the middle of the custom-built shower while the hot water from jets rained down upon his muscular body. Kazuya was lost in his own private world as the water played with his thick black hair, which was below shoulder length when not in its usual style. He ran his hands through his water-slick hair as he thought of the events that had transpired throughout the day. First, his meeting with Benicio San Giacomo; even thought he and Benicio were old friends, he was still a bit puzzled by his offer to buy out SG Pharmaceuticals. It was only a week ago that the Wall Street Journal had done an article about the company, stating that it was 'one of the most cutting edge, technically advanced pharmaceutical firms in the world'. Kazuya had also been impressed by their profits within the last year, over a billions dollars by year's end. Why would someone want to sell a company that has made the Fortune 500 top 40 from the time it came into existence?
Then there was the little matter of Benicio's niece Diandra. Kazuya had gone to school with her when she and her parents moved to Japan for a while. From the moment they met, they never liked each other. She thought he was an arrogant bastard while he thought she was major b***h. However, Kazuya did have to admit that Diandra was extremely beautiful and that soft, curvy figure of hers was incredibly sexy. 'If only we didn't dislike each other so much,' he thought quietly, 'I'm pretty sure I would date her or have her as a lover.' A smile tugged at his lips with this thought, 'If only she wasn't such a vindictive b***h.'
Kazuya slowly rose from his sitting position and turned the shower off. He then grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist then got another one to dry his hair with as he went back into his bedroom. Suddenly an idea about SG Pharmaceuticals struck him. 'Recheck their financial statements.' He went to his desk and turned on his laptop PC, there was something about SG Pharmaceuticals accounting that hadn't made sense when he first read over their books. When the laptop had booted up, he put the disk he had got from a 'friend' within the company, and put it into the disk drive and opened up the file. Maybe it would explain Diandra's behavior when he brought up the possible sale of her uncle's company. As he slowly scrolled down the pages of financial records and reports, Kazuya immediately noticed several payments made to an unknown person or company. The payments were made on a monthly basis to an overseas account. 'This interesting,' he thought as he stroked his chin, 'it appears the b***h is shaking down her own uncle.' He scrolled down a few pages until he came to an e-mail dated February 23:
To: belladonnaenterprises@yahoo.com
From: m_smith@sgpharmaceuticals.com
Re: Canceling Funds Transfer
Ms. San Giacomo
You uncle has requested that the pending funds transfer be canceled do to an IRS audit. We cannot perform the task without arousing the auditors' attention. The amount ($250,000) will be wired to your account once the audit is complete. If you have any questions please call me at (280)555- 6707.
Sincerely,
Mark Smith Senior Manager of Accounting
Kazuya leaned against the back of his chair and stared at the screen. 'Well, I'll be d**ned. San Gi is shaking down the old man. But why?' The question echoed through his mind as he thought up his own plan to shake up the San Giacomo crime family head. A twisted smile form on his lips as he continued reading the file. This plan was going to drive Diandra insane. 'Game set and match.'