The Quinn War (2015)

Chapter Seventeen: Control!

The morning sun filtered through the tall windows of the Quinn mansion, casting a warm glow over the marble floors and expensive furnishings. Francesca Quinn, now the undisputed leader of the Quinn empire, sat at the head of the grand dining table, enjoying her breakfast in solitude. The mansion, usually filled with the quiet hum of activity from her staff, felt even more silent now-almost reverent. Today, everything felt different. She was different. She had won.

Francesca sipped her coffee, a satisfied smile playing on her lips as she scrolled through the morning's financial reports on her tablet. The numbers looked good, better than they had in months. Quinn Enterprises was thriving, and with the Johnston threat effectively neutralised, she felt untouchable.

She set the tablet aside, leaning back in her chair, letting the feeling of power wash over her. This mansion, this empire, all of it was hers. She had outmanoeuvred everyone, and now, she was reaping the rewards.

"Miss Quinn," her assistant, Mark, approached with a respectful nod. "The board meeting is in an hour. Shall I prepare the car?"

Francesca glanced at the time and nodded. "Yes, Mark. Have the car ready. And make sure everything is in order for the meeting. I want no surprises."

Mark nodded again and left to make the arrangements. Francesca finished her coffee and stood, the confidence in her movements evident. She knew the board members weren't entirely pleased with her recent actions-they never were when things got messy. But they couldn't argue with results. And she had delivered results.

After a quick wardrobe change into a tailored black suit that screamed authority, Francesca descended the sweeping staircase of the mansion, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floors. As she reached the bottom, the staff members she passed lowered their heads slightly, a gesture of respect she had come to expect. They knew who was in charge now.

The ride to the Quinn Enterprises headquarters was smooth, the city outside the car windows passing by in a blur. Francesca's thoughts were already on the upcoming meeting. She knew the board would have questions, concerns even, but she was prepared. After all, she had neutralised a threat that had loomed over their operations for far too long. That alone should earn her their grudging respect.

When she arrived at the headquarters, she didn't waste time. Francesca strode into the boardroom with an air of authority, her presence commanding the attention of every executive seated around the large oak table. She took her seat at the head of the table, her eyes meeting each of theirs with confidence.

The board members were a mix of seasoned professionals-men and women who had seen the rise and fall of many in their time. They weren't easily impressed, but they weren't fools either. They knew power when they saw it.

The chairman, an older man with silver hair and sharp eyes, spoke first. "Miss Quinn, we've heard about your recent... actions. Care to elaborate on how you've handled the Johnston situation?"

Francesca's smile didn't waver. "The Johnston family is no longer a concern. The threat they posed to our operations has been completely neutralised. It was done discreetly, with minimal fallout. Very few people can trace it back to us."

There was a murmur among the board members, some nodding slightly, others exchanging glances. The chairman continued, his tone measured. "We respect your ability to handle the situation, but we're not entirely pleased with how this was carried out. It's dangerous to involve ourselves in such direct action."

Francesca leaned forward slightly, her gaze steely. "With all due respect, gentlemen, and ladies, our competitors don't play by the rules. If we want to maintain our position, we need to be willing to get our hands dirty when necessary. The Johnstons were a problem, and I dealt with them. Efficiently. Now, we can focus on expanding our influence without worrying about them meddling in our affairs."