Tied To You

M

Dark Secrets Will Be Exposed

Michael pulled up to the valet parking of the Gilded Dragon where a valet boy awaited. He stopped the car and looked at the restaurant in awe.

The Gilded Dragon restaurant is one of many Eagle Valley's Michelin Star Restaurants. It sits in the heart of the business district, surrounded by million dollar condo units and multi-million dollar businesses. Owned by Misuki Fukuda, world renowned Michelin Star Chef, many go there for upscale Asian cuisine and the infamous Suntory Hibiki. It's light ambience and organic ingredients makes it a hotspot for the wealthy elites. This restaurant has a reservation list so long, some people have to wait a year or two before dining in this upscale Asian restaurant. However, getting into the Gilded Dragon wasn't hard for Alvin Montenegro this was because Misuki Fukuda is a long time friend of the Montenegro's and he is also Alvin's godfather.

"I'm still amazed with you Tito Vin, I made a reservation here about six months ago and I haven't heard back from them, but you, you just show up and you have the Chef's Table and you didn't even have to make a reservation."

"That's what connections do for you Michael. Soon you won't have to worry about making the reservations, people will be making reservations to see you." Alvin said as the two were escorted to their table.

They sat at a remote corner of the restaurant where Alvin could oversee the whole place. Misuki closed the place when Alvin had called knowing very well that important business matters were going to be discussed. The Gilded Dragon usually doesn't close during lunch hours, but when he got the phone call from Alvin he closed for the day.

"So why did you want to talk to me here and not at the office?" Michael curiously asked placing the cloth on his lap.

"I don't want my father to know what we're talking about. He bugged my office recently and I'm sure he bugged my car. I can't risk anything." The seriousness of Alvin's voice concerned Michael. "He's already angry that Ava is marrying you and not Victor Travis."

"You mean the Admiral's son? Why would he want Ava to marry him?"

"Simple. Access. Access to the ports, airbases, and government controlled land. All of which are all under the admiral's control. If Ava were to marry Victor he would be able to influence the Admiral to convince the President to release the ban on foreign shipments from coming to this country." Michael listened intently. For a few seconds all was quiet as the waitress put down plates of various sushi, sashimi and unagi.

"How does my marriage to Ava benefit you?"

"Well for one, your father is going to be my eyes and ears in the local politics while I handle statewide politics. Second, your partnership with Mendoza Enterprises will be my key to take my father down and create a criminal case against him. Lastly, with you by Ava's side and some proper training she will have full control of the company which will make it easier for my father to screw up." Alvin sipped his tea.

"So you mean to tell me all of this is basically a way for you to get revenge on your father?" Michael asks trying to clarify what Alvin has said. He nods at him taking a bite of his sashimi.

"My father has done a lot of fucked up shit and has gotten away with it. I see how he lusts over my wife and daughter, which is really disgusting. He's the main reason my mother is dead and why your sister Sarah killed herself. That sick bastard deserves to rot in a cell." He seethed his teeth.

"What do you know about my sister's death?" So this whole time Michael was mad at the wrong person. He thought Elena was responsible for his sister's death, but it was Raúl the whole time.

"Well it's not a suicide as you all think. She was coerced into doing that. I know you think my wife is responsible for it but she's innocent in all this. My father manipulated your sister into believing that Elena was responsible for the death of her unborn child." Michael was in shock but didn't say a word or show emotion. He wanted to pretend he knew what happened. "He made her believe that Elena aborted her baby because it would taint the family name, but the whole time it was my fathers doing. He got your sister pregnant and when he found out it was a boy he couldn't accept it because it meant that he had to share the spotlight."

"What about you though Tito Alvin if he was so keen on killing his unborn son? Why hasn't he killed you?" So many emotions were running through Michael's head, he needed answers.

"Oh, he has several times! I still have the gashes from when he tried to stab me as a teenager, the gunshot wound from when he tried to shoot me, and burn marks from when I was a child. One time he even tried to feed me poison. That's the reason my mother is dead. She protected me until I was strong enough to fight back." Michael felt uncomfortable by how Alvin talked about his trauma so calmly as if it was normal. Everything he was saying to him was news to him. It all started to make sense to him now as to why his father was never mad at his best friend. His own father knew that Alvin was innocent. 

The revelations made it hard for Michael to eat. He was somewhat sick to his stomach, but he tried to eat what he could. He wiped his mouth of the soy sauce and spoke, "Tito Alvin, how are we going to take down your father?" 

"Hijo, it'll start when you get married. Knowing my father he will do whatever it takes to prolong your wedding. That is why the date I chose is the same day I merge with one of the biggest companies this town has. My father won't be able to do anything. Then we start acquiring the lands surrounding the airbases, the government shipping ports, and the new media edifice being built next door. Once we acquire those three things, the banks will follow, and slowly everything my father worked for will crumble and all his dark secrets will be exposed." He mentioned with conviction pouring his tea. 

"Let me know how I can help you with all this." Alvin nodded. 

The two men continued to eat when Misuki Fukuda came out after his staff had informed him of the disruption outside. He bows to the two men and makes his way to the front door. Alvin peeps over Michael's head to see what was going on. The knocking on the door was persistent, but Alvin did not let him affect that as he knew Misuki would be able to handle the situation. As that was happening the two men continued to eat and converse about sports, and business.