Chapter 13 The Bossman's Arrogance

• Ricardo shrugged and waved his hand dismissively. "I don't know this guy. Is he a janitor? I told you I can't pay any salaries this month. Get him out of my sight!"
• Yara took a deep breath. Ricardo had cited silly excuses to withhold staff salaries for the month. The truth was that most of the profits went into the purchase of illicit drugs, jewelry, and escort girls. There was barely anything left behind to pay the staff.
• Ricardo’s employees were disgruntled but were too scared to protest or approach him. Anybody with the Coopers' blessing was untouchable.
• Yara offered him a sharp reply. "Actually, this gentleman booked a table just to gain entry into the restricted section. He is intent on speaking to you."
• Ricardo raised an eyebrow and eyed the young man again. "Is that so? What do you want? Looking for drugs?"
• Tyler regarded the arrogant boss silently. "I am Tyler Grant. My father is Hughes Grant, the previous owner of GlobeMall. Do you remember who he is and what you put him through?"
• Ricardo paused for a moment before laughing out loud. "Hughes? That loser with high principles? What a joke he is! Deceiving him and usurping GlobeMall was like taking candy from a child. What is Hughes up to these days? Are you here to beg for a job? I think there is a position for a toilet cleaner available. But you'd be under qualified since your father works in the sewers."
• Ricardo chuckled at his own joke, and his followers also followed suit. Tyler was unmoved by his insults. "You have brought this place to ruins. Such a waste. I have come to take back GlobeMall and return it to my father, the rightful owner."
• Ricardo raised his brows with suspicion. He knew Tyler had just returned from the feared Montserrat prison and was likely to have violent tendencies. Moreover, he was over six feet tall. It was not wise to underestimate the young man.
• "Are you here for revenge, boy? Don't you dare challenge me! Get out before my men break your limbs!"
• "I'm not going anywhere until you hand over the business to me."
• "Mr. Grant…" Yara pleaded as the boss' goons cracked their knuckles. "You still have time to escape. Please don't offend him. He doesn't show any mercy!"
• "Fool!" Ricardo barked at Tyler. "You should have listened to her! You walked into the lion's den! Now, it's time to die!"
• He clapped his hands together. Six of his burly guards surrounded Tyler immediately. Their leader, Drax, casually extended a muscular arm to grab him by the shoulder.
• Thud! The next moment, the guard's world turned upside down as he found himself body-slammed against the marble floor. With the wind knocked out of him, he lay there unmoving.
• The others took a step back. Yara gasped and looked at Tyler in shock. What just happened? Was the stranger an experienced fighter? Did prison change him so much that he could take down a burly gangster? The young man effortlessly neutralized the ferocious Drax without even breaking a sweat!
• "I've not come here to fight," Tyler declared, as if nothing out of the ordinary happened yet. "Ask your goons to stand down, or they will find themselves unconscious or worse."
• Ricardo gritted his teeth. "Do you think a fluke attack is enough to intimidate my guards? They are seasoned gangsters on my payroll! Prepare to be beaten into a pulp!"
• The other goons sized up Tyler. He was just a young man, outnumbered and inexperienced. Drax underestimated his opponent and paid the price. But if they attacked cautiously, Tyler would be dead in a minute. They realized they had nothing to fear and surrounded him again.
• This time, the guards attacked all at once with their fists. With startling speed, Tyler dodged all attacks and released consecutive kicks at their critical joints. The six men toppled around him like bowling pins.
• "I don't want to hospitalize you guys, so I am pulling my punches. Stay down, or I won't be so merciful next time."
• The guards stayed on the floor obediently, writhing in pain. Yara covered her mouth in surprise. The stranger's skills were no fluke. He was a genuine martial artist!
• "So where were we?" Tyler asked Ricardo with an icy-cold stare. "I told you I haven't come here to fight. And yet you unleashed your dogs at me? Should I retaliate?"
• Ricardo gritted his teeth in both shock and exasperation. How did Hughes Grant's son become such a powerful fighter? Did he learn martial arts from a master? If so, Ricardo was doomed. The otherwise arrogant boss broke into a cold sweat.
• "If you aren't here to take back your father's business through violence, then how do you plan to do it? By asking nicely?"
• Tyler looked around at the club impassively. A crowd of spectators had already gathered to see what the commotion was about. He met Ricardo's nervous eyes again and spoke up.
• "You are the manager of the entire mini-mall, aren't you? I want to purchase GlobeMall from the present owner. Contact him and ask him to name his price."