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Three days later…

12:21 PM

In a high-end Italian restaurant in Los Angeles…

Christopher, Bradley, Jasper, Vincent and Russel are seated around a large round table. They are snacking on the appetizers while waiting for Jeff to join them for lunch.

Jeff organized this lunch, inviting them with a vague description that he needs their assistance. They all know that Marcus is challenging Jeff\'s authority, and they guess that is the theme for this lunch.

All of them traveled to Los Angeles to answer his summons. Jeff told them to come at noon, and he is twenty minutes late already!

"It\'s been a while since we all met like this.", Vincent said while drifting into memories.

Christopher gave a meaningful look to his four friends before saying: "Not all of us are here."

"It\'s not like Jeff to be late.", Russel commented. "It must be something important."

"Do you know why Jeff invited us here?", Bradley asked while glancing at everyone present at the table.

"Why? Probably because of the pressure his Uncle is giving him. So far only few small incidents leaked, but we all know that this is not a simple matter and there are many things happening outside public knowledge.", Jasper said.

"Yes. Jeff was always good in controlling news from leaking. Did he reach out to any of you for help?", Bradley asked.

"He asked me to look into one issue in my territory.", Jasper admitted, looking slightly annoyed. "He suspected that something is off with one of his facilities, and I sent my engineers to check."

Bradley was curious. "Do you know what the problem was?"

Jasper shrugged. "I was busy and didn\'t have time to look into it personally. I asked one of my directors to handle it, and he delegated it to a group of engineers. I just got a report that everything was fine. I suspect that Jeff is getting paranoid. My men lost a day."

Christopher looked at Jasper in disbelief. "Look at you act poor like you can\'t handle paying a handful of people for a day."

"I can. But I would rather pay them to work on my latest solar turbine than to waste time driving through the city for no valid reason."

"Why are you like that? Did something happen and I am not aware of it?", Vincent asked. "I thought that you and Jeff are on good terms."

"We are. But business is business. I consider each of you to be my friend, but that will not pay my bills."

They all agreed with that statement.

They are friends, but there is a distinct line between private and business side of life. That is how things are, and everyone at the table understands that business should not be tainted with emotions and that business comes first. How else would they be successful businessmen?

Ten minutes later…

"I didn\'t expect to see you here.", Charlie said with a smile as he approached the group of five people at the table.

They exchanged greetings. Charlie knows them, and they know who he is as well.

"Are you here for lunch?", Russel asked Charlie.

Charlie confirmed, while saying that he finished his lunch with business partners. "I was on my way out when I saw you and thought that it\'s rude not to stop by and say \'hi\'."

Charlie leaned closer to Jasper. "Can we have a word?"

Japer glanced the people seated at the table and then around the restaurant.

"Jeff will be here any minute.", Jasper told Charlie in a hushed voice.

"It will be quick.", Charlie responded.

Christopher, Bradley, Vincent and Russel looked after Charlie and Jasper who walked away from the table, but no one said anything. It\'s not uncommon that people in their circle have business dealings that should not be known to others. However, all of them perked up at the insinuation that Jeff should not know that Jasper is talking with Charlie. What was that about?

Jasper returned few minutes later.

"Jeff is still not here. Should we order?", Vincent asked and then saw the newcomer...

"Sorry I\'m late…", Jeff said breathlessly while taking a seat at the table. "Things are crazy, and I lost my sense of time."

"Didn\'t you set up a reminder?", Jasper grumbled.

Jeff shrugged. "I did. But among all the pings from messages and emails I\'m receiving, I missed it."

"Well, you made it, and we are still here. That is what counts.", Christopher said.

Jeff asked for a menu and was looking at it when his phone rang. He frowned when he saw the caller ID and stepped away to take the call without a word.

After less than a minute, Jeff returned: "I am sorry, but something urgent came up. I must go."

Jeff left in large strides leaving his five friends flabbergasted.

"I came from New York for this lunch, and he just left?", Vincent complained when the fact that Jeff left sank in.

"I\'m sure it\'s his Uncle causing problems.", Bradley said.

"Uncle or not, we deserve an explanation.", Jasper said angrily. "We all traveled to reach here."

The other four agreed.

"Now what?", Russel asked. "Are we going to wait to hear from him?"

Jasper snorted. "I will stay here until tomorrow because I have something else going on. But if not for that, I would head to Chicago."

~ Los Angeles, White corp. HQ ~

Later that afternoon…

Jeff and JoAnna are with Steve and Bridgette in Steve\'s office. Other than regular work, they are receiving news and status update about Marcus\' attacks, and coordinating responses.

Sophia got an office closer to the legal department of White corp., and she is using it to conduct meetings and devise strategies with lawyers of White corp. and Orion Enterprise.

Sophia has her hands full, and Pam is helping her how much possible. Felix is helping out by taking care of Lia and informing Sophia that all is well. He was planning to work from home, but unless his baby-girl is sleeping, he can\'t stay away from her. Lia\'s nanny is not sure if she got the easiest job ever or is she about to get fired because Felix is handling everything related to the baby. Well, nanny is on baby-duty during night shifts (when daddy-Felix takes care of mommy-Sophia).

Sarah and Aiden (and Eve) are handling swiftly any online campaign that Marcus launches.

Looking at the whole situation, other than Sophia being super-busy, things are rather peaceful now.

Jeff believes that Marcus is running out of ideas. They prevented almost everything Marcus threw at them and identified people who are working for Marcus. The end to this dangerous game is approaching and Jeff can\'t be happier about it.

While looking at tired JoAnna who is not complaining, Jeff feels guilty. He told her that he will get her the world, he promised to take care of her. But less than a year later, he is unable to provide her with a peaceful environment so that she sleeps well.

Jeff reminded himself to stay focused. This is the last stretch, and then they can relax. Maybe go on a vacation? And he definitely wants to give her all the pampering that a pregnant wife deserves.

After a quick knock, Jasper entered Jeff\'s office. He is here for days, working remotely as a CEO of K Industries when not helping out Jeff, so secretary is not announcing him anymore.

Jeff looked at Jasper and held his breath. Him coming here with that expression means only one thing…

"I got a call.", Jasper said.

"Bradley?", Jeff guessed.

Jasper sighed and shook his head. "Christopher."

Jeff\'s eyes flashed with disappointment for a second before he took a deep breath to compose himself.

Christopher\'s family is in the food business, but he broke away from the mold because his heart was not set on business. He preferred art, he always did. And he attended business schools only to please his family. Christopher went through numerous disputes with his parents and even though they are tolerating that Christopher started on his own with art and antiques, they are not fully approving of it either.

Out of five suspects (with Jasper included), in Jeff\'s opinion, Christopher was the least likely one to turn against him. After all, the mindset that the first-born in the family needs to inherit family business is an old-fashioned one, and because Christopher fought for a change, Jeff believed that Christopher is the most emotion-driven out of all of them and friendship is about emotions, right?

JoAnna can feel the turmoil Jeff is in, and she asked Jasper: "Are you sure that is THE call?"

Jasper confirmed. "He wants to meet in one hour to talk in private. Based on the change in his tone after I said that I disapprove of the way Jeff is acting toward me lately… I am confident that I know what the topic will be."

"Are you sure you want to do this?", Jeff wanted to confirm.

If Jasper openly takes Jeff\'s side in this conflict, Christopher and Bradley will treat him with hostility. And maybe Marcus and his other goons as well.

"That is why I am here.", Jasper assured Jeff.

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