The Mafia's Obsession [He Owned The World]

Hazel was in her apartment, sitting in front of her laptop in the dark. On the screen, a mail appeared.

'Tomorrow is your interview. Your mission has started.'

Hazel took a deep breath and deleted everything. She turned off the laptop and got up from the chair. She was clearly no ordinary girl.

Next day, Francisco had been spending the day exercising in his private gym, ignoring his phone calls and messages. But after a minute, he couldn't help but stop his workout and reach for his phone.

His face remained unreadable as he read the message. After a brief moment, he set the phone down and returned to his workout.

However, as he was about to leave the gym, Max stood before him.

"What's wrong with you exactly?"

Francisco sighed and stepped aside, making his way to the stairs leading out of the gym.

"Dude, I am asking you something," Max persisted. "Did you not receive any mail from the company?"

Francisco paused on the stairs. Then he finally spoke, "I did, Max. But I did not feel the need to reply."

Max's sigh as he observed Francisco's carelessness.

"Hey, you have to show up to the meeting today. Keep in mind that you must go in for an interview for the CIO position."

Francisco's response was somewhat nonchalant. "I will be there in 20 minutes. But I can't take everyone's interview."

"Furthermore, I have heard that Diana is seeing someone."

Max arched his brows. "I... I am not sure, to be honest."

Francisco raised one eyebrow at Max's response. "Then try to figure out who he is," he urged.

Max confessed, "Yes, but I don't think Diana will let me do anything."

Francisco asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Max looked away for a moment, his thoughts a tumultuous storm of emotions. "I mean, why does she allow me to meddle in her life?"

Francisco's furrowed brows, "I don't want to hear anything. I don't want my sister to let her love life divert her mind."

"What if she refuses to let me in?" Max asked.

"So, you are aware of what to do." With those words, Francisco left the room, leaving Max standing there.

Once, Max and Diana had argued vehemently about his tendency to meddle in her life. She had explicitly told him not to interfere.

But now, with Francisco's tacit approval, Max knew that nobody could stop him from seeing her. A victorious, wry smile crept onto Max's face.

**

After an hour, everyone in the office, including Max, waited for Francisco. The interview for the CIO position was scheduled to begin, but Francisco was absent.

Luke, the CFO of the Hilton company, leaned forward. "Mr. Max, where is Mr. Hilton? The interview must start now."

Max dialed Francisco's number.

But as he was about to dial Francisco's number, the room fell into a moment of stunned silence as the door was pushed open with an unexpected abruptness. Everyone in attendance, including Max, stood up, his eyes widening in concern.

They were even more taken aback when they saw his bleeding hand. He clutched a handkerchief around his injury.

"Are you alright?" Max asked, his eyes locked onto Francisco's injured hand.

"We will discuss it after going back. Start the interview." Francisco waved off the immediate concern, making it clear that the interview could not wait.

"But, sir, your hand?" Luke questioned.

Francisco's sharp look met Luke's frazzled expression.

"It's not your hand; it's mine. So why are you so concerned?" Francisco's response was curt.

Max shrugged in response to Francisco's words. "At least put some antiseptic lotion on the wound. The candidates can wait for two minutes."

"No need. I'm a one-word guy," he stated calmly.

The senior employees were very busy interviewing the job candidates. Francisco leaned back in his chair. They interviewed fifteen, yet there were still many candidates to assess.

Working for Hilton's enterprise was widely considered a dream opportunity... an entry into a world of power and influence.

Max spoke up. "Mr. Luke," he began, "I think we can't take any more interviews right now."

"Yes, sir. We can call the other half of the candidates tomorrow. It's been a long day, and they deserve our full attention."

However, it was Francisco who had the final say in the matter. "No, today means today."

Max was about to say, "But, Francisco..." But Francisco halted him with a stern look and said, "Max, it has to be done now."

Then he looked at the other members; everyone quickly shook their heads in agreement. Luke spoke up, "Yes, Mr. Hilton is right. We are capable of doing it."

Francisco rose, "Max, we need to go in order to inspect the chemical factory."

Max nodded before standing. But suddenly, the room was disrupted by a girl's voice.

"May I come in, sir?" The unexpected interruption startled everyone in the room.

Francisco turned his attention to the door, and as he spotted the girl, he just froze in his tracks. The other team members were equally surprised by it.

Luke suddenly said in an angry tone, "Did we ask you to come in?"

The girl frowned. She opened her lips to respond, her voice trembling slightly, "But, sir..."

Luke interrupted her impolitely, "We did not call anyone here. It's a break time."

"But, sir," she was about to say, her words almost a whisper, but her eyes widened as she witnessed what Francisco did next.

When Luke treated her rudely, Francisco's reaction was unexpected and intense. He reached for Luke's collar and lifted him off the ground.

"Sir!" Luke's shocked, he let out a gasp.

"Francis!" Max exclaimed, dashing towards Francisco.

Max tried to loosen Francisco's hold on Luke. Luke struggled to breathe, gasping for air as he dangled from Francisco's grasp.

The girl who had interrupted, still shocked by the scene, spoke out, "What is going on? Please stop it."

"Mr., kindly let him go. He will die," she implored Francisco.

"Stop it, Francis," Max repeated.

Francisco slowly released his grip on Luke as he heard her voice. He muttered to Luke, "Say sorry to her now."

Luke nodded and turned to face the girl. "I... I am sorry."

"No, sir, why are you saying sorry to me? Actually, I am sorry. I think there is a misunderstanding. In the future, I ought to be more cautious." She seemed ready to walk away but Francisco's furious glance at Luke stopped her.

"Wait," Luke immediately said, his voice more composed and respectful this time.

The girl turned back. Max gave a knowing smile, finally spoke up, "Ms., kindly take a seat."

Max's understanding of the situation and a smirk cracked on his face as he looked at the girl's profile. He had understood why Francisco had reacted so strongly to her presence.

"Ms. Hazel."

Hazel sat down in front of the team with a welcoming smile. "Hello."

"Hello, Ms. Hazel," Max replied, offering a polite nod. He then turned his attention to Francisco, who appeared to be momentarily lost in Hazel's presence.

Max cleared his throat and spoke, "Umm... Meet our CFO."

Max continued with the introductions, taking the responsibility for easing the atmosphere. "Allow me to introduce everyone, Ms. Hazel. These are the key members of our team."

"And the CEO of this company is Francisco Hilton."

Francisco's eyes remained locked on Hazel..

She addressed Francisco with a tone of respect, "I am sorry, sir. I should not have talked to you loudly."

Hazel began to explain herself, "It's my fault. In fact, Mr. Hilton, you had his neck in such a tight grip that he was unable to breathe normally. So, I expressed myself in a rude way..."

Francisco did not say a word just kept looking at her. But before Hazel could finish her sentence, he abruptly interrupted her with a firm command, "Get out, everyone."