I walked to the Rolls-Royce, which was packed and waiting for me. Nico opened the car door when I got close, and I got in.
Reed was at the passenger side, and he gave me a brief side look, and I smiled. This is my life after we left the King’s estate two days ago. Reed and Nico were both my bodyguards, but I just hoped for the time being because they were at each other’s throats most of the time, and I’m caught in the middle.
"Let’s make a stop at the coffee shop."
Nico adjusted the rearview mirror to see me. "We stopped there on our way here."
"Well, I need another damn coffee."
Nico checked his watch and sighed. He had that same attitude of keeping to time. "As you wish, milady."
"Are you alright?" Reed asked me the moment we drove out.
"Yeah, why?"
It was almost like he could discern something was up with me.
"Nothing, Mrs. King," he replied, facing ahead.
It didn’t take long, and we arrived there. It was a very exclusive one, so the crowd inside was small.
Reed was about to come down, but I stopped him.
"There’s no need, I’ll go in alone."
"No can do, milady," Nico said.
"I have spent the entire day with your ass, and I think I need a break."
"Mr. King told us not to let you out of our sight," Reed uttered, surprisingly agreeing with Nico.
His words made me rethink my entire plan because I’m suddenly reminded that someone out there was after me.
But I can’t go back now. My phone vibrated, and that was my cue.
"I just need an hour to enjoy a mocha alone before I get back to the office." I stepped out of the car, mouthing to the two guys who watched me go. Stay.
I walked into the coffee shop, my eyes sweeping the place before I neared the barista to take my order.
I moved my gaze around again, but feeling eyes on me, I lifted them to the second floor to find Jenna waiting.
"I’ll take the order with the reservation I made," I said to the barista.
"Of course, ma’am."
I walked up the stairs, searching for Jenna again, before I saw her sitting at the far end with no windows.
I ambled towards her and pulled out the chair to sit.
"Mrs. King."
"Please just call me Catherine."
"You picked a perfect place, but drinks here are pricey."
"It’s on me. I thought this was the best place since it’s exclusive."
"You thought right..."
"So I have one hour or less before my bodyguards storm in and start looking for me."
Jenna searched her bag to pull out something, and that was when the waiter came with my drink.
"Thanks."
She nodded politely and left.
Jenna dropped a file on the table.
"What’s that?"
"I figured if I wanna do this and make you trust me, you need to see for yourself."
"I’m here because I wanna know more about the Kings, not read a random file about it that might not be what I want."
She smirked. "What makes you think it’s not what you want?"
I eyed the file before I slid it my way and opened it. I just skimmed through, and I was familiar with it because it was a record listing.
"What am I looking at?"
"Shipments."
"Shipments?"
"Yes, directly from King Corp and other companies it owns."
"How did you get this?" I asked with a frown.
"I have a trusted source."
I dropped the file and folded my arms. "I could get you arrested for this. These are confidential materials, and I don’t know how you got your hands on them—"
"It’s not what you think."
"No... It’s exactly what I think."
She sighed. "These have nothing to do with loan funding or whatever. It’s just an upfront. This is the covert operation going on in the Corp."
"What are you talking about?"
"These are drugs and weapons belonging to the cartel."
I scoffed at her words, checking, and it was just as she explained, but the thing was... "I don’t believe you. This could be forged for all I know."
"I believe I mentioned the Underworld last week. The Underworld is a hidden meaning for a crime syndicate in Midnight, dating back to when the city was first made. This entire city wasn’t some government foundation or anything like that; even though they were involved, there were those pulling the strings from the shadows."
My heart pounded to the point I could hear it in my eardrums. "W-Who are they?"
"The Kings and some well-known families, I haven’t found out yet. I could only narrow down the Kings because of my source. I had the intel enough to pin it down, but it’s not stable; soon that data will be wiped, and it’s as good as useless."
I smiled forcibly. "What are you saying? That the Kings are some sort of mafia?"
"They are the mafia."
Okay... this is getting crazy, but I just played along.
"So this Underworld..."
"Is the channel of everything the very foundation Midnight was built on. They rule this city, and I’m not talking about billionaire-type shit, I mean rule. They are called Kings for a reason."
"This was a nice talk. How about I run this and figure out if you’re lying to my face, and I assure you, when I do find out this is a lie, you will regret dragging the King’s name in the mud like that."
I don’t give a shift about the King’s name, I’m just more concerned about how this affected Ares. He may be a ruthless businessman, but in the three years I have been under him, he has worked harder than anyone I have ever known.
The Corp was now in his image. I won’t let this reporter destroy that.
Jenna leaned back in her seat. "Spoken like a true King."