Hello Noah." The indifference in his voice was chilling enough to aggravate Noah even more.
"You think you can scare me with your fucking thugs? You're just a foolish boy, I've battled against bigger and scarier men than you could ever think of and won. Your head is stuck so far up your ass you don't even realize how far in over your head you are." Noah went on, raving.
"My intention was never to cause you fear, I assure you." Landon imputed over the phone.
"You should be begging right now Landon, you forget who has the power here. You have no idea who the fuck you're dealing with." Noah continued to spew off his aggression.
An old bruise had come back to haunt him, manifesting in form of an enemy that must be obliterated in order for him to heal and be restored. A man whose existence represented two huge blows to his pride, his cheating wife and an high-profile company he failed to acquire.
Landon scoffed. "As a matter of fact, I know exactly who it is I'm dealing with and that's largely thanks to you, and this call."
It finally hit Noah that he had played right into his hand and he couldn't see it earlier because he was clouded by the rage. Nevertheless, he still believed he had the upper hand.
"As regards to power, you no longer have any." Landon's words took him aback, he hadn't expected so much confidence from someone who he had completely on the ropes.
Did he not care about his sister at all?
"The only power you ever had was anonymity, and you've lost that now that I know that I know it's you, Noah." He paused for a second only to continue before Noah could respond…
"Because I know all about you, and what matters the most to you. It's that ego. The need to be revered, respected and envied by everyone around you." Landon went on, his voice still and sharp as a surgeon's blade.
"That ego, albeit what's made you so successful is also your biggest vulnerability. It drove a wedge so far between you and your wife, it led her to seek me for escape."
"You've built yourself a castle so big, with a throne room where you sit and admire all that you've accomplished but it's almost funny really, how easy it is for me to bring it all down."
"Your false confidence changes nothing, you're still gonna lose kid." Noah rebuts and Landon sighed in response, having to spell it all out for the man to fathom the reality of the situation.
"The headlines on the news tomorrow would read of the break-in at your home, seeing how close to the election it is, they'll speculate It has something to do with that and the polls will dramatically swing in her favor..." Landon started speaking again
"... Or, it could go, 'Prominent businessman, corporate raider, and New York city's first gentleman, involved in a major cheating scandal' that's not even the best part. Stock manipulation, blackmail, extortion, bribery, unsafe workers' environment in several countries, I know about it all and if I release all that, you're fucked." The receiving end went dead silent.
"Don't ever make the mistake of threatening me again, I know more about you than you could ever hope to know about me. You're a proven winner Noah, you should know when you have a losing hand." The sound of a crash is heard through the phone. Noah threw a glass at his wall in frustration.
"You have two choices. You're a vindictive and dishonourable bastard but I don't think hurting my little sister's reputation will do anything for your broken ego, so I propose a deal instead." Noah had underestimated his opponent and he was in fact doomed to lose this battle.
"I'm listening." His voice now laced with defeat echoed through the phone.
"You give me the file in exchange for the most valuable bottle of wine in my entire collection, I won it at a poker game from a Spanish Prince. This way, you actually get to take something away from me this time." Landon propositioned.
*****
It was a typical midday in Manhattan. Gisele stood by a coffee cart, waiting for her orders to be given to her.
Landon stood beside her. In a casual look in contrast to her business formal suit.
"I was surprised when you insisted over coffee, of all the ways to meet." She remarked as she was handed her coffee orders. She paid cash and they started to walk towards the park.
"The views are especially pleasant here." He simply stated as she handed him his coffee.
"There certainly are enough eyes here to flll up the tabloids tomorrow." She said, referring to the paparazzi following them.
"'Attack on the mayor's husband' by far eclipses this." Landon hints at the break-in at one of Noah Thomas' residences and the events of last night.
"It's so random waking up to news about having political enemies out to get me. Now there's a hashtag to protect me at all cost and the city's finest are doing double shits at my office and home." Amused by her present situation, she spoke with some lightness in her tone.
"But then she's seen with a mysterious figure the literal next day, sparking romantic tension. Could she have staged an attempt at her own husband's life for the sake of her new lover?" Landon playfully provided an hypothetical headline which makes Gisele gasp at his imagination.
"They'll think you're an old friend from my time modelling." She voiced the most likely outcome she could think of.
"I am an old friend from your time modeling." Landon grinned at her. "I could be a campaign donor."
Gisele chuckled at his suggestion "You don't look like any donor I know." She said with her voice lowering.
"And what exactly do your donors look like?"
"Not like you." She gave him a knowing look and he smiled in amusement.
"I suggest you get some better donors then." They stopped at an empty bench and sat next to each other.
They were a considerable lot of people in the park for a business day. But it was a great spot to eat lunch and so many office workers visited often.
Kids played in a most carefree manner and their caregivers watched happily. It was a marvel to see.
"Got any of those yet?" Landon asked, referring to the children.
"No Landon, I never wanted a kid." She stated candidly.
She looked to her watch, sighed and decided to cut to the chase. "I found something."
"Someone saw it?" He asked, referring to his missing watch.
"Not quite." She answered quickly, trying not to get his hopes up. "A few months ago, someone was asking around about an insanely rare and unique dial, your watch uses the exact same one, and they asked about the price of a timepiece with features identical to…"
"My watch." Landon said, completing her sentence.
"You know what this means?"
The presence of the people around the park mellowed out in Landon's head. Her words were all he could hear as he sat on that bench with a barely-drank cup of coffee.
"I was never merely a target of opportunity, she'd been planning this for months." He said aloud in response to Gisele's words but he wasn't exactly talking to her as he was too intrigued by the puzzle this was turning out to be.
"The moment she puts it up for sale, I'll know." She assured him and he silently nodded gratefully.
"If there's anything else I can do to help, don't hesitate to pick up the phone." Gisele got up, indicating she had to leave as her coffee break was over.
"As much as I love to flirt with your secretary, I think I'm gonna figure this one out myself. Thank you for the help Gisele." He started playfully and ended affectionately, getting up and facing her.
"Goodbye Landon." She kissed his cheek and began to walk away.
"Tell me this though, 'attack on the mayor's husband' was that you?" She stopped and turned to ask as he remained still, standing next to the bench.
"You don't wanna know." Landon stated frankly.