Chapter 4 LET THE GAMES BEGIN

The earlier call came without warning.

“Meet me at the conference hall now……..”

Chairman Mark’s instructions were flat, it came with no greetings nor explanation. When he spoke like that, obedience was the only result.

Ryan stared at his phone for a second after the line went dead.

He already knew what that meant. In the family, summons from his father were never anything simple. It always meant adjustment, correction, reprimands and surely pressure.

He took in a deep breath, then grabbed his jacket opting for a casual look.

The drive to Mark Holdings Group Tower was quiet and long, time seemed to drag on.

Ryan drove quietly as his mind stayed elsewhere.

Lisa surfaced briefly.

Then Jace.

The building rose above the district like a statement, Mark Holdings Group Tower was not designed to be subtle or unnoticed. It stood out.……the typical high end architecture.

Ryan stepped inside.

Security recognized him and nodded in a sense of familiarity and professionalism.

The elevator ride was slow as numbers ticked upward in silence.

Ryan stared at the mirrored wall inside the lift. He looked composed and controlled, but his eyes betrayed something heavier underneath……..the past few weeks had been stressful and was taking a toll on him.

When the doors opened, he stepped out and made way for the hall.

Jace was already there which made him wonder.

Leaning casually against the entrance to the executive conference room, discussing and laughing.

Chairman Mark stood beside him, laughing too heartedly.

Ryan felt a kind of pain, the one he always concealed.

Chairman Mark never laughed like that with him.

Not once.

Jace noticed him first, a frown slowly spread in his face.

“Oh,” he said, straightening slightly. “You called him too?”

Chairman Mark nodded, signalling Ryan to come in.

He walked forward anyway, inside the conference room, the atmosphere shifted immediately.

Chairman Mark took his seat at the head of the table.

“Sit.”

They did.

No one spoke for the first few seconds.

Chairman Mark folded his hands.

“I’ve been reviewing the structure of this company………keenly and intently.”

Ryan’s posture tightened.

Jace leaned back like he already knew where this was going.

Mark continued, “Mark Holdings Group is no longer in a phase where static inheritance is acceptable. After this meeting though, we convey it to the board. I wanted you guys to come earlier”

Ryan frowned.

“What does that mean?”

Jace’s lips curved faintly.

Their father's eyes shifted between them.

“You both operate major divisions. Energy and construction. Two engines which are great fuels for this company.”

He paused.

“That system will now be duly tested. You both will get the company but it won't be based on seniority.”

Jace seemed displeased, that was not the arrangement he expected, he had a different understanding of it.

Jace scanned his father, looking for better explanations.

Chairman Mark continued, “It won't be equally too, the winner will receive controlling stake, majority ownership, full operational authority over Mark Holdings Group, the other will retain ten percent equity. Nothing more.”

“Just ten….”, Ryan felt hopeless.

Jace straightened his posture.

“You’re serious…….dad?” he asked.

“I do not present hypotheticals,” Mark replied.

Ryan leaned forward. “I didn't expect this though.”

Mark finally looked at him directly.

“Now you do .”

Jace gave a quiet chuckle under his breath. “So it is performance based………the most productive wins.”

“Yes.”

Chairman Mark’s tone remained unchanged.

“You will be evaluated on measurable growth. Profitability, expansion, strategic value creation.”

Ryan knew what was at stake, Jace had the upper hand.

Construction, infrastructure contracts, urban development, heavy logistics. These were long-term projects that took years to complete and even longer to stabilize.

Then on the other end was Jace who handles the energy division.

Oil contracts, power generation, international investors. High velocity capital movement, fast returns……all these benefits involved with monopoly added. The government depends solely on them, there was no need for competition.

He knew what it meant.

Jace had speed.

Ryan carried the whole weight.

His father was trying to justify what he intended doing though it was obvious.

He leaned back slightly.

“You are not inheriting positions. You are competing for them.”

That statement hit because it cleared all assumptions.

Jace tilted his head.

“ It's not a fair play dad. Jace enjoys monopoly.”, Ryan chipped in.

“Energy is already outperforming construction,” he said casually.

His tone was confident .

“That is just market reality.”

Ryan looked at him.

Jace continued.

“I suppose not all divisions are built for leadership scale…….Some are just support systems.”

Ryan’s fingers tightened against the edge of the table.

Mark glanced at both of his son's, clearly amused.

Jace leaned forward slightly, gaze shifting to Ryan.

“And some people,” he said, “are just not built for competition.”

Then the final strike.

“You couldn’t even keep… our….Lisa…….bro.”

Ryan’s expression grew darker, staring at his brother with dark intent.

Jace continued, “So I doubt you can keep an entire division running without collapsing………. like your relationship.”

That was it, something inside Ryan stopped negotiating for the consequences.

He stood up, then charged towards Jace, chair scraped sharply against the floor.

Jace barely had time to react before Ryan crossed the table in two steps and swung.

The punch landed clean on Jace’s jaw, the sound echoed sharply in the sterile room.

Jace staggered sideways, catching himself on the table. Surprise flashed across his face before amusement followed. He hadn't expected Ryan to act in that way

“Ryan,” Chairman Mark said sharply.

But Ryan did not hear it, he was done taking insults.

He grabbed Jace by the collar, breathing

“You got to respect your useless deceitful self……or I put you in your place.”

Jace wiped his lip slowly, eyes widening in shock.

He then smiled, showing his gums that were bleeding slightly.

“You see?” he muttered. “This is exactly why you lose………. like you always do”

Security moved in immediately, strong hands pulled Ryan back.

He resisted but he was no match for them.

Chairman Mark stood, still in shock.

“Enough.”

The word was obeyed, everyone stood still, all eyes on chairman Mark.

The security guards are now waiting for his next instruction.

Ryan’s breathing was heavy, his eyes still fixated intensely on his brother…..red with rage.

Jace adjusted his collar casually, sti

ll amused.

Chairman Mark looked at Ryan directly.

“We will await the board next, hold your emotions, Ryan.”

Ryan couldn't take it anymore and freed himself from the security’s gasp