A ripple of terror washed over the businessmen as they felt an overwhelming aura looming over them.
A lady whom they know by the name of Law Frier, made her way into the meeting hall with her four cousins — Harvey, Caden, Deniel, and Warren — Rain, their butler, right behind them.
They walked confidently, postures perfect, chins held high. Everyone couldn't keep their eyes off of them, but their gazes longer more on her. Law.
She doesn't show any emotion. And the frightening presence of strength they felt was coming from her.
Once they enter in the meeting hall, everyone in the hall immediately stood, lowering their heads as a sign of respect, and one can see the terror in their eyes.
"L-lady Law, we didn't expect the Friers' visit," one of the businessmen said, but she ignored him and made her way to the throne situated on the stage in front of the long table around which the businessmen gathered. She sat on her seat, and her cousins sat down beside her.
"The meeting shall start over," Caden ordered coldly, and they did as they were told.
The Friers lent their ears in the duration of the meeting, even throwing some suggestions and their opinions on the matter, but Law impatiently tapped her fingers on the table, a telltale that she didn't like what she was hearing.
"The Montenegro's commercial land on the Philippines is the best spot to build our new branch," Mr. Walter spoke.
"We already told them about the benefits they'll get if they agree, yet we haven't received a single reply, " Mr. Tsong-go pointed out.
"Because the Mondragons are also after their land," Mr. Marasigan stated.
"What!?" everyone chorused angrily. All hell broke loose, and everyone pitched in their complaints, until all voices melded together into one chaotic orchestra.
Law raised an eyebrow, trying not to roll her eyes. Harvey, on the other hand, didn't take the noise all too well. He slammed his fist on the table, causing the businessmen to stop their bickering abruptly.
They looked at the source of the sound, and their faces paled as white as Harvey's fist.
"Shut the fuck up," Harvey seethed, emphasizing each word slowly.
Harvey was a scary man, but Law was scarier.
Everyone turned to her and saw the continuous tapping of her fingers. She was stoic as ever, her blank facial expression not betraying any of her anger. But they felt the calm rage she emitted.
They squirmed in their chairs, drifting their eyes away from her when her cold eyes landed on them.
"O-our Apologies Sir Harvey," they said in unison.
"The meeting shall continue," Harvey said coldly, "but if any of you so much as raise your voices above a damn whisper, I'll make sure none of you ever speak again."
Everyone gulped and nodded in reply.
Mr. Marasigan bravely spoke first. "As I was saying, Mondragons are also after their land and the Montenegros can't decide immediately because they are pressed between two powerful and influential families."
All of them nodded in agreement.
"Then we should wait their reply," another businessman supplied.
Law's eyes snapped to the person and stopped tapping her fingers.
The man gulped, suddenly feeling cold.
"No," Law ordered. She stood from her seat and looked at everyone's eyes. "You're all businessmen, which means all of you are good at dealing with business and financial matters, you should all know that time is of the essence.
"It's my time, and they're wasting it. It's my money, and they're doing nothing but sitting idly and cower when two powerful families fight over their property." She walked around the table, making the men flinch at her stare.
"All of you are part of a committee chosen by my very own father to deal with matters concerning what you know best, that's why y'all are here, yet none of you had shown me even the slightest bit of competence." She licked her bottom lip in frustration.
"Which family are you from?" she asked as she stopped behind the man who gave the idiotic suggestion.
"C-Custo-custodio, M-my La-lady." The hairs on the back of his neck stood, and the skin on his arms prickled with goose flesh when Law leaned to him, her mouth inches away from his ear.
She whispered, "You should watch what you're saying, especially when I'm around."
His body shook fearfully, and he nodded, head bowed solemnly.
Law stood straight, looking at everyone, and making them immediately look away to avoid eye contact.
"We are no longer going to ask for the land." She paused and made her way up, back to her throne. "Because we are going to take it with or without their say."
Their eyes widen in shock, and they started to sweat despite the whirring of the air conditioner ringing in their ears.
"Oh, don't look so surprised," Warren said haughtily. "Y'all should know what a Frier is capable of." Smirking amusedly, he stood up and put his hands in his coat pocket.
"Additionally, waiting is not what we do," Deniel added. "We do not beg. We do not follow anyone's conditions, we make our own."
Law's eyes were cold, but behind her eyelids was an intense fire, burning and pillaging everything that stood in its way. She glared at them, challenging them to speak up, to disobey.
But No one was brave enough to disagree, however, not because it wasn't true, but because they knew what the price to pay was when they dared to defy the Friers.