Just as the sun rose, Aiden made his way to the private elevator of the company. As he got out on the top floor the only thing that could be heard was the ticking of the clock and his leather dress shoes stepping towards his office.
Once he gripped the door handle to his office a click sound was heard and then it opened. He strolled inside and sat in his leather chair while starting to work on the stack of papers he had on his desk. About ten minutes later the red light on his desk flashed and he pressed the button to let the person in.
"Dammit, I thought for sure today would be the day I beat you to get here. Do you even sleep?" Jacob pouted as he walked inside placing a cup of coffee on the desk and three separate folders containing individual and details reports. "Coffee and reports. Just the way you like to start your mornings sir." He said sarcastically while grinning.
"Very funny. Phoenix Clan." Aidan started to sip his coffee as Jacob began to summarize his findings.
"The Phoenix Clan was founded in the early 70s. It started as a small gang a grew into a decent sized criminal organization as you already know." Jacob had already turned on the tv and was showing images of the group while he spoke. "Although it runs similarly to the rest, it only has male members and decides on the leader by inheritance. It's been a relatively quiet clan due to the fact that they are very strict on traditions and being neutral in gang wars. Explaining their reason behind the selection process for a new leader. Anybody who tries to become the leader while not having a blood tie needs to do so by challenging the leader candidate in a fight to the death leaving the victor with the title of clan leader."
Aiden knew about the Phoenix Clan. It was a well respected and prominent clan in the underworld. Also one of the few neutral groups that had avoided major bloodshed for decades. That is until seventeen years ago when they started slowly gaining more territory and power.
"Guessing by the fact that nobody other than blood relatives have been in command I can assume nobody other than their bloodline has won a challenge. Am I right?"
"That was true until almost two decades ago sir. The Phoenix clan is known to be composed by ruthless fighters and the rumor is that those who come from the direct bloodline are even more vicious than the rest of the regular members. Yet around seventeen years ago the clan leaders position was taken by a man called Malcom Kitsch, after successfully winning his challenge against the then bloodline candidate. After that, the clan started to drastically change it's neutral stance in underworld affairs."
Just as he said the name and image was displayed on the screen. It was a picture taken from a distance that showed the side profile of Malcolm's face with a visible scar that traveled from his forehead down to the middle of his right cheek. Not much else could be seen due to how pixelated the image was.
"Who'd he kill?" Aiden nonchalantly asked Jacob as he drank his coffee.
"I still haven't managed to dig so deep sir. The same goes for what his exact connection to George Flinn is. You know how these organizations stay tight lipped. Especially when it comes to clans that see events like these as dishonorable. It stains their reputation of being forever traditional making it harder for me to snoop. It was a low blow to have their own kin defeated. In regards to George's role I sent some men to gather more intel." Jacob answered as he finished his briefing on the Phoenix Clan.
"Keep me posted. Flinn Corporation." Aiden replied.
"Flinn Corporation is known as one of the top three businesses in the country, fact that you're also aware of. It's been moving very differently this year compared to how it did in the past, yet surprisingly it has not only maintained it's revenue but also managed to increase 25% in the stock market without dropping even once. I believe it's thanks to the new CEO. Since they don't pose a threat in terms of competition and we have collaborated on projects multiple times, there has been no considerable rifts between both companies. Although they're considered one of the big three, they weren't really known to have major scandals up until the recent event with George." Jacob explained as images of what had happened to George showed up on the screen once more.
It's was true. The new CEO wasn't making big moves, but that didn't mean she hadn't secured a number of valuable projects and new income sources. They had even managed to start international dealings more frequently. Not big enough to pose a threat, but strategic enough to keep them growing on the map.
Jacob continued as the illustrations on the tv changed. "John Flinn had been chairman up until a year ago when he suddenly passed away due to heart failure. He had a reputation of preferring hard working people over his own kin when it came to business. That's exactly why nobody was surprised when the position of CEO wasn't given to any of his three sons. What did take the company by storm was his eldest son George's rise to the chairman's position that was supposedly ordered by his late father in his will. Flinn Corporation does not distribute voting power in its board of directors by shares owned like most companies do. They implement an equal footing voting system that makes each vote to be counted as only one percent in the grand total of all those with the authority to make big decisions such as selecting a new CEO or chairman. Apparently it was the majority's vote that made the decision of giving George the chairman's chair. The same applies to their current selection for the same position. However, what pushed them to make either of those choices is still under our investigation."
All of this was turning into an interesting mystery. Be it John Flinn's abrupt death, George's sudden rise to power or the Phoenix Clan's change in leadership, it all seemed odd. Two major power groups on each side of the social spectrum with sketchy time frames just coincidentally being involved with each other? Not likely.
'Finally something to kill this boredom with.' Aiden thought to himself. 'Now for the most mysterious one of all.'
"Claire Collins."