Chereads / The Charismatic Tyler Wales / Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: One step ahead

Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: One step ahead

Fred walked into the luxurious bar named The Golden Lounge, a popular spot for the wealthy elite. The dimly lit room was filled with the sound of clinking glasses and hushed conversations. Fred made his way to the bar, ordering a whiskey on the rocks as he took a seat next to a window overlooking the city skyline.

Lost in thought, Fred replayed the events at the Wantons family manor in his mind. His uncle's return, the family's betrayal, and his own defiance. He felt a tap on his shoulder, breaking his trance.

"Fred, my man! What brings you here tonight?" Ryan asked, taking a seat next to him.

"Nothing man, just family issues" Fred said still moody.

"Come on man, tell me what's wrong with you, I may be of help to you buddy"

Fred filled Ryan in on the details, from Marshal's return to the family's decision to follow him. Ryan listened intently, sipping his own drink.

"What can I do, Ryan? I feel like I've lost everything," Fred said, frustration etched on his face.

Ryan leaned in, a sly grin spreading across his face. "I've got just the thing, Fred. Hire some assassins to take care of your uncle. Make it look like an accident, and you'll be the rightful heir to the Wantons empire."

Fred raised an eyebrow, considering the proposal. "You think that's the only way?"

Ryan nodded. "It's the simplest solution. Your uncle's not going to give up power easily. This way, you'll be doing what's best for yourself and the family business."

Fred took a sip of his drink, weighing the options. Little did he know, this conversation would set off a chain of events that would change everything.

Fred's eyes locked onto Ryan's, a hint of desperation creeping into his voice. "Make the arrangements, Ryan. I want it done discreetly, no trail leading back to me. I don't want be blamed for this. Make sure it's clean, no evidence, no suspicion. I want my uncle's death to look like an accident, a tragic event that couldn't be prevented."

Ryan nodded, his expression serious. "I understand, Fred. I'll make sure it's handled professionally. No one will ever suspect a thing. Your uncle's death will be a shock to everyone, but no one will ever link it back to you."

Fred's grip on his glass tightened, his knuckles white with tension. "See that it's done, Ryan. I'm counting on you. I want to be able to mourn my uncle's passing without any guilt or suspicion hanging over my head."

Ryan placed a reassuring hand on Fred's shoulder. "Consider it done, Fred. I'll take care of everything. You'll be in the clear, and no one will ever suspect a thing."

"Thanks man,i know I can always count on you for everything"

Meanwhile in the modest home of Tyler, where a different kind of planning was underway, Tyler, his wife Madison, and his parents-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, sat in the cozy living room, surrounded by family photos and the warm glow of a single lamp.

The topic of discussion was Madison's potential role as the new managing director of the Jackson Group, a position that could bring respect and recognition to their branch of the family. Madison spoke with determination, her voice filled with conviction. "I want to prove myself, to show that I'm more than just the black sheep of the family. I want to make a difference."

Tyler nodded in agreement, his eyes shining with pride. "You'll do great, Madison. You have the heart and mind for it."

Mr Jason Jackson, a man of simple tastes and humble means, added his thoughts. "We'll support you, Madison. We'll do everything we can to help you succeed."

Mrs Elena Jackson, a woman of warmth and kindness, smiled encouragingly. "You go out there and show them what you're made of, dear. We'll be right behind you."

As the evening wore on, the plans for Madison's rise to power were carefully laid out, each detail thoughtfully considered and strategize.

While this was going on the scene moves to the grand study of Marshal wantons mansion, a gift from Tyler to Marshal and his family, Marshal sat behind his desk, his son Gerald seated across from him. The warm glow of the evening sun cast a golden light on the room, illuminating the serious expressions on their faces.

Gerald shook his head, his voice laced with a mix of emotions. "I never thought it would come to this, Father. I didn't expect us to be in this position, where we'd be taking over the family business so soon."

Marshal leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers together as he regarded his son. "Life is full of unexpected twists and turns, Gerald. You must learn to adapt and embrace change. It's the only constant in this world."

Gerald nodded, his eyes fixed on his father's. "But what about Fred? He's always been the one in line to take over. What changed?"

Marshal's expression turned somber, his voice taking on a reflective tone. "Ah, Fred. He's a complicated soul, driven by his own demons. But that's a story for another time. What's important now is that we seize this opportunity, make the most of it. We must prove ourselves worthy of this legacy."

Gerald's gaze dropped, his shoulders slumping slightly. "I don't know if I'm ready for this, Father. The weight of responsibility, the expectations... it's crushing me."

Marshal's face softened, his voice filled with warmth and understanding. "Ah, my son, you are more capable than you give yourself credit for. You have a good heart, a strong sense of justice. These are the qualities that will guide you through the challenges ahead."

He leaned forward, his eyes locking onto Gerald's. "Life is not always easy, but it's in the darkest moments that we discover our greatest strengths. Remember, nothing evil lasts forever. The tide will turn, and justice will prevail. We must hold onto hope, onto faith, and onto each other."

The next morning, Tyler woke up earlier than usual, his mind racing with anticipation. He quickly got dressed in a shabby casual outfit, not bothering to change into something more formal. He headed out to the estate gate, where Jenkins was already waiting for him in the sleek Maybach.

"Good morning, sir," Jenkins said, as Tyler slid into the passenger seat.

"Morning, Jenkins," Tyler replied, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.

As they drove to the Wantons Group headquarters, Tyler's mind was filled with thoughts of the historic handover ceremony that was about to take place. Marshal Wantons would officially take the reins of the company, marking a new era for the Wantons family.

When they arrived at the headquarters, the scene was chaotic. Journalists and newsmen swarmed the entrance, eager to capture the momentous occasion. Tyler and Jenkins slipped through the crowd, making their way to the designated waiting area.

As they waited for the ceremony to begin, Tyler couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. He had played a crucial role in making this moment possible, and he knew that Marshal would take the company to new heights.

At exactly 8 am, the doors to the conference hall opened, and the guests began to file in. Tyler and Jenkins took their seats, surrounded by the who's who of the business world. The air was electric with anticipation, and Tyler knew that this was just the beginning of a new chapter in the Wantons family saga.

As the guests took their seats, Tyler and Jenkins were discreetly escorted to the chairman's office, located on a higher floor. The office was equipped with state-of-the-art CCTV cameras, allowing Tyler to monitor every aspect of the ceremony without being seen.

Daisy, Tyler's trusted ally, was positioned in the crowd, wearing an earpiece that allowed her to receive real-time communications from Tyler. She was his eyes and ears on the ground, ready to report back to him at a moment's notice.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Wantons took the stage, a poised and elegant figure despite the turmoil that had engulfed her family. She began to speak, her voice clear and confident.

"Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, and members of the press... I stand before you today as a representative of my son, Fred Wantons, who unfortunately cannot be with us due to unforeseen circumstances."

The room fell silent, with all eyes fixed on Mrs. Wantons. Tyler watched intently from the chairman's office, his eyes scanning the crowd for any signs of trouble.

Mrs. Wantons continued, her voice unwavering. "As you are all aware, the Wantons family has been through a difficult time recently. However, I am proud to say that we have emerged stronger and more united than ever."

She paused, surveying the room before handing over a small, leather-bound box to Marshal Wantons. "It is with great pleasure that I hand over the reins of the Wantons Group to my brother-in-law, Marshal Wantons. I have every confidence that he will lead this company to even greater heights."

The room erupted into applause as Marshal accepted the box, a symbol of the transfer of power. Tyler watched from the shadows, a sense of satisfaction washing over him. This was just the beginning of a new era for the Wantons family, and he was proud to have played a part in it.

But as the ceremony drew to a close, Tyler's eyes narrowed. Something didn't feel right. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he sensed that there was more to this handover than met the eye. He leaned forward, his eyes fixed intently on the CCTV screens, ready to respond to any situation that might arise.

Marshal stepped up to the microphone, a confident smile spreading across his face. "Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, and members of the press... I stand before you today as the new CEO of the Wantons Group and family. I promise to lead this company to greater heights, to innovate and expand our reach, and to make our family proud."

The room erupted into applause once more, with Tyler watching from the chairman's office, a small smile playing on his lips.

As the applause died down, Daisy Young, Vice Chairman of Ace Co-operation, took the stage. "On behalf of our CEO, I would like to offer our congratulations to Marshal Wantons on his new role. We expect great things from him and remind him that our company will be watching his progress closely."

Daisy's eyes seemed to flicker towards the CCTV cameras, and for a moment, Tyler thought she might be looking directly at him. "We will be continuing our business relations with the Wantons Group, and we expect nothing but the best from Marshal's leadership. Our CEO will be... pleased."

Tyler's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with amusement. He was the mysterious CEO, after all. He knew exactly what was going on.Indeed Daisy has never let him down.

The ceremony drew to a close, with guests beginning to file out of the conference hall. Tyler leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers together as he watched the scene unfold. Everything was going according to plan. For now.

Marshal entered the chairman's office, a mix of emotions on his face. Tyler stood up, a warm smile on his face. "Congratulations, Marshal. You deserve it."

Marshal's expression softened, his eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Tyler. I'm honored to take on this role."

Tyler's eyes locked onto the small box in Marshal's hand. "Ah, I see Mrs. Wantons gave you the traditional box. Open it, Marshal. Let's see what's inside."

Marshal hesitated for a moment before opening the box. Tyler's eyes scanned the contents, his expression unreadable. "Just as I thought," he said, his voice low and even.

Jenkins and Daisy exchanged a curious glance, sensing something was off. Tyler continued, his eyes locked onto Marshal's. "This is a plan made by Fred Wantons to murder his uncle, Marshal, out of jealousy. The time tracker in this box is set to detonate a bomb in Marshal's car."

Marshal's eyes widened in shock, his face pale. Tyler's expression turned grim. "We need to play along, Marshal. Don't return home in your car. Wait for my arrangements. Jenkins, Daisy, let's get to work. We have a bomb to defuse and a murderer to catch."

The room fell silent, the weight of Tyler's words sinking in. Marshal's life was in danger, and Tyler was the only one who could save him.

Jenkins spoke up, his voice firm. "Master Tyler, I think we should call Zero Cool and ask her to dig up everything she can on Fred's movements yesterday and today. If he's involved in this, we need to know."

Tyler nodded, his eyes locked onto Jenkins. "Agreed. Get Zero on the line, Jenkins. Let's confirm if Fred's involved."

Tyler turned to Marshal, his expression serious. "If you encounter any difficulties today, Marshal, don't hesitate to call me. I'll be keeping an eye on things."

With that, Tyler turned to leave, Jenkins following close behind. "Daisy, head back to Ace Co-operation and manage things there. We don't want anything to seem out of the ordinary."

Daisy nodded, her eyes sparkling with understanding. "Will do so, Master Tyler. Keep me posted."

As they left the chairman's office, Tyler's mind was already racing ahead, planning their next move. He knew that time was of the essence, and they had to act fast to prevent any harm from coming to Marshal. Zero Cool's skills would be crucial in uncovering Fred's involvement, and Tyler was counting on her to deliver.

They quickly made their way to the car where Jenkins asked the driver to take them to Oakwood hotel, which was the meeting place with zero cool.

Zero Cool walked into the lobby of the Oakwood Hotel, her eyes scanning the room with a mix of curiosity and caution. She spotted Tyler sitting in the corner, sipping a cup of coffee, and made her way over to him.

"Young Master," she said, her voice low and smooth. "Good to see you."

Tyler stood up, a hint of a smile on his face. "Zero. Thanks for coming."

Zero Cool took a seat, her eyes locked onto Tyler's. "I've got something for you, Young Master. Information about Fred Wantons."

Tyler's expression turned serious. "What have you found out, Zero?"

Zero pulled out a small laptop from her bag and opened it, revealing a series of videos taken from CCTV cameras. "I hacked into the cameras near Fred's usual hangouts. This is a conversation between him and his best friend Ryan, discussing their plans to eliminate Marshal Wantons."

Tyler's eyes narrowed as he watched the videos, his mind racing with the implications. "Who's the other person they mention? Oliver?"

Zero nodded. "That's right, Young Master. Oliver is a ruthless gangster who controls the underground empire in Orange County. Fred has employed him to take care of Marshal."

Tyler's expression turned grim. "I need to know more about Oliver's activities in Orange County. Can you get me that information, Zero?"

Zero nodded, her fingers flying across the keyboard. "I'm on it, Young Master. But be careful, Oliver isn't someone to be underestimated" Zero Cool said as her fingers danced across the keyboard, her eyes scanning the screens as she dug deeper into Oliver's digital footprint. "Young Master, I've got something. Oliver's been making moves in Orange County, taking out anyone who gets in his way. He's got a network of loyal followers, and they're all afraid of him."

Tyler's eyes narrowed. "What's his endgame?"

Zero shook her head. "I'm not sure yet, but it looks like he's trying to consolidate power. He's making deals with other gangs, forming alliances. He wants to be the one in control.And in control of not just orange county but also in charge of the neighbouring cities as well"

Tyler's expression turned cold. "We can't let that happen. Get me everything you can on Oliver's operations. I want to know where he is, who he's working with, and what he's planning."

Zero nodded, her fingers flying across the keyboard. "I'm on it, Young Master. But we need to be careful. Oliver has eyes and ears everywhere. If he finds out we're onto him, he'll strike first."

Tyler's eyes locked onto Zero's. "I understand the risks. But we can't back down now. We have to protect Marshal, and we have to take down Oliver."

Zero nodded, a fierce determination in her eyes. "I'm with you, Young Master. Let's take him down."

Jenkins spoke up at this juncture, trying to make his own contribution

"Young Master, I think it's time we brought in some extra help. I'll reach out to Victor, the head of security for the Wales family. He's got a team of highly trained men who can assist us in taking down Oliver."

Tyler nodded in agreement. "Do it, Jenkins. But make sure they're loyal only to us. I don't want any leaks or betrayals.Also make sure my grandfather doesn't make a fuss about it"

Jenkins nodded and pulled out his phone, dialing a number. "I'll arrange for Victor to meet with us later today, Young Master. He'll bring a few of his best men to help us with the situation."

Zero Cool looked up from her laptop, a hint of curiosity in her eyes. "Victor's team is supposed to be one of the best in the business. I've heard they're ex-Special Forces."

Tyler nodded. "That's what I've heard too. Let's hope they live up to their reputation."

As Jenkins continued to arrange the meeting with Victor, Zero Cool went back to her laptop, her eyes scanning the screens as she continued to dig up information on Oliver's operations.

After a few minutes, Jenkins hung up the phone and turned to Tyler. "Victor will meet with us at 3 pm, Young Master. He'll bring three of his best men to assist us."

Tyler nodded, a sense of relief washing over him. "Good. Let's get ready to take down Oliver once and for all."

The rest of the morning passed quickly, with Zero Cool continuing to gather intel and Tyler and Jenkins preparing for the meeting with Victor. At 3 pm sharp, Victor arrived, his imposing figure and scar above his right eyebrow commanding attention.

Victor walked into the room, his eyes scanning the space before landing on Tyler. He nodded respectfully, his deep voice firm. "Young Master Tyler, good to see you."

Tyler nodded, a hint of a smile on his face. "Victor, thanks for coming. I appreciate it."

Victor's gaze flicked to Jenkins and Zero Cool before returning to Tyler. "Of course, Young Master. We're here to help. I brought three of my best men - Marcus, Lucas, and Reila"

The three men nodded in unison, their eyes fixed on Tyler with a mix of respect and curiosity. Victor continued, "We have been briefed on the situation, Young Master. We'll do everything in our power to take down Fred Wantons and protect Marshal."

Tyler nodded, his eyes locked onto Victor's. "I appreciate your help, Victor. Let's get down to business."

Zero Cool nodded, launching into a detailed briefing on Fred's operations and his plans to take down Marshal. Victor and his men listened intently, their faces grim.

When Zero finished, Victor spoke up. "We'll take care of Fred, Young Master. But we need to be careful. He's got a reputation for being ruthless."

Tyler nodded, his jaw clenched. "Agreed. Let's get to work.I don't care how it's being done but one thing I know is that Fred won't succeed in his plans because am always one step ahead of him."

As they began to plan their next move, Victor's men deferred to Tyler, seeking his approval and guidance. Despite his low-key nature, Tyler's status as the Young Master of the Wales family commanded respect, and Victor's team showed it in every interaction.

As they planned their next move, Zero Cool suddenly spoke up. "Young Master, remember that meeting I told you about earlier? Oliver's supposed to meet one of his lieutenants at an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town tonight at midnight."

Tyler's eyes narrowed. "That's our chance to take him down. Victor, can your men handle the situation"

Victor nodded. "We'll take care of it, Young Master. But we need to be careful. If Oliver's got backup, we could be walking into a trap."

Jenkins spoke up. "I'll get the blueprints of the warehouse, see if we can find any vulnerabilities."

Zero Cool nodded. "I'll hack into the security cameras, get a visual on the inside."

Tyler nodded, his mind racing with the plan. "Alright, let's move. We'll take out Oliver tonight and put an end to this once and for all."

As they finalized their plan, the tension in the room grew thicker, anticipation hanging in the air like a challenge waiting to be accepted. Little did they know, Fred Wantons was watching them from the shadows, a sly smile spreading across his face...

Tyler's eyes locked onto Victor's. "I want you to handle this, Victor. Take your men and take out Oliver tonight. I'll be...indisposed."

Victor raised an eyebrow. "Indisposed, Young Master?"

Tyler nodded. "Tonight's the night Maddie my wife becomes the managing director of the Jackson Group. Her grandmother's announcement is tonight, and I need to be there for her."

Victor's expression softened. "Ah, congratulations to Lady Madison, Young Master. We'll take care of Oliver, don't worry."

Tyler nodded, a hint of a smile on his face. "I know I can count on you, Victor. Just make sure it's done quietly. I don't want any attention drawn to us."

Victor nodded, his face serious. "We'll handle it, Young Master. You focus on Lady Maddie's big night."

As Victor and his men began to make their way out, Zero Cool spoke up. "I'll keep an eye on things from here, Young Master. If anything goes wrong, I'll let you know immediately."

Tyler nodded, his eyes locked onto Zero's. "Thanks, Zero. I appreciate it."

With that, Tyler turned to Jenkins. "Let's get ready for tonight, Jenkins. I want to make sure Maddie knows how proud I am of her."

Jenkins smiled, a warm smile. "Of course, Young Master. I'll make sure everything is perfect for tonight."

As the evening unfolded, Tyler's mind was with Maddie, imagining the look on her face when her grandmother announced her as the new managing director. He knew how much this meant to her, and he was determined to be there for her every step of the way.

Meanwhile, Victor and his men made their way to the abandoned warehouse, their eyes scanning the perimeter for any signs of danger. They knew Oliver wouldn't go down without a fight, but they were ready for him...