Chapter 4 - The Offer on the Table
Before Matteo could open the velvet box, the loud, obnoxious rattle of an old pickup truck shattered the morning quiet.
Mel Dawson’s beat-up Ford pulled into the diner’s parking lot, screeching to a halt when he saw the three black SUVs blocking his entrance. Mel threw his truck door open and stepped out, holding an iron tire iron in his hand, his face red with sleep and suspicion.
"Hey! What the hell is going on here?!" Mel yelled, stomping toward the group. "Get these damn cars away from my business! You’re blocking my doors!"
The four suited men turned instantly toward Mel. Two of them reached inside their jackets with fluid, terrifying speed.
Matteo didn't even turn his head. He simply raised one finger.
The men stopped, their hands resting inside their coats, their eyes cold and unblinking.
"Mel, wait! Don't!" Anna shouted, running between Mel and the intimidating squad of men. "It's fine! They're... they're relatives of the lady from yesterday!"
Mel lowered the tire iron slightly, his eyes darting from the high-end SUVs to Matteo’s expensive coat, then to the men with concealed weapons. Mel was a bully, but he wasn't completely stupid. He could smell power and danger from a mile away.
"I don't care who they are," Mel muttered, though his voice lacked its usual booming confidence. "They're trespassing on private property. And you, Anna, are supposed to be inside unlocking the doors and starting the coffee, not standing on the sidewalk chatting with mobsters."
Matteo slowly turned to look at Mel. His eyes narrowed, assessing the manager with total, icy contempt.
"You are Mel Dawson?" Matteo asked softly.
"Yeah. I own the place," Mel spat defensively.
"No," Matteo corrected him calmly. "You manage the place. The owner is an elderly gentleman named Arthur Higgins who lives in Florida. My lawyers bought the building and the business from him two hours ago."
Mel froze. His mouth opened, but no sound came out. "What? You’re lying."
Matteo tapped his fingers against his velvet box. A silver-haired lawyer stepped out from the rear SUV, holding a thick leather briefcase. He pulled out a signed legal document and handed it to Mel.
"The purchase agreement was finalized at 3:00 AM this morning," the lawyer said neutrally. "Mr. Rossi paid three times the market value in cash to acquire the deed, the lease, and all commercial operations of Maple Street Diner."
Mel’s face turned from red to ghost white as he stared at the legal signatures. "You... you bought my diner?"
"I bought the property," Matteo said smoothly. "Which brings me to my first executive decision as the new owner."
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Matteo turned his gaze back to Mel, his voice like grinding stones.
"You are fired, Mr. Dawson. You have ten minutes to collect your personal belongings from the back office and clear out. If you ever speak harshly to Miss Bennett again, or if you set foot on this street, my men will ensure you regret it."
