Chapter 67 – The Phone Call
Cristal addressed Ken and the guards: "Just a couple more seconds."
From the other side of the call, the butler of the Liz Mayer residence answered.
Butler: "Liz Mayer Residence. How may I assist you?"
Cristal spoke in a low voice, only for the receiver: "Listen to me."
Butler: "Yes, miss."
Cristal returned to her normal voice, but commanding: "The 'Buen Gusto' restaurants… do they belong to my family's restaurant chains?"
Butler: "Yes, miss."
Cristal instructed: "Call the CEO and tell her we're at this location, and that there are some unpleasant people she needs to get rid of. And make sure they're banned from all our restaurants. They're making us look bad as a family and as a corporation."
Cristal continued: "And also… do you know anything about a certain 'Cambiazo' who claims to be the mayor of this city?"
Butler: "Yes, miss. Mr. Cambiazzo has been trying to join the family's inner circle for many years."
Cristal commanded: "Call him too. Tell him he's causing a very shameful scene for his family, and that he's threatening—Bruno, me, and some friends—saying his men will beat us if we don't give up the table he wants. Tell him that if he doesn't call me within one minute and apologize on his knees—him and his group—in five minutes we will cut any ties with him and his businesses. And that my family will no longer support his campaign."
Butler: "Of course, miss."
Cristal: "Thank you."
Cristal hung up and looked at everyone, who were waiting for an explanation of what just happened.
Ken blustered: "I don't know what you're trying to do, but nothing—"
Bruno connected mentally with Cristal: "Cristal, what are we waiting for?"
Cristal replied telepathically: "Be patient. Just a few more minutes, and you'll see."
At that moment, the General Manager of the restaurant, Henry Miller, rushed in.
Ken extended his hand for a greeting: "Mr. Henry Miller!"
Miller ignored him completely and walked straight to the twins' table.
Henry Miller greeted respectfully: "Good evening, sir and miss… Liz Mayer. It's an honor to meet you in person."
Ken stepped in front of him aggressively. "Mr. Miller! I'm the mayor's son, Ken Cambiazo."
Henry Miller replied coldly: "I don't know who you are. But I do know who your father is. And after I call him and tell him about all the damage you've caused here and the losses I'm facing, he won't be very happy with you… whatever your name is."
Ken shouted, desperate: "But sir, I'm Ken Cambiazo, the mayor's son!"
Henry Miller was unmoved: "I don't care who your father is, even if you were the President's son. I'm not letting this slide, especially in front of members of the Liz Mayer families—some of the most influential families in the world. And not only that—they OWN this restaurant and many more. Step aside and take your people with you. Is that understood?"
The Phone
Ken's phone rang explosively. It was his father.
Ken answered, whispering at first, then raising his voice in a whiny tone: "Hello, Dad? Let me tell you—there are some people here and the manager of the Buen Gusto restaurant bothering me, and they won't let me eat here. You know how much I love the pizza here, Dad… Help me! Send the police to arrest all these idiots!"
Ken's complaint was cut off by a furious scream blasting from the speaker. His father's tone was hysterical and nothing like what Ken expected.
Mayor Cambiazo's voice came through distorted and shrill: "SHUT YOUR MOUTH, YOU USELESS IDIOT! Do you have ANY idea what you just did?! You're a moron! A complete damn moron!"
Ken was pale, his eyes widening in terror as he heard his father in that state: "D‑Dad? What's wrong?"
Mayor Cambiazzo shouted, ignoring Ken entirely: "I JUST GOT A CALL! They gave me FIVE minutes! FIVE minutes to fix your disaster or my campaign is OVER! Our businesses will go bankrupt! Do you have ANY idea who the Liz Mayer family is?! They own 90% of the businesses in this city! And not only that—they OWN the bank that finances me and all of our supply chains!"
Ken mumbled, breathless: "The… Liz Mayer family?"
Mayor Cambiazzo roared: "YES! And you just THREATENED THEIR CHILDREN in a restaurant THEY OWN! They're right there! RIGHT NEXT TO YOU! And you, you idiot, are asking me to have them arrested!"
Mayor
continued: "Listen carefully, Ken! I don't care what you have to do—APOLOGIZE! On your knees! Cry if you have to! If you must, lick their shoes! If I don't earn that girl's approval, not only will I kill you myself, but I'll make sure you're locked up for life! You have LESS than four minutes! DO IT NOW!"
The mayor hung up with a sharp slam. Ken remained frozen, phone against his ear. Manager Miller and the kids watched in complete silence. Ken's entourage began slowly backing away, realizing the gravity of the situation.
Cristal whispered to Bruno, her voice smug with victory: "See? I told you it would be fun."
Ken Cambiazzo, face white as paper, turned slowly toward the kids' table. Sweat dripped down his forehead.
Ken growled, his mind clouded with humiliation and rage, ignoring his father's orders: "I don't care what my father says. I don't care what this loser thinks. YOU ALL DIE TODAY. I swear it on everything holy!"
Henry Miller was furious, but keeping composure to protect his owners: "What are you talking about, you stupid child? I'm going to call your father personally!"
Ken stepped toward Miller: "You miserable idiot! Who do you think you are?! I'll kill you after I'm done with these—!"
Insults flew, the shouting between Ken and Miller intensified, guards and customers watching in frozen terror… until suddenly—
Titus, fed up with the chaos, jumped quickly onto one of the restaurant chairs, using it as an improvised podium. He yelled with a powerful voice that echoed across the entire dining room.
Hook: Without knowing it, someone was watching him very closely…