Is this destiny?

A little background on the Kiani family and those mysterious resources…

'The resources' which Sarah and Aiden were unable to find is an extensive network of people with different skills, known as the Kiani underground. They will do any type of work, with no questions asked and their loyalty is only to one person: the matriarch of the Kiani family, known as the Madam Kiani. The title was given to Melissa from her mother, and she got it from her mother, because it is given by the current Madam to the female in the next generation of the Kiani family and this started officially seven generations ago, but even before that, the Kiani family had outside people who followed matriarch's orders.

Kiani is a matriarchal family where women hold power, while men are there to look pretty. OK, not just look pretty… On the surface, the men handle the money, business and other things, but the real power is in the underground forces. This explains why Melissa didn't intervene when her father gave assets to Jasper and then Norman snatched it away. From her perspective, those were just men playing around with trifling things.

Since she has no daughters, and Jasper was a playboy, Melissa was mentally prepared to be the last matriarch and to dissolve the Kiani underground when the time comes. Don't get her wrong, she loves Jasper to pieces, but his cheerful, fickle and mostly timid nature showed that he is not a leader who can successfully run a business, and the underground will not pledge loyalty to a man.

Melissa started changing her opinion about dissolving the organization when Ellie came into the picture: a young, capable, smart woman who got Melissa's attention many years ago but at that time Melissa didn't dare introduce Jasper to Ellie, even though she mentioned him whenever she could only to realize that Ellie is unphased no matter how much Melissa praised her son while avoiding to talk about the negatives. Ellie's indifference when a rich woman (aka Melissa) is talking about her son (aka Jasper) as an available bachelor only proved Melissa's point: that Ellie is independent, and she does not need a man in order to shine. Ah, whenever Melissa ended her appointment with Ellie, her spirits were low because she wished for a daughter just like Ellie.

To say that Melissa suffered a shock (a pleasant one) when she saw Ellie in her house, and then when Ellie and Jasper said that they are dating, is an understatement. This wedding is Melissa's dream come true!

Back to present…

Mathew listened carefully as Melissa explained her plan to give her power to Ellie and he responded with a smile, a shrug, and a: "Good luck."

"You don't have an opinion on this?", Melissa asked when she observed that Mathew has almost no reaction to the big news she just threw at him.

Mathew decided to explain his indifference: "I am trying to get Ellie to be my successor for a long time. She is not interested in power or underground. She is a pure girl, running a clean business."

Melissa chuckled. "You are making it sound like we are criminals."

"Aren't we?"

Melissa waved her hand, like that is not important. "I believe that she will accept, if she is introduced to it with the right mindset."

Mathew spread his hands, palms up. "Enlighten me."

"My son." Melissa made a dramatic pause before continuing. "Don't you think that Jasper has the power to change her mind? Think about it: for how long was Ellie refusing your attempts to be a family? Did you forget that until recently Ellie lived her life like she does not have a father? But because of my boy, Ellie allowed you to get close. When I tell her that the Kiani underground forces can help Jasper not just in his business but in safety as well, she will see it from my point of view."

Mathew cringed internally when Melissa spoke how Ellie was rejecting him but... it is the truth. However, he is not confident that Melissa's plan will work. "Ellie will not willingly do illegal things."

"The things she did for Jasper to help him get control of K Industries, show that she is not opposing to bending the rules. The purpose of Kiani underground is not to do illegal acts, but it's about power."

Mathew thought about it. If this is an offer given to him, he would take it as soon as 'Kiani underground' was mentioned. But this is not about him. Actually, there is no need for him to know any of this. He looked at Melissa suspiciously. "Why are you telling me this?"

Melissa smiled knowingly. Finally, he got to the point. "I want you to help me push Ellie in the right direction."

"What is in it for me?"

"When Ellie accepts to lead the Kiani underground forces, she will be more receptive taking over your organization as well."

Matthew paused. "You want to merge our two organizations into one?"

Melissa shrugged. "I would leave that to Ellie to decide."

Melissa stood up and extended her hand for a handshake. "Do we have a deal, Boss Young?"

Mathew looked at her hand for three seconds before standing up and meeting her hand with his. "You have yourself a deal, Madam Kiani. When do we start?"

"Let's leave lovebirds to enjoy their honeymoon. Who knows? Maybe they return with our granddaughter on the way..."

"Grandson is fine also.", Mathew said dryly.

Melissa responded by raising an eyebrow mockingly. 

Mathew glanced at the door through which Norman left. "What is his role?"

"He was leading K Industries before Jasper took over."

"And now?"

Melissa blinked and looked at Mathew like he is asking something obvious. "He is my husband. But even while at the top of K Industries, he didn't have much power. Power in Kiani family is held by the females."

"He will not be a problem for my Ellie?", Mathew wanted to confirm. After all, Ellie is his priority number one.

Melissa burst into giggles. "After what you did to him?"

Mathew made a face. "You know it was me?"

"Boss Young, don't underestimate me."

Mathew looked at Melissa's expression which darkened in an instant and he realized that she is giving him a warning. He should not get too relaxed around this woman.

"I apologize, Madam Kiani.", Mathew said respectfully while reminding himself that he is in her teritory. He knows better than anyone that all these maids, gardeners and maintenance people are Melissa's people. 

Mathew said his goodbyes and sat in the back of the car, heading back to the apartment which Sarah and Aiden provided for him (like every time when he visits Chicago).

He thought about his conversation with Melissa and a smile crept on his face.

Mathew knew that Melissa has a formidable force under her command. That is why he wanted to get involved into this wedding and get closer to Ellie's future mother-in-law with a goal to confirm that Ellie is not in danger by getting into this marriage. Mathew didn't expect to hear that Melissa plans to give all this power to Ellie. He likes it.

Mathew will not deny that the current Madam Kiani is a smart woman and good with words, and he has high hopes that she will get Ellie to see things from her perspective.

He sighed, if he is better in strategizing, Ellie would be working as his right hand man (or a woman) while learning about the organization, but alas… instead of persuading her to take over, every time he brought up the topic, they argued and drifted away further. Ellie is just too smart to be tricked into anything. Mathew is optimistic that Melisa will succeed where he failed. As a bonus, when Ellie accepts Melissa's offer, Ellie will be more inclined to accept leading his men also. Ah, he would like a long vacation but he can't rest, not until he knows that Ellie is leading a good life and has people around her to protect her.

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