Chapter 31

Kamal Al-Farsi sat at the head of the long mahogany table, his eyes scanning the gathered members of the Farsi family. The air in the room was thick with the scent of expensive cologne and the unspoken tension of a failing enterprise. He tapped his fingers against the polished wood, a rhythmic sound that commanded silence. "The shopping center project is at a standstill," Kamal began, his voice cold and devoid of any grandfatherly warmth. "The banks are tightening their grip, and without an...