In a short time, I’d taken Cozza to the top and made them the industry leader without looking back or feeling remorse for how we got there. But in the last few years, Interstellar, which is headed by Lauren Bradley, a tenacious and driven female CEO, has been chomping at our heels, trying to top us.

Until recently, I paid them no attention, but that changed when rumors started to spread about their new cutting-edge technology that would slingshot them right past Cozza and place them firmly in the number one spot.

That doesn’t sit well with me either. I didn’t spend a large portion of my life building Cozza to have everything destroyed in the blink of an eye. I will do anything to stop Interstellar in their tracks, including using the inside information I received.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Jim Alesci, my chief legal counsel at Cozza, asks, tapping his pen against the orders sitting before him, and he looks tenser than normal. “You’re opening a huge can of worms.”

“I’ve never wanted anything more.”

“There’s going to be a lot of questions about why you chose this very moment to start to move on Interstellar.”

Carlino, the VP of Cozza, asked my permission to find a mole inside Interstellar. Although I said no and was completely against it, he did it anyway, and his findings set this entire thing into motion. Through his efforts, we were able to ascertain that Interstellar had done the unthinkable. Their research team has developed an engine that doesn’t use any jet fuel. To say I was gobsmacked would be an understatement. An invention such as this will be like the Holy Grail in an industry where we’re always striving for the best fuel economy and pushing the limits of human space travel.

“I’ll deal with the questions and blowback once the ball is rolling.”

“From what I know about Ms. Bradley, she’s not going to just roll over and hand you her company.”

“I’d expect nothing less. We have the element of surprise as well as money on our side, Jim.”

I have always lived by the tactics in Sun Tzu’s Art of War. Even though he lived 2,500 years ago, his strategies and methods are still used today and still hold true. The biggest thing I have on my side is the unexpected.

Sun Tzu said, “Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”

That’s exactly what I plan to do. Interstellar won’t know what hit them. Right now, we have the upper hand, and as they start to unveil their new engine and move through the testing phase, the power will shift. Therefore, now is the only time to take action.

“I’ll be in Chicago by tomorrow afternoon.” I lean back in the chair, staring out over the city of Milan, steeped in all its beauty and history. Lives were crushed, companies were ruined, and dreams were killed to build the city that sits just outside my window.

Cozza is no different.

I will crush Interstellar, and Ms. Bradley will just be a causality in order to keep my company at the top.

“Do me a favor, Antonio.” Jim taps the small stack of papers against the mahogany table, looking more nervous than usual. “Don’t attract attention. Stay in your hotel until the cards are dealt and the team meets you there. We have to be very careful how we handle this.”

“Jim, really. I don’t plan on marching into Ms. Bradley’s office and making my intentions known. I’ll wait until you start the takeover bid before I do anything. I will take no chances on this deal getting derailed. Plus, you know I don’t like media attention. No one will know I’m in town.”

Jim rubs the bridge of his nose with his fingers and lets out a loud sigh. “I’m not looking forward to this.”

“When have you ever shied away from a good fight?”

“Interstellar and Ms. Bradley aren’t to be underestimated, Antonio. She’s fierce. Don’t let her gender fool you. She’s exactly like you in every way, and she protects her company at all costs.”

I wave his words away. There’s no opponent that gives me pause, especially not an American woman who has sat firmly in the number two spot for five years. She may be worthy, but I have no doubt that I’ll topple her and her company.

“I’ve never met an opponent I can’t beat, Jim. You handle the legal end, and I’ll do the rest. I didn’t get this far without risking everything, including my reputation.”

Jim stands and slaps the stack of papers against the edge of the table with a hungry look in his eyes. “It’ll be done today. By tomorrow morning, Interstellar won’t know what hit them.”

“Thank you.” I smile, ready to conquer the American princess and make their new invention my own.