by J. Kenner
I’ve just parked, so I keep the engine running as I answer the call, dreading what I have to tell him so much that all I say is, “You’re not going to like this. Check your text.”
I’m right, of course. He doesn’t like it. “I’ve got the meeting with Ashton Stone in five minutes,” he tells me, “but as soon as that wraps, I’ll head over to The Domino. By that time, they’ll have dusted for prints.”
I nod to myself. The Domino is the business park where Stark Security is located, and where Renly would have taken the envelope and note. “Tell them to dust Marge’s station, too. The guy might have delivered it himself if he’s ballsy enough.”
“I’ll mention it, but I imagine Ryan or Renly or Mario already thought of that.” His voice is tight. Businesslike. And I know he’s holding back fury.
“We’ll figure this out,” I say. “We always do.”
At first, he says nothing. Then I hear his soft exhalation. “We will,” he finally says. “And we do. I love you, baby.”
“That’s what I count on, Mr. Stark.”
I’m about to say goodbye when he adds, “I don’t know what this guy’s agenda is. Be careful.”
“Of course, I will,” I say, but I’ve seen enough to know that careful doesn’t always matter. “Call me when you know about the prints.”
“I will,” he says, and we end the call. I sit for a moment to gather myself. While I’m here, it’s about the kids, not our personal crises.
Damien and I were dating when he created the foundation to help abused and neglected children. It’s one of many charitable organizations in which he’s involved, and I became more active after I went public with my cutting. It wasn’t easy—my need for the blade had been a dark secret for so many years—but if I could help even one kid on the road to recovery from self-harm, I knew it would be worth it.
And I was right, too, I think, as I get out of the car and see Mellie racing toward me. “Nikki! Hey, I didn’t know you were going to be here today.”
“Paperwork and a meeting,” I tell her, accepting her enthusiastic hug. “And I was hoping I’d see you.” She’s a vibrant fifteen-year-old with a shock of red hair who came to the foundation about four years ago. Like me, she’s a cutter. And also like me, she has issues with her mother, who is currently serving time for assault. This year, she’s not only one of the foundation’s aid recipients, she’s also working as a summer camp buddy for the younger kids.
“What’s on your agenda today?” I ask her as we take a seat at one of the wooden picnic tables.
“I’m taking some of the ten and eleven-year-olds on a nature hike. Well, me and Adam are taking them.”
“Well, that’s nice,” I say, my intonation rising since I know perfectly well that she’s had a huge crush on Adam for ages.
To my surprise, she only shrugs. “I’m over him. Besides, he’s got a girlfriend.” She makes a face and surrounds the last word with air quotes.
“You okay?” I ask gently.
Mellie shrugs. “I guess. I mean, I’m not going to cut over him.”
My ears prick up at the emphasis on the last word. “Did you cut over something?”
“No!” She blurts out the word. “No, I swear I didn’t. I mean, yes, I thought about it, but it wasn’t even like an urge, you know? It was like a nod. Like, I used to do this, but fuck you, Mom, I’m not going to hurt myself because of you.” She clears her throat. “Sorry for the cursing.”
“Don’t worry about the cursing,” I tell her. “I just want to know that you’re okay.”
“I’m good. Really. Just stupid stuff when I visited my mom. But it’s cool. How about you?” she asks, turning to face me.
“I’m doing okay,” I tell her. “To be honest, I’m kind of proud of myself. We’ve had some nasty stuff happen this weekend—some people sending horrible texts about Damien and me—and I didn’t even think about it. Well,” I amend, “maybe a tiny bit, but I brushed it away, just like a gnat.”
“Good on you,” she says, then high-fives me. “I’m glad we were both strong,” she says. “Our moms were the reason we started, you know. For both of us, I mean. And anytime we cut it just gives them power.”
“You’re very wise for fifteen.”
“Not hardly. But I was thinking, I used to believe you must have it really great because of all that money. Yours and Mr. Stark’s, I mean. But I guess that’s not really true, huh?”
“It’s not the money that makes it great,” I tell her. “It’s Damien.”
She laughs, her cheeks turning rosy. “Yeah, I can see that. Your husband’s kinda hot, you know?”
I fight back a laugh. “Yeah,” I say. “I do.”
“It helps, you know?”
“Damien?” I ask.
“No. You. Having to fight the urge to cut and stuff like that. Just not being perfect.”
“Well, then I must be the biggest help in the world.”
Mellie laughs. “So, um, part of the reason I’m okay with Adam and his new girlfriend is … oh, man, I can’t believe I’m telling you this … but I’ve got a crush. And he’s so awesome and cute and —”
“It’s not Lyle, is it?” Lyle Tarpin’s also active at the SCF, and more than one teen girl has a crush on him.
“What? No. Lyle’s cute and all, but he’s old. This guy’s a real person, not a movie star, and he’s only a few years older than me. He was here the other day to fill out a volunteer application, and I showed him around.”
“That’s great. Was he selected?”
“I don’t know. I hope so.”
“Well, keep me posted,” I say, as my phone chimes, signaling an incoming text. “I should check this,” I tell Mellie. “Give me a sec?”
“Oh, I’ve got to go get ready for the hike. But it was great to see you.” She gives me a hug, then bounds off toward the recreation center. I wave her off as I pull my phone out of my purse, then almost drop my phone when I see what’s on the screen. It’s a video, and though it doesn’t autoplay, I can see from the still what it is.
It’s me and Damien at Masque.
I close my eyes and look again, but the picture’s still there, and I force myself to contemplate this reality. We’re on a balcony, and I remember that night vividly. It had been exhilarating, exciting, wildly erotic.
Now, I think that it may have been a huge mistake, too. Because despite the firm policies that Matthew Holt has in place—the background checks on members, the no phone or camera policies—there we are, me with the top of my elegant dress pulled down so that my breasts are completely exposed, and Damien behind me, my skirt very clearly hiked up. And, I’m certain that when I press the play button on the video, it will be even more clear exactly what we are doing.
I curse, and the phone tumbles from my hand. I lurch for it, desperate to grab it before one of the kids does, even though there are no kids around. Then I force myself to look once again. To read the text sent by whoever took this video—or whoever managed to acquire it, which is an even more disturbing thought.
I hesitate, then swipe up so that the message bubble comes into view:
Look what he’s made of you. A mother with such sweet kids, and here he is shaming you just hours before your little girl was taken. What a selfish prick. Only about his needs. His convenience. His pleasure. You must know you’re not special. You’re just the one who stuck. And maybe he’s fooled you, but not me. I know what he is. I’m going to let everyone know what he is.
11
“The kid was a hell of a driver,” Jackson said from where he was kicked back on the sofa in Damien’s office, a cup of coffee in his hand. “It was a shame when he retired from racing.”
Damien poured a cup for himself, then took the chair opposite his brother. “Agree, but that wreck was a bad one. It’s a miracle he walked away from it. Might turn me off from racing, too.”
Jackson tilted his head, his eyes narrowing as he studied Damien. “I don’t know, little brother. I think it t
akes more than a wreck to knock you off course.” He put the cup down on the table between them. “So how does Noah know Ashton Stone anyway?”
“Apparently they met through Kiki. I guess Stone’s a fan, and he’d attended a benefit where she was performing. They got to talking, and he told Noah a bit about the energy system he was working on, and that he was looking to raise capital.”
“So Noah told him to call you?”
“Actually, no. Noah mentioned the conversation to me, and I reached out. I didn’t want to wait for him to come to me. The guy’s a racing celebrity. He’s used to being courted.” He smiled. “I’m familiar with the feeling.”
Jackson chuckled. “And now you’re older and wiser.”
“I don’t know about wiser...”
Jackson stood, then crossed the room to refresh his coffee. “From a purely selfish standpoint, I hope you’re interested enough to actually invest. If what we’re hearing is right, his system really could change everything.”
“Can’t disagree with that. His system harnesses and stores atmospheric energy with an efficiency that no one else has been able to achieve. No need to plug in a battery at all. It just pulls energy from the air. It’s like he’s been able to channel Nikola Tesla.”
“You sound impressed.”
“I am. There are still issues that would prevent widespread use, but he’s taken the tech to a whole new level. It’s something we’ve been dabbling with at Stark Applied Technology, but this guy’s light years ahead of us. Not only is the guy good behind a wheel, but he’s got the mind of a scientist.”
Jackson chuckled. “Your kind of man.”
“He definitely intrigues me, but the tech’s not quite there yet, which is why I think we can provide him with some solid resources.”
“What issues do you see?” Jackson asked.
“His automotive batteries can generate enough power for a racecar, but not enough to finish the race, and they can’t recharge sufficiently while in use.”
“So it’s not yet at the level where the major automotive manufacturers would be interested.”
“Not yet, but he’s close. He needs to be able to efficiently convert energy on the go, and if he can develop a lighter battery with a higher capacity he’ll have something truly incredible. More important, it would change the face of energy across the board.”
“Which is where I come in,” Jackson said. “Designing houses, apartments, office complexes, all with Stone’s tech. These places could be completely off the grid, creating their own clean and limitless energy.”
“That’s the dream,” Damien said as Troy buzzed over the intercom to announce that Preston had entered the waiting area with Noah.
“Send them in,” Damien said, then turned as the doors opened and Preston Rhodes, the head of acquisitions for Stark Applied Technology, walked in with Noah Carter, the president of the Austin office, at his side. A tech genius, Noah used to work for a secret vigilante organization known as Deliverance. Damien, however, had lured him away.
“I wasn’t sure you’d be able to get here today,” Damien said, after they’d both greeted him and Jackson. “I thought you weren’t coming into LA until the weekend.”
“Turns out Matthew wanted Kiki to fly out and record some tracks with a local band he’s signing,” Noah said. “When Preston told me that Ashton Stone was coming in, I decided to fly out with her. We’ll end the week with your ceremony, then head back to Texas.”
“I’m glad,” Damien said as they all took seats around the coffee table that dominated the huge office’s seating area. “You’ll have to come to the house before things get crazy. I’m thrilled we have so many friends coming, but I’m afraid that means I won’t have the chance to spend much one-on-one time on Saturday.
“Dallas and Jane are arriving midweek,” he continued, referring to Dallas Sykes, the man who ran Deliverance before ceasing its operations, “And obviously, Quincy, Tony, and Liam are already here.” Damien had snatched up the three former Deliverance operatives for Stark Security. “If you five have a reunion, I might have to crash it.”
Noah chuckled. “How about we induct you as an honorary member of Deliverance, and you can come at your discretion?”
“I’ll take it.”
The intercom buzzed again, and Troy announced, “Mr. Stone is here for his appointment.”
“Send him in.”
Damien rose as the doors opened again, and Ashton Stone stepped into the office.
For one surreal moment, it seemed to Damien that he was looking in a mirror. This was definitely the Ashton Stone he remembered from racing videos, but this Ashton’s face had lost the roundness of youth. Now he was all strong lines and angles, with an edge of determination and competence that Damien recognized.
He bit back a smile, certain he was going to like this guy. He crossed the room and held out his hand in greeting. “Mr. Stone. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Call me Ashton.” He took Damien’s hand, his grip strong, and Damien led him to the seating area, then introduced him to Jackson and Preston, both of whom stood. Noah stood as well, then reached over and shook Ashton’s hand. “Great to see you again.”
“I wasn’t expecting to see you here,” Ashton said. And although it didn’t make any sense, Damien thought he heard an undercurrent of irritation in the younger man’s voice.
Troy had followed them in, and now offered the men coffee or juice. Ashton took a coffee with cream, sipped it, then he met Damien’s eyes and said, “Well, what’s your pitch?”
Damien saw Troy’s brows rise from where he stood behind Ashton. He kept a tight rein on his own expression, but was equally amused. “To be honest, I expected you to tell me a bit about your system. But,” he added, as Troy exited the room, “I’m happy to do this your way.”
He leaned back, ready to enjoy a conversation about the tech. “From what I understand, you’ve come up with a system to harness atmospheric energy and store it in battery systems that can be recharged on the go. You’ve had some success, but the charging process takes too long. The cars need a gasoline backup or, ideally, improved technology that allows the cells to recharge in transit at a much faster rate.”
“So far so good, Mr. Stark. I’m glad to see you’ve done your homework.”
“I always do my homework,” Damien said. “And what I see is a product that has significant potential. I won’t play games with you. We’d like the chance to work with you on this. I think that you’ll agree that Stark International, and especially Stark Applied Technology, has the resources to develop and improve your system enough that it would be fair to say that it could be the leading source of green energy by the end of this decade.”
Damien leaned forward. “My understanding is that you’re looking for potential investors, and while I may be biased, I think we would be the best partner for you in this project.”
Ashton nodded slowly. “I’m flattered that you’re so impressed with my work. To be honest, this started as a passion project in my garage. I never expected it to explode the way it has, but I’m glad that it did.”
“You clearly had the skills to make it happen,” Noah said. “Talent can go a long way. Money for R and D can take you further.”
“I don’t disagree,” Ashton said. “And I should point out that I’m serious when I describe this as a passion project. The tech is something that means a lot to me, and I’m very protective of it. I’m only going to work with the right partner. It’s not a question of rushing this to market.”
“I understand,” Damien said. “I suggest you give us the opportunity to take a closer look, obviously with non-disclosures in place. Let us see if what you’ve got so far is something that we can get behind as an investor or partner. Or possibly a full acquisition of the tech with you coming on board to manage its development and entry into the marketplace. What you’ve come up with is very exciting. We’d like to help you make the most of it.”
Damien watched Ashton as
he spoke, but could read nothing on the younger man’s face, a fact that lifted the man in his estimation. Few in the business world had sufficient control not to show their hand.
Ashton took a sip of his coffee before finally responding. “I’m flattered, Mr. Stark, but I’m not surprised.”
“No?”
“As I told Noah, I thought this would be up your alley. You have a reputation for working with cutting edge technology in a variety of fields. Stark International is a powerhouse, and while I imagine you have people clamoring at the doors trying to get your attention, you also know quality and innovation when you see it.”
Damien grinned. “I’d say that’s a fair assessment.”
“But here’s the thing, Mr. Stark.” He paused, then leaned forward in his chair. “No.”
Damien sat back, thrown by the unexpected response. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me. My answer is no.”
“I see.” Damien glanced at Jackson, who looked as baffled as he felt. “I’d be very interested in knowing why we had this meeting if my proposal doesn’t interest you. Or do you just not like the coffee I served?”
“It was good coffee. The cream was great, too. Heavy cream. Lots of places only have those little plastic cups. Or that powdered crap. No, you know how to treat a guest right, Mr. Stark. Other than that, though….”
Ashton shrugged. “Well, you’re a man who puts a good face out there for the world, but that’s not who you are at the core, is it?”
Damien stiffened, his eyes focused on this man, who seemed to have grown horns right in front of him. “Do you have a personal grudge against me, Mr. Stone?”
Ashton looked straight at Damien. “You know exactly what I have against you, Mr. Stark. So don’t think you can play games with me. I know everything. Every. Fucking. Thing.”
“I see,” Damien said, though he didn’t see at all. “Then can you tell me why this meeting was even necessary?”
Ashton shrugged. “You’re a man who gets what he wants. You always have been. Your tennis trophies. Your pretty wife. Your beautiful house, gorgeous kids, and all your pretty, pretty properties.” He sat back, then cracked his fingers. “That’s all fine. They’re yours. Keep them. Enjoy them. But there are two things you won’t have. My technology and me.”