by Piper Stone
I squeezed my hands around the steering wheel, the brisk wind from the open windows unable to clear my mind. Fuck me. Her scent remained, covering every inch of skin. No amount of scrubbing had released me from her powerful fragrance.
While she was a beautiful flower, her delicate petals prepared to blossom, I hadn’t prepared myself for the possibility of hungering for her to the point of losing all control.
But the first sight of her had created an urge burning so deep within that I hadn’t been able to get her out of my mind. Even her rebelliousness had been enthralling, keeping my balls tight and my desire close to the surface. The moment my hand had caressed her skin, my fingers brushing across her rounded bottom, I’d almost lost it.
Bringing her to a climax had seemed a necessity, a realization that every privilege would be stripped, earned one at a time. I could tell by the look on her face as she’d been led from the room that she wouldn’t give a shit.
At least not now.
Not until I broke her.
For all the years I’d prided myself in never making a decision based on emotion, I was beginning to think my yearning as well as my need for revenge had altered my way of thinking.
Perhaps forever.
That wasn’t acceptable.
Yet here we were.
I shifted the gears as I rolled around the curve, slowing to a stop as I stared up at the creation of glass and steel. The building itself had been one of the first purchases I’d made after amassing a fortune in almost two years of being sequestered in America. I’d taken pride in what I’d been able to accomplish in such a short period of time, the creation of the branch nothing short of a miracle. Of course, my father had expected I would fail, merely sending me away to try to salvage the family name. I laughed at the thought as I pressed down on the accelerator, rolling the car into the underground garage.
The board meeting wasn’t unusual except that it had been called by the chairman of the board himself instead of on our quarterly timetable. They’d done so one hour after the contract had been signed, which meant the information had leaked prior to the rather vicious newspaper articles and television news coverage. I had a feeling I knew exactly who’d leaked the information. The asshole would pay for his treachery.
I’d forced the board members to wait, visiting several of my operations before driving to the headquarters. Almost four-thirty. Perfect.
Minutes later, I pushed open the heavy set of wooden doors, storming into the boardroom, the members already seated. While my chair remained empty at the head of the table, I had no intention of sitting. Whatever was about to transpire would only take a few minutes of my time.
I was in no mood for bullshit from any of them. While the six handpicked moguls owned a significant share of the company’s stock, every single member was well aware I held all the cards.
They would never have any level of control.
Nor would any of the other less powerful stockholders. I continued to play by my father’s established rules, even though I’d created a few of my own. I’d made it my point to discover every dirty little secret of every board member or investor who owned a significant portion of stock prior to extending them an invitation. With either a pointed phone call or email sent, I could destroy their lives. That allowed me to sleep at night, at least for an hour or two.
The expressions of the five men and one woman were stoic, perhaps laced with a hint of fear. I shoved the chair out of my way, planting my palms on the table and leaning over, locking eyes with every one of them. “To what do I owe the pleasure of being called to the boardroom?”
They stole small glances at one another as if holding a secret. My anger level increased from their silence alone.
When Robert cleared his throat, I shifted my gaze in his direction. I’d hired Mr. Dwyer because of his acumen for turning around failing companies. With his expertise, I’d been able to acquire several prior to their change in operation, fortifying my already extensive empire. Unfortunately, he had a penchant for young girls, a damning proclivity he certainly wouldn’t want exposed to his family.
Or to the press.
I doubted his pompous ass could spend more than a night in jail before meeting his demise.
I offered a smile, giving him a nod. “Robert?”
He tapped his fingers on the table, his personal nervous tic. “Gabriel, while none of us would ever want to question your authority, we also must answer to the stockholders. You know the kind of pressure we’re under with regard to this last deal you’ve proposed. There were already concerns that you’re taking on too much with building your own manufacturing plant. Mr. Braxton is a real snake and he’ll sell the land to someone else if there’s a hint of a scandal.”
My last deal. They had no way of knowing it truly would be my last deal as CEO of this subsidiary, at least for a period of time. My successor would be carefully monitored, but I had no intentions of entering into subsequent large deals until I had full control over the entire world empire. The thought was riveting. Soon, Masters Enterprises would be all mine.
The board members had every right to be worried, but not about anything I’d done. Their concerns should be based on the fact that the information Mr. Toro had stolen could be used against our company by our enemies. If a single member of the network got their hands on the financials, the information could be parlayed into undermining the bid I’d placed on the land in question. I knew they would try any underhanded technique in order to best me. Had Luis already sold the drive of information off to the highest bidder? That had to be the reason he betrayed me.
Even if his contract with his daughter made no sense.
I also had various concerns about a few members on the board.
“Meaning?” I asked casually, able to hear Maria’s scattered breathing. She was worried her husband would find out exactly how rough she liked it in the bedroom, even though he’d never been her dom of choice.
“Meaning, as diligently as you attempted to hide the contractual deal you entered into with a bloodthirsty criminal, it leaked within minutes all over this city. You’re going against a very prominent family in this state. Your investors are worried about retaliation.”
My investors were men and women from various walks of life, people I’d purposely targeted to break the hold a few astute and very powerful families had on Denver and other parts of Colorado. I could understand their concerns; however, I was finished with their weakness.
The question remained. Who had spread the news?
I doubted Jefferson would betray me, but I certainly knew who had the motive and the opportunity. Stephen Cantor was a snake, although very good at pretending to be one of the good guys. I should have known the NDA he’d been required to sign wouldn’t mean shit to a man walking both sides of the law. I would deal with him in my own time.
My way.
“People. Do you mean the individuals who have become very wealthy during the last few years and stand a chance at garnering more influence than the eight or so families who own this town?” When none of them had the balls to answer me, I snickered. “This particular deal I made does not and will not affect Masters Enterprises or the Braxton land transition. This is personal.” I stated the words as if they meant nothing to me.
“Some of our stockholders are deeply concerned your personal issues will be seen as a weakness. You’re going against the wishes of the Rivers family, for Christ’s sake, let alone the fact Luis Toro attempted to destroy this company. I don’t know what’s wrong with you lately, Gabriel. You seem to be more concerned about exacting revenge versus running a multimillion-dollar company. I for one am getting sick of your antics,” Joe huffed, his exclamation getting mixed reactions from the other board members. Joe Banton had never been a team player. The twinkle in his eye indicated he believed he had indeed found my personal weakness and would have no issue exploiting it.
I’d already considered searching for another board member. Perhaps it was time to esca
late his exit package. While his severance wouldn’t be enough to pay off his gambling debt to a group of very nasty casino owners, perhaps it would be enough to keep him alive.
“Then I suggest you require sale of the investors’ stock,” I said without changing my tone of voice. The board certainly didn’t know the various details of Luis’ repayment options and they wouldn’t.
“That’s insane!” Joe shouted, smashing his hand on the table as he rose to his feet.
I tilted my head, making certain he looked me directly in the eyes. Swallowing, he finally eased back into his chair. I offered a smile, enjoying the fear creeping into his expression.
“You can’t do that, Gabriel,” Robert countered. “There is significant unrest in this community and you’re only going to create red flags if you do that. I’m no fool. There have been vultures buzzing overhead waiting for you to make a mistake. This could be the noose hanging around your neck.”
His words sounded as if they’d been thought about for some time.
“I have no issues handling whatever fallout occurs, Robert. Our latest contract will be finalized in ten days. Then we will be on our way to diversifying, building a powerful manufacturing firm instead of dismantling them.”
Robert sighed and pushed away from the table. “You don’t really care about our advice, Gabriel. You run your business as you see fit. While I initially applauded you based on your selection of new investors, I should have realized you had a hidden agenda.”
I would give the man credit for having the balls to stand up to me.
“You are well aware of the contracts every stockholder is required to sign, the provisions they agreed to. By speaking out against the company in any manner, they broke the terms. That allows me to do exactly what I damn well please. The stock will be sold back to the company. Period. Make it happen. Feel free to give them a decent price.” I swept my gaze around the room once again. “I will be making some changes to the direction and the makeup of this company. When I am ready, you will be told. For anyone who would like to question my personal decision to provide aid for a woman in trouble, I suggest you remember the ramifications of doing so.”
I rose to my full height, offering each one of them a smile. It felt damn good to get back into the office. However, it was time to pay a visit to Mr. Cantor. The press had continued to hound him long after Alessandra has been whisked away from the courtroom. He was also a greedy son of a bitch. Talking to the highest bidder wasn’t beneath the man on any level.
It was also time to learn if anything was being said on the streets. At least there was a portion of the contract only Jefferson was aware of. There was also a single man I trusted to tell me the truth in all things, his candor and his offhanded advice often exactly what I needed. As I roared out of the garage, I pressed his private number on the onboard screen.
“Gabriel.” Aiden’s voice held more than just a hint of amusement. “I thought you might be calling.”
“Which means word is on the street of my latest business decision,” I countered. Given what Robert had said, I needed to take this seriously. My enemies were no doubt waiting in the wings.
“Business decision,” he countered, laughing. “You know that anything you do seems to be tabloid fodder. You are a true celebrity in this town, especially since you’re a catch for the ladies. It’s been interesting... entertainment.”
I hissed. I’d learned only after Luis’ death that he’d maintained important and powerful connections with people on both sides of the law. The man had been the kind of opportunist who fed from one hand while providing information with the other. No wonder he’d wound up dead, shot execution style. Still, I had been surprised. He’d been dedicated for years. What had driven him to change?
“I’m certain some of the information is incorrect and over-dramatized, but holy shit. I gotta ask you, what in the hell?” He laughed until he realized I found none of this amusing.
“You know I keep my business arrangements private,” I snarled under my breath.
“Yeah, I know that far too well. Did you really convince the judge to place Mr. Rivers’ attacker in your custody? Is that shit even legal? Granted, I know who she is and more important, what her father did to you, but that’s nuts. I mean, why? To get back at him?” Aiden stated, unable to contain another round of laughter.
“Cut the crap, Aiden. As with any business arrangement, there are unusual codicils. This one was no different. It also fell into my lap.”
“Codicils? Whoa. You’re kidding me, right?” When I remained silent, he snorted. “You aren’t kidding me. You have some kind of balls, Gabriel. I’ll give you that.”
“He fucked up. He made me a deal before his untimely death. End of story.” My words were clipped, matching the intense anger sweeping in.
“Didn’t you ask yourself why he was murdered? Is this all about ruining you and maybe he made a second mistake in the person he trusted with that valuable information?”
“Likely.” What else could I say?
“Okay then. Do you want to grab a drink later and discuss your options, ‘cause I’m certain you need to hear a few of them? Ten. Hell, maybe twenty.”
I glanced at the clock before making a right turn. Aiden knew better than to push, but he had an innate ability to see through the murky waters of my life. I couldn’t afford to make a misstep, not when I was almost prepared to take control of everything that rightfully belonged to me. After Toro’s betrayal, I’d been blindsided by the large envelope arriving on my doorstep, the offer made by the man himself. However, the gorgeous color photographs had unearthed a level of desire I’d shoved aside. There would always be vultures waiting for bloodshed, including my family, hungry to drive a stake into the very heart of all I’d accomplished. I saw this as a sign to accept my father’s generous offer, even though it might be from the devil himself. “I have some additional business to deal with, but I’ll meet you at the club in an hour.”
“Good choice. I’ll be there.”
Good choice. Was there any in this town? I’d been an outsider since the day I’d arrived in America, the old boys’ network covered in barbed wire. My success had ruffled more than a few feathers and I’d remained driven, fueled by that fact alone. I smacked my hand on the steering wheel, refusing to fall into the vacuum of self-doubt.
My thoughts drifted once again. Alessandra had called me a coward. Maybe that was the most honest thing anyone had said to me. There’d been no reason I hadn’t returned to Ireland after a few years, demanding my rights. My family had survived my scandalous behavior, the corporation thriving. I’d paid off the debt my father had created tenfold.
But I’d remained in the States, following his verbal regulations.
Rules.
Often it was necessary to explain them in a more extreme manner, allowing for zero misunderstanding. This was one of those times.
Why was I lying to myself? My father had never wanted to see me again, the rest of my family standing behind him. They must have been surprised when the will had been read.
Time to pay Stephen a visit.
The office building was less grandiose than the one holding Masters Enterprises, the area just on the outskirts of town also far less expensive. Luis Toro had been a wise man during his lifetime, the selections he made calculated in order to keep expenses low while providing a good life for Alessandra.
But this particular choice hadn’t been one of Luis’ best. Perhaps I’d made a mistake in allowing Stephen Cantor the opportunity to handle a single aspect of my business. Unfortunately, there’d been little time to act. If Alessandra had been sent to prison, even my influences would have proven almost impossible.
As expected, given the late afternoon hour, the majority of employees had already left the office. However, I knew Stephen’s habits, had made certain I built enough information about his life prior into entering into the business transaction with me.
His car remained in the parking lot.
&n
bsp; There was no receptionist, no one to hinder my progression as I walked casually toward Stephen’s office. I held no animosity inside, the rage I’d felt earlier already subsiding. I was here to provide a single warning, as well as a reminder about the very rules I’d laid out prior to striking a six-figure check for his services.
I wasn’t surprised to see him on the phone as I walked into his office, the stench of cigars permeating the aging carpet. While he had the only decent view in the building, the patch of unkempt landscape highlighted the fact Luis had selected a bottom feeder as his counsel.
He immediately stiffened when I walked in, likely noticing my reflection in the dirty glass. I closed the door behind me before walking closer. I certainly didn’t need any prying eyes.
“I’ll have to call you back,” Stephen said, immediately lowering his cell phone. He took a deep breath before turning around, the practiced smile the very one he often used in the courtroom. I could see the uncertainty in his eyes. “Gabriel. What a surprise.”
I studied the room, taking a deep breath before walking toward the expansive bar he’d created for himself. I said nothing as I prepared a single drink, admiring both the beautiful crystal glass as well as the expensive liquor. When I turned around, I unfastened my suit jacket, allowing him to see a glimpse of the shoulder holster.
He seemed frustrated, even angry that I’d bothered him. “What can I do for you?” he asked, his tone laced with disdain.
I took a sip of scotch, marveling in the smoothness as it slid down the back of my throat. “Were the terms of our agreement acceptable?”
I could see a hint of arrogance crossing his face, which surprised me.
“Yes, of course. Why?”
“I thought I’d check, given certain situations that have arisen,” I said, half under my breath.
Stephen shifted his gaze to the various files on his desk, tidying up as I watched him. “Not sure what you mean, and I hate to push you, Gabe, but I have an actual date tonight.”