The first page of Angelica’s summary was a list of privately-owned agriculture properties. Shoot, there really weren’t many left to secure. I read the first address and scanned the page anew.
I owned six of these. Well, I was reasonably certain.
Angelica continued talking, but I listened with half an ear, scrolling through the rest of the file. I’d already been briefed that no reports left this level. Taking pictures on my phone—even in a private corner or the bathroom—felt like a really bad idea.
Memory, it is.
I returned to the first page as Angelica detailed what was known about each property. Another head team member entered after her, and I opened the file Internet Marketing without Ilion’s help.
I skimmed over what appeared to be an online marketing plan but soon went back to the first document.
How was I going to play this?
I needed the clans to keep fighting while I crept up in the wings.
Clan Sundulus kept Fyrlia weaker. Overall, two were easier to fight than one. I had my own forecasters for Ingenium. I knew what my position would be in two years or three decades based on my accelerated strategy.
Decades that, with enough expansion, I might have a chance to finish this thing.
Seven Vissimo came in and out to give their reports. By 1:30 a.m., in addition to the first two areas, we’d covered general marketing—television and street marketing, offensive marketing, council strategies, banking strategies, SEO, industry budget, human liaisons and the largest file—forecasting for what would happen in over one hundred different scenarios, arranged from most probable to least probable. Thankfully we’d only gone through the top five most likely situations.
Keeping track of the moving parts was nearly impossible, but I focused on the worst possible outcome. If Fyrlia acquired six of the remaining agricultural properties, the percentage of their Bluff City holdings would increase by 2 percent. The end cascade would be triggered.
If they acquired one agricultural property, it gave them 50.1 percent likelihood of winning Ingenium because of the power of word of mouth.
The report also detailed what the likeliest suburbs for their turn would be based on the most probable rolls: seven, six, eight, five, and nine. That only helped Sundulus so much. Anything could fucking happen—and the forecast covered fucking everything, extrapolating data over the next twenty years.
They had to have software to generate these crazy stats. Or, I supposed, several hundred vampires on the job.
The head of forecasting left the room. As soon as she did, the seconds launched into a furious debate that had my palms sweating in seconds. Eyes blazing and teeth flashing, growls cut through the air. Keeping track of the different reports and threads was near impossible as it was. With the reaction of my body around the Vissimo, I had no chance.
I watched Kyros who, for the most part, sat back observing his seconds. He chimed in every so often to realign the flow of ideas and criticism but otherwise sat much like his father had while listening to his children brainstorming.
When his father did it, I wanted him to trip on his sarong and fall down the stairs.
On Kyros…
My mouth dried at the way the massive vampire leaned back in his chair, at ease but attentive. If I was sitting on his lap, I knew what I’d be feeling under my ass at that moment.
I clamped my legs together, flushing as Kyros tore his green eyes from Conrad to look at me. Answering heat and no small amount of intrigue flooded my mind.
The seconds stood, and I blinked.
They turned to me, and I stared back in bewilderment.
“We stand before our prince, Miss Le Spyre,” Ilion said, his keen eyes resting on the open housing report in my hand.
He isn’t my prince.
I peered at Kyros. “If I sat here all day, you’d have to do the same?”
His eyes flashed at the challenge, and the vampires either side of me scattered away from the table.
I grinned, standing.
Kyros unfurled to his full height. I swallowed, and several vampires glanced my way.
“Stand by for the final strategy announcement at 03:45 a.m.,” Kyros said grimly.
The seconds didn’t just walk from the room—they blurred. Thank fuck. I took a full breath for the first time in two hours. I ignored Kyros as much as possible to power off my tablet.
It was no use. I felt him moving down the length of the table to watch me. Hugging the tablet to my chest, I straightened and returned his steady perusal.
His green eyes searched mine. What for? PTSD from his father’s interrogation? Strangulation by King Julius was just one more shit on the poop heap.
Kyros gripped my upper arms and sadness pinged through our bond. “I’m sorry, Basilia.”
Had he ever said sorry before? I hadn’t thought the word was in his vocabulary. His apology did mean something—as unspecific as it had to be for listening ears. It just didn’t mean enough.
I hummed. “I hear you.”
“That’s what you say when you don’t forgive someone.”
Totally true. I laughed despite myself. “I do not—”
“You say it to Angelica.”
We moved slowly to the door, and I smirked. “Do you think she knows?”
“Now? Definitely.”
Well, damn. “Where’s the next meeting?”
“I’ll show you, but one more thing before we join my siblings.”
He stepped in front, blocking me from his minions’ view. Kyros powered on my tablet, and opening the house acquisition file, he tapped a finger on the target properties in Agriculture.
“It will take a while to adjust to these meetings. I know the lack of control from my seconds was physically hard to withstand.”
Yeah. I’d have to figure out a way around that.
Kyros lowered his head. “Between you and I, is there anything we need to pay attention to on this page?”
He flipped between possessive, insightful, overbearing, and kind faster than my head chef flipped pancakes. I’d take a room filled with debating vampires over this any day.
He’d phrased his words carefully, and I followed suit. “I need to make a call during human time.”
To my team in Churchill. I needed to know which property was best to give up. And if I definitely owned the six I thought I did.
A smile graced his face before he exited the document and powered off the tablet. “Thank you, Basilia.”
I wasn’t imagining the tension within him one bit. Clan Sundulus really was on the ropes.
16
I entered the penthouse of Dimtren Rise armed with a floor-length deep-green gown, a set of my mother’s earrings, and gold glitter six-inch Shus that they could bury me in.
The volume of the murmuring elite ebbed as I paused on the stairs to scan them impassively.
The top level of this skyscraper afforded 360-degree views of Bluff City and was decorated with the new-money opulence of most event venues I’d have to attend as the Le Spyre.
Last time I saw most of these people was at my grandmother’s funeral.
“Miss Basilia Le Spyre,” the herald announced as I descended the few steps.
I winked at him, watching the guy redden.
“Thank god someone worthwhile showed up,” Lady Treena said loudly, approaching at a gallop with her token glass of champagne.
Those around us shared wide, amused looks—more fool them. I took her hands and kissed her weathered cheek warmly. “Aunt Treena, I’m glad to see you. I’ve been meaning to visit.”
She eyed me, sipping at her champers.
The level didn’t go down. Lady Treena always had her hand wrapped around a chute, but I’d never seen her drunk. It was how she tricked the world into thinking she’d gone batty. Hardly anyone stopped to wonder how she’d become, and stayed, so rich.
Because 95 percent of people were idiots.
“I expect one soon,” she replied. “After you’ve
had time to adjust to your new position.”
Her gaze sharpened on me.
I met it without disguise, allowing my sorrow to seep through. For the loss of her best friend, my grandmother, and the loss of her mind to Vissimo. I’d known this woman my entire life. Had she been under a blood compulsion that long?
She nodded curtly, taking another fake swig. “More champagne!”
Three waiters appeared out of thin air. She set down her full chute and took two fresh more. The staff didn’t say a word.
Lady Treena passed one to me. “The others couldn’t come tonight. Old people problems. Do you know what this gathering is for?”
I hummed into my chute. “New bank in town.”
“Fuck me. Should have faked a broken leg.”
If anyone could fake that, it would be Lady Treena.
I laughed, but it faded as a familiar face appeared through the crowd.
Rory Senrite bowed low. “Miss Le Spyre, we meet again.”
He scrubbed up well in a white tux. He even managed to look dishevelled—probably took him hours.
“Rory.” I sighed. “Should’ve known you’d be here.”
“Maybe you hoped? I’m surprised to see you here. What with your I’m better than other rich people attitude.”
My lips twitched. “I’m Miss Le Spyre now, Mr Senrite. That comes with ballgown burdens.”
His eyes roamed my cinched waist and swelling breasts. “Darling, burden is not the word that comes to mind.”
“Always the charmer,” I said archly, glancing at Lady Treena.
She gaped at Rory, champagne forgotten.
Crap.
The Vissimo quirked a brow. I turned my back to him, holding out my arm. “Lady Treena, I’m getting boob sweat. Will you join me in a quieter spot?”
She blinked a few times. “Boob sweat won’t get you laid.”
Rory choked behind me.
“Depends how drunk both people are,” I replied, leading her away.
She glanced up at me. “The caveman? Please tell me it wasn’t that new-money trash you dated for too long.”
Honestly, it probably happened with Ricky, too, but… “Caveman.”
Kyros’s brother didn’t follow, but he’d definitely heard about my drunken conquest from six months ago. Which meant Kyros would hear about it.
Worked for me.
I nodded to a few people on the way. I’d screamed at them all a few weeks ago, yet here they were, simpering for my attention. I’d rather be in a tower of vampires.
After depositing Lady Treena on a soft chair near the jazz band, I went to procure a chute of water for her.
“Miss Le Spyre, what a pleasure.”
The jab of fear that accompanied the feminine voice was enough to pinpoint the race of the speaker.
I turned in a whisper of satin. “Gina.”
The petite vampire looked like the devil’s concubine in the hugging black mermaid gown with her auburn locks. Or maybe like the devil was her concubine.
Gina’s back was to the wall as she scanned the crowd. They, in return, darted small peeks at her, half afraid and half turned on.
“I hate these things,” she murmured.
The vampire couldn’t do anything to me in this crowd, surely. And Rory was here.
I joined her against the wall. “Show up two hours late and leave two hours early. That’s my motto. Does Bluff City need a new bank?”
“No. NJB will merge with a bigger bank within the year. The question is which bank.”
Which explained the presence of Rory and Gina.
I sipped at my champagne. It wasn’t terrible.
“It’s a nice change not to engage in small talk,” she said.
“You don’t enjoy talking about the weather?” I lowered my voice. “Must be a Vissimo thing. I love it.”
Hmm, I’d successfully said Vissimo in a crowd of humans. Not that any were close by.
Could I shout out restricted terms in a human crowd as long as a vampire was with me?
Somehow I strongly doubted it.
She cocked her head, sliding her dark gaze to me. “It’s a shame we’re on different sides. These parties would be far less dull.”
Studying the almond shape of her hazel eyes, I answered. “I promise to attend these things if you do.”
Gina smiled in a flash of teeth that transformed her face from maleficent to snow white. “I don’t like the vagueness of that. Pass your phone. I’ll put in my number.”
Uhm, that was a whole new level of seriousness that could get my butt kicked by King Julius.
Her attention was elsewhere. Following her glance to Rory, I scanned his furious expression.
That was a resounding don’t fucking do it, Basilia. Taking her number with Rory as a witness felt less secretive though.
I pulled out my phone from my dress pocket—a demand I made of my tailors so I didn’t have to carry a clutch. “You’re on.”
She rattled in her number and passed it back. “I sent myself a message so I have your number.”
I’d ask Daniel to do regular checks on my phone security.
“I need to speak to the boring humans now.” Gina circled her shoulders a few times.
I watched her warm-up routine. “Talk to them or fight them?”
“Depends. I’m talking to Harriet Gregorian first.”
Tossing back my champers, I set it on a passing tray. “I won’t complain if you rearrange her face. She stole my favourite Barbie when I was seven.”
Gina surveyed Harriet over the rim of her untouched drink. “Yes. She has a rampant petty theft problem. It makes her very easy to blackmail.”
Clan Fyrlia didn’t play by human law, but such a casual admission shocked me. Then again, with Harriet Gregorian, caring was hard.
“Go get ’em, tiger,” I said lamely.
Gina didn’t get far. She turned back to survey me in heavy silence.
I lifted my brows. “Something on my face?”
“Not a hair out of place,” she said breezily. “But if I were you, I’d ride to the tower with Rory after the ball. You may avoid three problems.”
Strong arms wrapped around me from behind.
A hand slipped into my pocket, drawing out my phone. I let Rory have it, not breaking in my conversation with the mid-fifties founder of NJB. She dragged her shocked gaze from the vampire and back to me.
Kyros’s brother wouldn’t find anything on there. Messages automatically scrubbed from the SIM and I had important contacts under bland names. I’d already changed Gina’s name to Stanley Yelnats.
He slipped my phone back into my pocket a moment later.
“Darling, you have my number now.” His breath was hot on my ear.
I extended my hand to Ms Cryt, a widow with a business mind. “A pleasure to meet you, Ms Cryt. I believe you’re one of the few I’ll actually like.”
Amusement tinged her soft grey eyes. “Thank you, Miss Le Spyre. I look forward to bettering our acquaintance.”
“My people will be in touch with your people.” I looked over my shoulder. “Rory, what do you want?”
One hand slid across my cinched waist, the other trailed over my shoulder left bare by the off-the-shoulder design. “To take you home.”
Ms Cryt’s frowned.
Knew I liked her.
“Darling,” I said in a low voice. “I hope your real pick-up lines are far better than that. But I could use a ride to your brother’s.”
His blue eyes danced.
“Now, my heart?” he murmured into my hair.
Laughter choked in my throat. “Yes, now.” I had a few things to do before my shift at Live Right.
“Your wish. My command.”
He was laying it on thick tonight.
I let him lead me through the crowd, waving at a pale Lady Treena. Gina had already left. Couldn’t blame her really. I wanted to cry at how many of these evenings I’d have to attend. Probably one a fortnight if I only went to
a quarter of events. At least I had a reason to take on Bluff City’s elite bullshitery now. My efforts to buy more real estate weren’t enough to win the game. I had to stay connected in other industries and push forward where I could. Finance and entertainment were two of the largest industries and big on their little social gatherings.
“Miss Le Spyre, good evening.”
I looked around for the speaker, feeling Rory’s hand clamp around my forearm.
Horror slammed into me as I came face-to-face with Rhys’s aunt—the aunt who’d seen me leaving with her nephew the night he died.
“Ms Wannington,” Rory said smoothly as my heart pounded.
The woman smiled at him, a wrinkle forming between her brows.
Wannington. I’d heard of the name—though I never knew Rhys growing up.
“Hello,” I choked, the sickening crunch of Rhys’s chest caving in, hitting me square between the eyes.
Rory dipped his head. “Not feeling well, I’m afraid. Must be off.”
I tripped after the vampire, trying to school my features into a smooth mask for the crowd of leeches.
When we were on the stairs, I pulled free of his grip, moving to stand at the balustrade as I forced away memories of Rhys in the hospital. So many things had exploded in my life, I’d never stopped to ask about his funeral.
“She doesn’t remember anything from that night,” Rory said, leaning against the railing.
I lifted my head. “Tell me what happened, please.”
He lifted a shoulder. “When the human—”
“Rhys.”
Rory arched a brow. “When Rhys died, the charge changed from assault to murder. His family has money and influence and they were making waves that could get back to you. Kyros had someone bring the aunt in.”
Bring her in.
My eyes widened. “Someone put her under blood compulsion?”
“Correct. One of my Vissimo. I have enough humans to keep track of, and I couldn’t be bothered dealing with her fear at these events. Her memories of you were removed from that night. We already had the CCTV footage erased.”
They’d saved me from being dragged through the courts. I wouldn’t have been able to answer any questions about Vissimo. Imagining how bad that could have turned out was all too easy. However, because of that, the Tonyi triplets were off the hook too. Rhys’s murder hadn’t been avenged.
Vampire Debt: Supernatural Battle (Vampire Towers Book 2) Page 20