Train Me Daddy

by Mia Ford

  “We can relax. This limousine is equipped with the latest technology in battle skins. It’s airtight, completely bulletproof and it cost me a pretty penny to have it made to my specifications. I’ve never had an opportunity to have to use it and I hope that I never have to.” He looked comfortable in his own skin, but I was still wired for sound. I was looking for anything that would contribute to the way the hairs on the back of my neck were standing on end.

  “I know there’s nothing to worry about, so why do I feel like something is wrong.” My statement made him sit up straight with his shoulders back and his eyes dancing in his head.

  The partition rolled down and I could see the back of the limousine driver. “I haven’t seen you in a few days, Mr. Williams. I was wondering when you were ever going to come out of there.” His words were cold and calculating like he was out of time and out of patience.

  “I hope that I didn’t cause you any reason to be alarmed. Your job is safe for however long you want it. You have been with me a long time and I know how important your family is to you.” The driver was looking at him in the rearview mirror and there was a case to be made for the kind of hatred he was staring at him with.

  “You know nothing about my family. I listened to you and I lost everything. My wife left me with the children in tow. I was destitute with the investment you shared with me tanking. I didn’t really blame you and I knew investments were tricky with variables you can’t account for. It was my own fault, but then I learned a disturbing fact.” Spittle was flying from his mouth and he was gripping the steering wheel with his gloved hands like he was an Indy driver.

  “I don’t know how many times I have to apologize. It was out of my hands. I thought it was a lock, but it turned out to be something less than secure. You’re not the only one that lost his shirt in that deal. I’ve tried to make it up to you with bonuses and I thought we got passed it.” Something had happened to make this guy act out.

  “It never bothered me when you didn’t even know my name. We’ve talked often enough, but you never really wanted to know my personal life. I could’ve lived with my mistake, but finding it was a pyramid scheme is not something I can look past. You purposely swindled millions of dollars out of investors with a mutual fund built on a house of cards.” I looked at Knight and I could tell that he was complicit. He didn’t think anybody was going to find out. He was trying to make up for it by throwing money at the problem.

  “I’m sure there’s something I can do. Name your price.” The limousine lurched with him pressing down on the accelerator and flying through a red light with many honking horns to indicate he was driving erratically.

  “It’s just like you to think that money solves all your problems. Money is not going to bring me, my wife, back or prevent my children from looking at me with disappointment in their eyes. I’m going to hell and I’m taking you with me.” He took the mirror off of a nearby parked car. He was staring straight ahead like he had a purpose.

  “I know that I’m going to regret asking this, but what exactly are your intentions?” My words were met with a scowl of contempt.

  “I would suggest you both make peace with your maker. I have nothing left to live for. The only thing I want is revenge. It’s said to be best-served ice cold which is exactly how I’m going to settle my differences with Mr. Williams. He wants to play with people’s lives then he’s going to learn a valuable lesson which I hope he’ll understand before he takes his last breath.” I went for the door, but it was locked. I kicked my foot against the window with nothing to indicate any kind of brute force was going to work. I wasn’t sure it was a good idea anyway. Rolling away from this car at this speed would’ve been tantamount to suicide.

  “I can apologize until I’m blue in the face, but it’s not going to make any difference to you. Are you sure you want to die like this? I would like you to consider another option. Money may not bring back your family, but it could give you a new lease on life. You can start over with beautiful girls and tropical drinks. You won’t have to drive me around anymore. You would have enough money to live on for the rest of your life. You can’t possibly tell me there’s no appeal in breaking the chain of monotony.” I could see that his pleas were falling on deaf ears.

  “My life has been shattered because of your need for greed. I can’t in good conscience allow you to do this to somebody else again. I’ve been watching your dirty dealings. You framed an innocent man for the pyramid scheme and paid him a considerable amount to keep his mouth shut behind bars. You found some patsy willing to take your money, but I’m not one of them.” We were on the highway and in the distance, I could see a bridge. I knew at that instant what his plan was and I couldn’t let him see it through.

  I made a quick decision by leaping through the partition. I knocked him completely out cold with the butt end of my gun. I had the steering wheel, but his foot was still pushed down onto the accelerator. I scanned the area and the only thing that I could think about was stopping us before we reached the bridge closed for repairs.

  I saw my only option. I turned the steering wheel, slamming into a road sign with enough force to bend it and lift the car into the air with the wheels spinning with no place to go. I felt like a pinball with my legs up in the air landing on the dashboard and looking down to see that I was bleeding all over again.

  We were both going to have to testify against Reginald Davidson. He was screaming for blood and the investigators had to take some of what he said seriously. They were looking for the smoking gun concerning the pyramid scheme but nothing landed at his doorstep. Knight promised me he had changed and I believed him.

  I did continue to fight, but not for the money and more for the enjoyment of the adrenaline rush running through my veins. I toppled the queen.

  Knight proposed and I found myself looking at the big screen as he popped the question with a diamond almost as big as my fist. I was looking forward to spending my life with the man I loved and with the child I had on the way.

  I was just going to have to make sure he was not tempted to fall into old habits. I was just going to have to keep him busy. I wondered what other kinky perversions I could introduce him to. I had a laundry list and I had just begun.

  9

  EXCLUSIVE FEIGN BILLIONAIRE ROMANCE

  Blurb:

  I’m rugged. Independent and used to having whatever or whoever I want.

  At thirty I’ve been hit with a small problem. My grandfather holds the purse strings to the family fortune. He no longer plans to loosen them unless I agree to marry. He tells me he’s dying and that time is running out. He insists I settle down. Not with the woman of my choosing, but the daughter of his former ranch hand.

  Olivia.

  She’s pretty enough. In fact, she’s hot. Her parents died in a fiery car crash, leaving her penniless. She’s desperate. And smoking hot. Curves in the right places and her fiery red hair just sets my temperature on a high.

  My grandfather insists I give this marriage a three-month trial. It’s easy for him to say, I tried it once and it left me cold and alone. I don’t want to say no to my granddad, but this family’s fucking cursed. There’s too many secrets. Too much darkness, I shouldn’t let Olivia come into the darkness. When her innocence shines, like a bright light.

  I have plans for her. Filthy plans that will make this entire scheme not only pleasurable, but make me filthy rich too…

  Chapter One

  Isaac

  I can’t believe the old man’s demanding that I came to the ranch today. As if I haven’t got enough to do today. First, the banks are on my nuts about the loan and Paul the CFO quit, all in the same fucking day. I spent the whole car journey thinking that I should turn back and go to the office. Then again, Paul’s been the CFO since granddad was the CEO. He should have retired a long time ago. Besides, it’s not my fault that he’s competent.

  “Granddad,” I sigh as I park up the car and get out of the car. He’s standing by the front door
as if he was waiting for him. He comes down the stairs to greet me,

  “Son.”

  I haven’t seen him for months, because he hasn’t been to the city for a long while. I don’t ever come here, I can’t fucking stand it. Granddad looks well considering he’s three decades older than me. I’m relieved knowing that’s not the reason that he called me here today. For some crazy reason, I thought that it had something to do with his health.

  Walking with him is a woman, he motions towards her, “Olivia have you met my grandson?”

  She stretches out her hand but then withdraws it. She wipes it on her jeans. Shit, I bet she loves riding horses. She can ride me, any day, anytime. She’s fucking hot. Trust the old man to have the best staff working for him.

  She shakes her head and then takes off her cowgirl hat letting lose her fire hair.

  Fuck, she’s a red-head! Now, I’m intrigued, there’s something about a redhead that sets them apart from all the rest. They’re different. Unique and just the way I love my women.

  “Isaac?”

  I shake my head, my cock’s going wild, and I can’t get this hottie out of my head, shit it’s too early in the morning for this, and I’ve got my important things to deal with today.

  I shake it and say, “Hi.”

  “Well, Neil,” she kisses him on the cheek. “I need to get going; I want to see if Autumn’s okay?”

  Granddad nods his head, “You and that horse. You would think that you’re sisters separated at birth. The bond between the pair of you is too strong.

  Olivia smiles and then she starts walking away, “Isaac, it’s nice meeting you.”

  I nod thinking that if Granddad weren't here, I wouldn’t let her out of my fucking sight.

  “Damn Granddad, how do you cope with her working here?”

  He laughs as he pats me on the back, “She doesn’t just work here. She lives here too…”

  I shake my head because I didn’t come here to check the ranch hand, I came here to find out what he wants.

  “Granddad, what is it? I’ve got work to do.”

  He sighs, “I know, but I heard about Paul and decided that things are getting out of hand.”

  I shake my head, “No, he was too old and besides he should have retired when you did. You’re the same age right?”

  It’s as if we’re stuck in the quick mud as we look at each other. I know what I’m thinking, that I’ll ask him straight-up to bail the company out. He has the money to do it. Part of me’s pissed, he should just sign the damn thing to me. Just because my dad was incompetent when he took over doesn’t mean that I follow in his shoes.

  “Yes, but we know what the real issue is. I wanted us to come in and talk about it. Like men. Man-to-man.”

  I nearly choke on his words, “You’ve got to be kidding me. You treat me like a fucking kid. Just because dad fucked up the company when he ran it. Doesn’t mean that I’ll do the same.”

  I want to go inside because the sun’s beating down on me like daggers. I start to loosen my tie, and can’t believe that I drove four hours, because most of that was spent in traffic. There was some fucking accident on the highway and it doubled the time that it should have taken to make this journey. I never made it to have the third degree.

  “Come inside, let’s talk. You’re getting upset over nothing,” Granddad says as he puts his hand on me, no doubt we’re causing a scene. He likes his privacy which is why I’m surprised that he let’s Olivia stay here. Maybe there’s something going on, fuck I just hope that she’s not some gold digger that’s after his money. Then again, she seems to innocent for that, or she could be a good actress.

  I walk up, to the house in front of him, not because I want to go in to talk, but I just need a fucking drink. Anything to calm down the nerves. I’ve stopped driving to work because a drink in the morning helps keep me going, but seeing as he demanded that I came here this morning and the driver’s out of town. I had no choice but to drive here.

  As soon as I open the front door the painful memories of my childhood flash into my mind like a tidal wave. Maybe Granddad’s right and the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

  “This way,” granddad instructs me as he starts to walk to his study. I look up and see that he’s still got the family pictures up of when I was young and when this house used to mean something. We were respected by then; people used to look up to us until dad got into one scandal after another and it ended up with him retiring and me taking over the company.

  He shuts the door behind me and I stand to wait for him to lay it on me and then I’ll tell him the truth. The real reason I was debating about coming here today, so I can get it off my chest as we both sit down facing each other.

  I’m not a man to beat around the bush, so I just say what’s on my mind, “I need your help. The business isn’t doing well, and with Paul leaving, the bank’s on my back about the bank loan.”

  “What loan?”

  “Remember last year, when I told you that the business was in trouble and I needed your input you refused,” I sigh because either the old man’s playing games, or he’s going senile?

  I was sitting in the same chair telling him that things need to change at the company and he flat out refused to help. He must know that he can’t do that again.

  Fuck I need a drink!

  I stand up and start to head to the bar. The one at the corner of his study. There’s nothing new about this room. It’s as if it’s stuck in a time warp. The same antique chairs in the corner, the same mahogany desk that should have been replaced a long time ago and the photo of him and grandma on top of his desk.

  “Do you want one?” I say as I lift up a tumbler and realize that something has changed. This bar used to be stocked with different types of whiskeys, brandies and all kinds of liquor. Now, there’s just one bottle of bourbon.

  He shakes his head, “No.”

  I shrug and take off my tie and jacket which feel as if they’re ropes hanging around my neck and suffocating me.

  Then as I pour a bourbon he sighs, “I didn’t want to do this. I can’t have you running the company down to the ground like your dad did.”

  I knock back the bourbon and as it burns my throat and I think twice about pouring another one, but he’s still going on about what’s on his mind.

  “I need you to stop ruining not only your life but mine too. It’s my fault.”

  I turn to face him; he has his hands on his desk. He’s rubbing it as if he’s reliving a memory. One that I told him to lock away and turn away the key.

  “Your dad was a good man. Don’t get me wrong; I loved Ben just like I love you. I pushed him when his mother told me that he’s not a ruthless business man. I pushed him over the edge.”

  I agree, “You fucking did that alright.”

  He ignores me as he says, “I saw that you had the steam, the one that was ready to run the company. You took after me in many ways.”

  I choke, “Going to the office with you was the most excitement that I’d had as a kid. All I used to dream about was being you. Making people run around and jump to my command. You had that way about you that everyone did that as soon as you walked in the door.”

  “Yes, but it consumed me. So much so that I pushed your dad and looked what happened to him.”

  I sigh as I decide that there’s no point topping up the glass. I’ll just drink straight from the bottle, and then I sit down and face him as he revised the painful memory of dad when he was the CEO for two years.

  “I didn’t want to take your dad out of his position, but I had no choice…”

  “Blah, blah, blah…it doesn’t matter. As I said, I need money. Fast. Let’s not pussyfoot around and talk about the past. Because if I don’t have the financial injection soon, then Winters Industry will be closed and not passed to another generation. Not that there is any generation to pass it to,” I laugh as I start to sip from the bottle. I’m starting to feel disorientated as the bourbon’s not offering com
fort but if anything it’s starting to give me a headache.

  “Son, you’ve been like this ever since Dede died and I-“

  “Don’t you fucking bring her name into this!”

  I’m trying to stand up, but then I flop back into the chair. I drank too much, and the worst part is I can’t remember the last time that I ate. This is turning into a fucking disaster.

  “Isaac you leave me no choice!”

  I’ve never seen the old man raise his voice. Not true, I’ve seen him but as he turns a deeper shade of red and then heads closer towards me. He takes the bottle of my hand and rants on, “Your drinking’s out of control. You took out a loan to invest in a company that’s not even related to our industry. You took out a loan against your apartment and even your flipping house.”

  “Damn! Someone’s been busy.”

  He shakes his head, “Not busy enough because I’ve tried. I call, I come to visit, and you go out of your way to avoid me. I was shocked that you said you would come here today, but then when I learned about the state of affairs, I knew that it was only for one reason. Money. Listen carefully, because I won’t be repeating myself. You see that beautiful woman that you saw when you came here.”

  I nod my head because one minute he’s talking about money and the next he’s talking about women.

  “Seriously, I don’t need to know about your love life. What you do with your life is your business. I just came here for the money.”

  “Three months Isaac. You move here. Live here. I help you with your drinking and if at the end of that you marry Olivia. Everything becomes yours.”

  He’s got to be fucking kidding me!

  “I’m not going to be blackmailed into marriage. Let alone living in the one place, I can’t stand to visit. What makes you think that everything will happen in three months time?”

  He sighs, “That’s how long the doctors have given me to live. I want it all to go to you, but things need to change.”

  Did he say what I think he said, “Three months?” I whisper as I think about this family and the fucking curse that must be on it. I can’t deal with another death or be a part of it. That’s why the bottle’s safe; it makes me forget my fucking nightmares.