“Ten points to the little man,” he goads, drumming his fingers against the envelope. “I had to use different names back in the day. I was still building my empire, you see. But I struck it big. I am now a proud—silent—shareholder in the megacorporation which owns a little outfit called Pike Construction… among other interests.”
My head spins. “YouownWonder Worldwide?”
His smug grin is infuriating. He wriggles his eyebrows like a proud little prick. “I’m sixty-seven years old, and I’ve spent my entire life working hard so that I’d have enough capital for a serious investment, and it seems that fate was on my side when I chose this company. I couldn’t have planned any of this.”
“Any of what?” I say, my patience wearing thin, my head spinning with a thousand things I want to do, most of which involve hurting the old bastard. Physically. Emotionally.Financially. However, I can.
“The connection,” he says proudly. “To you. To this goliath you’ve built. I never would’ve guessed or dreamt that we’d be like this.” He raises his hand, showing me his intertwined fingers. “What about you, little man?”
My temples are pulsing viciously. KnowingGoodfellow—or whatever the prick’s name is—he’s probably got people waiting outside just in case I do what I want. Or he’s secretly recording this. He must have some way to ensure I don’t tear his head off.
“Okay, so you’re pulling Aaron Pike’s puppet strings,” I snarl. “Big deal. What do you want, then, a pat on the back? Do you want me to congratulate you?”
“I want you to open this,” he grunts, picking up the envelope and tossing it at me.
I catch it midair, glaring at him. He clearly intended the envelope to hit me. I open it. I have to know what’s inside, even if it means playing his fucked-up game. He’s bouncing on the spot with anticipation, drumming his fingers against the desk like he’s wild with glee.
When I tip the contents out, I immediately know what they are. My entire world turns dark and bleak. Or perhaps it’s just returning to normal.
There they are… the fake accounts I put on the memory drive,Izzy’smemory drive, the test I gave her that first day because I’m a paranoid man. I always wondered if the plan would ever reveal a traitor. I never expected it to be the only woman I?—
No, can’t think like that now. I’ve already lost my head once.
You should have remembered my warning, my father’s voice snaps in my mind.
“You see your problem,” Sebastian says.
“I see it,” I agree.
“You must realize how bad this is for you. The Good Samaritan, always so keen on stealing our business so he can give prime real estate to junkies and single moms and, well, more junkies. What if the public learned how creative you are with your money? Don’t just think of Uncle Sam, little man?—”
I jump to my feet, slam my fist on the table, and loom over him with my temples pulsing and my heart squeezing my chest tightly. There’s so much hate in my heart, so much ferocity.
He smiles, pleased at my response.
She betrayed me. After everything. She stabbed me in the back.
She’s been playing you this whole time, my trusty distrust informs me.She never wanted you.
“Why?” I snap.
“It’s business,” he replies.
“It’s more than that. Look at your face. You look happier than my father ever was in his entire life.”
He shrugs, giddy, eyes gleaming with victory. “You belong to us now. That’s all you need to worry about.” He makes atsknoise. “Though, I must say, I’m a little shocked. Your rival’ssister, and still, you let her under your skin. She must’ve given one hell of a blo?—”
“Enough,” I say coldly. He closes his mouth, fear replacing the glee. “You’ve got some leverage…” I’ll let him believe those files are real until I decide how to handle this. “But if you insult her, or make any distasteful comments likethat, I’ll kill you.”
I see it on his face. The desire to hope I’m bluffing.
And I probably am. I’m not a killer. I’ve tried for so many years to be a good person. But hearing him talk like that about her would break me. And then I’d have to break him.
“You’re mine, little man,” Sebastian says, grabbing his cane and rising to his feet. “When I say jump, you jump. Or these documents will be all over the news, not to mention mailed to every IRS office in the nation. Have I made myself clear?”
I grind my teeth, picturing Izzy looking at me with her bright, love-filled eyes during our date. But no, they were never love-filled. I only saw what she wanted me to see. This whole time, I’ve been a sucker. Just like with Uncle Seb when I was a kid, just like my father.
“I understand,” I snarl.
