Page 2 of Savage Ambition

“You’d never be satisfied with only one victory.” I doubted their feud would ever end.

Jace muttered a string of curses before rallying. “Fuck him! I’m not letting that bastard ruin tonight.” He punched the air for emphasis.

“Yeah,” I agreed, with more enthusiasm than I expected. A secret part of me looked forward to tonight, desperate to shed my virginity and finally touch someone after years of isolation following my parents’ death in Egypt.

Before we could discuss things any further, Jace pointed out a building. While normal-looking office buildings surrounded it, Gennaro Corporation was a giant glass monolith that dominated the skyline, reflecting the city lights like a dark mirror. Unseen eyes seemed to watch us from behind the shadowy windows, calculating our worth.

“At least it looks somewhat respectable.” I’d expected a cheap dive, but the immaculate glass tower spoke of blood money and untouchable power.

Making an excited noise of agreement, he led the way inside. The moment we crossed the threshold, my fear skyrocketed.

Two particularly massive guards flanked the entrance. The taller one had knuckles so swollen they looked deformed, his gaze calculating our worth against the trouble of disposing of our bodies. His companion had a tattoo visible above his collar. He kept one hand near his waistband, reminding us he was ready to draw his gun at the slightest provocation.

Security cameras mounted in the ceiling corners recorded everything, a digital memory that would outlast any witness. My skin prickled with the knowledge that our every word and action was being monitored.

Three stunning women waited at the reception counter. They wore professional attire: black blazers and skirts paired with bright red shirts that accented the curves of their bodies. The blonde one smiled with practiced warmth. “Welcome to Gennaro Corporation. How may we help you this evening?”

“Oh, a man could get used to this,” my friend moaned in appreciation, undressing them with his eyes. “I’m Jace Yardley. Hugh Carter sent us. I’m here for the birthday special, and my friend’s here to remove the stick up his ass.”

I shot him a venomous look. The beautiful brunette in the middle tapped something on a hidden keyboard.

“Yes, Mr. Carter called ahead to inform us he was sponsoring a prepaid four-hour meeting for you and your friends, Mr. Yardley. As he is a VIP, you have no restrictions on who you may meet with tonight.”

“Excellent. Since it’s only me and my buddy, we’ll take two hours each,” Jace boasted.

“Two hours?” I repeated in shock.

He waved off my concern. “My dad’s friend Hugh is a VIP here. He bet me a visit here in a game of poker. The dude is loaded. I would’ve been fucked if I lost that hand.”

“You won?” I knew how much Jace enjoyed card games, but his luck wasn’t always the best.

“Hell, yeah, I did! I told him I wanted four hours, thinking it would be an hour for you and Trent and two for me. But since it’s only us, that means more time for you. It’s his loss, right? Enjoy it, man!”

“As this is your first time here, we will escort you to the conference area, where you can sign our contract and choose who to meet with tonight.” The way she said “contract” made it sound like we were signing our lives away.

The Japanese woman on the right walked out from behind the counter and gestured for us to follow her. I cringed when Jace kept his eyes trained on her pert ass the entire way to the elevator.

My heartbeat quickened as we approached a second security checkpoint. The bulkier guard shifted his weight, deliberately blocking our path until he received a nod of approval from her.

The second guard assessed us with clinical detachment. When his gaze landed on me, my mouth went dry when his hand casually moved to rest on the gun holstered at his side.

She pushed the button for the seventh floor with a perfectly manicured finger. “We have something for every interest. Please let us know if there’s anything specific you’re looking for.”

“Anyone with a huge rack and a tight ass.”

“We can arrange that, sir.” She didn’t blink at his crudeness.

The doors pinged open with a pleasant sound that belied the danger surrounding us. We exited into a hallway that looked like a standard office corridor as she led us to what looked like a high-end executive meeting room.

I scanned the floor, confused by the sudden absence of guards. Instead, tiny black domes dotted the ceiling at regular intervals. Each camera swiveled as we passed.

My hand glided along the polished wood of the long conference table as I sat down.

“Once you complete the forms and sign the contract, we’ll establish your accounts.” She gestured to the portfolios she placed in front of us. “These contain our employees’ profiles. When you’ve decided, press the intercom button.”

The whole thing felt like signing a deal with the devil, but I still had manners. “Thank you.”

As soon as she left, Jace started filling out the prerequisite forms on a tablet while I read every line, searching for hidden clauses that might bind us to something sinister. My eyes widened at the prices for certain services, but more alarming was the waiver of liability for “unforeseen circumstances” and agreement to “complete discretion regarding all Gennaro Corporation matters.”