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We shared a warm smile. Being around the Fairchilds again felt like coming home in a way that I’d never felt before. And there was something about the warmth—despite Axel’s iciness—that had jostled loose something deep inside me.
“Trace, could I ask you for a favor?” My cheeks flushed once I realized I’d spoken.
“Sure.”
“This is completely unrelated to the property. It’s uh…could I…” I licked my lips, wondering how I could phrase this that wouldn’t blast my dirty laundry into outer space. Hell, at this point, I couldn’t afford to care. “I have some investment questions that I’d like to discuss with you in private. It’s important that it stay discreet.”
He nodded slowly, rummaging in his inside breast pocket. “Of course. Here’s my card. It’s got my direct cell. Just let me know when you’re ready, and we can set something up.”
I received the business card gratefully, my heart pounding. I hadn’t planned on asking Trace for private advice, but here we were. I was crafting my exit strategy, step by step, on the fly. I’d started with a secret bank account two weeks ago; now I would make an appointment to discuss investments only for me. Even though I didn’t know what the exact next steps would be, I could recognize a new door when I saw one. If there was anyone I could trust—despite the fallout with his brother—it was Trace.
“Thank you. Thank you so much.” I slipped the card into my handbag and waved as he started for the door. “It was so good seeing you three again. I’ll be in touch soon.”
Trace headed for the Escalade. When the door opened, I tried to spot Axel one last time, but I didn’t glimpse him.
Maybe today was all I’d get of him. A few stony glares. Business-related questions only. An emotional distance so great the Grand Canyon could comfortably fit between us.
I knew better than to hope for any sort of future with Axel. All I could do was quiet my heart’s thrum, which constantly urged me toward him, and shun the memories that still whispered to me late at night about finding my way back to him. The painful ache in my chest would forever remind me: I’d chosen wrong.
If there was any way back to Axel, I’d take it in a heartbeat. But until I choreographed my exit from my sham of a marriage, there was no going anywhere.
And that choreography would need something a little bit more than just financial advice from Trace.
It would need a fucking miracle.
CHAPTER FIVE
AXEL
As a young and idealistic Axel, I had plenty of ideas of where future Axel would end up, and what sort of things I’d spend my time doing.
I never thoughtreal estate mogulwould be included on the list.
But as the week advanced, and I’d combed through my interaction with Cora and her ridiculous twatwaffle of a husband no less than a thousand times, I realized that I’d officially crossed over into a new industry.
My brothers and I had broadened our business interests once before. Last year, we’d become part of the tech startup world when we acquired a flagging business with an amazing vision but a despicable CEO. The acquisition had dual main purposes. Not only did we desire a standing within the tech world, but we wanted to send the company’s CEO to hell, but the best we could do was buy him out and stop him from using the company to traffic underage girls.
The acquisition showed us we could expand, possibly infinitely—not just our physical holdings, but our moral reach. We conveniently set the former CEO up with a lifetime hacker monitor that would find out—and intervene—if he ever tried to participate in human trafficking again, thanks to Damian’s freaky genius brain. The richest people committed some of the shadiest crimes, and most of these people were beyond the bounds of regular justice. So if we could tip the scales in some small way, well, we fucking had to.
And now, Margulis Realty was on my radar.
Allan Margulis was a target for personal reasons. He wasn’t sending drugged-up girls around the world in private jets like some of these wealthy assholes, but he advanced his own brand of disgusting. I wanted Allan Margulis to go down more than I wanted to breathe some mornings. And trust me, I was really invested in breathing; I planned on sucking every last drop of life out of this fucking earth experience.
But now that we were poised to buy this building—provided Cora Margulis could be trusted even a little bit, which I still doubted—I realized I wanted in. I wanted to add realty to our holdings. I wanted Margulis Realty to become one of our flagship brands.
I’d always wanted to take down Allan, and maybe taking overhis precious company was the best route to submission. Having Axel Fairchild in command of his brand was the best revenge I could imagine.
The idea pulsed through me like the bassline of a techno song. I couldn’t avoid it. My knee bounced along to it, even without wanting to. Somehow, I’d make this work. I swiped open my investment app and tapped in MARGULIS REALTY. The company stats stared back at me.
I blinked. I could take over his company via hostile takeover someday, if I acquired enough stocks and could elbow my way onto the board. The idea spread through me like warm honey, prompting a smile. What a delicious little scheme. I purchased $50,000 of Margulis stock to start.
A nice beginning to my new weekly investment approach.
Knock knock. The sound on my office door stirred me from my thoughts. The door opened before I could speak, which meant it had to be one of my brothers. I tossed my phone onto the desk.
Trace’s head popped past the door. “You busy?”
I gestured at my messy desk before clasping my hands behind my head. “Got all the time in the world for you, Trace. What’s up?”
