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The trouble was, the girls didn’t just humiliate me and my clan by extension. Darla and Steffie ridiculed Braxians as a whole. Their punishment didn’t come from my clan but from the elder clans. Had Grace mocked us through the intercom, they would have gotten her as well. But Grace only offended the half-breed. The elders didn’t give a shit about my disgrace beyond the fact that they were now engaged in a business deal with a dishonored man.
As a consequence, they shunned my entire clan. Three long years during which no one would buy from us, trade or do business with us. We weren’t welcomed at any social event or gathering. No one would even speak to us. For most clans, a shunning was a death sentence. Sometimes, banishing the clansman that caused the shunning was enough for it to be lifted. In my case, it wasn’t an option, or I would have been banished… or killed immediately.
It was a difficult time for my father with senior members of the clan demanding he step down as leader because of me. However, my father was strong and held onto his power, sometimes by breaking a few jaws and limbs. Thankfully, the Hive Network became a resounding success. By the second year, I already owned four hives and began construction of a fifth. I generated enough revenue to keep the clan living comfortably and provided work for all those who needed it. By the end of the third year, I returned the elder clan’s investment, four years ahead of schedule. In response, they lifted the shunning.
At the time, Braxia had entered the worst of its financial crisis, and many clans turned their eyes to us – to me – for work, business collaborations or financial assistance. Today, half the main clans on Braxia were beholden to me in one way or another, be it through loans, supply chain, or employment.
For all this, I should have reveled in Grace’s pain. Instead, watching her choke on my cock, tremble before me, and crying with heart-wrenching sobs had torn me apart. However, my duty to my clan wouldn’t allow me to back down. I guess Gerwin was right about me after all – I was weak, a poor excuse of a clansman. A true Braxian would have gotten his rocks off handling Grace the way I did, fucking her in every hole while she begged for mercy.
But no, not me. Not the pathetic mutt of a half-breed.
I couldn’t even do it. Her asking me to stop once was all it took to break my already fragile resolve. Right now, I felt nothing but shame, fighting the urge to throw myself at her feet and beg for her forgiveness. Maybe my father should have smothered me as a child. I would never be a true Braxian – I didn’t have the spine for it.
I rubbed my face with both hands, fighting the depression settling in. We were only two weeks into the contract. Despite my threats to her, I wouldn’t be able to treat Grace like this again, let alone for another five and half months. Like a coward, I avoided her since our confrontation. I couldn’t bear the look of despair in her eyes. What the fuck was I going to do?
And to make matters worse, that asshole Gerwin and his goons would come by the penthouse in a couple of days to discuss business. Technically, I already displayed my mastery over Grace. Publicly. Yet the clans would expect her to wait on me during their visit. I didn’t need this shit right now.
My com rang, pulling me out of my dark musing.
“Yes?”
“Mr. Myers,” Dana said, “there is a Mr. Marcus Gayle at the reception requesting an audience with you.”
Are you fucking kidding me?
This day was just getting better. What the hell did Marcus want? Why would he show his face after abandoning Grace? When the hell did he get back on Venus Hive? I considered telling her to send him away, but I needed to know what he was up to.
“Send him up,” I said, terminating the com.
I checked the time on my monitor. Grace would be in her vocal training session for another forty-five minutes. Marcus would need to be gone before her return. I didn’t want him anywhere near her. Especially not now while I was trying to sort out how to handle her. Grace was mine and no one, least of all him, would take her from me.
William escorted Marcus into my office, then left without another word. I didn’t miss the curiosity on his face. By now, all of Venus Hive would buzz with the news that my woman’s ex-boyfriend was back.
“Hello, Mr. Myers,” Marcus said, taking two hesitant steps towards me. He outstretched his hand but then withdrew it when I remained seated.
I leaned back in my chair and gave him a once over. His tussled dirty blond hair looked as if he just fell out of bed. With his striking green eyes, a perky nose and cleft chin, his face was everything mine wasn’t. Despite his bargain suit, worn shoes, and cheap fragrance, Marcus was a good-looking man. He could make hand-me-downs look like couture. Marcus was tall and lithe with average muscle mass. I could probably toss him across the room with one hand without breaking a sweat.
“Mr. Gayle,” I replied, “did you get lost?”
Marcus chuckled. Fiddling with his collar, he took another two steps forward.
“No, not lost, Mr. Myers, though I can see why you would think that.”
I gestured with my chin at the red empire chair in front of my desk. Grace’s chair.
Had it truly only been two weeks?
Marcus took a seat, thanking me. “So, you must wonder why I’m visiting?”
I stared at him in silence. He shifted in his chair and cleared his throat.
“Right. So, I wanted to thank you for rescuing Grace. I never would have left her behind had I known they would come after her. They’ve never acted like this before.”
Indeed, threatening relatives and loved ones over bad debt was unheard of in ‘civilized’ circles. Low-level thugs and criminals still did on some backwater planets and mercenary space stations. Then again, creditors rarely received strong incentives to make sure the damsel in distress would have no other choice than to beg for my assistance.
I smirked.
Marcus clenched his jaw, putting two and two together. He knew he could never prove it. Good looking, and smart. Under different circumstances, I could have used someone like him.
