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“No.” I didn’t bother making eye contact with his receptionist because she wouldn’t stop me from getting to Christian.
“Excuse me, where are you going?” She jumped and rounded her desk when she noticed I had no intention of acknowledging her.
“Business meeting,” I rattled off and Elias chuckled as she hurried behind us.
“Mr. Devereaux is alreadyina meeting. You’ll have to…”
“Don’t bother. He’s not going to listen to you,” I heard Elias say from a few paces behind me. He must have stopped to address her but I didn’t care. I pushed the door to Christian’s office open, moved past the two men I didn’t recognize, and landed a solid punch on Christian’s face.
“What the fuck, Omari!” He stood from behind his desk, glaring my way.
“You lied to me.”
Christian looked past where I stood to the two men who seemed uncomfortable and confused. “Out,now.”
Both sets of eyes swung between me and Christian before they stood and moved to the door. One paused, focusing on Christian. “Should we reschedule?”
“I’ll call you,” Christian growled, pointing to the door. Both men left without another word and he swung his eyes back to me.
“I didn’t lie to you and even if I did, that doesn’t give you the right to walk your ass in here like you don’t know who the fuck I am.”
“I know who the fuck you are but apparently you have somehow forgotten whoIam. Did The Collective make you a deal?”
Only a few seconds passed before he relaxed his stance and dropped into the chair behind his desk. “How do you know about that?”
“Does it fucking matter?”
“Yeah, Omari, it matters and it’s not what you think.”
“It’s exactly what I think. They want something from you and they are going to do whatever necessary to get it. Now tell me what the fuck is going on. Thetruthor you can figure this shit out on your own.”
“What they want is for me to be my father and I’m not doing that shit.”
I eyed him carefully, noticing the irritation laced in his expression as he stared back at me. “You sell pussy, Christian. That’s not a far stretch from the man your father used to be.”
“Don’t insult me. I run escort services. The women have a choice in how they deal with the clients. I have not nor will I ever put them in the position to sell their bodies.”
“But it happens.”
“By their own choice. That is not a service I offer. I’m very clear about the terms provided with every woman who works for me. They are all of legal age and residency. They go through intensive background checks, sign contracts that state my expectations about their roles. Selling pussy is not one of those expectations.”
“You’re justifying how you exploit women and their bodies,” Elias stated from the door. His eyes were hard on Christian.
“I amnotmy father. It’s not the fucking same and you know it. You both have memberships to Chapter House and I know for certain you use yours, Ezekiel. Is that any different than what I do?”
“I don’t know, you tell me. I know German Kendricks very well. I also know with certainty there isn’t a history attached to him like the one attached toyou.”
“I am not my gotdamn father,” Christian yelled.
“Maybe not but if they force your hand you will be,” I stated calmly.
“And that changes our stance on everything,” Elias added, glaring at Christian who exhaled his frustration.
“Look, you have more than kept your promise about taking care of my sister. I respect your stance because I understand your immediate priority is to always put Cress and your children first.”
“Then you’re a very smart man,” I stated and Christian’s eyes leveled on me again.
“I didn’t lie to you, Ez. I just recently found out what they wanted, which changed things. I don’t need you to help me figure this out. Choose your side and it doesn’t have to be mine. I’m more than capable of handling this now that I know why it’s happening.”
