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The thing about scum like Charles was that underhanded scheming came naturally. What he’d done to me would almost certainly not be a one-off thing.
I needed to have the upper hand against him and his daughter might actually be the way to get it.
I considered the matter a bit more, wanting Charles to stand there and sweat a little longer. When I was ready, I stood and offered my hand.
“You have a deal.”
A big, almost dopey grin spread across Charles’s face. His huge hand shot out toward me, and we shook.
“So happy to hear this, Mr. Stone,” he said. “You’re going to be so thrilled that you took a chance on my daughter.”
“We’ll see.” We let go of one another’s hands. “I trust that you’ll be in touch with next steps.”
“That’s right. I need to tell Emily.”
I stepped around my desk, putting my hand on Charles’s shoulder and leading him out of my office.
“Good. And make no mistake—despite the unorthodox nature of this deal, I expect it to be carried out in a business-like manner.”
“I promise you that is exactly how it will be done.”
We reached the door and I opened it, Charles and I saying our goodbyes as he stepped out onto the bustling floor of the C-level of my offices, disappearing among the throngs of personal assistants zipping through my office.
I was glad when he was gone. Men like him tended to put me ill at ease. Ever since taking the reins of my father’s company, I’d built the enterprise up legally, above-board - at least that’s how I made it seem to the rest of the world.
I stepped over to the nearest window, hands solemnly clasped behind me, and peered out over the sprawling cityscape. Rain tapped a haunting melody against the glass, each droplet a somber note, while distant lightning cast ominous flashes.
There was no doubt in my mind that the arrangement I had just agreed to promised more than met the eye.
The scent of betrayal hung in the air, a stab in the back when I least expected it.
In this dark game, it was better to be the betrayer than the betrayed.
Keep his daughter’s innocence. The fuck I will.
I chuckled to myself as I considered the audacity of his proposal.
It was completely laughable. Emily was beautiful, no doubt about it, but I was going to use the situation to my advantage and have some fun in the process. I’d make Emily mine in every way and then she’d be no more use to her asshole of a father as a bargaining chip.
I’d get what I wanted, and ruin Charles in the process.
Didn’t sound like a bad idea at all, really.
A smirk formed on my lips as the plan came together.
I couldn’t wait to get started.
Chapter 2
Emily
You need to be packed and moving ASA-fuckin’-P.”
“What are you saying?”
I’d heard my father just fine, and the expression of irritation on his face made it clear that he knew I had.
“Don’t make me repeat myself, Emily. Youknowhow much it pisses me off when you do that.”
