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While Seth pulls out folders for each of the men, including Finklestein, I dial Victor and speak quietly but firmly, “Send security up. We’re in the back conference room. I need about five minutes.”
“What the fuck is this?” Finklestein screeches when he reads the resolution Seth handed him. “My board assured me there would be no changes to management until I sorted all of this out. This is an outrage. I’m calling my lawyer.”
“Do your best. I can assure you, it’s over.” I keep my face neutral. I might be a shark, but I’m not a gloater. Gloating is for insecure failures.
Harrison jumps up and storms over to me, sticking a pointed finger in my face. “It’s never going to be over. Someone like you will never take over my company. It’ll be over my dead body. Don’t you forget it, you bottom-feeding loser.”
Ah. And there it is. I knew he’d go low, it took much less time than I thought. Twenty-six years ago, Harrison and I were roommates at Yale for one semester during our freshman year. His path was Skull & Bones, my path was scraping my way through undergrad by working three jobs. An age-old story, except he stole my English paper and turned it in as his own without my knowledge.
He probably figured it would be his word—backed by his family’s generous donation to the school—against mine, backed by nobody.
I was, after all, a boy who was abandoned by my parents and grew up in the foster system. A kid who just so happened to be incredibly gifted with an insanely high IQ. Focused and determined to change my lot in life after being shuffled around from family to family. Someone who managed to get a full-ride scholarship to one of the most prestigious universities in the United States.
Unfortunately, I confided all of these things in my roommate, believing I’d finally found a new friend other than Seth. My naiveite allowed him to take advantage of me.
Ruin me. For no good reason whatsoever.
If it hadn’t been for my astute professor who went to bat for me with the dean, I would have been expelled. Instead, Harrison was suspended for plagiarism. I finished college, graduating with honors. But, for the rest of my years at Yale, Harrison and his “brethren” didn’t make it easy on me.
Not even a little bit.
The worst was when they started a crazy rumor about me having herpes which, because of who they were, took on a life of its own. It didn’t matter that I was a virgin at the time. I was so mortified, I didn’t so much as ask someone out on a date let alone find an opportunity to have sex. I finally lost my virginity at twenty-three, during my second year of my MBA program in NYC.
They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I’m living proof. The experience fundamentally changed me. Hardened me against getting close to people. Made me more determined to become so successful and powerful no one would ever mess with me again.
I’ve succeeded. Beyond even my own wildest dreams.
Don’t let anyone fool you—being wealthy is fantastic. When you have as much money as I do? You can do whatever the fuck you want. I’ve come a long way from being a destitute kid stuck in the foster system. Harrison, on the other hand, is still the same old shithead he ever was.
“It’s already done.” I gesture to the security guards who have appeared at the door. They enter and I flick my gaze to Finklestein. “Your access has been suspended. Your computer and phone confiscated. These gentlemen will escort you from the building. As far as any personal belongings you may have, someone will arrange to get them back to you after a thorough audit of the books. Have a nice day.”
Finklestein sputters and squirms as he’s dragged from the room.
For the next few days, Seth and I pore over financial reports while my IT team does a forensic deep dive on the computer files. It’s tedious work, but it’s necessary to get a clear picture of the company’s financial viability.
As the week wears on, I get a sense of the incredibly tangled web of relationships that has contributed to Eminence Partners’ troubles. There are shady business deals with unscrupulous clients, questionable investments, and a host of other issues. But one thing stands out above all the rest: Harrison Finklestein’s ex-wife, Clover Callahan.
Clover conveniently divorced Harrison just before his scandal broke, and she made off with millions of dollars in assets that, in my humble opinion, rightfully belong to the company. As far as I’m concerned, anyone who could stay married to a creep like Finklestein for a decade is complicit in his misdeeds. No question. This is a blatant act of theft, and the thought of it makes me furious.
“What do you intend on doing?” Seth taps a finger to his nose. “It certainly appears she’s involved in this mess.”
“I’m not sure yet.” I scroll through her Instagram feed as Seth goes back to reviewing some documents.
I’m vaguely aware of who she is. A washed-up B-list actress who had a couple of random pop hits a decade ago. What I didn’t remember is that she’s absolutely jaw-droppingly stunning. Long, silky black hair. Wide-set eyes that are so many shades of aqua they have to be contact lenses. She’s voluptuous, with creamy, golden skin. Pouty lips that, if circumstances were different, I’d love to see wrapped around my cock.
Yeah, she’s definitely my type.
Except for the fact she’s probably a fucking criminal.
Her latest post is a duck-pout selfie with A+ list actress, Ronni Miller, who is truly a class act. I’ve never met her, but last year she put her entire career on the line to expose Don Kircher’s reign of casting-couch terror. The man is, thankfully, going to spend the rest of his life in jail because of her efforts.
The caption reads, “Hawaiian High besties reunited at last. Guess who’s in Vancouver BC? Me! I’m back in business, bitches. Playing the lead in Ronni’s new show. Stay tuned!”
Huh. I’m surprised at the connection, but it infuriates me even more. My gut tells me that woman was definitely in on the scam with her ex. Fuck. Clover probably led her husband to Kircher. Ronni Miller could be one more of Harrison’s victims. I’m going to get to the bottom of it. That’s a promise.
“Add Canada to my schedule.” I turn my screen to show Seth the post.
He smiles. “She’s smokin’ hot. That’s the wife?”
