Series: Lee Savino
Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 63295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
My lips quirk at my sister-in-law’s infinite cheeriness. I’m not attracted to Lana, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I’m jealous as hell that my idiot brother found his mate.
Even if I moved in circles with other bears or if fate matched me with a human and I managed to find her, I couldn’t possibly mate. My bear is too unstable. He destroys everything he touches. I can’t let him out.
“Hi, Lana.”
“Listen, will you please, please, please, please come home for Thanksgiving? It’s really important to me.”
“Why?” It’s a dick thing to say, and Lana doesn’t deserve me being an asshole to her, especially not when it’s her company’s wealth that ended up saving Bad Bear Mountain before I got Mountain Top and its real estate investment subsidiary, Medvedev Investments, to a nine-figure company.
“We have some news if you must know.” Her voice softens.
I don’t know why it hits me like a punch to the gut.
Teddy’s going to have a cub.
The news ignites a thread of loneliness deep inside me. The pull of family and the mountain competing with my drive to succeed here.
Except there’s no need for me to earn billions anymore. The need disappeared when Teddy mated Lana. I was doing everything to save the mountain, including trying to develop it so we could keep it from falling into the hands of another cutthroat hedge fund. Teddy sees me as another evil hedge fund bro, but I was going to use my powers for good, dammit.
But Lana’s money kept the outsiders out. Without development.
I’m useless to the family I alienated myself from and worked so hard to rescue.
“That’s great,” I find myself saying hollowly. “Congratulations.” I want to end the conversation. “Yeah, I’ll try to be there, Lana.”
“Don’t just try,” Lana shows a hint of steel that makes her a successful businesswoman in her own right. “Make it happen, Darius.”
“Okay, Lana.” I know when I’ve been out-negotiated. “I have to go. But I’ll keep you posted.”
“Make it happen,” she repeats. I end the call and sigh.
I look in the mirror and grumble at my hair, which grew another centimeter while I was on the call. My bear’s protest at me refusing to go home.
I have to go back downstairs. I’m here to network, and that bullshit takes place over cocktails and dinner.
I head down to the reception room where a server takes my drink order, and I carry my whiskey on the rocks over to the fireplace.
There's a massive oil painting of Thom over the mantel. He’s in a striking pose, with a younger woman seated by his side. My eyes are immediately drawn to her perfect oval face. Dark hair, dark eyes, plump lips. Her skin is a few shades darker than Thom’s pasty complexion.
Maybe it’s just my longing for a mate like Lana, but I’m drawn to the portrait. She’s the most stunning female I’ve ever seen. The painter must have been a little in love with her. She’s too beautiful to be real.
I did my research on the host before coming here and didn’t find any evidence that Thom was ever married. The woman is probably his partner, but she’s young enough to be his daughter. She doesn’t look old enough to be out of college, but I’ve met plenty of men who prefer trophy wives in their twenties.
No, my bear makes his displeasure known. I ignore him. He’s been increasingly unhappy with everyone and everything. Living in the city around so many people is hard on him. I work over a hundred hours a week. He misses my brothers and the mountain. He wants freedom.
But I don’t dare let him out. Every time I do, it’s been a disaster.
The grand receiving room fills with people. There are a few older men who look like Thom plus a fresh crop of frat boy-types with weak chins, strong cologne, and expensive watches bought with Daddy’s money. The room reeks of entitlement.
These are the people I’m supposed to schmooze with all weekend. For most people, a few days lounging in a mansion with the ultra rich would be a dream come true but not for me. There’s nothing relaxing about glad-handing humans all day and convincing them to invest in my company.
But I didn’t build Mountain Top Investments from nothing without sacrifice. Thom Thompson owns the most successful hedge fund in the world. I’m here to learn his secrets and see if he was serious about partnering with my investment firm for a real estate deal.
I toss back my drink and prepare to wade into the fray. Before I do, the scent of hothouse flowers catches my attention. It’s coming from the nearby hall. I wander that way and stop short at the sight of a woman descending the grand staircase. She’s short and curvy with pillowy lips and shining hair.