Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 67518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 338(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 338(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
I kiss Lux’s forehead. The moon spills over her innocent face as she smiles in her sleep.
Bollocks, my Little One’s proving that her charms are deadlier than I am with a weapon. Measuring my movements, I unwrap myself from her arms, getting out of bed. After watching Luxury sleep for a while, I step out of the room, wondering what the little minx has done to me.
A spell.
She’d given me an adorable elixir to draw me to her. Toward death even, if the chairmen at X-Member realize I’ve neglected my duties.
Though I’m confident Lux has learned her role as mine, I can’t fathom how much I enjoyed her last night. Feasting on her nectar had spellbound me to the point of madness.
After slipping into pajama pants and an undershirt, I exit my room as Burt exits the second bedroom. It’s the middle of the night, and he’s in uniform as he holds up a silver tray with my laptop.
“Thank you.” I grab it as the only constant in my life continues to speak.
“Earl Grey?” he asks as usual.
“Of course.” Rubbing my eyes, I settle onto the living room sofa. After navigating to Tudor Enterprise internal system, a live view pops up, and Monica’s stark features and crew cut appears.
“Good morning, Vic.” Monica’s chipper voice rings in my ear before I can even see her. A few beats later, the connection is complete. I have a profile of the head of my security team. Monica’s proven to be quite efficient on many fronts. Firstly, providing insider input on businesses the Tudor board team has our eye on. A sort of gray area.
And when necessary, they operate beyond a legal capacity. No longer the gray area. Basically illegal, really.
She starts offering a rundown of the different businesses, which might be of interest to capitalize on, but I cut in. “I’ve an idea which company we will dismantle next, Monica. Now tell me, who’s the anonymous wanker pursuing Dr. Whitson?”
Her head cocks. She can’t grasp that another variable has taken precedence over my company. Despite my need for a meticulous kill, Tudor Enterprise is my all. Mother isn’t into my need for capitalization, but she isn’t aware of how much Graham splurges.
“I’ve dedicated a few members of the tech team into breaking through a six-tier system. Paul has been tripped up so many times by X-Member’s—”
“You’re not hearing me, Monica.” I could give a fuck why she’s bringing up Paul, one of the best hackers in Europe. “You, Paul, and everyone else are paid top dollar. If I ask Paul to hack into Her Royal Highness’ personal email, so be it.”
“That would be a breeze, Victor. Might I suggest outside resources? Leith Mac―”
“Monica, if I give you a task, and you’re uncertain of your capabilities, how do you respond?”
“I recuse my—”
“When will I have the requestor’s information?” I ask, taking the hot cup of tea from Burt.
“By the end of the day.”
“My day or yours?” My brow kicks.
“This afternoon—your time,” she sputters. My time zone allocates more precious time for her as well. “Now, if you have ti—”
“Yes. Tell me about our latest potential acquisitions,” I command. Monica appraises the different failing businesses with risk analysis predictions, which statistically means which ones are a shot out of the bloody ballpark. Next, she divulges anything our team can uncover that’s not on paper.
That’s the bloody gray area.
Once complete, I begin a video chat with my entire financial board. Of all my obligations I disdain, these meetings aren’t one of them. My team is the foundation of my thriving business.
About an hour into the discussion, the board’s divided between a riskier company and a solid lead. High-risk or high reward.
“Victor, may I?” Hartford, the only one with a soul on our team, leans forward in his chair. On occasion, his slow, steady pursuit wins me over. Although bulldozing businesses brings the rush I’ve learned from my father, I must realize this isn’t a game of chess. Yes, we’re screwing with people’s lives. Founders who have built their business from the ground up. It’s imperative each time we demolish a company that this is a sure thing.
“Take the floor, Hartford.”
While Hartford tentatively introduces his ideas, Burt silently approaches me. On a silver tray is the cell phone, which only transmits X-Member calls.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I must excuse myself. By all means, continue.” My brows hitch in an attempt at an apology.
In another life, Whitson would’ve been dead already, Lux in mourning, and myself at the billion-dollar meeting I’m logging off of.
With only a slither of moonlight in the room, my gaze flickers over Burt. I take the phone, pushing the accept button.
“X-Member Customer Support.” The voice is professional and male.
I unmute the phone, uttering a clipped greeting.
“Hello, Victor. Have you heard of the term, don’t bite the hand that feeds you?”