Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 156392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 782(@200wpm)___ 626(@250wpm)___ 521(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 782(@200wpm)___ 626(@250wpm)___ 521(@300wpm)
He definitely is not the best King grandchild as he claims. He’ll have to work harder to be me when he grows up.
The men around us mingle in circles, wearing stuffy Ralph Lauren blazers, smoking cigars, and discussing the latest tax laws and ways to keep their money out of the king’s treasury.
Old money reeks from the dark wallpaper like a stench I enjoyed wallowing in.
My father steps into my space, looking sharp in a tailored dark-brown suit Mum got for him. She spoils the man too much, if you ask me, but she loves him.
A useless emotion that’s done no one any good. Except for producing me, but I’m a miracle for everyone’s existence.
“If you have no intention of taking your role seriously, kindly piss off to your mother’s side of the family and leave the grown-ups to do business at King Enterprises.” His calmly spoken words are neither a threat nor a jab. They’re simply a statement.
One would think that since I’m a clone of him—same jet-black hair, build, frosty gray eyes, and deep-seated disregard for people’s intelligence, or lack thereof—he’d spoil me more.
But then again, he’s probably jealous because I’m better-looking than him. After all, I have some of Mum’s genes, and he’s beneath that woman’s league. Just saying.
“You and I both know I’ve brought the most profit to the company since I became CFO, and my numbers are only exceeded by you and Uncle Levi. So how about you be proud of me and consider stepping down sometime soon with Uncle so I can do things my way?”
“If your way is alienating possible partners by keeping their children on a leash and threatening to expose, imprison, or have them killed, then I’ll have to pass.”
Well, well.
He knows.
After my grandfather stepped down as CEO and became the honorary chairman, my father took his place. My uncle is the COO and, honestly, I expect him to step down sooner than my father since he prefers his extended family’s company and was never as ruthless a businessman as Dad or Grandpa.
I need them both gone so I can do things my way. Something neither of them will give me unless I fight for it.
And fight I will.
I pretend to take a sip of the champagne, measure my words—ironically, a trait he taught me—then smile. “If you have a choice between being loved and hated, it’s better to be hated.”
“Not if we need to expand the business. And this isn’t the Roman Empire.”
“I’ll handle it.”
He raises a dark, sardonic brow. “Will you, now?”
“Trust me, Dad.” I squeeze his shoulder.
“I don’t trust your destructive methods.”
“They won’t be used unless absolutely necessary.”
He shakes his head, a mysterious look taking refuge in his eyes. “If you don’t focus and step up your game, Landon will come after your position.”
“That prick hasn’t taken a business class in his life and is more content sculpting statues and pretending the entire population are peasants who should start a cult to worship him. How could he ever be a threat to me?”
“He’s studying for an MBA at Harvard. We both know he’ll speed through it like lightning and roll back in here for your throne, even if it’ll be purely out of spite and to prove himself to Levi and my father.”
I grind my teeth. Just another complication to add to the list of fucked-up nonsense I have to deal with lately.
For the sake of my sanity, I blame a blue-eyed, pink-obsessed little minx who gives me a hard-on with a single glare.
“You’re going about this entirely the wrong way,” my father tells me matter-of-factly.
Though I respect the hell out of him, I seriously loathe that knowing look he directs at me as if he has me all figured out.
“Humor me,” I say with no emotion. “Is this concerning business decisions?”
“It’s more related to the reason you’re losing concentration.”
“No idea what you’re insinuating.”
“Marriage is not a joke, a bet, or a way to inflate your mega-sized ego.”
“Took that last one from the best.” I wink at him.
He doesn’t smile. “The moment you think you’re in a competition with your wife, you’ve already lost, son.”
“We’re not in a competition.” Except for the fiery back and forth that somehow ends up happening whenever we’re in the same room.
“What did I tell you before?” It’s his turn to squeeze my shoulder. “Women need space. Doesn’t matter if it’s an illusion or if you can confiscate it whenever you wish. It’s the gesture that matters.”
“Ava would take that space, drown it with alcohol, fill her nose with white powder, then drive her car over a cliff while laughing like a maniac. She needs discipline, not space.”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He drops his hand. “Let’s get this over with.”
“What?” I nudge him. “Can’t wait to go home to Mum?”
“Some of us actually miss our wives. I certainly prefer her company over this charade.”