Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
It asks me to leave a voice message.
“Alek. Alek, you better fucking call me back. Call me back!” I end the call and throw my phone on the bed.
I’m frustrated with not knowing Alek’s whereabouts. Not that I would ever show the tiny sliver of weakness I have in my armor. But sex is the only thing I ever have to depend on to release that tension. Well, it’s the one I most enjoy. It’s powerful, the way men will drop to their knees and beg to worship me. It’s always when I feel my most powerful. Of course, I can kill people, which offers an entirely different release, but that’s more my brother’s thrill then mine.
With Alek gone, it means I also have to handle his contracts and negotiations, which doesn’t usually faze me. But we’ve had a rather persistent newcomer lately, one who I have to meet with soon, and I have very little interest in doing so.
However, this particular man has certainly grabbed my attention, and not in a good way. He blew up one of my favorite shops that sold rare jewelry collections. It was the moment he seriously grabbed my attention.
I’ve since had my people gather everything they can about the elusive River Bently.
Walking to the bathroom, I rake my fingers through my red hair and put it up in a tight bun before I start on my face, applying makeup and red lipstick.
It’s mechanical. I’ve done this every day from the age of fifteen. Polished. Regal. Beautiful. I have to be all of these things to remain cunning in my role since I mostly deal with businessmen. I use it to my advantage. If a man looked down on me for being a woman, he still wanted to fuck me because of it. And that is always their weakness.
But no one would ever own me.
No matter what they offer or how hard they try.
I drop the robe on the edge of the white clawfoot tub rimmed with gold, then walk back into my bedroom. Two white floor-to-ceiling pillars frame my king-sized bed with a gold headboard. The beautiful chandelier glitters from the remaining sunlight that slips through the bay windows as sky turns to dusk. I slip through the wall behind my bed to the two-level closet.
My hand drifts along the glass display of all my recent jewelry collections as I contemplate what I might add to my outfit this evening.
For my clothing, I know exactly what I’ll wear. I reach for my signature tight red dress, which has a slit up the side high enough to give a peek at my underwear. If I wore underwear, that is. I idly stare at my jewelry cabinet as I slip on my designer heels.
“I think I’ll wear the rubies today,” I say to myself, because I’m the only one allowed in this room. My collection of pretties is for my viewing pleasure only.
When I leave my room, Clay and Vance wait outside my door, dressed in their custom black suits.
“Who am I meeting tonight?”
“His name is River Bently.” Clay reads the name from his phone as we walk through the halls, and my staff make sure to avert their gazes to the floor when I stride past.
My men guide me to the front doors, where a car awaits us. Vance holds the door open as I slide in, and they both follow, sitting on either side of me. Clay continues once the doors are closed, always cautious not to speak of business matters in front of others. You never know who might betray you.
“He’s a tycoon known around the world for running drugs and guns. He’s been mostly on the West Coast but has recently come to the East. He requested a meeting with you and your brother. You both declined said meetings until he blew up one of your shops,” Clay says and then looks up from his phone. “Then you tried to find him to kill him. He’s smart, though, and has managed to either kill or avoid anyone you sent with a message for a meetup,” he finishes.
I remember this asshole vividly. Not because I’ve met him but because he’s left an unflattering taste in my mouth.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to meet up with him,” Vance advises.
“Yeah, well, he’s threatened to fuck up some of my gun shipments, and I don’t play when it comes to business,” I tell Vance. Not that the guns were ever my forte since Alek always handled them… before he went missing.
“We know, miss, it’s just without Alek here…”
“Are you saying I can’t handle things without my brother?” I snap. “Listen closely. Neither of you are my partners. Just because I let you play with my body does not mean you have any hold over me or have any say in how I conduct business.” I glare at them through narrowed eyes. They both nod and look down.