Christian screeched into his company's parking lot, tires skidding before the car came to a sharp stop
Out of frustration, he pounded his fist against the steering wheel repeatedly, his face flushing with rage. "That bastard!" he cursed, his veins bulging.
"How dare that scumbag fight me after helping to break my marriage?" he growled, his bloodshot eyes burning with hatred.
Judging from the fact that Lorenzo had been out of prison for five years, Christian had no doubt Lorenzo was the man Ashley had cheated with. The one who must have convinced her to ask for the divorce two years ago.
But one question still gnawed at him.
Where was the child?
If Ashley had the baby, he needed to find out. If he could claim both mother and child, he'd have leverage. No one would ever suspect his health condition. And Ashley? She would do whatever he wanted to keep her dirty little secret buried.
Adjusting the rearview mirror, he studied his reflection. His left cheek was slightly swollen, and a few fresh cuts lined his lips.
The fact that he hadn't been able to land a single hit on Lorenzo made his blood boil. The thugs Ashley called ensured he left the scene untouched. Lucky bastard.
Christian clenched his jaw knowing it was her orders. How could she choose that wench over him? He was her ex-husband, for God's sake!
Lorenzo was biting off more than he could chew. And Christian was ready to put him back in his place—even if it meant sending him straight back to...
A sudden knock on the window startled him, interrupting his thoughts. He turned to see Gabriel standing outside. But to his annoyance, he wasn't alone. His ever-irritating wife, Molita, stood beside him, arms folded.
Christian sighed and stepped out.
"Man, what the hell happened to you?" Gabriel asked, leaning in to inspect his face.
Christian slapped his hand away. "It's nothing. Just a little accident," he lied before storming past them into the building.
He didn't miss the way Molita rolled her eyes as he passed. She had never hidden her dislike for him, and Christian had never cared. It all traced back to one night—the night Gabriel proposed to her.
It wasn't his fault—Molita had looked too irresistible in her short red gown. Christian had assumed she wouldn't mind a little extra fun after Gabriel dropped her off. He was wrong.
After he made his intention known, she stared back at him with pure hatred.
She never forgave him, though luckily for Christian, she never told Gabriel.
Minutes later, Gabriel entered Christian's office—alone this time, much to his relief.
"Are you going to tell me what really happened now?" Gabriel asked, his sharp eyes scanning Christian's bruises.
Christian didn't bother looking up from his laptop. "I went to see Ashley. On my way back, I had a little accident, like I said earlier."
Gabriel frowned. "You went to see who?"
Christian's tone darkened. "Don't start, Gabby."
Gabriel exhaled sharply. "What do you even want with her? Have you forgotten..."
"I'm not paying you to counsel me. If I need advice, I'll hire a counselor," Christian cut him off dismissively.
Gabriel sighed. "Just don't say I didn't warn you."
"Whatever," Christian muttered, already irritated. He changed the subject. "The deal with Devonshire Group—did you close it?"
Gabriel hesitated before scratching his head. "They pulled out."
Christian's head snapped up. "What? Why?"
"Miss Devonshire wasn't convinced."
Christian slammed his palm onto the desk, raking a hand through his hair. That little witch.
She had just taken over the company from her father, and now she was playing games. She was just a woman—too weak for the business world. He would make sure she learned that.
He drummed his fingers lightly on the table. "I heard the CEO position was rightfully her brother's," he mused, a slow smirk creeping onto his face.
Gabriel nodded.
Interesting. He nodded, a plan already forming in his mind.
Before he could say more, Gabriel added, "And SRIC is still pressing to terminate the Beverly Road construction deal. I believe someone tipped them off about the suppliers."
Christian clenched his jaw. Lately, his companies had been facing one setback after another, and he couldn't make sense of it.
"What do you suggest?" he asked, knowing Gabriel's insights had saved the company a lot of times.
Gabriel hesitated, then said, "I got inside information that SRIC is considering renegotiating with Grey Group."
Christian's expression darkened. "Didn't Grey Group turn them down last time?"
Gabriel nodded. "Yeah. I think they were just proving a point—showing they're the best in the market."
Christian frowned. Rejecting a multi-million-dollar deal to make a point? Who the hell does that?
Gabriel continued, "But I have a feeling they'll accept this time. Which is why I think we should make a move before they do."
Christian sat back, thoughtful. "And what makes you think Grey Group would want to cut the deal with us?"
Gabriel smirked. "Because their annual stock sales are opening in a few days. If we buy in, we become partners. No more chasing contracts—we'll own a piece of the industry."
Christian's eyes gleamed. If they pulled this off, contractors would be begging them for deals.
"So how do we get in?" he asked aware that Only ten companies make it in every year making owning a share in Grey group extremely difficult.
Gabriel exhaled. "We need a strategy."
Christian nodded. "Figure it out."
Just as he dismissed Gabriel, the office door burst open.
Kayla stormed in, eyes blazing.
Christian sighed, already exhausted. He focused on his laptop, ignoring her.
"Am I invisible to you now?" she snapped. When he didn't respond, she marched up and slammed his laptop shut.
Christian rubbed his temples. He had neither the patience nor the time for her drama.
"You lied to me!" Kayla accused. "You went to see that bitch!"
Christian's jaw clenched. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Kayla scoffed. "Oh, don't play dumb. You went to Flynn Enterprise to see Ashley."
Christian combed his hand through his hair, meeting her angry gaze. "Can you see my face at all? Shouldn't you be concerned about how I feel right now?"
Kayla rolled her eyes. "How am I sure you didn't sustain that from fighting over that whore?"
Christian exhaled sharply, surprised how she knew. But he wasn't about to admit she was right. "Why would I fight over that gold-digger when I have you?" he said, his voice softer. "I was at Flynn Enterprises for business. I'm trying to get them to partner with us."
Kayla hesitated, skeptical.
"You're the one I love, Kay," Christian continued, his gaze softening. "Why do you keep doubting me?"
Kayla bit her lip, her anger wavering. Christian took advantage of her hesitation, effortlessly turning the table in his favor.
"I divorced her for you," he murmured, sounding and looking hurt. "Have I ever given you a reason to doubt me?"
Kayla sighed, her resistance crumbling. She rounded the table, sliding her hands over Christian's shoulders.
"I'm sorry, Chris," she whispered. "I thought you'd been thinking about her since that event."
Christian pulled her onto his lap, his grip firm around her waist. "I'm not thinking about her. If anything, I'm just concerned about her latest achievement and what it might mean for us." His voice dropped lower. "Today, I saw her with Lorenzo again. What if they're plotting against us? This is not the time for us to be fighting."
Kayla nodded and murmured another apology. Remembering why she'd driven to Christian's office before getting tipped off about his whereabouts by her tech guy, she quickly added, "Thanks for sending my sister the money."
Christian smiled, trailing a finger along the curve of her neck, down to the swell of her breasts.
"Have you forgiven me now?" she asked, her voice breathy from the tingling sensation his touch left behind.
"A little lesson before forgiveness, remember?" he murmured in her ear.
Kayla's lips curled into a knowing smile. She leaned forward, her blouse gaping open to reveal the smooth curves of her cleavage.
Christian's gaze darkened. His hands slipped inside her blouse, squeezing soft flesh as he envisioned Ashley's plump globes which he'd seen earlier.
A quiet sigh escaped Kayla's lips. "Want to tell me how you sustained the bruises?"
"Just a little accident while coming back," he replied dismissively, releasing Kayla's breasts, and teasing her swollen nipples.
A moan escaped her lips. "I'm sorry. We should plot their downfall after this," she whispered, grinding against Christian's hardness.
Christian growled lowly, taking one of her nipples in his mouth. "That we must do," he whispered back. "Or we risk being exposed."
Their lips crashed together as his hand slid down her body, disappearing beneath her sultry micro skirt.
"You're so wet, baby."
Kayla gasped softly as his fingers thrust into her, the sound muffled by his kiss. Christian shut his eyes, letting the thought of Ashley take over, the fantasy sending heat surging through his veins.
Needing release, he groaned, his voice husky. "I'm rock hard because of you, baby. Get down and do some work."
Kayla didn't hesitate. Slipping under his desk, she undid his zipper, eager to please him. She needed to get him off quickly if she wanted to feel him inside her. But just as she wrapped her hands and mouth around Christian's length, the door burst open.
Christian jerked back, shoving Kayla away, his eyes snapping toward the door.
His secretary, Katherine, stood frozen in the doorway, horror flashing across her face. The air was charged with an awkward silence.
Kayla tumbled back, landing hard on the floor beneath the desk. She scrambled to adjust her blouse, quickly trying to shove her boobs back inside her top.
Katherine's wide eyes darted everywhere but at them. She mumbled a quick apology before spinning to leave.
But Christian's hoarse voice stopped her.
"Wait."