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“And this is my corner office.”
La-di-da. What a braggart. It’s so unappealing and my gaze skates over the room. It looks like any other office I’ve ever seen. Nothing special and not nearly as nice as the Rossi Vineyard office. I mean, yeah, the furniture looks expensive and I’m sure it cost a fortune. And, there is a nice view, I realize, wandering over to the big glass window and peering out over the city. But it would take a lot more than this to make up for the horrible man who works here.
“Come here,” he says, motioning to me with his hand. “I want you to see something.”
Not overly interested, I walk over to where he stands behind his desk, opening his laptop.
“Sit.” When I hesitate, he places a hand on my shoulder and pushes me down into the large leather chair.
I hate how he’s always manhandling me and realize I much prefer Vin’s gentle touch. Gritting back a nasty comment, I wait as he opens a file.
“Look.”
I see a bunch of numbers and names of corporations, maybe? Businesses? It doesn’t really make any sense to me and I shrug a shoulder, not sure what he’s bragging about now.
“I’ve been slowly buying up stock for Rossi Vineyard. But, it’s a secret, so shhh. Don’t tell anyone.” He sends me a creepy smile and wink.
My attention moves back to the screen and I squint, taking a closer look. Oh, no. How much stock does he own? This can’t be good. It doesn’t make sense that they would sell so much to him. Unless…
“I’m buying it under different corporations I own that no one else knows about. They have no idea that I now own a huge controlling share.”
The only reason he would do this is to hurt the Rossi family and their company. But I’m not sure exactly how it all works. Hell, until Vin hired me, I worked at a diner and my biggest problem was sore feet at the end of the day. Not billion dollar corporations and potential sneaky takeovers.
“Why are you doing this?” I ask, wanting to hear his plans so I can run straight to the Rossi family and fill them in on every single detail.
“Control. Majority shareholders have the benefit of voting and election privileges. I’ll have a say in the direction the company decides to take. They’ll be forced to constantly update me about how the company is performing. And, if I’m unhappy, I can request an election for new board members.”
“But why do you even care?” My brow furrows.
“Why shouldn’t I?” he asks, voice raising angrily. “They have everything and I’m tired of it. I’m going to usurp some of that power and use it to make even more money. If they want to negotiate, there’s only one thing I’ll accept.”
My stomach sinks. “What?” I ask, dreading the answer.
“I want a seat with the Five Families. And if they don’t allow me to join then I’ll destroy Rossi Vineyard. I belong on that council, running this city just like the others. I deserve the respect people give them. I want it all,” he hisses in a low voice near my ear.
A shiver runs through me and he’s even more power hungry and manipulative than I’d originally thought.
“But, why don’t we start with you giving me some of Vin’s passwords first?”
“I already told you I don’t know them. I just answer his phone and get him coffee.” I hope I sound convincing enough, but he’s looking at me like he doesn’t believe a word coming out of my mouth.
“Hannah dear, let me make this clear for you. I’m on the precipice of ruling this city and I’m going to need a beautiful, young wife at my side. The moment I saw you at that auction, I knew it had to be you.”
My mouth drops, not expecting to hear him say any of this. That’s why he’s been pursuing me so hard? He wants a trophy wife? Sorry, but that’s not happening. I’d rather die.
“I’m assuming Vin fucked you, claimed your virginity, and it pisses me off that he stole you from me. But I’ll get over it. Sure, he may have broken you in first, but I plan to show you so much more. Show you how to embrace pain and turn it into the greatest pleasure you’ve ever known. So even though he stole your innocence, I know he hasn’t introduced you to the dark side. But, I will.”
The dark side? I try not to cringe away from him, but I can’t help it. I don’t want anything to do with that kind of twisted desire or with Caleb. He’s a monster and making me want to run, but I need a better plan than that.
“Vin may have bruised my ego when he outbid me,” Caleb continues, “but that only gives me more incentive to destroy him. I’m going to take away every last ounce of power from the Rossi’s and teach them a lesson. They aren’t as great as they fucking think and I can’t wait to knock them down a few pegs. And you’re going to help me.”
Like hell I am.
“And, the first thing you need to do is forget Vin and pledge yourself to me from this point forward.”
Even though I should play along with this madman, I can’t and, without thinking, I blurt out, “I love him.”
Caleb’s eyes narrow and, before I realize what’s happening, he backhands me across the face. My head snaps and tears sting my eyes. Oh, God, that hurt. Beside me, he clears his throat.
