Page 121 of Watched

“I appreciate the directions, Miss Jose.”

Her heels click on the light floorboards as she chases after me, the scene causing a few to stop and stare. I continue round the dark wooden pillar that extends from the ground floor all the way to the twentieth.

My father catches me approaching as he sits at the head of the table. His team of four lawyers follow his gaze when I swing open the conference room door and step to the opposite end of the large glass table. “Do you wish for them to witness this?”

He stares at my enraged body, dismissing them. They file out of the room, the glass door threatening to shatter with their abrupt exit.

“I commend you on your moves.” I smile.

“Of which you’ll need to refresh my memory, son. I make many.”

“Placing me in Rome’s proximity that night, purely with the intent to secure his estate.”

He doesn’t falter against my newfound knowledge. “Business is business.”

“All you care for is money and power.”

“I have taught you that you cannot live in society’s confines of good and evil. You use the rules to play your own game. You kill your opposition and fight for what you want, because if you don’t, what’s the fucking point? This game with Rome is one we can both win.”

“This isn’t about fucking winning,” I snap, promptly calming myself before I shatter this table with his face. “You were trying to use a gentle and kind person to increase your fortune. It’s the only thing you’ve sought since Mum died. Money can buy a lot, but it can’t fill that fucking hole in your chest.”

His jaw tightens as he moves toward the wall of windows. “Look down there and tell me what you see, Rain.”

I stay rooted in place. “Invisible cages. Mind control and manipulation through media and technology, money and influence. The promise of an impossible dream.” I shake my head with a dry laugh. “Find somewhere else to build your fucking apartments.”

“It’s a prime location, Rain. Close to the city, but not a far commute. Most of the residents surrounding Rome’s grandfather’s estate have already agreed to the offered price. His just happens to be right in the fucking middle.”

Chaos beyond the glass wall pulls his attention from the view.

I lift my chin. “You might want to pull their offers off the table.”

Despite his calm demeanour, the protruding vein in his neck discloses his internal rage. “What the fuck have you done?”

“Shut down your entire system. Payments can’t be made or received, your emails can’t be sent, your lawyers can’t access their confidential information.”

“You do not want to make an enemy of me, son.”

“Truthfully, Dad, I don’t think you’ve seen me as a son since the day I hacked this branch. You see me as a weapon, and you see Blade as a killing machine.”

He lifts his chin. “Then you should know Blade will go after whomever I order. Tell me, Rain, was it smart to leave Rome home alone?”

I raise my voice louder. “I don’t know—was it?”

The door clicks open behind me. “Doubt it,” Blade says, “but is he home right now?”

Dad’s body tightens. “I gave you a deal, Blade.”

“As tempting as it was, I had no guarantee you would follow through, and I don’t go against Rain.”

That’s the nicest thing Blade has ever said about me.

I take out the rolled-up pages and pen from inside my jacket and step toward my father. “Blade and I will become shareholders; therefore, you will pay us a dividend.” I calmly place the pages on the table.

He looks at the contract disgusted. “You are aware you need to invest to become a shareholder.”

“We’ve paid our dues.”

“You’ve been fairly compensated,” Dad spits.