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140|Awakening
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Beautiful Disaster 141|This Love You Speak Of
The Gopals were scheduled to arrive at 8:00 PM, but Austin was at Royal Lights at six, just to make sure the venue was in tip-top condition for what could very well be his final Battle Royale with The Corporation.Austin trusted his assistant to do her job well, but for anything involving The Corporation, he liked to be a little hands-on. So as soon as he'd settled down in his office and responded to a few burning emails, he headed to the Cigar Room at the heart of the casino's dining hub in the south wing.He found Elizabeth hard at work, coordinating with the lounge's staff."Mr Hawthorne, you're here!" she said, briefly looking up from the clipboard in her hands."In the flesh," Austin replied, rocking on the balls of his feet as he shoved his hands in his pockets, a pleased smile on his face. "How's it going over here?""As well as can be expected, I suppose, for something so at short notice."Austin narrowed his eyes at her snippy tone. He didn't like being here more than she did
Beautiful Disaster 142|The Old Guard—Part 1
At 8:00 PM on the dot, the Gopals' motorcade pulled up at the entrance. Austin would not have expected anything less. After all, Vishal, the head of the Gopal family, was a stickler for time.The bodyguards were the first to step out of their cars, surprising Austin when two of them helped Vishal out of his sleek Bentley and placed him in an electric wheelchair.Austin had known for some time now that the patriarch's health was failing him, but he would never have imagined such a rapid decline. The man in the wheelchair was a far cry from the one Austin last saw at the Foundation's charity benefit four months ago.While he was still trying to hide his horror at the elderly man's pitiful appearance, Austin's world was thrown off balance yet again when Navya, Vishal's only daughter, stepped out of the second Bentley, their capos right behind her.Exquisitely dressed in a navy power suit that did very little to hide her stunning figure, her raven hair styled in an angled bob, Navya playe
Beautiful Disaster 143|The Old Guard—Part 2
"I had nothing to do with that attack. You have to believe me," Andrei said as soon as they were alone."You had everything to do with it. If you'd kept your mouth shut about Iris' journal, your unhinged psycho father wouldn't have had any reason to come after me!" Austin growled, his anger rising to the fore again when he remembered his terror. Not for him, but for Orlando and Marybeth. "Did he tell you what he did?"Andrei shook his head, stating, "No. But I heard from my capos. And I can't apologise enough.""He crossed a line, Drei. Your old man crossed a line. Orlando was in the car with me. He always talks about how much he loves her, but the first chance he gets, he lets his dogs loose on us, and for what? For some stupid journal that doesn't even mention him?""I'm sorry," Andrei said, his face crumpled in remorse. "Tell me how to fix this. You and I…we go back a long way. You've been more of a brother to me than Leks has ever been. I don't want the shit my father pulled to af
Beautiful Disaster 144|The Old Guard—Part 3
Austin didn't know if he should be impressed or disturbed by how indifferent Winston was towards Navya and her father when they stepped into the Cigar Room moments later.If Marybeth was in the same room with him, and Austin knew she was about to marry another man in a few months, there was no way he would have been able to remain calm. But Winston was clearly a professional at hiding his feelings. Nothing about his relaxed demeanour hinted at just how madly in love he was with Navya as they all sat at the bar and nursed their drinks while they feverishly discussed the role of the private sector in the country's energy crisis, with Blake leading the conversation.At some point during the impassioned discussion, Tim leaned in and whispered for Austin's ears only, "I have mad respect for Win right now. How does he remain so…""Unbothered?""Yep, that's the word!""He's in denial," Austin said. "Give him a few weeks. He'll call. I won't be surprised if he thinks up a kidnapping plan the
Beautiful Disaster 145|Own Your Truth
Marybeth's phone rang for a while before her voicemail service picked up. Disappointed, Austin hung up without leaving a message.Turning back to the Cigar Room, he was startled to find Blake leaning against the wall near the entrance, a glass of whiskey in one hand and a cigar in the other. He looked so relaxed, happy even, that if Austin didn't know better, he would have found it hard to believe that this was the same man embroiled in a sex tape scandal just a day ago."I never got a chance to thank you," Blake said as Austin slowly approached the entrance."For what?""For giving me a heads up about Father's cleanup plan...and, of course, for taking care of things."By 'things', Austin assumed Blake was referring to the sex tape. Honestly, he was so sick of the whole saga. But he couldn't end the night without telling Blake exactly what he thought of his fuckup. So he stood beside him and crammed his hands in his pockets, thinking long and hard about what he wanted to say next."Yo
Beautiful Disaster 146|No Honour Among Thieves
The break had done wonders for everyone's mood; they were all much calmer when they took their seats after a quick round of drinks at the bar.A relieved smile lit up Austin's face when he glanced at Navya. She looked almost like her normal, composed self. Whatever Winston had said to her—and maybe even done with her—had obviously worked."We've heard from the Hawthornes," Nikolai said from the centre of the room as he called the meeting to order again, forcing Austin to pay attention. "They want to leave the alliance, so the only thing left to discuss is our future cooperation.""There is no future cooperation once we leave," Austin informed him, ignoring the several pairs of eyes now glued to him. "You'll all have to find another laundromat.""That's madness! Are you out of your mind?" Willem couldn't hide his outrage as he jumped to his feet and weaved through the tables. He stopped short when Austin pulled out his pistol and twirled it in his hands. Gritting his teeth, a look of d
Beautiful Disaster 147| Change Of Guard
"What did he say?" Austin asked, his voice sounding strangely shrill. "Father, what did Nikolai say?""He…" Lukas stuttered, looking utterly frightened and confused."What did he say?" Blake jumped in, shaking their father a little to get him to snap out of his terrified trance."He said he's heartbroken and can't sit and watch everyone remove him from his seat."Austin gaped at his father, pure incredulity shining brightly in his eyes, unable to understand why he'd lie so blatantly. Whatever Nikolai had said had nothing to do with heartbreak, and Austin knew this because he'd never seen his old man so…petrified.Before he could push for the truth, Willem swiftly moved things along, asking Andrei, "do we have your permission to remove your father from his seat?"Andrei nodded. "You'll get his resignation in the morning.""Then I guess all that's left is to vote the Hawthornes in," said Willem. "All those in favour, raise your hands."Everyone except Jaco, Vishal and his capos raised t
Beautiful Disaster 148|To Serve And Protect—Part 1
The sense of dread Austin had carried around since he saw the look of horror on his father's face finally melted away when he stepped into his penthouse.From the entrance hall, he had a clear view of the open-plan living area, and there, he saw something that made his heart flutter. In the blue and white glow of the TV light was Marybeth lying on the couch, strands of her long red hair draped over the armrest.His feet moved of their own accord and carried him forward, finally stopping in front of the couch, where he stood for some time, gazing at Marybeth's sleeping form.He pushed the magazines on the coffee table out of the way and sat down, listening to the peace filling his heart as he ran his hands on her arms, revelling in the smooth feel of her stardust skin on his fingertips."Žena, wake up. I'm home," he whispered as he bent over and slowly brushed her lips in a fleeting kiss.He was about to kiss her again when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Arno stroll down the sta
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