My frown deepened as I took in Stephen’s appearance. He was dressed in a tailored suit, his hair slicked back to reveal a smug expression. He had a naughty glint in his eye, and I knew that he only spelt trouble. He was a rich entitled brat that has been on my neck since forever. Just a jealous twat after my business, but mostly my peace of mind.
"Good to see you Logan," Stephen said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I didn't know you were into auctions." I narrowed my eyes, my instincts on high alert. "I'm just here for a specific item," I said trying to keep my cool. Stephen's grin widened. "Oh, I think I know what that item might be, And I think I might just have to bid against you." My eyes locked onto his, a spark of anger igniting within me. “You don’t have to be a prick every goddamn time.” I hissed annoyed and he chuckled as he neared me. He lifted his hands and stroked my hair but I pushed him off. “Awwww! Princess is mad? Come on Logan, it’s a bid. So just try your best to win against me.” He said as he laughed like a maniac before handing his invite to the guards. "See you inside princess." he snickered as he walked away. Why? Just why did I have to run into him? As if things weren’t hard enough. And I hated the fact he called me princess. I hated everything about this prick of a man. “Sir, let’s go.” Peter beckoned. I hissed as I strode into the hall. I needed to get my head straight. I walked into the auction hall, the sound of murmured conversations and the clinking of glasses filling the air. The room was filled with rich folks, all dressed to the nines, and I could sense the excitement and anticipation building up. The announcer, a tall, slender man with a soothing voice, introduced himself and welcomed everyone to the auction. He explained the rules and the procedures, and then, without further ado, the auction began. Numerous valuable items were on display, and the bidding started. I watched carefully, waiting for when my item would be on display. "Lot number 12, a rare diamond ring valued at 500 thousand," the announcer said, holding up the ring. A woman in the front row raised her hand, bidding 700 thousand, Another man bidded 800 thousand, until it reached 1.2 million. And so the auction continued. The item I came for was finally on display and my eyes narrowed as I clenched my fist. I spotted Stephen, who had a naughty grin on his face and mouthed the words "mine." I frowned as I looked away. I can't let him get to me. The announcer described the item as a precious family heirloom, and the bidding started at 80 million. I was the first to bid a 100 million. Stephen snickered as he raised it by an extra 20 million. Fuck! He’s really going to challenge me. A certain business woman, who had a knack for jewelry bid 170 million, and so the bidding continued competitively. I clenched my jaws feeling frustrated. I knew Stephen was just doing this to mess with me, and I was soon at my last million. The bidding continued until it reached 680 million. With frustration, I called out 700 million which was all I had at the moment. Stephen didn't back down and made a call. “750 million.” He said with his eyes fixed on me. I knew I didn't have the money to bid higher, but I stubbornly wanted to keep bidding. Peter immediately grabbed my arm to stop me. "It's not wise sir," he whispered. "You can't afford to bid higher." But I was determined. "I can't let the necklace end up with a shitty person like Stephen," I said stubbornly, but Peter wouldn’t let me make another call. Just as the announcer was about to declare the necklace sold to Stephen, someone else made a bid “1.5 billion.” The familiar voice said from behind and the crowd was in shock. I quickly turned around to see who had made that call, and I was met with fucking Gavin with a sexy grin plastered on his stupidly handsome face, his gaze fixed on me. I felt cold sweat trickle down my spine, and I knew I couldn't win the bid. Stephen also backed down immediately with a frown. The announcer called out the bid once, twice, and then slammed down his gavel. "Sold to Mr Gavin Slade for 1.5 billion!" I felt a mix of emotions. Frustration, disappointment, and relief. I knew I couldn't have afforded to bid higher, but a part of me was glad that the necklace wouldn't end up with Stephen, but Gavin wasn’t any better either. As soon as the auction was over, Gavin got up immediately to leave, his confident stride eating up the distance. I hurried to catch up to him, cause I needed to speak with him. I finally caught up to him just as he was about to get into his car. I blocked his path, my eyes locked on his. Gavin narrowed his eyes and raised his brows at me. "Logan," he said, his voice low and smooth. "What can I do for you?" I took a deep breath, "I want to make a deal," I said, my voice firm. Gavin couldn't help but chuckle. "A deal?" he repeated. "Why would I want to make a deal with you Logan?" I gritted my teeth. "Stop being pretentious Gavin, I know why you bought the necklace anyway." Gavin grinned, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Nothing gets past you, does it Logan?" he said, his voice low and husky. He moved closer to me, his sensual smile making my heart skip a beat. "So Logan," he said, his voice dripping with seduction. "What are you willing to do for your mom's necklace?" I swallowed hard. "Anything," I replied trying to sound confident, but the smell of his cologne drowned every confidence in my veins. Gavin leaned in all the more, his breath hot against my ears. "Anything?" he repeated, his voice low and needy. This moment, I knew I was falling into a trap. Gavin's eyes seemed to bore into my soul, and I could feel my resolve weakening. But I couldn't back down now. I had to get what I wanted from this psycho. “Anything.” I repeated firmly, and I knew immediately that I was only digging my own grave.“I will do anything!” I said with resolve. A small smile spread across his face as he leaned in all the more, pressing his hard body against mine. “If you really are willing, then I’ll give it to you, only if you suck me.” His soft seductive whisper bounced off in my ears.“Suck you?” I asked as I backed up, my face contorted into a confused look. He pinched my chin and drew me closer to him again. “I meant to.... give me a blow job.” He smirked.My brain clicked that instant and anger flared inside of me as I pushed him off me aggressively. “The hells wrong with you Gavin! Is that something to joke about?” I spat angrily but he simply chuckled.“Come on Logan, stop acting like a child,” he shrugged. “Just one blow job and I’ll give the necklace back to you.” He said as if his words meant nothing.I heaved, my anger simmering. “Do not for one second think that I would not dare to punch you in the face and ruin that perfect bone structure,” I said with clenched fist. “If you ar
Panic set in at once as I heard those words. I got out of my pajamas and into an ordinary outfit as I hurried out of my suite. I drove fast, through the chill evening air, muttering and praying to every higher being in the universe. “Dad please be okay!” I kept saying as my eyes locked onto the GPS, trying to find the route to the hospital dad had been admitted into.I admit, I hate that darned old man because of the way he treated me and my mother. But he was still my father, the only real family I have left, and I didn’t want anything to happen to him. I arrived the hospital and got out of the car swiftly, I ran fast and skidded to a halt in front of the hospital, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The fluorescent lights of the entrance cast long eerie shadows across the pavement. I didn’t like hospitals. It held horrible memories of how my mother spent her last days. I pushed open the heavy doors and hurried down the sterile corridors, the smell of antiseptic and medications
I stumbled back, knocking over Peter's shot from his hands with a clatter. He stared at me, his face a mixture of concern and confusion."Logan what's wrong?"I ignored him, my gaze frantically searching the room. "Keys," I demanded, my voice hoarse. "Car keys, where is it?”Peter hesitated, his brow furrowed. "Sir are you alright? What's going on?""Just give me the damn keys!" I snapped, my patience wearing thin.“I’m sorry but I cannot do that. You seem drunk and.....”I turned around, ignoring him as I strode towards the exit, leaving him confused.I burst out of the bar, the cool night air doing little to calm my racing heart. I hailed a cab as I fumbled in my pocket for my phone, my fingers trembling slightly. I dialed Gavin's number, my voice strained as I waited for him to pick up."Gavin," I rasped, "Where are you?"He chuckled, his voice low and even. "I'll send you an address. Hurry little bunny, I don’t like to wait.”Before I could question him further, he hung
The intensity in Gavin's eyes was almost suffocating, sucking out every breath from my lungs. His gaze, a burning brand, seared into my very soul, leaving me disoriented. “But I don’t know how.....I’ve never done it before.” I said shyly looking away from his piercing gaze. He pinched my chin and brought my gaze back to him as if to tell me to never look away. “You know the part of yourself that gives you the most pleasure,” he said softly as he bit his lips making me to swallow hard, “now, use that instinct and you’ll naturally know what to do.” The part of me that wants to be pleasured? Surely that’s one hell of a way to teach a first timer how to give a blow job. I stumbled back, needing to put some distance between us and he released me, I watched mesmerized, as his long slender fingers expertly undid the knot of his robe, the silken fabric dropping down from over his broad shoulders and down his legs, exposing his huge and erect cock. My breath hitched in my throat, my
His words hung in the air. “What?” I broke the unnerving silence. “Lost? What do you mean lost?” I said as tears were already welling up in my eyes.“Please calm down. Tell me where you are and I’ll come pick you up.” “I asked you a freaking question Peter, what do you mean by we lost him!” I yelled into the phone. “he is not some toy that would go rolling off somewhere.” I said painfully, refusing to admit what I actually knew the word meant.“I’m sorry Mr Logan.” He muttered and I hung up immediately as tears streamed down my face.“Are you okay sir?” the cab driver inquired.“Just fucking drive.” My voice cracked as I snifled. He doesn’t say anything, but keeps driving. The cab screeched to a halt just in front of the hospital and I jumped out, my heart pounding."Hey!" the cab driver yelled, his voice raspy. "Where's my fare?"I stumbled back, cursing under my breath. I fumbled in my wallet, pulling out crumpled notes and tossing it through the open window. I didn't w
"What do you think about the mark Logan? Do you..." Peter asked, his voice low and cautious.“I don’t know, but it doesn’t look right.” He definitely didn’t die naturally. "I think he was murdered," I said, my voice rough with suppressed rage.That is most definitely it. The mark was still fresh, and the way he just suddenly died. They must have done something to him. The thought of Hilda, her crocodile tears and feigned grief, filled me with a burning fury. I clenched my fists, my knuckles white, I wanted to storm out there and confront her, but Peter stopped me in time as he placed a hand on my shoulder."Logan please calm down. We can't act on assumptions.""Calm down?" I scoffed, my voice rising. "How can I calm down when the woman who undoubtedly killed my father is out there, pretending to mourn him? How can I stand idly by while she enjoys the fruits of her wicked deeds?"Peter's gaze was steady, "We need evidence Logan. We can't just accuse her without proof. The police w
"What?!" I roared, my fist slamming against the desk the wood groaning in protest. "They can't actually do this, can they?"Peter nodded slowly, his expression grim. "I'm afraid they can. Hilda has been given charge of your father's body according to his will. She has the right to refuse the autopsy.""That witch!" I hissed, frustration overwhelming me. "She's trying to sweep everything under the carpet! Bury the truth with him!"Peter placed a hand on my shoulder patting me lightly. "Sir we need to stay calm. We'll figure something out. We can't let her get away with this." His voice was soft and soothing, but there was no soothing the anger that was simmering within me. My phone rang, the insistent chiming jarring me out of my thoughts. It was Gavin. I hesitated as I stared at the screen, then I cut the call. He called again, and I could imagine him yelling at me to pick up the fucking phone. I hissed as I turned on the screen and blocked his number in a fit of frustrated anger
The drive away from my home was a blur. It was the place I once thought was my comfort place. I had grown up there, built my first little snowman during winter, I did everything with my mom in that house. Now a stranger had taken it over. I slumped in the passenger seat, the weight of my despair crushing me like a big boulder. Peter glanced at me, his expression concerned."What's the plan Logan?" he asked, his voice gentle."I… I don't know," I admitted, my voice a mere whisper.The world outside the window seemed to move too fast for me to be able to get a grasp of even a perfect view. I felt hollow and empty. Everything I had known, everything I had worked for was gone just like that. My mind raced desperately searching for a solution. The only thing I could think of was the small cottage my grandmother had left me, a dilapidated old place out in the country. And the money in my bank account, a meager sum that wouldn't last too long. Just a few hundred millions in my persona
TRIGGER WARNING!!!~ Peter’s POV ~For as long as I could remember, I have always felt worthless. There has always been this ringing in my ears, it was the sound of my own insignificance. A hunger ate at me, a desperate urge to be seen, to be valued, to be loved, to be needed. Because without that, what was I? Just a shadow, a ghost drifting through a world that didn’t seem to notice my very minute existence.Even as a kid, I understood, on some instinctive level, that my worth was a commodity, traded and bartered. I was held on to based on how much I was wanted. My mother… she was a rising star in her youth, a fascinating presence on the stage that captivated all that beheld her. Being young and beautiful, she had caught the eye of a wealthy man who already belonged to someone else. A powerful politician with a supposed happy family. She thought she had seen a chance, a way out of the shadows, a ticket to a life of comfort like she had always dreamed. They struck a deal, “Be my wom
"How the hell do you know he has a tattoo on in his hip crease?"He froze, and when he regained himself, he’s a stammering mess. "Uh..I ..I just... rubbish Logan. I’m just spewing rubbish.” He looks away from me.I scoffed, "Rubbish? You think I'm an idiot don’t you? It isn’t rubbish Peter, because as a matter of fact Alexander does have a tattoo there. A broken chain link like you just accurately said. You couldn't have just pulled that out of thin air." My eyes narrowed, focusing on the bead of sweat trickling down his temple. I have to corner him so he’d confess everything.He waved his hands in the air, a desperate attempt to brush me off. "Look, I got work to do. I’m heading back to my desk." He wanted to scurry off again to avoid confrontation."You take one step out of that door and you're fired," I snarled, my voice measured. I did that to scare him and I hope it worked. I need the tea and he must give it to me. He sucked in a harsh breath, "Stop asking Logan." He forced out.
“Really? That’s why you came here?” I asked, my voice laced with disbelief. “To talk to me about Alexander?”“It’s a serious matter Logan.” He pressed on like he was talking about saving the world or something. “He keeps calling you Baby Gan like you are some damn toddler,” he said visibly annoyed. “I feel like Alexander is going to cross a line one day. I can see it in his eyes.”Fuck. I wanted to scream, I wanted to seriously punch something. Preferably him. “Stop,” I hissed “Just… stop talking. And leave.”He gave me that look. Like I was the one being unreasonable. “You’re impossible,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair. I felt like I was losing my mind. Matter of factly, I was.I gripped my hair tighter, a strangled sound escaping my throat. Frustration, pure and raw, bubbled up and overflowed from my mouth. I just… screamed. A short, sharp burst of pure rage. I was so mad at this point. At Gavin, at myself. Gavin just watched me vent, his expression unreadable.I glared
I hung the damp towel so it will dry before tomorrow morning. Water droplets from my hair traced a cold paths down my neck. I grabbed the hairdryer and switched it on as I began blow drying my hair. I had just showered and I was really exhausted. When I was done, I switched off the hairdryer, the sudden silence amplifying the thrumming headache that had taken root behind my eyes and at the back of my head. That damn lunch was a total and complete waste of time. The fact that three grown men could squabble like little kids was such an irony. Actually, Peter was just unbelievably quiet through out and only Alexander and Gavin acted like over grown babies.I had barely managed to choke down a few bites of my food, the whole damn thing tasting like stale regret. I had wanted to talk to Gavin, because we still had unresolved issues, and I also couldn’t talk to Alexander, to maybe figure out what the hell was going on between him and Peter because they had been ignoring the hell out of eac
I swear, my life has become some kind of twisted reality show, and I'm the unwilling star forced to play in it. Where are the cameras? I don’t want to be in this crazy rollercoaster anymore. Now it’s just the four of us, standing here in the parking lot with tension like electricity, like we are about to reenact some cowboy gun standoff, and I'm stuck in the middle, playing the goddamn tumbleweed just tossing about with the wind.Gavin and Alexander stared each other down and they were practically radiating heat, like two suns about to collide. If they do clash, it could burn down the whole earth. I don't even know what the hell they are fighting about. Or maybe I do. It's me, isn't it? Of course it is."Gavin," I finally manage, my voice sounding strained even to my own ears. "What are you doing here?"He snaps his head towards me, the intensity in his eyes making me want to flinch. "Logan I," he says, his voice breathy as his trying to make his tone soft. "I've been doing some thi
I narrowed my eyes. “You tell me.”He gave me that look, the one that screamed ‘you’re being ridiculous’ before he rolled his eyes. “How am I supposed to know what you two argued about?”“That’s not what I’m asking. I want to know what the hell is going on between you and him. You’ve both been acting… off.” There was definitely tension between the both of them and I needed to know. It’s not fun not knowing.Peter’s shoulders tightened. “I’m not acting weird. You’re the one who’s got a bee in your bonnet. Just drop it and tell me why you pissed off Alexander.” He gave that annoying look of his as if I’m the one pissing him off. He’s the one not telling me anything and he keeps complaining that I’m tight lipped when he’s worse off than me.I sighed, running a hand through my hair. Fine. If he wanted the story, he’d get it. “He came over last night, wanted to crash at my place like old times. That was no problem, right? Except I didn’t have any clothes that fit. So, I gave him… Gavin’s.”
“I thought so.” I looked away too, as I let my mind wander in the compressing silence of the car.Then he spoke up, his voice barely audible. “I’ll return the other shares Logan. But fifty percent stays with me. And this is non negotiable.”My blood spiked. How dare he? I turned, my gaze locking with his. “How much?” I asked, the words clipped and precise. “How much do you want for them?” I asked him outright.He didn’t flinch, as if he was expecting me to say this. “I’m not selling.” His eyes were as hard as rock and unyielding. “And you can’t afford it anyway. You are still rebuilding the company Logan. Remember?” he arched his brow. “Do you really think you can afford to take out such an amount when you are still struggling to put things in order?”The reminder was a big slap. He was right, and damn him too. But I wasn’t about to let him have the upper hand. I had to do something. Anything. And that’s when I had the idea. Was it foolish? Maybe. But I needed it to get me what I want
It was morning again. I usually got up early since I had to work, but honestly, I hated being an early bird. It was exhausting. I sometimes wish I could sleep in, but then Hartley Holdings will be drowning in debts. I dragged myself out of bed and straight to the bathroom. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, and yep! I needed to shave. I did a clean shave before finally getting under the shower to let it’s wet droplets wash me clean for the day. After shower, I sorted out my clothes and placed them on the bed when I heard my ringtone. I picked up since it was Peter."Good morning boss, I’m almost at the house. I hope you are out of bed and ready," his voice chirped through the speaker, a little too bright for this ungodly hour.“Oh! So you can get here this early huh?” I teased him."Of course Mr Logan. I certainly wouldn't want to get a slash on my pay, would I?"I snorted. "You're making damn sure, aren't you?""Hey Logan, I was late once it’s just one time!" he protested with
"These are actually Gavin's... they should fit you." I said stupidly without reasoning, but as soon as my words got to my own ears I knew I had definitely fucked up. I saw the flicker of confusion which changed into a hard, angry stare in Alexander's eyes as his jaw stiffened. He moved his attention back to the shirt, the fabric bunching in his fist, and stared at them like they were contaminated with some sort of infection that could kill a whole nation. Then, his eyes snapped back to mine, a dark, accusing fire in them. "You gave me Gavin's clothes?" he asked, his voice terribly reduced like the undercurrent of a wave, waiting to pick up that fast current and wash you away.I didn’t say anything. I just stood there, cussing myself for my own stupidity. I should know things I should say and things I shouldn’t say at this point. But I keep slipping up.When he didn’t get a reply but the look on my face confirmed it, he sneered, and with a fling, he threw the clothes to the floor. Th