XAVIER'S POV I ran into the room, my chest heaving as I sighted the receptionist. I paced towards the reception with my eyes gleaming with rage and restlessness. I still couldn't believe Uncle Luke could stoop as low as to try to ruin my first impression.I bet he's already up there speaking to the shareholders and stealing the spotlight for himself.That wasn't his thing.Something about this information wasn't adding up. Anyone who is well familiar with my uncle could tell that he was never really the type that liked entertaining people; rather, he thrived with an air of authority but that wouldn't work here unless— unless he is helped by her.Madame Browne.Dread seeped into my bones as the thought punched through my mind as I launch my body towards the reception. “Is Madame Browne up in there?” My voice was shaky and hoarse.The receptionist smiled painfully at me before she responded, “Yes, Mr Xavier. She is up in the conference room aisle where the conference meeting is taking
MADAME BROWNE'S POV“It's time I show you all who Xavier McKinney is. I get that the drama created by my people pleasing aunt, Madame Browne and her overstepping husband, my uncle, Lucas, have been put on but I assure you all that I am far different from the vision they've painted in your heads.”I never expected Xavier, that same wimpy kid of yesterday, to have the audacity to stand up to me and talk less to undermine my authority. As I'm saying this, I feel maddened with rage from just the sight of him in the stadium.How dare Xavier?I bet he sure knows that he was playing with fire, not the small kind of fire, I'm talking about a type that could wipe out his entire family within a blink of an eye. I clenched my jaw and sunk my finger into the fleshy texture of my palm.I felt like standing up right there and making it known to him that I could ruin him in one swift tug of my fingers. I owned a power that he doesn't know about and that was being a woman.I had the easy power to man
LUCAS'S POV I wanted to drive a bullet into Xavier's head the instant I heard that he called me over stepping. How dare him?Who the hell does he think I am? Sone kind of desperate fool. I dipped my hands into the side pocket of my suit and I rubbed my fingers around my gun. I always had it there, it stayed there just in case I needed to kill someone as soon as possible.Xavier had just disrespected me and the thought of that haunted me like the aftermath of a horror movie but in my case, disrespect burned my ego hard. In all my years of being a mafia lord, I have never come in contact with anyone who insulted me and went scot free. They all fired pathetic deaths.If it were back in Moscow that duch a thing happened, I'd have my bodys strip him naked and whip the living daylight out of him. After that, they'd take him into my coal room. The room was a room where the floors were made of hot, burning coal and he would be asked to walk over them.For the weaklings, they'd die there aft
LUCAS'S POV I endured the rest of Xavier's speech. It seemed as if the young lad still managed to scale through our first pull. The shareholders, those bunch of gullible fools, were busy nodding like puppets as they listened attentively.The silence in the room haunted me, I was expecting an air of mismatched voices, mumblings and mutters but this? Silence wasn't part of the plan for the first day.We were supposed to get the entire panel of shareholders to dislike Xavier but from his perfectly executed speech, it seemed the opposite was what was happening. I couldn't stand the sight of the president nodding impressively as he watched Xavier win the interests of the shareholders through some shitty speech.I tried to move my eyes away from that smile carved on his aged face but I couldn't. It haunted me, filling my insides with restlessness and rage. I could tell he was head over heels for the fact that his grandson was doing what his son couldn't do.I could tell the memories of Xav
XAVIER'S POV “Not now, not ever!” I watched as my uncle left the hall while still gripping Madame Browne aggressive. The tension that loomed in the air was as clear as the skies as confusion and uncertainty reeled into my veins.I had asked him why he started it but his response had me guessing. His eyes loomed with emotions that were extremely dark, greed, rage and malice glistening under the the green hue of his eyes. His stance and demeanor was heavy, filling my insides with fear.There wasn't a limit to what my uncle, Lucas, could do. From the proud smirk that graced his face before he turned to walk out of the door, I could tell he had a trick up his sleeves or were they many?With Madame Browne by his side, they were an heavy force to reckon with but I wasn't going to back down so easily. For whatever plan they had, I was going to supercede them all not because I looked to catch the interest of the shareholders, it was because I wanted to show them all who Xavier McKinney is.U
LUCAS'S POV When I got into my room, rage stomped into my mind as I collided into my chair. Following me was Madame Browne, striding casually like nothing happened.The proud smirk on her face only added to my anger as I raised my fingers and signaled over to her to come over to where I stood. She paced slowly towards me slowly, shaking like a winter leaf under the soft hues of the chandelier.She was scared— why wouldn't she be?She knew her offense and it was less nerving to realize she wasn’t hesitant to admit it. She made me receive the one thing I hated the most. Disrespect. I could have a person's tongue cut off if he/she disrespected me. Seeing Xavier publicly address me disrespectfully made me grumble slowly in rage.“Come here,” I mouth the words slowly a s she took the last step, still shaking. I raised my index finger and pointed to the floor, signalling to her to get on her knees.Slowly, I watched her go on her knees, lowering to the floor until I could reach for her hea
LUCAS'S POV I watched as my boys dragged her into the room, hearing her screams pierce through the air as I chuckled. This wasn't just going to be one out of the countless times I'd punished Madame Browne, it was going to be different.This time around, I'd make her wish she was dead.I waited until I could no longer hear the sound of her screams in the air before I turned, facing one of my men. “Get me a cigarette,” I said, watching as he rushed over to me with a pack of cigarettes.When he got to me, he bent his head in respect while I stretched my fingers and took one out of the pack cigarettes. After taking it, I turned back at him, “Where's the lighter?” I asked. The guards expression immediately changed immediately to shocked as he started shaking. I froze at the realization. He didn't bring along the lighter. “I said where is the god-damned lighter!” I yelled, watching as he started pacing backwards in fear. “I'm sorry boss.” He said, his words firm as I slid my hand into m
LUCAS'S POV Panic.That was the only word that could describe what I felt when I met the unwavering gazes of the lady in the tall red stilettos. They were just as red as the lipstick she had on, her eyes lingering over my blood covered fists.I had a lot of questions pulsing through my veins as I stared at her. Where did she come out from? Why did she kill the police officer? And most importantly, who was she? I tried to ponder on them but seeing that thinking wouldn't get me any where, I later resulted into just standing there for a moment. After some intensed minutes of staring at her, I decided it was best to cut off the suspense that lingered in the air.“W- Who are you?” I muttered, my lips quivering sofly as I moved my gaze to check back on the police officer that was sprawled on the floor.He layed cold, dead, skin paling out in seconds. Just as I was doing that, I felt her gaze on my back as I pulled my gaze back at her.She was dangerous.I began pacing backwards slowly, my
ELLA'S POV I felt my pulse rise as I saw Madame Browne raise a wine glass in the air. A wicked smile played on her lips as her eyes darkened and her voice blared out, “I would like to raise a toast to the dissolution of your union.” A wave of disgust rolled in my veins as I wrapped my arms each other and watched them laugh with my face etched in horror. I inspected their gestures casually, taking note of each and every one of their chuckles.Their faces were adorned with malice as they mocked me. I tightened my wrapped arms as the cold air in the room crashed into the flesh of my neck. A cold shiver seeped down my spine as I flashed my gaze to Xavier.He was trying hard to hold himself back.I could already tell from the bulging veins that mapped against his forehead and his clenched fists. His eyes flared with rage that was as sharp as needle and his chest heaved as sweats trickled down his forehead.I took in a whiff of breath as I raised my hand to signal to him but before I coul
XAVIER'S POVWhen I heard Madame Browne say the word media, my heart skipped a beat. The breaths rolling out of my nostrils hitched in my throat as I clenched my fist. I stared back at her soulless pair of eyes as a chug of fear seared into my bloodstreams.Ella's breath hitched and I caught the flicker of fear in them. Madame Browne's tall figure was bent to Ella's side as she whispered in the words. I knew exactly what Madame Browne was trying to do.She was trying to set us off our footing but that wouldn't work now. The plan was already made so the only choice now was either to win or to win. Losing wasn't an option— at least not in this story.My fingers curled around the figure of the wine filled glass cup in front of me as I raised it closer to my lips. With deft fingers, I took a sip out of it as I flashed my gaze at the lady seated close to me.Rochelle.I arched my back on the chair as I felt Rochelle's gaze trail over my body. The disgust in her breath was what caught my
ELLA'S POV I held back the snarling urge to laugh at Madame Browne's expression when Xavier told her we were no longer together. The life in her make-up riddled face faded the instant the words left Xavier's lips.Her lips pulled apart softly, eyes bridled with pure shock and disbelief as she clutched the fork in her hands harder. A fog of tension rolled through the air and I felt cold chills bubble down my spine as I stayed back, watching the scene as if I wasn't the genius behind all of it.Madame Browne’s eyes widened with shock and so did her little actress, Rochelle. She clutched her chest and panted softly as if she just heard a death statement. A mischievous smile tugged at my lips as my eyes darkened.I was happy.After all, this was what they wanted.A little drama wasn't going to hurt anyone right?I clenched my fists as I felt the room's cold air do some wonders against my skin. The hairs at the back of my neck all stiffened as I watched Madame Browne ask Xavier some quest
MADAME BROWNE'S POV “Ella and I are no longer in a relationship. We've broken up!”When Xavier said those words, I felt a sudden flow of giddiness surge through my chest as I opened my lips to spark but nothing came out.I had a lot of questions.Was he right?Was this true?I arched my brows in disbelief as I shifted my gaze over to their figures. Ella was seated at a side of the table while Xavier was seated on the other face. I inspected their faces and caught the glimmers of rage that bubbled in both their eyes.Ella's expression hinted hurt and sadness when Xavier had a look that distilled sharp nonchalance in a way that things made chills slip down my spine as I stiffened. Was this really the truth? Were they after all the years of their marriage finally divorcing.A scandalous smile tugged at my lips as I clenched my fists feeling a wave of content wash through me. I couldn't believe my plan to break the two of them aparta was working.I stared at Ella with my jaw dropped slig
XAVIER'S POV I pushed forward on shaky legs as we paused before the staircase. I locked my hands with Ella's and tightened it as I stroked her palms with my thumb.I took in a deep breath and waited patiently, searching for Madame Browne with my eyes. My gaze stretched through the entire first floor in the search for the one lady I wanted to destroy so badly.I moved my eyes past the dim lights of the chandelier tilting my gaze sharply to Ella. She was also looking for Madame Browne with her eyes and before I could move, I caught a flutter of fear in her eyes.Her eyes, like ancient torches, lit up and I felt her fingers wrap around mine tightly. Before I could ask her what was that, I felt a gaze tracing delicate patterns against my back.I stiffened.My breaths rolled out in a disheveled series puffs as my heart beat increased pace, each beat heavier than the last. I clenched my jaw before turning to stare at the figure seated elegantly on the dining table.My eyes met hers and I n
ELLA'S POV I felt a wave of reassurance hit me the instant Xavier's lips pulled into a wrinkled smile. I could sense the hesitation in his breath as he stretched his hand, reaching forward to claim my hands in a handshake.As he did that, I smiled, but this time, my smile wasn't the same as his. Mine was different. My smile was edged with mystery and an unrelenting speck of mischief.The pains that tore through me weren't describable when it came to words. It felt like a knife had been driven into my back but at the same time, it left a haunting aftermath that lingered in me. I felt a malicious urge coursing through my veins as I sucked in a breath. There were times when I wanted to tear into Madame Browne and her husband but this?This was definitely the right time to do that.They could trespass with me but trying to ruin my husband's reputation?Nobody does that and goes scot free. I knew it was all another stunt of Madame Browne's when she walked into the kitchen. Her visit for
XAVIER'S POV My breath hitched in my chest at the sight of the incoming figure. Who was that? I arched my brows in fear as I prepared myself for what I was about to see.I shifted my gaze slowly, dragging it with remorse in the direction of the figure standing beside the maid.I wasn't sure who it was yet but for the first time in forever, I was curious.From the shadow of her figure I could already project the figure's sex. She was a female, dressed in a flay gown. My heart raced in my chest as I felt droplets of sweats cling to my oily forehead. Some rolled down my forehead while some clung desperately to my forehead as I finally summoned up the courage to stare at the person's face.I started from the shoes at first.I dragged my gaze over to the shoes and I was met with the sight of a flat pair of patent shoes that could have only been worn by one person in the entire Mckinney mansion.Ella.A wrinkled smile tugged at my lips and my eyes lit up as I opened my lips to speak but n
XAVIER'S POVThe rest of the run from the meeting room to the mansion was long. I recalled running out of the elevator and sprinting into the reception like a loose madman with just one thing in my mind.Ella.I couldn't stand to loose her.In as much as I didn't want to sound helpless, she was all I had and neither Madame Brown's tricks nor Rochelle's acting could take her away from me. My family wasn't going to be split apart by their baseless act.I was going to get back at Madame Browne for what she did to me.That was a promise. I would keep it dear.I sprinted past the office of the receptionist and her voice beamed from behind as I halted to a stop. “Mr Xavier!” Her tone was high pitched with an edge of worry and concern flashing in it. I turned steely with my chest heaving heavily as I stared at her. “What is that?” I prowled through gnashed teeth as I paced towards her. I walked all the way to the counter and banged my fists on the counter. “Speak up!” My voice thundered a
MADAME BROWNE'S POV I sat down on the chair near the snack table with a gleam of satisfaction washing through my veins as I gripped a nearby glass of wine from the snack desk.This was going to be fun.I could already tell.I watched the shareholders all gather around Rochelle like moths to a flame, feeding desperately on the flickers of lies she distilled. They were fools but it felt good to finally make them all my fools.A dark grin tugged at my lips as I raised the wine glass to my lips. My eyes were fixed on the scene, watching the one drama I'd prepare myself for beforehand.To the shareholders, this was a shocking revelation that urged them to have a rethink but to me? To me, this was like a drama, a scene I'd orchestrated for days. Everything went right, Rochelle did extraordinarily well and I gotta stay under the spotlight and so did Lucas.The shareholders had all fallen into our traps and all I had to do right now was to sit back and relax. Thin strips of malice lit up in