Determined & Derailed (Storm Corp Book 1)

by Gracie Wilson

  He didn’t even know about the added coding that allowed me to deactivate all of them. I couldn’t go into this without making sure they were only used in absolute necessity. The programming I’d added would also tell me if they were being sent somewhere they weren’t legally suppose to be.

  “I’m meeting with Maxwell tomorrow and I will be discussing this with him. I will show him my designs but with no real detail since I don’t want him to be able to take them somewhere else. If he doesn’t like it, there is a loop hole in the contract and I can get out.”

  “You wrote in a loop hole and he didn’t notice it? You’re either very smart or incredibly stupid.” Only time would tell on that one. When I went looking for contracts, he found me and was very eager. I thought he wanted my designs and the programming; hopefully he’d be willing to sign on with my terms.

  “I’d like you to be here, Cohen, and I also am hiring another bodyguard in the morning.” I didn’t want to hurt Tory, but there would be times I wanted to get away from Nolan and Tory. This was the next best thing and hopefully they would agree with me on this. “He will also be head security at Cadenza. I have a few ideas of who I want, but I need to make sure he only reports to me and not Nolan. With it reopening in a few days time it’s going fast. I won’t bring anyone from Storm Corp into Cadenza other than you, of course.” He chuckled.

  “Lexi, I don’t see me as a Storm Corp employee. I see myself as a Lexi Storm employee and would never report back to anyone about you if that’s what you wanted.” We talked for a bit more, then Cohen left to get some sleep and would be back for our meeting.

  * * *

  With my designs all laid out in front of Maxwell, I was incredibly nervous. Having someone criticise your work right in front of you was something I was going to have to get used to. Cohen continued to look apprehensive about the whole situation and I was beginning to feel the same way. “What is this about if the computer system is tampered with, it will no longer work? There are no manual options?” This was the question I was waiting for and he was not going to get any happier.

  “Absolutely not and the system has a set up that only allows it to be used in the manner it was purchased for. I’m sure you understand that I don’t want something like this falling into the wrong hands. You may feel this is unnecessary, but I do not. I will know where each one of these is located, when you choose to use them, and have the ability to override any orders.”

  I heard the chair scuff and he was out of it, leaning over my desk. “That was not a part of the agreement. I pay you to do what I want. I’ve already given you seventy percent of the contract funds. I want what we agreed on.”

  I will admit that this man was very intimidating standing over my desk right now. “Maxwell, sit down and we can discuss this rationally.” His face only became a dark shade of red.

  “I don’t know who you think you’re dealing with but this is how it’s going to go. You’re going to make my weapons at the cost we agreed on without any of your stupid shit attached just like the contract we agreed on.” I laughed and he gave me a look that told me this wasn’t going to be easy.

  “Maxwell, maybe you should look over that contract. It states that I have the right to put in any additional coding for security of my weapons and that I may do as I please with them if I feel they have fallen into the wrong hands or being used for something they were not commissioned for. Also that if you find this not to be to your liking, you may walk away, but I get to keep the seventy percent. I may also walk away if you become difficult to work with and keep the money. It was a down payment and no refundable. As I said it’s all very clearly and carefully worded in my contract which you and your lawyer signed.” I looked over to see both Cohen and Maxwell staring at me with their jaws wide open. Cohen hadn’t known all the details, but I made sure it was all legally binding.

  “You will regret this, child, I promise you that. I have people who you trust on my team, you may have gotten Cohen on your side by using that body of yours. Don’t think those who you are close to aren’t out of my reach. Money does strange things to people, child. I will find another way to get what I want and you will pay for this.” I got up and walked right up to him, looking at him straight in the eyes.

  “Maxwell, threatening me breaks our contract, so I will be keeping that money and you can go elsewhere for your weapons. Now get out of my office. I will not work with you again and you’re no longer welcome here at Storm Corp.” He stomped out the office with his goony behind him both, looking incredibly pissed off.

  Cohen went and shut the door. When he turned around his eyes were wide and he looked frightened. “You just got six hundred million from him.”

  I snickered. “Almost seven hundred, actually, and I thought it might come to this, but he did agree to all my terms when we started this contract. I did not make him sign it, nor did I intend to take his money without him getting his weapons. He just proved he wanted to sell them on the black market or overseas. Which was not what I was commissioned to do and he can’t do anything about it legally, so that money is mine.”

  I walked back to my desk, wondering if my brother was doing this same thing when he was involved in weapons. Did he worry about who they may go to once we had produced them? I would sleep easier knowing I was right about Maxwell’s intentions and that my weapons were not in the wrong hands. Legally, he couldn’t do anything to me as it showed he intended to do illegal things with the weapons and thus breaking the contract. However, that didn’t mean I’d heard the last from Maxwell.

  “Lexi, I don’t know if you’re amazing or fucking stupid. I hope you know what you just did.” I sat there, hoping I didn’t just start something I couldn’t finish. Maxwell’s threat might become something I had to deal with and I thought now was the time to get my own security. I didn’t think I could trust anyone, but for some reason I knew I could trust Cohen. I hoped my gut didn’t prove me wrong because there were no second chances here.

  “Cohen, I need you to put out a call. I want a team of ten bodyguards put together. I want military grade guys and I want them to be carrying guns. I won’t take what he said lightly. I think this is going to get a lot uglier before it gets any better. I’m the only one that can enable those weapon prototypes he has and when he finds out I’ve sent the signal to make them useless he’s not going to be very happy.”

  Cohen looked like he’d seen a ghost. “Maybe we should tell Tory and Nolan.”

  I thought he was right, but for some reason that part about the people I trusted betraying me came to mind. “Right now I don’t know who to trust. I know I can’t be unprotected, but even just Tory isn’t enough. I’m sure they will understand. Put that call out now. I want them here in three hours.” With that I walked out of my oasis office and up to my apartment there. I closed the door and broke down. From my purse I pulled out my brother’s journal and wept at the words on the page.

  Max is doing everything he can to make this deal go through. I know he wants to sell these off overseas. I must find a way to stop that from happening, but he’s already made threats about my life. When that didn’t work, he told me it was an awful shame to just have my sister left. How horrid it would be if something were to happen to her while she was driving home for NYU. I won’t let anything happen to Alexis, but I can’t give him what he wants. This is only going to end two ways when he sees the designs. Either I’m dead or he is.

  Chapter Eight

  In two and a half hours I was standing in front of twelve very large men. They looked like football players who could kill you with the flick of their pinky finger. One of them was actually someone my dad used to know when he was alive. His name was Davey and he was active in the army until six months ago. When I saw his name on the list I had to jump on it because if anyone understood the need to keep weapons out of the wrong hands it was Davey. “Hello, Davey, I don’t know if you remember me.”

  He interrupted me. “Alexis Storm, you look more like you mother eac
h time I see you. Your brother used to send me pictures of you guys in letters when I was abroad.” Of course Lucas did. He always liked Davey and it was time to tell Davey the next part of his employment.

  “Davey, I’d like to talk to you about something in private.” With that he followed me into my office without Cohen. I told him everything and then I showed him my brother’s journal. His eyes were brimming with unshed tears and I knew he thought exactly what I did. Maxwell had something to do with my brother’s death.

  “Davey, I will make him pay for this, but until then I need to keep myself safe. I know he was behind this and now that I have his almost seven hundred million dollars he planned to use to front illegal weapons, I suspect he will become a problem. I need people in my life I can trust. These guys out there don’t know me and I don’t know them. We need to watch and weed them out. He has people everywhere. I will never be left alone with just one of them. I hope I don’t sound paranoid, but the only way to get justice for my brother is to stay alive. You report to no one but me. I don’t trust anyone but myself with this, so that goes for Tory and Nolan.” He looked shocked, but composed himself. I did trust Tory more than anything but I knew he’d go to Nolan, and I couldn’t have him be a major player in this shit storm. “Since you work for me and not Storm Corp, please call me Lexi.” He walked over and put his hand on my shoulder. He reminded me so much of my dad, I almost broke into tears.

  “Lexi, I loved your dad and we were close. I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe, but you have to be honest with me. If you are threatened or get an odd feeling, I need to know. I don’t like the idea of keeping Tory out of all this, but I understand your reasons. I’m with you and we will make him pay, don’t you worry.”

  We composed ourselves and exited the office. I let Davey take over and stood to the side. “I will be the head of this security team. My name is Davey Lawrence and this is Miss Lexi. No one but me will address her as just Lexi. None of you will ever be left alone with her. We will work in teams. Some will be stationed full time here at the office, others with follow. You go and do what I say when I say it. If you can’t live up to this, there’s the damn door. I’ve called in for another seven men to swap off. I will be watching each and every one of you. We don’t need a team that large, so be on your game and you will get to stay.”

  Before we left the room, he explained they’d work better if they knew they had others competing for the spots on the team. Men...was my safety not enough of a reason? But I’d take what I could get. The elevator dinged and out came seven new men. One immediately caught my eye. He was mid to late twenties, his back was turned to me and I saw he had a freaking amazing backside. He was bulky, but in a sexy way and I couldn’t help but stare at him. He had the look of a predator, which my friends said meant he was definitely sack worthy. Yeah, like that was going to happen. He was not as attractive as Nolan or Cohen, but no one could really live up to them. “Lexi, I’d like you to meet my sons, Jackson and Blake.”

  Whoa. I knew he had children, but I never thought they’d look like this. I didn’t even get to see Jackson until he stepped out the next elevator. He was one of the most attractive men I had ever seen, even more attractive than Cohen. Nolan still had those amazing cheekbones that made him just a tad more on the sex on legs scale, but that little bit made no difference right now, to me. Jackson stood at about six foot six, with muddy brown hair cut to a short shaggy look. He was a few years younger than his brother Blake. Even with him fully clothed, I knew there wasn’t an inch of him that wasn’t toned in all the right places. Trisha would call him sex on a stick, a definite lay, and I had to agree.

  I wanted all of this, but I had to remember I was in a room full of men and each one of them worked for me. I just stood there, unsure what to do or say and then Jackson turned to me and I remembered him. We’d spent summers at the beach house with my brother, but I didn’t remember Blake being there. “Well, well, if it isn’t little Lexi Storm.” I laughed and couldn’t help the smile that was plastered all over my face.

  “Jax Lawrence, what are you doing here? I thought my brother said you were enlisted.”

  Someone interrupted us and I noticed it was his brother, Blake. “I’m Blake Roberts, Jax is my step brother.” He was cocky and knew he was attractive. He was eye fucking me right now, like I was his next meal, which made me entirely uncomfortable.

  “Lexi, ignore him. He thinks he is God’s gift to all women and he most certainly isn’t that. I should know, I’ve heard his girlfriends bitch about him since he came to live with us at sixteen.” Well, that explained why I didn’t know him.

  “Boys, go with the other men and get tour the building with Cohen.” With nods of their heads they left, but not before Jax gave me a wink.

  “Later, little Lexi.” I giggled and turned to see Davey watching me.

  “Is that going to be a problem?” I tried to look uninterested.

  “What are you talking about?” He gave me the same look my dad used to give me when he knew I was lying.

  “I’m talking about Blake, I don’t need to worry that the two of you are going at it in the office.” I broke out into a fit of laughter.

  “If I’m going to be taking anyone back to the office, it is Jax.” I stopped. I knew I said something I shouldn’t have, but this time he was laughing.

  “Yes, that is what I thought.” He just shook his head and led me back into my office.

  He ran down the list of men and told me their backgrounds. Each one of them had stellar backgrounds in military or boxing. I even had one retired MMA fighter who now did this for the rich folk and celebrities. He told me that Jax didn’t reenlist when his time was done and came to work at his dad’s security company. I didn’t even realize that he owned one. We took men from different places so it would be a new crowd. I didn’t argue when Cohen suggested it. The seven guys Davey called in were all from his firm. He told me he didn’t want to bring Blake in as he couldn’t take anything serious, but he couldn’t invite Jax without him and he trusted Jax to keep me safe. My phone had been ringing off the hook all day between Tory and Nolan. I sent Tory a text saying I was fine and that I was working at my private residence for the remainder of the week. “Davey, I have to go pick up my car. Cohen said he’d take me, so I’ll just go and then when we get back you can fill me in on what you’ve devised for the team.” I saw him start shaking his head before I’d even finished.

  “You’re not making this very easy on me. What part of ‘not going anywhere without security’ did you forget? And don’t bother telling me anything about Cohen, Cohen doesn’t count. You need the protection, so Cohen will stay here and work with the team. I will take you to get your car and Jax will ride back with you. Don’t think you will be driving that car again anytime soon. I’d like to use SUVs for travel. Do you have any?” Well I had my Escalade, but I wouldn’t take that from Tory.

  “We are making a stop on the way to the office. I want to get some SUVs for my own use since my Spyder isn’t going to be helpful with all this."

  * * *

  It didn’t take long. I told Davey to purchase as many as he needed to the specifications he needed. He ordered four Armoured Escalades full loaded and all of them black. They had two on site and would send for the other two. “I’d like one more for Tory.” I didn’t want him being caught off guard, he should have the best as well. We arranged it so we would take two with us. One we would leave at the office for Tory and the other Davey would drive back with, following us to the Oasis so I could store my Spyder.

  When we entered the parking area, I punched in my code and we drove through. Just as we got out heading to my car, Tory and Nolan came storming out the doors like they’d just ran the whole way. They came to an abrupt stop, eying up Davey, Jax and myself. I saw Tory looking at the two new SUVs and I knew he was wondering what the hell was going on. “I’m not having another damn fight in the freaking parking lot. Nolan and Tory, let’s go inside and chat, shall we?”
They both didn’t seem to know what to do, but followed behind me with Davey and Jax at my side. As soon as we entered my office and the door was closed all hell broke loose.

  “Who the fuck are these guys?” I saw Tory put his arm on Nolan’s shoulder to try and calm him, but he just waved him off.

  “Nolan, you will not talk to them that way. They work for me and you will respect them. Tory, I’m sure you know exactly who this is.” I pointed to Davey and he nodded in response.

  “Hello, Vic, long time.” They shook hands and Davey returned to my side.

  “Not that I’m agreeing with Nolan, but why are they here, Alexis?” I knew he was serious since he just called me by my first name and I felt for him, he thought I was replacing him.

  “Something has come up and I’ve needed to hire more security. So you will see me with about twelve to sixteen other men, not included Davey and Jackson.” Nolan’s face went from pure panic to sadness and finally landing on rage. “Tory, that new Escalade downstairs, it is completely armoured and one hundred percent yours. If there is something you don’t like about it just tell me and we will have it changed. Nolan, I suggest you let Tory drive you around in this. You are now assigned to Nolan 24/7. Nolan, you can either move into the penthouse or if Tory approves, he can go to your place. This is not up for debate.”

  Everyone else just nodded at me, but Nolan. He just kept staring at me with rage. “What the hell happened? It’s this contract, I warned you to stay away from all this.” Finally something clicked. He knew about all of it, that was why he went white when he knew I had a journal. I thought my brother kept him in the dark too.