by May Sage
“I’m not running,” he lied automatically.
He was. He’d been running for four years.
Cal sighed, and Mav knew he’d given up for now. They had that chat every other month. But just when he’d expected his brother to hang up, the man threw him an unexpected curveball. “Also, it’s just an estimate so far, but our portfolio lost two percent since the last board meeting.”
Two percent.
Two.
Percent.
Maverick stopped, then turned his heels, getting his car keys out.
“I’m on my way.”
Home
It had been two weeks since his return, and so far, Mav had managed to avoid going to the Tower. He’d been busy with their father, who still called him Desmond - all three brothers were Desmond, these days - and with business.
Two fucking percent. Cal hadn’t lied. Mav had run through the numbers, hoping that his brothers had just tried to freak him out to lure him back in town, but no such luck. They had lost money. A hell of a lot of it, quite suddenly and without explanation. That didn’t happen. Money didn’t simply disappear – not to anyone who understood how their business worked.
Shares occasionally decreasing was natural, but they shouldn’t have right now, while they were riding the wave of an incredible expansion and had just signed a deal with one of the largest manufacturers in Europe. Something didn’t add up.
Numbers spoke to Mav; after hours upon hours of staring at endless screens of figures, he knew the issue was with Des’ construction firm. Close to nineteen million had been conveniently misplaced when they’d started building a multi-billion-dollar hotel in Venice, about three years ago. The hotel had been completed recently, so the final numbers had hit their books. The estimate was way off mark now.
Sums like these could vanish like pocket change around such a large deal, for a time, but the compound interest would eventually make the breach evident. Three years later, those nineteen million now translated to close to six hundred and three million. Definitely not pocket change. The drop of their market value had resulted from that loss.
Someone had played them, and a head was going to roll when he found out who.
Mav smiled secretly as he entered the executive suite where his brothers were waiting for his report.
And yes, he was positively weird for actually enjoying this. Relishing in the idea of completely ruining the life of whoever had stolen from them. Men like them had a lot of power, and yet they rarely got to truly use their influence. This time, they were going to come down on one person with all the weight of King Industries. It was going to be incredibly satisfying. Not to mention that it would warn off anyone stupid enough to even think about taking anything from them for decades.
The three Kings met up in Des' domain, the penthouse suite at the very tip of the King Tower. Desmond reserved that large, minimalistic room for three occasions: speaking business with his brothers, entertaining the few partners he actually liked, and fucking his absolute favorite women.
It was early in the evening, right after most of their employees had gone home. The sunset view looked enchanting from that height; Callum and Des weren’t paying attention to the floor-to-ceiling windows, taking it for granted. But it had been years since Mav had gotten to watch the city from this privileged setting, so he soaked it in.
King Tower wasn't the highest, or the largest, skyscraper in Manhattan, but the new building they'd erected right in the heart of the city was undoubtedly the most secure, high-tech glass tower ever built. No one could make it to this floor without passing various retinal and fingerprint scans.
They took security extremely seriously, which was the reason why this breach was astonishing, and infuriating.
“You’re sure?” Desmond asked tightly, once Mav was done explaining his reasoning. There was an edge to his elder brother's voice.
Maverick winced. He’d anticipated that Des would take the news badly; the betrayal would have been a blow had it come from anywhere within their empire - but Mav was pointing his finger at one of the companies Desmond oversaw himself. The thief could only be a high-ranking exec with access, or one of their direct assistants. Either way, someone Desmond knew personally. Someone he might have hired himself. His control freak of a brother was going to hate that something like that had happened right under his nose; he’d known that.
“Yeah. Math doesn’t add up with the hotel - we're missing a few mil. Of course, that wasn't obvious until the numbers were entirely final, when we completed the project this quarter. Our profits have fallen seriously short compared to our estimate, hence the two fucking percent drop.”
"Avalanche effect," Cal sighed. "Take a few million, lose them for three years and suddenly you have a great big black hole swallowing you up."
Des nodded tightly, and said, his tone final, “Call in internal audit.”
This was a reasonable response, perhaps even a logical one, and Mav should have left well enough alone. Let audit take care of it. They might have missed the loss of money in the first place, but now that they knew what they were looking for, they’d find it, eventually. The systems they used all throughout King Industries were too secure; at some point, the thief would have had to enter their employee details. Although their auditors were probably going to be slow as fuck about it, Maverick had every confidence that they'd prevail.
He’d resolved to say just that, emphatically agreeing with Desmond, but instead the word, “No,” crossed his lips.
Cal and Des both looked at him, one brow raised, bearing the exact same expression they'd all inherited from their father. They were always surprised, and half impressed, when anyone said no to any of their orders. Mav had to admit that he was often guilty of being an entitled prick like the two of them.
“Make this mess official and the shares will drop - we’ll have to worry about more than two percent this time. You know what happens when the efficiency and security of a company is questioned. I’m not in the mood for losing money right now.” He never was. “I’ll look into it.” The words came out forced and reluctant. Looking into it meant staying home a little longer. Weeks. Maybe months. “And I’ll get Nathaniel Knightley on it,” he added, naming a tycoon in security and investigations. Nate’s company had overseen the installation of their security systems, and they still monitored their building. He was the best, and, more importantly, he was extremely discrete, for the right price. “We’ll make an announcement when we can tell them we’ve found the thief.”
His two brothers smiled; an unsurprising development from Cal, who did find most things amusing, but seeing Des’ lips curve that way truly was a frightening thing. It didn’t happen often, and never for the right reason.
“If you want to look into the execs of KCI, you know what you have to do.”
“I do,” he replied. “Nate will run checks on their finances and personal lives outside of the office, I’ll concentrate on what’s actually happening under our roof. You’ll have to explain why I’m getting involved. You could go deep into King Tech, and publicly ask me to take over the construction side of things while you’re working on a deal. Once I’m in…”
“You’re the number genius and everyone knows it. Whoever is messing with us is going to lay low and hide until you’re gone. Maybe plant some evidence to misdirect you - not saying it'd work, but it might make you waste some time. No, you’ll need to go in from the back door, so to speak.”
He didn’t like the sound of this. At all.
“Come back to the Tower.”
Mav narrowed his eyes. He’d expected that one, if not both, of his brothers would attempt to lure him back in. He just hadn’t seen it coming this way, attached to an essential business matter.
“No way.”
He turned his heels, intending to walk out. Who did Des think he was? An idiot he could manipulate like the rest of his puppets? They might be different, but the three brothers had been raised the same way: by a man who’d believed
in giving them the weapons he’d used to pave his way in the world. Manipulation, calculated moves, scheming, it was all a game for the Kings.
"I know what you're doing, brother. It's not going to work. I'm here for this company, for this family, whenever you need me. You know that. But I'm done with the Tower. I'm done with the lifestyle. I'm not a dom."
Not anymore.
"Sure," Des replied lightly, almost flippantly. "Me neither."
Maverick just glared at his elder brother's back. They both knew Des had been born a fucking dom and would remain so until the day he died. Implying that Mav was just the same was a dick move.
Time would prove him wrong. Hopefully.
The Pretty One
Lexi came back from her break armed with two Starbucks coffees; she strolled through the office, ignoring the envious glares and puppy dog eyes from the bulk of her colleagues. If they wanted decent coffee, they could go get it, dammit. She only had two hands.
She stopped in front of the door of the newly-appointed senior account manager, and knocked on her wooden door. Around lunch time, it was always smart to knock. You never knew what Tori was up to behind closed doors on her break. Given the fact that the woman was married to the hunk who worked in the office right next to hers, it could get pretty raunchy outside of strict working hours.
“Come on in.”
Lexi opened the door, and smiled. Unsurprisingly, her friend had company; Bryant Parker, the tall, unfairly gorgeous Adonis with a panty-melting accent she’d married just a few months back. They both looked a little too innocent, a little too out of breath, and they definitely rocked the just-fucked hairdo.
Assholes. If only her breaks could be half as exciting.
“I love you,” Tori confessed, rushing to grab her drink. She took a long sip. “You’re a beautiful, beautiful human being.”
Lexi shook her head, guessing, “You skipped your lunch again?”
Her friend bobbed her head in acquiescence. “Only had ten minutes.” And she’d preferred spending those ten minutes spread out on her desk, Bryant panting above her. Clever woman. “The Kings are considering using us for the launch of their newest hotel. That could be huge. We need this account.”
Lexi blushed. No need to ask which Kings they were talking about. Desmond, Callum, and Maverick King. Three brothers who basically ruled over NYC. They had their hands in a lot of pies, and excelled in any arena they’d chosen.
That wasn’t why she blushed. Lexi didn’t get wet at the idea of large portfolios. She wasn’t a business geek, and she hadn’t even known their names a year ago. She’d learned about them because she’d started to spend time in the Tower. One of their…ventures.
The Tower was a secret, extremely selective, and exclusive club. Yes, that kind of a club. There were Towers in a dozen major cities around the world; Lexi didn’t doubt that the club was worth billions, given the high-six-figures basic entrance fee.
She didn’t belong there, not really - but with Bryant’s sponsorship, they let her hang out for free.
The previous month, marking the anniversary of the first time when she’d been admitted into the club, she’d been invited to the King’s office, to speak about renewing her membership.
Lexi had walked in, expecting to get the boot, because there was no way she could pay hundreds of thousands like the other celebrities, heiresses, and royalty frequenting the Tower.
The office had been immaculate, white and pristine. On her first evening at the Tower, she’d met Cal King, who was almost approachable - as approachable as a demi-god could be to mere mortals. That night, she was in Desmond King’s office. Another ballgame.
The two Kings she’d met were both unfairly handsome, but one had seemed almost human. If she’d heard that Desmond was in fact a blood-sucking alien of sorts, she wouldn’t have batted an eyelash.
“You’ve been among us for a year, now, Miss Taunton,” the man had said without looking up from the pile of papers he was signing.
She’d bitten her lip. “Yes.”
“And yet, within that year, you haven’t once partaken in the festivities.”
She’d flushed, knowing exactly what he meant. She hadn’t fucked anyone in the club. The fact that he knew that should have alarmed her, but she wasn’t even surprised. No doubt Desmond King knew everything.
“I…”
“You’re shy, and new. Quite pretty, too. I could name at least two dozen doms who’ve been sniffing around your skirts. That’s good for business.” Finally, he’d lifted his head. “Your free sponsorship is renewed for the year, Miss Taunton.” He smiled, and there was something frightening in it. Calculating, disturbing. And too fucking hot for words. “Have a good evening.”
Just like that, she’d been dismissed.
Tori had to present her proposal to that guy. Somehow stay coherent - indeed, professional – while his gaze was fixed on her. Yeah, Lexi was pretty damn glad to just stick to administrative tasks and coffee runs.
“You’re staying late again tonight?” she asked her friend, who sighed and nodded.
Lexi then proceeded to glare at the man standing at the back of the room, next to Tori’s desk. Never mind that he was CEO of the whole company.
“You better make sure she eats. And has coffee. Orgasms, too.”
Bryant smirked. “Yes, ma’am. Wouldn’t dream of depriving my wife of any of those three essential things for an extended period of time.”
“Good man.”
“Talking of orgasms, we’ll be at the Tower later tonight. Maverick is in town, Cal let me know he may show his face for a beat.”
“Oh?”
Lexi was intrigued. Maverick wasn’t such a common name so, presumably, they were talking about Maverick King. The elusive younger brother. The Kings were all so larger than life, they might as well exist in an alternate universe, but looking at them was still a whole lot of fun. She wouldn’t mind another god to drool over.
“Yes, he’s back from Europe, probably not for long. I need to catch him. The Kings work together, always. This is a two-billion-dollar campaign, all three will weigh in. We’ll only get to present to Callum and Desmond, but Maverick will watch a video recording of our presentation, no doubt. It wouldn’t hurt to ask what he wants out of it.”
It always amused Lexi how Bryant, Tori, and the rest of them could talk business at the Tower, all the while watching presenters show off the right way to spank their sub, and while someone was getting sucked off a few feet away. This last year, she’d truly gotten some insight on how the other half lived. From what she could tell, it was all sex, games, and connections, but above all, hard work. They all worked eighteen hours a day, if everything went according to plan, more if it didn’t. Lexi watched them do it, with popcorn from the sideline. No way was she joining that circus. For one, she loved her sleep. And, like, soaking in a bathtub for an hour without having to think about the millions her time off was costing her.
“Do you need me to take minutes of your meeting at the Tower?” she joked.
Bryant seemed to consider the question. Tori had to translate, “She’s just teasing you. Lexi doesn’t do overtime.”
“Damn right, I don’t. I’ll come if you’re gonna be there, though.”
The newlywed couple didn’t always go to the Tower over the weekend; Lexi bet they had a nice little dungeon hidden somewhere in their elegant new home.
She’d made friends - a model, an actress, and one of the members of the staff, mainly - but Charlie, Kenna, and Lillie weren’t always around, either. And when they were, they more often than not ended up abandoning Lexi to her fate, because their vaginas were getting action. Lucky gals.
After a year and a half in NYC - one full year of frequenting the Tower, Lexi was still a goddamned virgin. Someone had to explain why. Like, seriously. Was there something wrong with her?
It wasn’t like she hadn’t had offers - quite the opposite. She just ended up wondering if the guys converging around her were
the right choice for her first time - the one time she’d always remember. And more often than not, the answer was no. They were cute enough, sometimes handsome, always charming, but each time, she ended up clamming up.
She needed to get drunk someday and just get the ordeal over with.
“Great. I’ll text you, but we’re planning to head over there around ten. I heard that Mav was the pretty one of the three Kings, by the way.” Tori cocked a teasing brow. “Wear something pretty.”
Lexi snorted. She was a very attractive woman, and she knew it. But she wouldn’t ever be on the radar of any of the Kings - let alone the pretty one.
Cornered
The Tower hadn’t changed. Dim lighting, red tonight - they sometimes changed the bulbs to blue or white - the same alcoves, generally filled with intertwined figures fucking in the shadows, the same heady scent of lust and power.
The familiar, yet oppressive, setting made Mav’s skin crawl. A bead of cold sweat ran down his back. He needed out of here, now. Damn his brothers for making him come back to this place. It probably had nothing to do with business; they’d simply wanted him to confront demons he wasn’t ready to acknowledge. Let them live under his bed and come out every night. He deserved it. Deserved the guilt, the reminder of what had passed. If he moved on as they'd have him do, what kind of person would that make him?
Des hadn't lied, however. His execs did frequent the Tower; he was introduced to various individuals he watched carefully, studying their features, their expressions.
Jonas Wells, a young, confident man in his prime, surprised him. He greeted him, shaking his hand. "An honor to finally meet you in person, sir." His gaze was steady and unflinching.
He'd memorized every name in KC's employee folder - Jonas was a relatively newly appointed head of development. He'd been at that post for just three years, after the money had gone missing, and that in itself should have exonerated him of any suspicion, but before getting the promotion, he'd worked directly under Wallace Clarke, the Chief Operating Officer, who stood several feet away
