Chapter 33
Axel’s POV:
+45)
Breakfast at home was sacred. No matter how chaotic my world became, mornings were reserved for my angel. I could count on one hand the number of times I’d missed breakfast with her, and each of those instances had been unavoidable. Today was no different. Sea sat across from me, swinging her legs under the table, her soft giggles making the chaos of my life seem far away. I poured syrup over her pancakes, watching her eyes light up as she grinned up at me.
“Is Avery still not back?” she asked, her small melodic to my car
My heart sank. Not this again. I forced a warm smile, trying to reassure her. “No, baby girl. But don’t worry, everything will be okay.”
She looked up at me with big, innocent eyes. “Daddy, you can find her! Try looking for her!” Her faith in me was both comforting and crushing.
I took a deep breath, struggling to maintain the facade. “Baby girl, remember the rules? No talking at the table, okay?” I gently reminded her, trying to divert her attention.
She nodded, her expression falling, but only for a moment. “No talking,” she mumbled with displeasure.
I praised her, trying to sound cheerful. “Good girl! Now, focus on eating your breakfast, okay?”
Just as I thought I’d successfully steered the conversation away, she spoke up again, her curiosity getting the better of her. “Did you eliminate the animal?”
I chuckled despite the tension. “Not yet, baby girl. It’s proving to be quite stubborn. But don’t worry, I’ll take care of it soon.”
She nodded, seemingly satisfied, and returned to munching on her food. I watched her, feeling guilty for lying to her. It was better she never knew.
Halfway through breakfast, Ryan entered the room. He waved at Sea who smiled back at him before he came to my side, leaning close. “Boss, what do you want done about the woman? Should we feed her, or let her…” He trailed off, not needing to finish the sentence. He made sure to keep his voice as low as a whisper so as not to get Sea’s attention.
Sea looked up at us, curious but thankfully distracted by the stack of pancakes in front of her. I gave Ryan a sharp look before answering. “Leave her,” I said coolly. “She doesn’t need anything right now.” My words were deliberate, my tone dismissive. Ryan nodded, stepping back without another word, leaving me to my breakfast.
I brushed Sea’s hair back, offering her a reassuring smile. She didn’t need to know the monsters her father dealt with before the sun even set.
After breakfast, I left for work. The drive was uneventful, but as I arrived at the office, the usual routine began. My presence was enough to send ripples through the building. Employees averted their eyes, their hands trembling slightly as they worked. The atmosphere was heavy with fear, the kind I carefully cultivated. Fear was power, and power kept everything- and everyone–in line.
Ryan fell into step beside me as we made our way through the halls. The upper floors of the building were a façade, a picture–perfect pharmaceutical company that catered to the world’s needs. But beneath the surface, we were so much more.
“Everything’s in place,” Ryan said as we approached the elevator. “The lower chamber is ready for inspection.”
I nodded, entering a code on the elevator panel. The door slid open, revealing a hidden panel that only a few people in this world knew existed. I pressed my palm to the scanner, and with a soft beep, the elevator descended to the lower levels.
The underground chamber was different from the gleaming offices above. It was cold, industrial, and sterile, yet pulsing with controlled chaos. My men worked diligently, organizing the new supplies that would soon flood the market. The air smelled of chemicals and metal, a scent I’d grown accustomed to over the years.
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Chapter 33
Ryan followed close behind, his voice steady as he delivered updates, “We have a shipment to clear tonight at eleven. Everything is on schedule.”
I scanned the room, my eyes narrowing on the workers who moved with precision. They knew better than to falter under my gaze. “And the production?” I asked, my voice low.
“It’s growing too fast,” Ryan admitted. “We’re reaching capacity, and the workers are starting to get sick. If this keeps up, Someone will notice.”
“Then expand,” I said sharply. “Find more land, hire more workers. Keep it discreet.”
Ryan hesitated. “The detective–Harrington–he’s been snooping around. After his visit here, he started investigating our other establishments. The club in Las Vegas, the mall in Los Angeles, and the casino in Florida. Even the laundromat in New Orleans.”
I was raged hearing that. Harrington was becoming a problem. “Distract him,” I said. “Find something that will pull his attention elsewhere. I don’t care how you do it–just make sure his eyes aren’t on me”
Ryan nodded, scribbling notes on a small notepad.
As we moved through the chamber, I checked the ledgers and money sheets. Everything was in order, as expected. Business was thriving, but my ambitions were far from satisfied. I wanted more–domination over every market, control in every corner of the world. I had my eyes on a few.
The elevator ride back to the upper levels was silent. My phone buzzed, and I glanced at the screen. A reminder from my secretary about the meeting at Grayson.
I rarely went to anyone. People came to me, or we met on neutral ground. But this time was different. I wanted to see Grayson Enterprises up close to measure how much they had grown–or how far they had fallen. I’d kept Chase Grayson at arm’s length, even during our first transaction involving Avery. It had been a phone deal, impersonal and efficient. But now, it was time to see the man face–to–face. All of them.
The helicopter ride was swift, the city blurring below as we flew toward Grayson headquarters. When we landed, the reception was exaggerated. Staged to impress me; a red carpet, rose petals scattered across the ground, and a line of beautiful women in identical outfits waiting to greet me.
It was laughable. Chase thought I was some kind of womanizer, a man who could be bought with pretty faces and shallow gestures. It was a misconception I didn’t bother to correct.
As I stepped out of the helicopter, Ryan and my men flanked me, I saw him–Chase Grayson, his arms open wide, a ridiculous grin plastered across his face. He walked toward me with confidence that made my blood boil.
Chase was shorter than me, his features great but forgettable. His suit was tailored to perfection, but it couldn’t hide the desperation that clung to him. He was a product of privilege, a man who had climbed to his position not through skill but through the efforts of those around him. Particularly through the deceitful machinations of his mother, Zora Grayson. And as for Laurent Grayson, the father… that’s a whole different story.
Behind Chase, as he approached, was Zora, pushing a wheelchair with an air of exaggerated elegance. Her face was a masterpiece of artificial enhancement: thick layers of foundation, blush, and powder created a mask–like effect, while her bright red lipstick seemed to gleam with an almost malevolent intensity. Her eyelids sparkled with a heavy coating of blue eyeshadow, and her lashes were so heavily mascaraed they looked like tiny, black feathers.
eting
Her outfit, a tight, red dress that clung to her curves like a second skin, seemed more suited to a nightclub than like this. The dress was so short it barely covered her thighs, and the plunging neckline showcased her ample cleavage. A pair of stiletto heels completed the ensemble, making her look like a femme fatale from a bad soap opera.
As she pushed the wheelchair, her eyes locked onto mine, and she flashed me a bright, fake smile – the kind that said, “I’m happy to see you,” but really meant, “I’m going to get you in my bed.”
I shook my head inwardly, dismayed by the sight before me. Was this really what he had settled for? The reason he had let
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TUC, 64 MPI
200%
Chapter 33
go of something beautiful and ruined it?
Laurent Grayson sat in the wheelchair, his once–imposing frame now diminished. His shoulders slumped, his eyes sunken, and his skin pale. A faint hint of his former vigor, but it was clear that time and circumstance had taken their toll on him. What could’ve made him change so much?
The sight of them made my skin crawl. Memories flooded back, unbidden and unwelcome. My fists clenched at my sides, the tremor of anger barely contained.
“Mr. Blackwood,” Chase called out, his voice grating on my nerves as he extended a hand toward me.
I stopped in front of him, keeping a straight face. “Chase,” I said flatly, my eyes locking onto his without a hint of warmth. I didn’t take his hand.
