101

101
NATHAN
I never should have trusted uncle Cale. The man was more twisted than a freaking vine. We had a plan. All he had to do was stick with it. Not only had he toss that into the gutters and grabbed the shares he promised would go to me, he made himself CEO. With me as CEO he could get his revenge and Raina wouldn't be affected because I would make sure to give her the reins the moment she agreed to marry me.
I bit back a grumble. Raina was definitely affected and uncle dearest conveniently kept his new plan away from me. The worst part? He still hadn't mentioned a peep about it to me. I had to find out using my sources. And every new piece of news was fuel to an already burning flame. 
First, I wasn't getting the shares, my uncle robbed that, Raina was kicked out and surprise, I didn't get that either, throw in the fact that she got married to him again, to the same man who hurt her so many times in the past and I knew the next time I saw the man, I might probably have to kill him. And maybe Raina took, because how could she marry the same man who made it impossible to breach her walls.
I choked on the rage and hate as I turned to him, focusing on the fact that I didn't have to remain in hiding. The last time I had to be in the same room with them, things had gone as south as things could go.
Uncle Cale grinned from ear to ear, the little motion pissed me the fuck off.
"You should have seen the look on their faces." He burst out in a hearty guffaw, burying himself deeper into the seat. "Finally, the Graham throne is mine." He gleamed. "All mine." He repeated.
The length of his neck screamed at me, begging to be squeezed till he choked on his own lies.
That's seat was mine. And the way he so easily tossed the fact that he grabbed it for himself made the urge to punch some sense into him overwhelming. That was the whole point of the entire scheming and cutting corners.
"The seat was supposed to be mine. We had a plan. A very straight forward one." I hissed, pinning him with a glare. 
His smile dropped like a flat note. "And I came up with a better plan, one that didn't involve a childish crush." He fired back, his gaze cold, stilling, but I was done shrinking to the back of the crowd.
"We had a deal. You were supposed to just grab the shares and leave." I snapped, on the edge of my seat.
"Boy, you would not raise your voice at me!" He barked, palms flat on the mahogany table. I never should have done this. Believing his lies was a mistake. I should have known the moment he got involved things were going to go haywire. He needed to be removed and fast! His usefulness had long run its course.
He face scrunched up in a frown, he hid it pretty well, "How about you be the COO for now?" He tried for a smile, but the plaster c thing fell right off barely a second later. "With the girl gone." Raina! With Raina gone! I wanted to scream. "Her brother is an easy piece to toss aside." He continued, spewing more shit than a freaking suck away.
Killing him wasn't an option. The shares would only go to the next best two faced person on the damn board. Playing nice was the best option.
I plastered a smile on my face, the strain harder than usual. "That would be okay." The words felt like bile rising up my throat. 
The air whipped wildly causing tears to gather at the corner of my eyes. I drove mindlessly and wasn't too surprised when the Graham mansion came into view. Raina. I wanted to see her again. It's been so long and her face was almost a blue, but the urge to be with her never faded, no matter how long it had been since we last saw.
Security guarded every wall of the compound. Too many of them to burst through. Sneaking in was not an option.
I whipped my phone out. I had an entire gallery just for her and still needed some more pictures. I slammed my eyes shut as memories of our last happy moments together flooded my mind. The kiss. It had been everything. I had never felt so alive. I thought I was alive, but I had merely been existing. The urge never wanted, only grew at an angry, rapid rate. It had been too long. I wanted another. Just one more time. 
"She passed out. There was blood." The moment my private investigator said it, all I wanted to do was shove the bastard who was responsible. Anything but think about the alternative. She wasn't pregnant, was she? 
Raw, brain numbing anger coursed through my vein. That would be betrayal in its highest form.
But then remembered being told that she passed out and there was blood. She was pregnant wasn't she? Anger flooded him. He felt even more betrayed. 
I promised never to disturb until he had new I formation for me, but I needed to know, I needed to be sure.
The phone vibrated. My final chance to end this shit and just call it a night. But the longer it rang, the more curious I got.
"Hey, Raina. What hospital was she taken to after she passed out?" I didn't bother with pleasantries when it came to him. There was no point and I didn't have the time to deal with all of that.
"Cartridge." He answered almost instantly, not in the least bit phased. 
"Thanks." I clipped and ended the call. I made a swift U-turn, the hospital was a popular one, especially because of its private suite which top families like the Grahams would love! 
I found a secluded spot, dark and shielded from the harsh lighting leaking from the hospital.
It was easy getting into the hospital, they had shitty security. Good for me, not so great for patients like Raina who deserved all the protection in the world. 
Two birds one stone, I thought as I jammed my foot against the door. The balding man shrunk back, his eyes wide with fear. He was right to be afraid.
The metal weight heavy in my pocket, its shiny metal case a perfect match for the sheen that rolled off the man's forehead. His labcoat was at least two sizes too big, big enough to shrink into as I advanced towards him with one purpose. To know the truth.
"Raina Graham, I want her file." I went straight to the point. There was no need to beat around the bush when I knew what he was going to say and what I would have to do.
"So-sorry sir," he stuttered despite his brave attempt at holding my gaze. "Patient's information are private, we cannot and do not share it to the public." Had to give him some credit, he had some balls. Let's see how that holds out.
I popped the safety off and pressed the metal to his head before he could get any over zealous thoughts.
His body shook like a leaf caught in a storm. "Raina Graham. File." I repeated, putting just the right amount of bite in my voice.
His hands shook the entire time. With his spine stiff as a board, he dug through a shelf of files marked private suite.
I kept the gun against his temple and grabbed the file. The first page was warm water against my overworked muscles. She had been pregnant, yes, but she lost it. The bastard kicked the bucket even before I could make it's escape from her womb. Spills of laughter peeled from my lips till I was full on laughing in his face. It was horrible Raina had to go through that, but at least that ex from hell could finally take a back seat.
I pulled on the knot of my tie as uncle Cale slid through the door, staying right on his tail. The air in the office was thinner than I remembered. My eyes as if on instinct, sourced for Raina. She wasn't hard to find, she sat beside her brother at the bottom farthest end of the centre table, the seats closest to the door, for those with the lowest say on the board. Oh how the tables turn. 
Her eyes were wider than freaking saucers as they met mine, a cocktail of surprise and confusion swirled in them. Their expressions were priceless, perfect for a picture I needed attached to me study wall anytime I needed a reminder of what losing looked like.
My jaw clenched as she slid behind her brother, scratch that, hid behind the glaring block of idiocy. Doesn't she know how much I missed her?!
"What are you doing here?!" Dom barked, all scream no action because he remained plastered on his seat, his fist clenched and unclenched, but no punch came my way. "Secu-"
"There would be need for that." Uncle Cale cut him off. I forced my lips to remain still as Dominic's attention shifted to my uncle, his eyes narrowed, but he knew he had no power to do anything about the interruption. I should be the one with that power. Just a little more patience, a little more time and I can put him in his place and take the seat for myself. For now, I would play nice.
"Why? He's been banned from the premises." He hissed, his glare hard enough to pierce through a brick wall. Fuck him.
"Because my nephew cannot be banned from my property." He was cocky as shit per usual, but for the first time I was glad he was.
I smiled and waved at Raina.
"I believe that clears things up." Dominic grumbled. "We're done here, but," I paused for dramatic effect, just because I needed to soak in the look on their faces a little longer. "this wouldn't be the last you see of me." Because I would be back to pull a deal out of you and it would cost you something precious. I kept that little bit to myself as my eyes fell on Raina again. She looked absolutely breathe taking. Even after losing a child, she hadn't aged a single day. Just so fucking perfect. She would be mine.
"Speaking of," uncle Cale turned to me, his eyes gleaming with mischief, "My nephew here would replace you as COO," he turned to face the fuming bull, "effective immediately." He added, looking him dead in the eye.
"You can't do this!" Dom was off the chair and 
"I'm the CEO. I can do whatever I want. Now leave." Uncle Cale retorted in a voice that left very little room for argument if any.
"Well, now that that's handled." He turned to me. "Let's show you to your new office."
I nodded and let him lead the way. We entered the room two doors from the board room. He ran throught a stream of instructions, then perks of the position, like a marketer trying to sell you a product on the black market. Yeah, no matter the perks, I wasn't staying COO. I let him soak in his temporary victory.
The door shut behind him and I dumped into my new chair. My temporary chair. 
I whipped my phone out and searched for his number. It was at the bottom of the list but I found it.
You can have your position back. If you want we can come to an agreement.
I hit send before I changed my mind. Dominic would never be able to resist. Not when they were on the verge of losing their legacy. He was clingy like that.