KESTER.
"What in Selene's name did I just hear?" My father's voice thundered through the phone, sharp enough to cut through the mounting headache I'd been nursing all day.
I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to keep my composure as the words came pouring out.
'Here we go,' I thought bitterly, bracing for the inevitable onslaught.
"Talk to me, Kes! The news is all over the place! How could you lower the price of one of the company's most valued products just to match Kex's games?"
I exhaled, staring out the window of my office at the city lights glittering below. My patience was wearing thin, and I had no interest in justifying myself to a man who acted like he would have single-handedly solved all the world's problems if he were still in charge.
"What would you have had me do, Dad?" My voice was laced with frustration. "Stand back and watch while Kex poached every single one of our clients? Let him tear Zamfort apart while I did nothing?"
"Over twenty-five purchases have been made in the last four hours, Kester!" he barked, ignoring my question entirely. "Do you even know how much of a loss that means for us?"
Of course, I knew. The cost of production for the Sentinel 12X Quantum Server was $61,279 per unit. I'd brought the price down to $56,000. Every sale was a $5,000 loss. But he refused to see the bigger picture: retaining our clients now meant long-term loyalty, and loyalty would always pay off.
And I couldn't let Kex have the last laugh. Not when I have more ways to recover my losses and make him pay up my sleeves.
I rolled my eyes toward the ceiling, biting back the retort sitting on my tongue. "Don't worry, dad. We'll recover our losses. I promise you," I said, picking up my briefcase, ready to step out of the office.
I looked at Kasmine, who seemed to choose closing hour as the best time to get busy with whatever she was doing. After spending almost all her day in the restroom with that dimwit whom I'd kill soon.
She thinks I didn't know. Well, I'd let her think so for now. Soon, she'd be paying for every single lie she'd ever told me because of him.
Tonight would be a good time to start her punishment.
"Alpha Mellors is very upset with you. He has refused to help, even though he is in the best position to help us right now," My father said, ruining the mood I was already trying so hard to lighten.
I froze, my fingers tightening around my phone, "What does he want this time? My balls?" I asked, irritated, as I got Kasmine's attention, signaling her to meet me in the car.
"Language, young man," My father snapped in disgust, "He doesn't like how you've been treating his daughter."
I felt a sharp pang of irritation, the vein in my temple pulsing in rhythm with my rising anger. "I've been good to June," I bit out. "I let her visit whenever she wants—my house, my office. She comes and goes as she pleases. What else does he expect from me?"
"It's not enough," my father countered, "Alpha Mellors wants more commitment from you. This isn't just about personal feelings, Kester. This is about alliances, influence. You need to give him what he wants."
I laughed bitterly, running a hand through my hair. "And what exactly does he want? A ring on her finger?"
"Yes," my father said bluntly. "That’s exactly what he wants. And don’t act like this is some shocking revelation. You’ve been betrothed to June since you were twenty-three, and she was twenty.”
There was silence.
"I don't fucking care, Dad. I've told you before," I gritted my teeth, "I do not want to be with her!"
“You knew this was coming. Mellors Corp. is one of the most powerful corporations in the business world. If we want to survive Kex’s onslaught, we need their support. Your personal preferences don’t matter here.”
My jaw tightened, the anger simmering just beneath the surface threatening to boil over. "I won't make June my chosen mate. That's final, Dad."
“You don’t have a choice,” my father said, as though it were the most natural thing in the world. “Now, listen carefully. Tomorrow, you’re going to pick her up and bring her to your house. She’ll spend a few days there. Take her shopping. Dinner. Lunch. Whatever it takes to win her heart again after the last time you dismissed her like some insignificant doll.”
I slammed my fist against the seat in front of me as I entered the car, “I’m not some puppet you can dangle in front of Mellors,” I snapped. "In just three years of taking over from you as CEO and as the Alpha of our pack, I have had tremendous success in every ramification. Have you ever stopped to imagine what I would do on my own in another two years? Why do you have such little faith in me?"
"Kex won't wait another two years before bringing your company to the ground. Think about today, Kester. Tomorrow is a long time." With that, he ended the call even before I could say another word.
"Fuck!" I yelled, punching at the seat before me again.
*
I reclined in my chair, savoring the calm after dinner and a hot shower. The tension of the day hadn’t fully dissolved, but the scent of sandalwood from my cologne lingered on my skin, grounding me.
I felt fresh and better after spending a little time with my stepmom. She did a great job cheering me up, and now, she was fast asleep. It was already 10 pm and I was sure as hell Kasmine was already sleeping, too.
I hope she heeded my instructions, though.
Kasmine had avoided me all evening. Did she think it would save her from what was to come tonight? I almost laughed at the thought of it.
She had dinner in her room, pretending to be sick and needing rest.
I turned on my laptop to have a glimpse of what she was up to so I'd know how best to approach her. What was she doing? What was she wearing? How was she lying down? Was she fast asleep, like I suspected? She might think that was her one ticket to escaping me tonight.
The questions sent a shot of blood down my lower region, and my stubborn cock jerked in response. Fuck.
I loaded up my surveillance software, watching her figure appear on the screen. Surprisingly, she was sitting up in bed, her phone pressed to her ear. But something was off—this wasn’t the phone I knew her to have.
My fingers tensed on the edge of the desk, a surge of possessiveness flaring up inside me. Who is she talking to? And why did she have another phone?
I leaned in closer, eyes narrowing as I turned up the volume.
“Please, I... I have to go now,” Kasmine’s voice came through, low and hurried. “We’ll talk tomorrow. I must go now. Please.” She pleaded, looking toward the door, obviously anticipating my visit.
Her words made my blood run cold. I gritted my teeth, the anger rising in my chest like a tide.
What the fuck?
I shut the laptop with a snap, pushing off the chair, and storming out of my room. I reached her door and didn’t bother knocking. There was no need.
The door slammed open with a crack that echoed through my chest like a gunshot. Kasmine froze, her body stiffening as she looked up at me, a sudden panic flickering in her eyes. The phone she’d been holding so tightly to her ear fell off her hand.
Her wide eyes met mine as she desperately tried not to show the guilt I could see radiating off her in waves.
I stood by the door and allowed her to stay terrified for a moment before walking into the room.
I could feel the tremor in her gaze, the way the pulse in her throat quickened.
Good.
She ought to feel the full weight of what was about to befall her.
I reached for her phone without a word, snatching it from her hand. My fingers were too tight on it like I was trying to crush something out of existence.
I lifted the phone to my ear, pressing it there with a mocking calmness, knowing it would make her squirm. The last thing I wanted was to hear the voice of whoever had been speaking to her, but I had to. Just to confirm my suspicion.
Her lips parted in shock. I could practically taste her fear, but I needed more than that. I needed to see her break. Just the way she was breaking me even without knowing.
But whatever Kasmine was doing to break me was nothing compared to the words I heard over the phone from the person at the other end of the line.
"Mine? Is everything okay?"
Author's Note: What do you think about the story so far? Thanks for coming this far. Please, don't forget to drop a gem to support my book.