Chapter 44 Forty - four

Chapter 44 Forty - four
"Those were the demands of the man," Alec says, reclining in his seat and holding up a finger. "He's very audacious, I'll give him that."

I process what Alec just told me, anger coursing through my veins. My jaw tightens, my eyes flashing with fury.

"What the hell does he need fifty thousand dollars for? I gave him a hundred just three weeks ago after another one of his pathetic complaints."

My consigliere shrugs casually. "I honestly don't know. He wouldn't say what he needed it for," he adds after a sigh. "But I suspect he's in debt again, probably owing someone that much money. Remember how you two met in the first place?"

My brows knit together in confusion and skepticism. "You think he's back to gambling?"

"I don't think — I'm certain," He shrugs his shoulders. "An addict is always an addict, boss. Just because he promised you he would never go back to his old lifestyle doesn't mean he'll keep his word. I'm a hundred percent certain whatever he needs that money for circles back to gambling. Motherfucker can't go a day without wasting his life away on something useless," Alec snorts, his resentment for Davis Fletcher evident.

The feeling is mutual—I resent the old man just as much.

But I can't say I'm not surprised Alec suspects Davis might have gone back to gambling. He promised me he wouldn't any more after the last time we spoke.

Before I married Liora, I'd known Davis for almost a year at the gambling casino. He always tried to play against me but lost every damn time. The final straw was when he had no more money to pay me after losing the bet. That's when I requested one of his daughters as compensation.

I thought the asshole would have learned his lesson by now after losing his eldest daughter to the man rumored to be a killer in the making. But I guess I was completely wrong.

Either he doesn't give two shits about losing Liora, or it's the phrase Alec just quoted, "An addict is always an addict."

Davis has a huge problem. I wonder if Liora knows her father is a chronic gambler. She must already be aware that he's the reason she's currently in a marriage she never wanted.

Annoyance swirls within me, my expression growing stoic as my hands ball into fists. Davis has no sense of consideration for his family, and his selfishness irritates me. How can a man be so reckless with his life?

I've met other useless men like him, and honestly, if he were someone else, I wouldn't give a shit about him. But he is my fucking father-in-law.

The father of my wife!

This is his saving grace, honestly. If it weren't for the fact that I care about Liora, I'd have Davis's ass thrown into one of my cells downtown.

The piece of shit has the nerve to call my office and make demands like he has the right. He's lucky he's nowhere around me at the moment. In fact, he's lucky I wasn't the one he called directly last night. I would have plastered his face into my wall.

However, despite my annoyance, I realize I have to meet his demands, audacious as they seem. It's not because I'm scared of what Davis would do, because he can't do shit if I refuse him.

I just don't want him stirring up trouble for Liora. That's definitely something he could do.

He could waltz into my company like his other daughter did yesterday and cause a nuisance. I know how Liora feels about her family. Now that I have her working here, I wouldn't want her running into them unintentionally.

Alec questions after a moment, "So what should I do, boss? Give him the money or...?"

"Give him..." I reply.

Alec is taken aback, his eyes widening. "What?!" He sits up eagerly, bewilderment flickering across his face.

"I said give him the money, Alec," I sigh sharply, reaching for my glass. "Fifty thousand dollars isn't going to break my bank."

"I know it's not. But if you keep entertaining him like this and meeting every one of his demands, he's just going to keep coming back for more and more until there's nothing left."

"Nothing left?" I scoff derisively, shaking my head at his ridiculous choice of words.

If I were to give Davis Fletcher fifty thousand dollars fifty times, I still wouldn't go broke. Alec knows this, so what the hell is he ranting about, saying there'll be nothing left?

I'm a fucking multi-billionaire. Money isn't my problem.

But nonetheless, I understand Alec's concerns.

"You know what I mean, boss."

I swirl the contents of my drink, asking wearily, "What would you have me do then? He's my father-in-law."

Alec huffs a snort. "Come on, boss. You seriously take that piece of shit as your father-in-law because you're married to his daughter? Remember, the wedding was a business transaction. You won her in a bet. You didn't willingly marry her because you wanted to, nor did Davis willingly hand you his daughter over because you're his favorite suitor. It's business, boss. Business! You shouldn't let that dickhead give you orders just because..."

Despite understanding his point, I still cut him off. "Give him the money, Alec. Make sure to tell him this will be the last time."

Alec is visibly disappointed and displeased as he leans back in defeat, but there's nothing he can do since I've already made my decision.

Davis isn't worth my money, but I'm doing this to avoid him causing unnecessary commotion when I least expect it. And I meant it when I said this is going to be the last time.

I won't entertain any more of his nonsense.

"Okay, boss. If you insist." He forces a smile that doesn't reach his eyes, his jaw clenching.

Disregarding him, I empty my glass. "When is my next meeting?"

"In an hour."

"Send over the highlights of the proposition. I don't have them."

He stands up, tugging down his suit jacket and staring down at me with an obsequious smile. "Well, that's because your new secretary is yet to bring them to you."

I glare at him, and he reassures me with a sigh, "I'll have Clara prepare the documents and send them over before then."

I return a mocking smile. "Thanks, Alec. You make a pretty good assistant," I deadpan again. "Now get lost."

He scoffs, picking up the file he came with before striding toward the exit.

On his way out, I notice him stare briefly at Liora before he leaves completely.

Speaking of Liora, I lean back in my chair, my eyes narrowing as I watch her from where I'm seated.

Clara is no longer with her, but she appears so focused on what she's typing on her computer that you'd easily believe she knows what she's doing. But I know better than to be fooled.

A ripple of amusement runs through me as I watch her for a moment, a grin spreading across my face. In five whole minutes, I watch her exhale several times in frustration, palm her face, run a hand through her hair, and curse under her breath occasionally. She must be having a hard time understanding the role of being my secretary.

It's kind of amusing watching her struggle with the tasks, and I feel compelled to provoke her even further. Not because I want to, but because I'm doing this for my own entertainment.

I like seeing her when she's frustrated to the brim.

Quickly thinking of something I could do that would capture her attention without appearing to intentionally upset her, I smirk when my brain comes up with testing her communication skills.

Without further ado, I reach for my telephone and dial her office line.

I'm grinning from ear to ear as I watch the device ring, also hearing the faint shrill ringtone from her office.

I notice the annoyance flooding her face when she picks up with a grunt.

Her tone is curt. "Hello?"

Well, this should be fun.