4.

CHRISTIAN

Penelope Castillo. 

The name fills my mind with rage. I meant all I said back there and I sure as hell won't break my vow to see it through. 

What did she think would happen? That I'd welcome her with open arms? 

That I'll be glad to tie myself to a fucking nobody? 

Her life was over the moment I found out she's the daughter of that fucking woman! 

That bitch that was never far no matter how far she went. 

Even in death Estela is still fucking up my life. 

My fist clenches and releases as my anger builds like a crashing wave. 

“Are you really going to marry her?” Liam asks quietly, his voice pulling me back to reality in the descending elevator. 

My jaw grinds and my gaze hardens. “Yes. Father made it abundantly clear of the repercussions if I choose not to. And he won’t just fire us from his campaign, he’ll shut us down.” 

A company I built from the ground up. A place I poured my soul into. 

Father has some nerve. All for a fucking woman. 

“Can he even do that? He risks exposing himself as well.”

“Edward Hilton is a fucking snake. It's one of the reasons I admire him. He covers his ass and the feds can't use what they can't see.” Anger simmers in my chest waiting to explode out of me.

“Once he cuts our funding channels and plant doubts that our tech isn't as secure as we claim. Those fat ugly bastards will panic and it's only a matter of time before the feds find our backdoor.” 

“Thousands of collected data at the hands of the fucking feds sounds like a nightmare.” Liam frowns.

I nod in agreement. Years of compiling every dirty little secret of the wealthy and powerful is fucking hardwork that I'm not letting the government touch. “So I can't risk it.” 

An amused grin spreads across Liam's face. 

“You'd look good in a prison jumpsuit though. Orange makes your eyes pop.”

I chuckle. “Fuck off. Like you wouldn't be right beside me.” 

His grin widens as he nudges his glasses with a finger. “With this charming face? I’d have gotten out on bail.” 

It's not hard to see it's a real possibility. With his baby blue eyes, ginger hair and glasses, he's a perfect picture of boyish innocence. His darkness hidden under deep frowns, easy smiles and funny jokes. 

But there isn't anything calm nor innocent about the man beside me. Best friend. Right hand. Personal assistant. 

Liam has stuck by me from our early college days of hacking into banks for fun. Our darkness shaping us into the monsters of our world.

I know that I need only say the word and he'll make my Penelope problem disappear. 

But our little miss baker isn't at all what she seems and I'll have fun ruining her life.

I stifle my grin before it has a chance to appear. 

Liam glances at me and shakes his head. “I'm afraid to ask what you have planned for her.”

“Nothing she doesn't deserve.” The elevator slows its descent and comes to a smooth stop at the basement level. 

We step out into a dim lit hallway, branching off into two smaller corridors. One leads to the hub and the other to a private room where I meet with clients that wish to remain discreet. 

Information is powerful in this business and I hold all the power.

“Vladimir is waiting for you,” Liam announces as we turn left. 

I groan and the chuckles. My anger has abated for now and I push Penelope out of my mind to focus. 

Vladimir Divostok is an annoying man but and he can smell distractions like a hound. The last thing I want is him interrogating me and threatening to take his business elsewhere due to my lack of transparency. 

Motherfucker. 

Liam pulls out his phone and his fingers fly over the screen, his face switching from playful to blank in two seconds. He opens the door to the meeting room and Vladimir is seated on the plush chair like he rules the world. 

Glinting jewels on each finger, protruding stomach and a thick neck. 

“Christian!” He stands and shakes my hand with his sweaty palm. 

“Vlad! What a surprise.” I keep my voice toneless. 

Liam wordlessly passes me a handkerchief. As I wipe my hand, Vladimir settles down in the chair and receives a glass of whiskey from Liam. 

“Why are you here, Vlad? More trouble from your competitors?” 

His laughter rumbles from his stomach and sounds more like a wheeze. “After those juicy pictures you gave me, Grande doesn't even dare look at me.” His voice is thick with amusement making his russian accent heavy. 

Taking my seat on the opposite side, I level Vladimir with a cold gaze. Like normal Liam stands beside me, quiet and busy on his phone. 

Vladimir's laughter dies. “Why so serious all the time, Christian? I come for light stuff. My house security is…tacky and I need a new improved one. You do that yes?” 

“Yes we offer a wide range of home security systems tailored to your taste.” 

“My Delilah's taste,” he corrects me. “Since I'm barely home I want her and our little ones safe. This country makes her feel eh…how do you call it…unsafe?” 

“I understand. Have your wife send me her list of requirements and the designs she want. Anything else?” 

Vladimir face hardens. “I can trust you, yes? I don't play with my family. It's everything to me.” 

I allow the ghost of a smile to grace my face. An image forming in my mind of doe-eyed woman with long auburn hair, electric blue eyes, and a delicateness that I want to destroy. 

“Of course, Vlad. Family is a top priority for me too.” 

This seems to please the russian billionaire and the meeting ends with him beaming like a kid and trying to hug me. Luckily, Liam intercepts him before I do something to wreck our business, like break his arm for trying to touch me.

“Let me escort you out.” Liam expertly maneuvers a protesting Vladimir away from me and out the door. He shoots me a parting glance and I nod my thanks. 

They're not gone for two seconds before my father storms in like a mad dog. 

“That was completely out of line, Christian!” 

I look up slowly with a lazy taunting grin. “You mean speaking to my future wife?” 

“Threatening her. I raised you better than that.” 

I shoot to my feet. “You didn't raise me! Mom did! While you were pining for that dead bitch.” 

“Watch your mouth son.” 

“No,” I snap back venom thrumming in my veins. “You've left me with no choice but that doesn't mean I'll do things your way. When I'm through with her she'll wish she died like her mother.” 

The expression on my father's face can cut glass. I glimpse the darkness behind his eyes for a second before it vanishes. 

“You're taking out your anger on the wrong person, son,” he grits out. 

Liam rushes back probably from hearing our raised voices. His tense gaze flicks between us. 

“Nothing happens to Penelope.” It's a clear warning. One I rather die than heed to. 

“She's my wife and I'll do whatever I fucking want.”