Chapter Seven

XAVIER

I hadn't slept a wink.

I spent the entire night in my office making calls and ensuring that Richard Donovan’s death looked exactly like what it was supposed to.

A depressed man who couldn't handle rejection finally giving up.

My people were thorough and the police wouldn’t be finding a single thing suspicious.

I set my phone down and squeezed the bridge of my nose. My eyes ached from too much screen exposure but it was safe to say I had gotten the job done.

I laid back in my chair, kicking my legs up and closing my eyes for a moment of silence.

Richard wouldn’t be coming back, I’d done what was necessary to protect what was mine.

That was what I told myself, so why?

Why was there a voice at the back of my mind that sounded like my mother asking if this was who I'd become?

“I didn't raise you to be this way.”

I could still remember how she looked when she said those words, the cold in her eyes and lack of maternal love.

Maybe she’d stopped loving me a long time ago. Maybe everything about me reminded her of Father and she was just scared I'd turn out like him. But none of that mattered now.

All that mattered was me keeping to the agreement and marrying Laura so I could finally, finally merge with my mother's company.

My vision would finally come to pass.

My mother's high-end Logistics and Shipment Company collaborated with my father's underground Mafia Enterprise.

It would be the dream I’d always anticipated. Always craved for.

The realization of one autonomous body reeling in wealth and power from both ends.

It would be the first of its kind and then, maybe then, the upper dogs would stop seeing me as some kind of wannabe.

They'd all be begging to join forces with me.

Just then, my office door swung open and I cursed under my breath for forgetting to lock it.

Lucas popped in, all smiles and that impossible energy he had at seven a.m in the morning.

“You awake big bro?”

“What does it look like to you?” I grunted with my eyes still closed.

“May I come in?” He said and I already knew there was some dumb smirk on his face.

“Why ask that when you've already let yourself in?”

“Touché.”

Reluctantly, I opened my eyes and sat up straight. Mourning the end of my quiet leisure.

Lucas stared at me quietly from the arm chair at the other side of the room, that smile that just screamed trouble still playing on his face.

“What do you want?”

“What? I can't have a conversation with my beloved older brother?”

“Get to the point.” I sighed, craving for a hot cup of coffee and for him to shut up and get lost right about now.

“Are you really going to go through with all this?” Lucas asked, looking more serious now.

“I don't have much of a choice, Lucas, if I don't marry Laura Grey I can forget about inheriting Mother's company talk less of going anywhere near it. She's ensured that her lawyers give it out to charity if otherwise.”

“Is that so?” Lucas hummed, sitting back and getting even more comfortable in the arm chair.

“But who knows?”

“What are you going on about Lucas?”

“I mean, look on the bright side, what if Mum actually knew what she was doing? What if Laura is exactly what you need?”

I slammed my palm against the desk, my teeth gritting as anger surged through my veins.

“I don't need anyone,” I said, my voice ice cold. “All I need is Mother's company so I can finally merge both empires and become untouchable in both the legitimate business world and the underworld. Get that through your head.”

“Fine, fine. So much anger, geez.” Lucas raised his hands in surrender. “The stylist is also ready for you oh mighty conqueror of worlds.”

“Why didn't you just say that to start with…” I stood up, feeling the aches of sitting at a spot for a long time wash over me.

“Tell the stylist I'll be with him shortly, I have to take a bath and get some things in place.”

Lucas nodded and left the room, leaving me with my racing thoughts.

Time was of the essence and I didn't need anything or anyone other than the plans I had in store.

Several minutes later, I sat crossed legged in the sofa of my room while the stylist got started on my hair.

I scrolled through my tablet, going over some financial figures when my phone buzzed with a call.

It was Marcus.

My second-in-command and the only man who'd proven his loyalty to me unfailingly.

“Talk to me,” I said.

“It's no good news boss, I just double checked the inventories and there's been another shipment gone missing.”

My heart dropped.

“What nonsense are you saying?!”

“I'm sorry boss. We've searched for the shipment from top to bottom, I've questioned all our men but nothing.”

This was the third incident in just two months. It couldn't be a coincidence but just who the hell was doing all this?

But my gut was saying someone was testing me, pushing to see if my mother's condition made me weak. And my gut was never wrong.

I drew a breath in an attempt to calm my nerves. Me losing my temper now would just be me proving them right.

“Let it be,” I muttered, my voice low.

“Boss, are you sure?”

“I'm certain. Just keep a close eye on the orders next time and send the first suspicious looking person coming my way. I'll make a stop at the headquarters after the ceremony, you just focus on neutralizing the situation.”

“Yes sir.”

With that, the phone went dead.

I was certain that my enemies were circling and getting married today was going to look like vulnerability to some but I was going to prove them otherwise.

Little did they know just what this marriage meant.