004: Granddaughter

Devon's POV

I don't fuck married women? Bullshit.

In the five minutes I've spoken to her, I've bent her over this very counter too, ripped that little black dress off, and fucked her till she couldn't walk.

"You don't fuck married women?" She asks, her dark eyes staring into mine. Challenging.

"No," I reply, grimacing slightly at her glass of whatever it was in my hand. "Can I buy you a better drink? This is shitty."

She snatches the glass from my hand and downs its contents. "Well, what if this married woman wants to fuck you instead?"

How fast can I ruin a marriage? I've never wanted to ruin one so damn fast.

Never have I been shocked into silence. Never. I'm used to receiving attention from women, and men alike. But Allera isn't giving me attention, not in the way I'm used to.

There isn't a hint of lust in her eyes.

Anger is all I see. Unbridled anger. The kind that says she's either about to slam her glass into someone's head or punch someone. That someone likely being me.

Sure, it would be easy to indulge her. Right here in front of all these people, if she's really into it.

That is if she wasn't Allera Akiyama.

She turns away, her eyes focused on the array of bottles in the distance. "Forget it. What am I even saying? Enjoy your night."

I watch her leave, the way that little dress clings to her body like a second skin, her legs that go on for miles, legs I can imagine wrapped around my waist as I thrust into her. The way her hair tumbles down her shoulders, bouncing with each step she takes.

Carter's wife. My rival's granddaughter.

Fuck me. I want her. I want to watch her mask of civility unravel. I want to see what Kazuo's prim and proper granddaughter looks like falling apart on my cock.

Allera Akiyama is nothing like I imagined. Hearing about Kazuo Akiyama's cherished and beloved granddaughter, I imagined someone else.

Someone better suited to the title "Princess of Horror". A high strung, dark haired beauty with haughty eyes, a kimono, and a god complex.

Allera is a startling contrast. Not at all what I expected, but fuck me if she isn't better. Golden hair, eyes that spit fire, a carefully curated mask that I can see right through.

Glenda Hale led me to believe that her heiress of a granddaughter was calm, respectful, obedient. Her age must be getting to her eyes, because Allera is nothing like that.

She's a storm in a bottle. But of course, the apple of Kazuo's eye will not be a calm woman.

"I'm guessing that didn't go well?" A smooth voice asks behind me.

"Better than I had expected."

"So, how many days till Rosen is in our grip?"

Rosen Gallery. Glenda Hale's first child. She built this place from the ground up, a college dropout turned successful business woman over the span of fifty years.

Her days of glory are over. Rosen's branches worldwide are shutting down. Business isn't looking good anymore. But Glenda, she's one hell of a woman, I must admit.

"What a stubborn old woman."

It was supposed to be easy.

I've made quite the name and fortune, acquiring failing businesses, remodeling them and selling them off to the highest bidder.

Rosen is the first to pose a challenge.

Glenda is not a greedy woman, profits are dwindling but she makes enough to live comfortably. Rosen's shares are held by family and trusted friends, who have refused to sell even at an exorbitant price.

A hostile takeover is simply not the answer. Nor was it being on Rosen's top 1% of patrons for years.

The answer lies in this beautiful, chaotic woman who just tried to make me her rebound.

"Today must be my lucky day,"

"Without Rosen?"

I turn to Jude, my trusted right-hand man. "Allera is the key to both Rosen and Kazuo. And she just made me an offer I cannot refuse."

Jude's green eyes narrow. "What kind of offer?"

"Mr Sinclair."

Ah, speak of the devil.

Glenda Hale looks like she just stepped out of a fashion magazine. Tall, dressed in red silk, silver hair pinned behind her head. Her pale blue eyes are respectful, mildly suspicious. She's elegant and beautiful, with a grace that comes from old wealth and confidence.

"Ms Hale. Introduce me to your youth elixir dealer sometime."

She laughs, a polite, mirthless sound. "I take it you've met my Allera?"

"She's lovely. Your tales didn't do justice to her beauty."

"Some things are better witnessed in person. I take it you're here for an answer to your proposal?"

Straight to the point. As usual.

"There's only so far stubbornness can take a person, Ms Hale. Especially in the business world."

Her eyes narrow, her smile halting. "I'm afraid my answer remains the same. Rosen is not for sale. Over my dead body."

It's on the tip of my tongue to say that won't be for long. The plan isn't to piss her off. It's to coax her into handing her baby over to me.

I give her a smile. "I understand. Sentiments can be difficult to rid of."

"You are correct. It'd be a pity to watch my favourite patron leave."

"Oh no, Ms Hale. No bad blood between us. I love art, that will never change."

Glenda doesn't buy it. Nonetheless, she nods. "Have a lovely evening, Mr Sinclair."

Oh I will. Definitely.

After Glenda leaves, Jude hands me a drink. "Why the hell is she so stubborn?"

"Who knows. By the way, I have to pay my brother a visit."

"Carter?"

"Yes."

"Are you finally acquiring his start up?"

"No. I do have my eyes set on something far more interesting."

In the distance is Allera, engaged in animated conversation with a tall blond who looks eerily similar to her. Allera's eyes meet mine, and they narrow in mild annoyance. I raise my glass to her. She rolls her eyes.

"This wasn't the plan," Jude sighs.

No, it wasn't.

But taking down Glenda and Kazuo in one fell swoop? And taking Allera to my bed?

The front of my pants get unbelievably tighter.