ONE

Elijah

"You're a bloody savage!"

Those infuriating words coined together. I've heard them more than once when describing my business tactics. I was neither amused nor put off by the distinction. I enjoyed the brutality of taking what I wanted. That was my right, or so my father had taught me years before. Right now? My hunger was all about a woman, but not just any beautiful female, the one who'd embezzled almost one hundred thousand dollars from Storm Enterprises.

No one stole from my family without damning consequences.

The striking redhead was no exception.

She would face my wrath.

I'd been called to the corporate office immediately after landing, the high-rise building overlooking the Pacific Ocean. My office had often been complimented for its stunning views.

But I couldn't care less about the cloudless day or the sun shimmering over the electric blue waters. I only had eyes for the thief. I chuckled at the thought, the poor girl having no idea the enemy she'd just secured.

"Reneigh Han," I said more casually than any of my other employees would have expected. They knew my caustic anger quite well and my refusal to allow disobedience of any kind. I suspected the majority of them had vanished from the outer offices, fearful of what would occur. I allowed her to see my actions as I removed my shoulder holster, carefully placing it in one of my desk drawers.

I never went anywhere without a weapon.

Reneigh didn't bother acknowledging me in any manner, at least vocally, although the near hatred in her eyes drew me to her even more.

As if I was to blame for her crime.

The sight of the weapon didn't seem to faze her.

While I'd caught a whiff of her perfume, the kind of exotic fragrance that filled my nostrils and excited my cock from time to time, I'd never bothered to give her more than a second look.

Well, if I had to admit the truth, perhaps a third and fourth. She was beautiful in an unassuming manner. Not the coiffed females who adorned the office like glamor queens. She'd taken her job seriously, working long hours slaving away while feasting on cheap grocery store salads.

Now I knew why.

Not a single person in either my or my father's employ had never dared, let alone managed to extort or steal anything from us without one of us learning immediately. My soldiers had eyes everywhere. There was always an unspoken threat, the innate knowledge that we were a dangerous family.

After all, we owned half of San Diego.

Yet, here she was, remaining unmoving as she glared at me with her holier than thou gaze and a pursed mouth that had tightened my balls. I leaned over my desk, studying her employee file. She'd worked for us for almost three years, but from what I'd learned, she'd been stealing for almost eighteen months. Hiding in plain sight. I chuckled at the understanding of how cunning she truly was.

Now I needed to figure out which one of our enemies she was working for.

And she wouldn't leave this office without telling me.

Or without punishment.

There were no glaring details about why she'd dared to undertake such an egregious act. She was simply a single woman living in a shitty part of town, making a lousy wage in her effort to make something of herself. But I knew there was more to her. I could feel it in my bones.

"Do you have anything to say for yourself?" I bothered to ask, as if I gave a shit. There was no acceptable excuse.

She took a long and very deep breath before bothering to answer. "Will anything matter to you, Mr. Storm?"

Even her inflection was both challenging and sexy as fuck. I imagined her pert little lips wrapped around my cock, licking and sucking. My shaft ached to the point my throat was tight, the hunger clawing at the surface like some freaking beast. I could have any woman I desired, although none had ever sparked an interest other than for an occasional tryst. Hell, that hadn't occurred in almost two years.

My father said I was working too hard, chastising me for never arriving at one of his infamous soirees with a date.

"Anything regarding money and my company matters, Ms. Han." I moved around the desk, sitting on the edge. "I suggest you tell me who you're working for or I will have no choice but to make certain you receive the stiffest of penalties, spending years behind cold. Hard. Steel." When her eyes finally reflected fear, I continued. "I assure you that my father has secured very loyal friends in high places, including the DA's office."

I allowed the words to sink in.

"What do you want?" she finally asked, the hint of a nervous tic appearing in the corner of her mouth.

"As I said. Who are you working for?" I drew out the words, making certain she understood the severity of her actions.

She swallowed twice, darting her gaze out the floor-to-ceiling windows. "I'm not working for anyone."

I thought about the evidence I'd been shown, the expertise of the manner used to kite money from several accounts. I was impressed as hell, as long as that was the truth, although I doubted she had either the courage or the knowledge to handle an undertaking of this magnitude on her own. Then again, I'd been known to be wrong.

Once or twice.

"Then what the hell did you think you were doing and why?" I leveled the question with a husky tone.

Reneigh chewed on her bottom lip, obviously weighing her answer. "I have my reasons."

Which she didn't seem eager to tell me.

I allowed a full minute then two to pass by, deliberating the choices I had. By all rights, I should call the police, but there was something far too enticing about the girl. There were certainly other choices I could make.

"Do you fully understand who I am?" I asked, curious as to her answer.

"I know your reputation quite well, Mr. Storm. You're brutal and merciless, more like a king than an executive."

A king. Perhaps I did have a sick desire to be king of the world.

"You are exactly correct. Then you're aware that you require punishment for your actions. Pain is a vital part of learning. Don't you agree, Ms. Han?"

She paled, her lovely porcelain skin now a blossoming shade of rose. She was hiding something, but I gathered the reason was very personal. "I'm... sorry. Okay? I needed the money. I will pay it back. Every bloodstained cent. I swear to God. Please, don't have me arrested. People are... counting on me."

People. Her answer was honest and heartfelt, but I wasn't a kind man in any regard. I also refused to take any excuses. I closed my eyes briefly, able to envision her luscious naked body. I resisted snickering at the thought. I was truly an evil bastard. However, I'd grown weary of the very bloodshed she'd accused me of, eliminating those who betrayed the organization. Even though I had a team of soldiers, men without a conscience, I preferred to handle business myself.

The thought of harming a gorgeous inch on her exquisite body held no appeal.

Unless caused by a thick leather strap.

"I'm going to make a deal with you, Reneigh, and this is a one-time offer. If you refuse, I'll have no choice but to have you arrested."

Her look of defiance returned, her head held high. Maybe I even admired this woman for her tenacity. "What's the deal? If the terms are acceptable, I might agree to them."

"Don't fool yourself, Ms. Han. You have no other choice. I suggest you keep that in mind."

The way her eyes flashed drew me further into the most vile and filthy thoughts that a man could have about a woman.

"All right. What are you suggesting?" she asked, her tone finally somewhat demure.

I formulated my answer, partially based on the ridiculous phone call I'd received on my way into the office. My father had been insistent that I bring a date on tonight's... adventure. He wanted to make certain the target of our latest acquisition didn't make a scene. As if Jasper Carter had any other choice but to sell out to us. Still, why the fuck not have a delicious treat of my own? "I'm going to punish you right now. Right here."

"How?"

"I'm going to give you a very hard spanking. Severe. And. Long."

Her mouth twisted in surprise as well as frustration. "Are you insane? You can't do that."

"I'm one of the owners of this company and yes, I can do anything I damn well please. However, that's only the first part of your... penalty phase."

She huffed, taking a step closer and the vile look of hatred in her eyes only fueled the fire burning deep within. "And what else could there be, Mr. Storm?"

"You're going to be attending a function with me tonight and you will behave like a good little girl."