At His Discretion Novels & Stories

he said. "A clause that probably was never approved." "Exactly." "That's still under investigation," Maxwell said after clearing his throat. I looked at him. "Do they pay you to appear in conversations when no one needs you?" "No." "What a waste of talent." Nathan hid a smile. "Continue," I said. "As Alpha, I can unilaterally relinquish my personal authority over any procedure involving you." "What exactly does that mean?" I asked with a frown. "That no one can use my consent as a substitute for yours."

Instead he stood, came round the desk, and stopped two arm-lengths from me, a distance I had never seen him choose on purpose. "You are right," he said. "I haven't finished." "Then finish. I won't argue it." A breath. "I made that decision in four minutes because it frightened me, and when I am frightened I act. I have been acting on other people's behalf since I was nineteen. It is a habit. It is not a good one, and it is certainly not yours to carry." He held my eyes. "Voss will write to Harrowgate this afternoon to say the refusal went out in error and the decision is yours. If you want to turn them down, you may. If you want to accept with conditions, I will help you draw them up. I shou

Synonyms are tractable, compliant, pliant, amenable, passive, resigned, patient, docile, tame, subdued. He’d underlined a section within the document where, with the wording, he retained all the rights to make changes and might even refuse to allow cancellation or discontinuation of it. “Do you understand the rules of the game now?” Agitation still colored his tone. “In order to reassess the situation, my client requests a recess.” “Denied.” “My client would like to discontinue the contract.” “Denied, Thena.” I didn’t know him at all. Anger, love, and hot desire had clouded my judgment. “What are you saying?”

August asked in a cautious tone. "Sure, Mr. Wirenhart. I will wait for your decision." "I will contact you soon, before the actual tests start. It's still ongoing trials to help the kids get used to it." "Yes. I will wait." Actually, August Wirenhart didn't need to consult anyone at all because he had the power to make the rules in St. Vardict. However, he is a person who is used to sharing his thoughts and opinions, especially when it comes to sensitive matters that have the potential to have unexpected effects later on.

"Alex may treat me like a Fam, but to his family, I am just a mere driver who needs to know where he belongs." "Is it that bad with the Bills?" "You are about to witness it yourself." "Is it too late to turn back?" He shakes his head playfully as he smiled. "Lucky you, it is too late." I was about to ask a question when I felt someone gaze at me. It's Alex. His eye roam over my body and I could see the lust in his eyes. He stood at the entrance of the house looking all high and mighty in his well-tailored suit.

But I must not. My teeth gritted. "I'm sorry, but do not expect that I'd give you additional rights to fret into some of my cases," I replied in a monotone voice. "I can decide about my works and my leaves to stay at home by myself. Even to where I go and when I will leave, the decisions are up to me."

Seven councilors sat evenly spaced, their expressions neutral enough to be practiced. I took my place without ceremony. “Lana,” the presiding councilor began, voice smooth with experience, “thank you for responding promptly.” “I assume punctuality will be noted,” I replied. A faint smile passed around the room, polite but noncommittal. “We wish to discuss the reform pause,” she continued. “Specifically, the extent to which discretionary authority has been centralized during its execution.” I met her gaze evenly. “I’m happy to clarify.” And I did.

Julien leaned forward, and I could see the barely controlled rage in his eyes but he didn’t say anything. A pudgy face man sitting beside him finally broke the silence. “I don’t agree with this. You can’t just bring in an outsider without board approval-” “I can, actually.” My father’s voice turned cold. “As majority shareholder, I have veto power. I can make this appointment with or without your approval. However, I believe in equality and consensus. So I’m asking for your support, not your permission.” The room fell into tense silence. I could feel them calculating, and a nervous sweat rolled down my back.

-ADRIAN POV- I've built my career on the principle that control is everything. It's the only thing that separates the people who succeed from the people who get swept away by circumstance and emotion. Control is knowing exactly what will happen before it happens. Control is building systems that work regardless of external chaos. Control is keeping the world at arm's length so nothing can touch what I've carefully constructed. And I'm very, very good at control. Which is why the assignment Marcus just handed me is simultaneously the most strategic opportunity of my career and the most genuinely irritating thing that's happened to me in months.

I feel the absence of his gaze like a physical thing, a sudden drop in pressure that leaves me unsteady. “Of course,” the lawyer continues, “there is one exception to the holding provision.” Now Thomas does look up, his dark eyes flaring. The room tightens. “Mr. Ashcroft,” the lawyer says carefully, “as sole executor, you do have discretionary authority. You could dissolve the provision and accelerate Ms. Caldwell's access. In effect, you could legally override the timing mechanism entirely.” I understand what they're saying immediately: Thomas could give me money now, maybe all the money that I'd be entitled to if I'd stayed married to Edward for fifty years. He could free me. I could leave