CHAPTER ONE
“Power can buy you anything.
Even a wife.”
Orion
Boston, Massachusetts
Orion
The wooden clock hanging on the wall, made of the finest oak, ticks loudly, the sound echoing through the space as thunder booms outside, announcing the storm that threatens to wash out the roads for hours.
Mother Nature once again wishes to showcase her absolute power and remind us of how helpless humans are in the face of her wrath.
And that’s fascinating in itself.
Leaning back on my leather chair, I sip my whiskey and study the man sitting in front of me, his shoulders sagging as he wipes away a single tear that’s streaming down his cheek, his gray hair glistening under the harsh lamplight.
What a boring and pitiful sight, indeed.
He looks at his lap, rubbing his hands up and down his thighs, clad in the washed-up black suit that must have been bought decades ago, with several ripped spots that someone tried to patch but did a poor job. He taps his scraped shoes against the floor, and his lips tremble so much it’s a wonder his teeth don’t break. Any minute now, he’ll erupt into hysterics, turning this already annoying encounter into a whole other nuisance.
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
His heartbeat speeds up by the second, judging by the pulsing vein in his throat, and finally, he exhales heavily, raising his troubled eyes to me, and whispers, “Please.” He swallows hard. “I just need a bit more time. One month. That’s all I’m asking.”
He winces at my hollow chuckle, his fingers curling on his lap as he bites his lower lip. “And you think that will be enough to pay off your debt?”
He nods. “We’re working on a project right now. My son is a genius. This new technology will be life-changing in the engineering world.” Pride in his voice speaks about his deep love for his offspring, and to my dismay, it disturbs the wounds still fresh in my dark soul.
A swift hit to my right sends me flying, my back hitting the wall as a piercing pain envelops my whole body, and the ringing in my ears starts. “Let it be a lesson, Orion. We do not show weakness. Ever.” He unbuckles his leather belt and slides it out with a loud whoosh, folding it in two and snapping it at me. “The next time you decide to play the hero, remember you were never born to be one.” He pulls his hand back and hits me across the face, hard, the leather hurting me so much I should cry.
But I don’t.
Because tears are a privilege for those who knew happiness and lost it. Those of us who live in nightmares know the one golden rule.
The more you cry, the more painful the punishment becomes.
The man continues to speak, temporarily muting the sadistic voice playing in my mind every single day that pushes me to the abyss of no return. “If we sell it within a month, we’ll have enough money to buy our shares back.” He reaches for his briefcase, which has so many scratches and dents I’m surprised he can hold anything in it at all, and thrusts his hand inside, snatching out a bended red folder. “Here are the details.” He puts it on the desk, his hands shaking a little bit as he exhales another heavy breath. “Just one month.”
Not sparing the folder even a glance, I get up and go to the bar, pouring myself more whiskey before dropping some ice cubes in it. The ice always reminds me of the most important rule in life, which is why I keep it in abundance in my office.
Even the harshest and coldest of structures dissolve under the right pressure.
I turn around to face him, resting my shoulder against the wall. Boredom lacing my tone, I ask, “Mr. Jones, do you know how many years I’ve been in this business?”
He blinks in surprise and frowns. “You took over the company when your father died in the fire eighteen years ago. You were barely eighteen yourself.” Something akin to pity flashes on his face, and it awakens the fury brewing in my veins. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Do you know how many times I’ve had men who made terrible business decisions over the years beg me to spare them?”
“I… I?—”
“Too many to count. The truth of the matter is, you cannot fix a sinking ship if the damage has been done.” Coming back to the desk, I pick up the folder and shake it in the air. “This idea will just stay an idea with no results, and it’ll waste a month of my time.” Besides, whenever I decide to take over a company and add it to my never-ending empire, I always conduct background checks on the families and shareholders to assess their strengths and weaknesses.
The Joneses created a very successful company decades ago, specializing in technology that prospered under their rule. It brought them wealth and high-society clients who preferred working with them because of their ethics and family values.
However, the minute the older man stepped down and gave the reins to his son, who knew shit about business, he completely ruined the legacy and brought them to the edge of bankruptcy.
