???
He came.
Interesting.
He’d have read about my success. He’d have seen how well my mother lived until the end. Now he stood before me in a black suit too small for his bulging beer belly. My father. The drunk.
His wife fidgeted as the casket was lowered. I glanced down at the polished, adorned coffin as it descended into the ground.
No more hugs.
No more declarations of love.
My mum was rare. She had loyalty like no other.
She served her purpose, the voice reminded me.
My jaw clenched. Didn’t he think I knew that?
The priest droned on about a woman he never truly knew, but this had been her wish. Instead, I watched my father, smiling until he tugged at his black tie. Inviting him had been for my amusement. His wife was a bonus.
She clutched his arm while I catalogued the fear.
We both knew what I was. He just didn’t know what I was truly capable of. The people who did never lived to tell another soul.
This funeral was everything I’d anticipated—and more.
???
I reached for the bottle of scotch as the tyres crunched over the gravel, carrying us away from the graveyard.
“Did you make my arrangements for tonight?” I asked, pouring a drink.
“Yes, sir. Everything is as you instructed.”
I didn’t need to look at him. My lackeys were there as security guards not because I required protection, but because it was convenient to have minions close—ready to obey.
The car reached the gates as I took a long sip.
Fucking was as contained and functional as the rest of my life. Tonight I didn’t need comfort—only a warm body to use. They came and went, never staying more than an hour or two. Their instructions were simple. Their payment was compensation, dependent on how much damage occurred. Yet they always came back for more.
I swirled the amber liquid around the glass.
I could blame the animal inside me, but I’d be lying. People were beneath me. They always had been.
But money was power, and eventually, everyone danced to my tune.
???
The house was quiet. This was the reason why I’d purchased an estate outside of London. I’d soundproofed it and triple-glazed the windows. After the funeral, I returned to my office. For once, the noise had been the distraction that I craved.
I dropped my keys in the wooden bowl and went upstairs. I didn't pause to inspect the naked woman who faced the window, kneeling on her hands and knees. She wasn't going anywhere.
I set my bag on the couch and went into my dressing room, unravelling my tie to fold it up and set it in the empty velvet square that I’d pulled it from this morning. I did the same with the Rolex.
My shirt, trousers and underwear went into the laundry basket, and my suit jacket was placed on its hanger. I shook open the soft sweatpants before slipping them on.
I sniffed the air.
