Series: Werewolves of Wall Street Series by Renee Rose
Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73722 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73722 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Her shoulders relax, and her gaze softens.
“So will you just give me a fucking pass and stop wearing the dresses?”
I see a flicker of stubbornness in her expression.
“You won, all right? You’re unfireable. I’ll give you anything you want to make this better.”
“Anything, huh?” She rests her hands beside her on the desk and crosses one leg over the other, making the fabric of her dress slide up. “That’s a pretty bold offer.”
“Within reason.”
She slides off the desk and tosses her hair. “What I want is to make you suffer.” Her hips twitch as she struts out of my office leaving me with a hard-on and a growl in my throat.
Chapter Nineteen
Madi
When I walk onto the fifty-fifth floor the next week, a tense silence greets me. A hushed crowd of analysts cowers in the corner, looking seasick. Another round of layoffs Blackthroat wanted to oversee personally? We were supposed to have a preliminary meeting with Benson at noon, but it looks like the conference room is already occupied.
What is going on?
Across from the whispering analysts, two stone-faced thugs in suits stand guard. I recognize them from my foray into the Adalwulf building. But if they’re here, that means…
Aiden Adalwulf is in the building. And there he is: seated at the foot of the conference table. Directly across from Blackthroat. They’re both stone faced and staring each other down.
What is going on?
Noah, stands closest to the conference room. I sign, What’s going on?
He replies in ASL the equivalent of, We were here to prep for the meeting with Benson, but Aiden Adalwulf showed up.
Why?
He now owns a forty nine percent stake in Benson. He’s been quietly acquiring shares, and on Friday Benson Junior sold out.
This is not good. This could be the end of the deal.
They’ve been in there for fifteen minutes, barely talking, Noah tells me.
It’s a standoff. From the gloating look on Aiden’s creepily handsome face, he’s winning and lording it over Blackthroat.
I have to do something.
Do the rest of the executives know?
Noah shrugs. My guess is no, if Blackthroat’s up here alone. This was some sort of ambush while everyone was prepping for the noon meeting.
I fire off a quick text to security and keep signing to Noah. Inform them, please. But tell them to stay and check on the status of the deal. It won’t do for all the executives to come barrelling in to back Blackthroat. It’ll undermine his authority, make him look weak. Mr. Blackthroat can handle this by himself, I explain. The others can reach out to Benson Senior and the rest of the board.
I grab a tablet off my desk and pull up the morning report I compiled on the bus. I don’t have a great excuse to interrupt, but I’ll figure something out.
I square my shoulders to march over, but Noah catches my arm. Their orders are not to be disturbed.
I’ll be fine.
A hush falls over the analysts as I march up to the door. If the two thugs on either side could shoot lasers out of their eyes, I’d be dead, but they don’t make a move to stop me.
I rap on the door and glide right in. The tension in the air is so thick, my lungs squeeze.
Blackthroat doesn’t look up, but Aiden turns his flat, dead-eyed gaze on me. He recognizes me. I wasn’t part of his power play before I entered the room, but I am now.
“Excuse me,” I keep my voice sweet but firm. “I wouldn’t interrupt but this is time sensitive.” My smile is pure bullshit.
I lean into Blackthroat, showing him the tablet. The first item is confirmation of the land deal closing. It’s not a huge win, but every battle counts. “I just need your signature.” I swipe to the correct document and hand it to him. I feel Aiden’s eyes crawling up and down my back, so I face him.
“Mr. Adalwulf, can I get you anything? Water? Coffee?” A soul? I force myself to meet his gaze and am rewarded with a flicker of surprise in his stone-like expression. He gives a barely imperceptible shake of the head.
I keep my eyes on him as I ask Blackthroat, “Do you want me to cancel the rest of your morning meetings and reschedule them for later in the day?”
“No.” Blackthroat hands me back the tablet. “We’re done here.”
I don't know how I broke the showdown, but I did. Brick and Aiden rise at the same time, flicking their suit jackets closed with identical movements. Their mirrored behavior would be funny if they weren’t so intimidating.
Only Blackthroat’s solid presence at my back allows me to face Aiden as he comes closer. He stares at me like I’m a bug under a magnifying glass. One he’s about to crush.
He stops a foot away, looming over me. He and Brick are both giants compared to me.