Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 61290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
“Miss Elliott is not to be followed, harassed, questioned, or spoken to,” I continue, ignoring him, “or the contract is considered in breach.”
Leo leans back in his seat, a smug, satisfied grin on his face. He thinks I handed over a valuable piece of real estate to him without much argument. Truth is, I know I’ll get this property back eventually, along with the entire goddamn block.
“When Lucian finds out about this—”
Leo cuts me off with a wave of his hand, his nostrils flaring slightly. “This is my business, not his.”
“Don’t be coy, Morelli. We both know you’re going to have to ask your big brother for the money.”
Perry’s lips twitch like he might smile. The kid knows a thing or two about having to rely on his big brother to access his funds. While Leo made us wait, I brushed up on my research of him. Everything from the car he drives to the restaurants he frequents. He’s not playing in the same ballgame as we are.
“Money isn’t an issue,” Leo says, his tone icy cold.
I study him for a long moment, making him squirm as I assess the validity of that statement. “You know, I admit, I thought you’d ask for a lot more.”
Again, his eyes flash with unspoken intent. “I’m feeling generous.”
“Lucian isn’t going to approve,” I tell him, giving him a triumphant grin. “His little brother is out striking deals with a Constantine. Are you sure you don’t want to wait for him to sign off?”
“Don’t insult me, Winston,” Leo growls. “You’re fucking pushing, and when I’m pushed into a corner, I come out swinging.”
“The Morelli anger has always been your family’s Achilles’ heel,” I state, shaking my head in disproval. “It clouds your judgment and makes you retaliate without considering future moves.” I finish typing on the document and hit send to the printer. Perry nods at me and strides out of the conference room to grab it. “Remember this conversation later.”
“Fuck you, Constantine. You think you’re God in this tower overlooking the city below. Talk about clouds . . .” He snorts in disgust. “Your head is so high in them, you can’t see the devils doing all the dirty work, stealing all the bricks from your foundation. I look forward to the day you fall.”
I glance at my watch just to make this fucker think I have more important shit to do before I finally meet his infuriated glare. “Here’s the thing, little Leo.” I give him my best boardroom smile—the same one I reserve for the men I shred with one signature on a dotted line. “When you’re God, you see . . . everything.”
“Watch your back,” he growls.
A tremor of glee ripples through me that he didn’t throw out Ash’s name as a threat. The agreement has already successfully taped his mouth shut. He really does want that building. Too bad for him he won’t have it long.
“I always do,” I say with ease.
The Morellis are cockroaches in my city. They may be plentiful, but they all squash the same beneath my Italian leather dress shoe.
“Here you go,” Perry says, handing me the agreement when he reenters the conference room.
I quickly peruse it before sliding it across the table to Leo. “This is an agreement between us, but the actual sale of the building will be handled through my attorney in the morning.”
Leo takes his time reading through every word as though that will piss me off. I’m not some idiot who’d try and sneak in hidden verbiage to pull one over on my opponent. No, I’d rather do it the good old-fashioned way, through hard work and perseverance. I’ll get my building back plus interest. And when I buy up that entire goddamn city block, Lucian will extract that payment out of Leo’s ass, as he should, though they’ll be poorer thanks to Leo. I would die before I let Perry or Keaton go up against Lucian Morelli alone.
“Pen,” Leo grunts to Trenton.
Trenton pulls one from his breast pocket and hands it over. Leo scribbles his name across the back page before sending it my way. Using my own pen that probably costs more than his entire outfit, I sign with my usual distinguished Constantine flourishes.
“Nice doing business with you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have more money to make.” I tip my head at him. “Tell Lucian I said hello.”
Leo grunts in response, storming from the room as though he can’t get away from me fast enough. When I hear the ding of the elevator and then their murmured voices disappearing, I let out a harsh breath of relief.
“Sounded too easy,” Perry notes, frowning at me. “But he just fucked himself, didn’t he?”
“You’re learning, kid,” I say with a proud grin. “Starting tomorrow, we’re going to research every building and tenant surrounding them. We’ll topple their empire on that block from the inside out. You’ll see.”