Page 63 of Claiming What's His
A wicked gleam glinted in his eye as a predatory smile pulled his lips up, baring his perfect white teeth.
“Be careful what you ask for Angel.” He purred, “I’ll claim your body to numb your mind anytime you need me to.”
“Then claim me Maverick.” I begged.
And he spent the entire night doing just that.
Chapter 15 – Maverick
“Sir.” Veronica’s voice rang out through the intercom on my desk, “Dennis and Jake Valentine are at security downstairs, they’re on their way up.”
I sat back in my chair, running my fingers over my lips as I smiled like the fucking cat that ate the canary.
“You know what to do.” I responded and then picked up my phone. The press release about the purchase of the development company being bought out by Jones Holding went out one hour ago. And it had ruffled enough feathers, my future father-in-law was joining his son to air his grievances with me.
I dialed Cora’s number and her sweet breathy voice answered on the second ring. “Mr. Peterson’s office.”
“Darling.” I growled, my body’s reaction to her was almost instant.
“Well hello.” She purred back and I leaned back in my chair.
“Your father and brother are on their way up to my office.” I said firmly, hating the way the conversation turned from seductive to business like so quickly, but I didn’t have much time to warn her.
“My father?” She gasped, and I could hear the fear in her voice.
“Nothing changed baby. Just stay at Halo and I’ll let you know when I throw them out on their asses.”
“Why is my father here though? I thought he wasn’t in on the deal?” She rapid fired.
“He’s probably just coming to try to convince me to keep Jake in on the deal baby, he’s a sniveling man on a good day, and today is not a good day for either of them. Don’t worry.”
“That’s easy for you to say.” She sighed. “Nat wanted to go out to eat for lunch, should I stay here instead?”
I looked at my watch, it was ten minutes to twelve, which meant she’d be leaving for lunch in a few and would be back long after Jake and Dennis were gone. “No, go out and have a nice lunch. If I haven’t called you by time you return, have Parker in security escort you two up to Halo, his security badge will override the elevator so no one else can stop the car on the way up or down.”
“Okay.” She said, but I still heard the trepidation in her voice.
“Everything will be fine darling, I promise you.” I said as Reid and Dexter walked into my office, having gotten the S.O.S. call from Veronica moments ago. “I love you; I’ll call you soon.”
“I love you too Maverick. More than I ever thought was possible.” She replied and then hung up, leaving me reeling for a moment before my ruthless asshole persona slid into place as I dropped the phone into the receiver.
“That was fast.” Reid said, walking over and helping himself to a glass of bourbon as Dexter leaned his back against the windowsill next to me, standing guard.
These two were my very best friends, second to Cora, and I had never paid attention to just how ready to rally they always were until recently. Their loyalty was unwavering.
“My future father-in-law is with him too.” I answered.
Dexter’s eyebrows rose as he pushed a hand through his blond hair. “Interesting.” He was always a man of few words, something I never minded before, but now I wished I knew what he was thinking. But I’d have to wait until later to pick his brain because Dennis and Jake were stepping off the elevator, and one look at Jake’s face said he was on a very short fuse.
“Oh this is going to be fun.” Reid smirked as he drained his glass, readying for battle.
Veronica opened my office door and let the two men in who walked straight towards my desk as I stood up, buttoning my jacket. Jake was red in the face and clearly irate. He was two years older than Cora and me but had aged terribly and looked worn out on life already. No doubt thanks to his money leaking wife. Dennis looked a bit more composed, but I could see the flare of superiority in his eyes as he made pleasantries.
“Maverick.” Dennis said, reaching forward with his hand out for me to shake but Jake stepped forward and laid his fists on my desk angrily, interrupting any fake conversation Dennis hoped to have.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Jake snapped, “I came to you to be an investor, and then you go and undermine me and steal the whole fucking thing out of my hands! I had a confirmed deal in place with the developer! Plans were already drawn up to start breaking ground!”
I raised my eyebrow at him challengingly and sat back down in my chair as Dexter still stood beside me and Reid stood at the window on my other side. “Plans to create small minded, subsidiary properties that would tank the value of the entire neighborhood and fizzle out to nothing before you even started painting the exterior of the buildings.” I debated.