Page 17 of Illicit Education
“To take over. We are the legacies. We are the rich who will inherit the earth.”
Travis chuckled. “I believe it’s the meek who will inherit.” He set his glass down, then leaned back in the booth, the perfect image of composure.
Roderick’s lip curled. “As if the meek will inherit a goddamn thing we don’t throw down to them with ourscraps.”
Travis’ lips twitched in disgust, but he didn’t respond. Some of the wealthiest men sat amongst us at this table. Old money.Nepotism, that dreaded word, ran rampant among us, the adult sons of the wealthiest men in Manhattan. But, of those of us seated here, Travis Wilder was the least proud of his family’s wealth. He wasn't a despicable man in designer suits, a wolf in lamb’s clothing; he was a good egg, so unlike the others positioned around us.
I cleared my throat and leaned forward. “You’re right, Roderick, on one thing. I am set to take the throne.”
He inclined his head. “And yet, you don’t want it.”
Ah.So this is what was on his mind. These men were vultures, birds of prey. Any sign of weakness and they’d attack, dividing Reed Enterprises amongst themselves like prime cuts of steak.
“Rumors are”—his lip curled—“you’re content with your little book thing.”
Mylittle book thingwas the most successful publishing company in the country. Home of the most successful romance imprint in the world. My place at the head of Reed Publishing didn’t detract from my ability to run Reed Enterprises. If anything, my experience bringing my mother’s legacy to the top of the literary food chain ensured I was fully prepared to keep the Reed conglomerate at the forefront.
These men–and I lumped them all together based on the way their predatory eyes hung on every word of this exchange–made the mistake of assuming that because my attention was focused onmy little book thingthe rest of our holdings were left weak or exposed. Prime for the taking.
As if I was incapable of managing my father’s legacy.
Smiling, I leaned forward. “When my father steps down from his position as chair of Reed Enterprises, I will have board members in place, people in positions of power within each division of our corporation. That much of what you’ve heard is true. I will not be involved in every minute detail of our corporation any more than you file paperwork at the firm on your days off, Roderick.” I paused to sip my martini.
“So it is true. The great Cabot Reed doesn’t want the key to the kingdom.”
I scoffed, shaking my head. “I said no such thing, and I don’t appreciate you twisting my words.” I glanced at the other men in attendance, then snuck a quick glance at Ms. Blake, still seated at her table in the front of the restaurant. When I looked back at Roderick, I held his gaze for a beat then said, “Make no mistake about it, old friend, Iamthe fucking key to the kingdom.”
His eyebrows twitched.
Silence stretched on between us.
Finally, he shrugged. “Well, like I said, rumors…” Reaching over the back of the booth, Roderick pulled a vial of white powder from the inside breast pocket of his jacket. “Now that we’ve cleared that up.”
My hands flexed into fists on the table as tension rippled across my shoulders.
“Show some fucking respect,” Travis growled, leaning forward.
Roderick looked at me, a glint of challenge in his beady little eyes, then met Travis’ glare. “What? It’s not like his mother died of acocaineoverdose.” He looked at me and tilted his head as he opened the vial. “Oxy, wasn’t it? Painkillers?”
My heart pounded a steady rhythm in my chest. My muscles tightened, bunched to pounce. I breathed deeply, holding his gaze. The last thing I needed this close to taking over Reed Enterprises was a low-class brawl in front of the corporate lunch crowd.
Slowly, I stood, then leaned forward, resting my fingertips on the table. “If you’ll excuse me, gentlemen, I have work to do and have no desire to spend an afternoon measuring cocks with my oldest friends.”
And deepest enemies.
Inclining my head to Travis, who no doubt would give Roderick a piece of his mind, throw a few bills on the table, then follow shortly behind me, I stepped away from the booth.
I buttoned the single button of my jacket and sidestepped out of the way of a server. Behind her, Ms. Blake stepped into the narrow corridor that linked the noisy front-of-house to the secluded meeting area I’d just vacated.
She gasped as she saw me, looking up at me with wide brown eyes.
I inclined my head. “We meet again.”
She swallowed audibly and my eyes followed the motion of her slender throat. “Hello, Mr. Reed.”
A slow smile pulled at my lips. She’d inferred who I was. “Hello, Ms. Blake.”
Her eyes widened again, and she tugged her bottom lip between her teeth, then glanced past me. “I’m… um…”