Page 5 of Wreck Me

And I have zero interest in Candice. As elegant and eloquent as she is, she’s probably fucked half the men here.

Rian might not care, but I don’t share.

‘That will be all, thank you,’ I clear my throat and turn to Rian. ‘You can play when we’ve talked.’

Candice pouts and turns on her heels. ‘Come find me later,’ she says to Rian, shimmying her hips before strutting away.

‘She is gagging for it.’ Rian exhales a low whistle and readjusts his suit pants. His expensive education appears to have been utterly wasted. Our parents should have sent him to finishing school.

‘It’s her job to pretend she’s gagging for it, you fucking fool.’ Killian glowers at him.

‘If you’ve finished berating me, perhaps we can get down to business?’ I lock eyes with each of my brothers in turn.

Their enthusiasm is far from fervid. They might buck up when they hear what I’ve got to say. ‘There are rumours circulating that the Imperial Winery Group is in trouble. It could be ripe for the picking. It would certainly be an interesting subsidiary to our portfolio.’

Killian straightens himself. ‘I heard the whispers.’

‘They’re based in France, right?’ Caelon says. I can practically see the cogs turning in his brain.

‘Provence. And there’s land, so scope to expand all of our businesses.’

‘I’m in,’ Rian blurts, his gaze still intently focussed elsewhere.

Sean’s eyes flare. ‘How much land are we talking?’ As head of property acquisition, naturally he’s interested.

‘The estate has multiple vineyards totalling thousands of acres.’ My eyes flick to Caelon. ‘There’s potential for two, maybe three new hotels. Maybe a luxury glamping site or whatever the fuck is popular these days.’

While Sean is all about acquiring property, Caelon oversees the chain of boutique hotels our father acquired during his time as CEO.

‘It seems like a deal that could be beneficial for all of us.’ Sean clasps his hands together on his lap.

‘Exactly. So, if we’re in agreement I’ll draw up a proposal and put it to the board.’ A lucrative takeover might be just what I need to distract them from the Dubai scandal, and enable me to retain my position as CEO.

‘Agreed.’ Killian nods.

I glance round the table. ‘Agreed,’ my brothers mutter in unison.

I top up their drinks before helping myself to another measure . ‘I’ll draw up a proposal over the next couple of days.’

‘Hoping it’ll save your bacon?’ Rian smirks. ‘Never mind the board, Dad is gunning for you.’

‘I hope your dick doesn’t shoot off as quickly as your mouth.’ Killian folds his arms across his muscular chest. ‘Or Candice is going to be highly disappointed.’

Caelon and Sean snort but Killian doesn’t even crack a smile.

My phone vibrates in my pocket with an incoming text. I pluck it out and squint at the screen.

Dad.

Your presence is required in the boardroom. 8am sharp. After yesterday’s front page yacht porn, the governors are on the warpath. And so am I. For fuck’s sake, pull yourself together, son.

I blow out a lungful of air. Looks like I’ll need to draw up that proposal sooner rather than later.

‘Rian’s right.’ I hold up my phone. ‘I’ve been summoned.’

Rian exhales a low whistle but he’s not looking at my mobile. His beady eyes are transfixed on the main stage. ‘Fuck. Me.’

I follow his gaze. Something hot and sharp ignites in my gut.

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