Page 166 of Crocodile Tears

His former flatmate drew himself up to his full height, squared his broad shoulders, and looked down his nose at him. “Don’t talk to me like that. I’m better than you now – I’m a free man, and you’re just aserf.”

Alex recoiled from the word as Neil gazed at him triumphantly, his eyes glowing with brutal pleasure.

“Thank you, Mr Grant,” Tyler said. “Here’s the rest of your money.” He handed Neil a cash card.

“I was delighted to be of service, sir, and if you ever need my help again, then please don’t hesitate to call me,” Neil said, holding out his hand.

Tyler gave it a scathing look. “I don’t think so. I don’t like you, Grant. I had to be nice to you to get what I wanted, but now that our business is complete, I never want to see you again – so piss off.”

Alex couldn’t take much satisfaction from Neil’s look of humiliation. Tyler clicked his fingers at the two IS guards, and they stepped forward to escort Neil from the room.

He turned back to Alex. “If you hadn’t taken the money, I was going to have Grant transfer it into your account anyway. You see, once I’d had the idea, it was too good not to pursue it. But, when it came to it, you made it so easy. All I had to do was pull a few strings and get the IS Agency compliance department to descend on your father’s company at the right time. It went like clockwork, and then you wereso magnificently – and belatedly – noble.” He grinned, delightedly, before continuing.

“You took full responsibility, admitted everything to your father, and went to your fate as if running into a lover’s arms. I took full advantage of the fact that your father’s company is in such dire financial straits – I’ve done my best to make sure everyone knows that Lytton AV isn’t financially sound, dropping hints to all the banks I deal with and various important business associates.”

“My father told me you were doing that.” Alex was appalled to realise how many red flags he’d ignored. “He warned me about you.”

“You should have listened. But you were too busy being the rebellious son. I played my part well, though – you have to admit. I had you fooled, if not your father.” Tyler couldn’t stay still. He paced around the room, revelling in the success of his plan, consumed by a gleeful energy.

“It was easy for me to bribe the right people and find out how much my competitors had offered for you in the auction. I had to bid high, which was a shame as it meant Lytton AV survived, but I’ll deal with that another day. I wasn’t going to let my prize slip away after so much careful planning. It took me five years to bring all this to fruition, so you’ll have to forgive my theatricals today. It’s the culmination of so much hard work on my part that I wanted to savour every single second.”

Alex turned back to the footage of Isobel on the smartwall, still smiling and blowing kisses.

“Do you think my mother would approve of what you’ve done to her son?” he asked quietly. It was the only card he had left. He’d been comprehensively outmanoeuvred in a game he hadn’t even known he was playing.

Tyler glanced at the smartwall. “No, but she was your mother, and she loved you. I can see you far more clearly than she ever did. Besides, she’s gone. She’s the one person who could have persuaded me to go easy on you, but you killed her, so you’re just going to have to take what’s coming to you now.”

Alex stood there, wondering if there was anything he could say that would change Tyler’s view of him. He came up empty. Tyler had spentfive years planning his revenge and was set in his hatred. Nothing Alex said would change that.

“You have to admit, this is all very neat,” Tyler crowed. “My father was once your grandfather’s IS, so I think it’s only fair that your family gives me an IS in return. The Lyttons used my father’s genius and never properly paid him for all his hard work and dedication; I’d like to return the favour. Your designs will go into production – I’ll give the dust time to settle, but then we’ll bring them out as our new ‘Destiny’ range. Do you like the name? It seems fitting, given that yours is to live out the rest of your life in my service.”

Alex felt a wave of despair. All his strength disappearing, he sank to his knees on the oak floor and stayed there, his head bowed.

“What do you want me to do?” he asked numbly. “You bought me to shame me and win some twisted victory over my family, but what could you possibly want from me now? Do you intend for me to work on the new duck range? I could do that. I understand the plans better than anyone.”

It would be humiliating, but at least he’d get to make his designs work and take the duck into production.

Tyler laughed. “Oh no.” He crouched down in front of Alex, put a finger under his chin, and lifted his head so that he had no choice but to look at him. “I have designers and engineers for that. I have something else in mind for you – something that will suit you much better. You see, one thing I discovered from studying you for so long is that you have a very particular talent – and I intend to put it to good use.”

“What’s that?” Alex asked, puzzled.

Tyler ran his thumb over Alex’s lips. “Sex, my dear Alexander – sex! You’re bloody brilliant at it. People we’ve spoken to over the years have all said the same thing: Solange, Neil, that stupid boy from your father’s company – Spencer something. I was looking for your weaknesses, but instead found your one, great undeniable strength: you’re a fantastic fuck.”

“I’m not going to sleep with you,” Alex spat. “I’d rather die.”

“Really? Solange said you found me rather attractive,” Tyler purred.

“Not anymore.”

“Well, that’s interesting. I didn’t actually buy you because I wanted to fuck you, but now you’ve said that, I’ve changed my mind.”

“I’ll never, ever sleep with you,” Alex said defiantly.

“Oh, that was a mistake – I love a challenge. You’ll sleep with me one day,” Tyler predicted confidently. Then he grinned. “But I’ll make you beg for the pleasure first.”

“Then you’ll wait a long time.”

“I’m a patient man.” Tyler shrugged. “However, I bought you to service my business clients, not me, so that can wait. Sometimes, my deals require a sweetener, and you fit the bill perfectly.”

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