Page 4 of Emergence and Ascendance

"You love me, I love you. Go to bed, that's the point." This was my out. She was too tipsy to stay on course, which meant I could end this conversation.

"Bed, man, sucked and fucked, club, contract…oh yeah, that's what I was trying to say." She pointed the neck of the wine bottle in my direction. "If your application is denied, I'll let this go. If it's approved, you do the introduction session. And if you hate it then I'll let this go."

"No."

There was no way in hell I was going to a sex club to do whatever the hell she thought I was going to do there.

"Yes you are or it's going to get leaked that Scotlyn Whitney is trying to purchase and develop waterfront property in Crescent Falls, independent of the Whitney name and brand. I bet your father would love that and I also bet he would snatch that shit up before you could even get your signature on the paperwork."

She pushed away from the wall and I glared at my best friend whose death I was currently plotting.

"You wouldn't do that."

"I would. That's how much I believe you need this. And as much as I know leaking that information would ruin our friendship, I'm willing to do it because I love you enough to make the sacrifice if it means you'll stop punishing yourself for that shit he did. You need to step out of your comfort zone. You have twenty-four hours to decide, friend. Love you."

My mouth dropped open and she disappeared down the hallway. A few minutes later I heard a door click and I considered all the ways I could murder my best friend and get away with it.

two

Christian Devereaux.

I leaned back in my chair, waiting for my real estate attorney Lionel Werner to finish reviewing the documents. I had gone over them enough to know each one damn near word for word but this was his lane and not mine. I knew business but contracts were not my expertise.

"Everything looks in order, Mr. Devereaux."

He slid the thick portfolio across the table. "CD Capital Holdings will be the registered owner, with no visible connection to you or the Devereaux name. As requested, even the shell company will look like it's controlled by a completely unrelated investment group."

CD Capital Holdings, Christian Devereaux Capital Holdings, was close enough but also discreet enough to keep me detached.

I nodded. "And the sellers?"

"The McKenzie family is ready to sell. They've owned that part of the waterfront for generations but the estate taxes are too much for them to maintain and they don't have the money to develop it. They're not asking questions about who's buying. They're more concerned about the money," Werner confirmed.

"Good."

I signed the final document. The waterfront property was valuable, untouched real estate with unlimited potential and exactly what I needed. The natural terrain and lake access were going to make me a lot of fucking money once I started building and it would also be a development created entirely under my control. There wouldn't be any connections to my life outside of this venture, which meant no attachment to The Collective. After those bullshit trafficking accusations, I wanted distance. I needed this shit more than I realized, and the closer I got to closing the deal, the more settled I felt.

At least with this layer of my life.

After all the bullshit circling around me the past couple years, this would be a new start, which began with my own financial stability separate from family funds and also making connections outside of The Collective's influence. This development would be my foundation for independence.

"I'll have my team process everything immediately. The McKenzies would like to close within the week." Werner collected the documents.

"See if we can get it done sooner. I'll pay whatever it costs for speed and discretion."

He nodded and left without saying anything else. He knew me and how I operated. Excuses wouldn't be tolerated, and when I was willing to pay, he needed to be willing to do whatever necessary to make this shit work.

After Werner was gone I scanned the paperwork once more then pulled up the aerial views of the waterfront property, visualizing what I had plans for. This would be all me, CD Capital Holdings, and I couldn't wait to finalize everything. The Devereaux name opened doors but that privilege came with expectations. It also came with consequences when you didn't play ball with the people who thought they owned you. Independence meant freedom from all that shit. It was time.I couldn't completely detach but it wasn't impossible to stand independently of what my family name was attached to.

My phone vibrated in my pocket, and after checking the screen, I answered.

"What's up, Ez?"

"The families will be here in a few days. You decided on the investors they're forcing on us?"

"My stance hasn't changed. We're connected enough already. I don't want to be tied to them any more than we already are."

"I agree. Our businesses need to remain neutral and independent of their influence." He paused. "Everything good with you?"

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