Page 9 of Emergence and Ascendance

"Now you see my dilemma."

My eyes narrowed on Giselle who grinned. "If she's serious about this and I deny her, she'll end up at Devil's Dungeon. You and I both know that's no place for an introduction. The Doms there push limits instead of respecting them and finding suitable matches for themselves. You don't want that for her."

"I'm assuming you're in my head again."

"No, but I don't have to be. Your thoughts are all over your face, Christian. You look like you want to murder everyone within reach and I'm guessing that's because you know what her experience will be like if she goes there." She sighed. "You owe me a favor and I would like for her to be that favor."

She was pushing too hard for this which made me uncomfortable with agreeing.

"What the hell aren't you telling me?"

"I'm not hiding anything from you about her. I just really want you to be the one."

"When does she get here?"

"Next Wednesday but she's not scheduled for her first visit at the club until Thursday."

A week to think about it.

"I'll let you know by Wednesday evening."

I stood and so did she. I dropped a kiss on her cheek and lowered my eyes to hers. "I don't trust whatever the fuck this is you're doing but I trust you. With all things considered, please don't make me regret this shit."

"I won't." She beamed like my mind was made up so I reiterated my original decision.

"I'll let you know by Wednesday, and if I agree, you're giving me one free year of membership."

"How are you demanding a price for a favor you owe me?" She frowned.

"Above all else, I'm a man about my business, G. You're pushing too damn hard for this, which means the terms are negotiable. That's what I'm negotiating."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm the one who needs to be rethinking this friendship. That's a lot of money."

"I'm aware. I'll let you know as soon as I decide."

Giselle smiled smugly because she might not have expertise on me but she did know me very well. There was no way I would agree to let this woman end up at Devil's Dungeon. However, I also didn't plan on spending the next thirty days with her.

Once she had the contract, Giselle wouldn't dare force her out. All I had to do was get her acclimated, figure out who else at Erogenous would be a good fit, then hand her off. Problem solved because I damn sure didn't want or need any complications in the one place I came to uncomplicate my life.

three

Scotlyn.

I enjoyed an espresso at my desk, enjoying the strong brew as I scrolled through property reports on my tablet.

"The McKenzie family accepted my offer," I announced as Alexander walked in, not bothering to look up. My brother was a creature of habit and always came in at seven-thirty on Wednesday mornings for a private weekly check-in before meeting with our father. I was excited as hell to let him know things were falling in place because he was the only person I could discuss this with.

"Already?" He dropped into the chair across from me and set his briefcase on the floor next to him. "Damn, that was fast."

"Money talks. Especially when you offer twenty percent above market value." I looked up and smiled arrogantly.

"Twenty percent. That's a lot, Scot."

"This property is worth two times that amount and I want it."

"You haven't even seen it in person yet," my brother clarified, then poured a cup of coffee from the carafe on my desk.

"I'm flying out next week." I swiped on my tablet to show him the aerial photos of that I had taken two days ago. It cost me but I wanted updated visuals. "Look at this. Direct access to a natural private lake. It's exactly what I've been searching for.Can you imagine the multi-million dollar properties I can build on that lake and along the beach front."

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