Page 88 of Emperor of Corruption
Our first stop is a boardroom meeting, where Killian sits down with the UK team of Helixon Biopharma to discuss attempted price fixing and strategies to bypass it. I jot down notes as they discuss margins, distribution, production, and costs. One thing that becomes abundantly clear is Killian runs an extremely tight ship, and likes to know everything happening in every corner of his company.
The charm he presents to the world doesn’t come out with people who do direct business with him—that’s reserved for outsiders, like the doormen, and the masses of people around him. Killian regards them as ants, and he puts on a philanthropic, generous façade for them.
I know Killian well enough to understand there’s very little genuine generosity inside him. It’s all a masterful front.
After the first meeting, Locke swiftly heralds us across London, where Killian cuts the ribbon on a homeless shelter. Reporters and news stations surround him, along with a crowd of regular people. He smiles at the cameras, hugs a few children that will be residents for the shelter, and generally acts the part of a kind, generous billionaire.
I know better than to believe the facade.Kind billionaireis an oxymoron; there’s no such thing.
After the ribbon-cutting, we break for lunch at an intimate café. We sit across from each other, and Killian watches me as he picks at his plate. “Enjoying yourself so far?”
“I’d enjoy it a lot more if I had my clothes.”
He waves a dismissive hand. “I got you better clothes. Don’t complain.” He pauses to take a bite of his smoked salmon. “You’re not wearing any jewelry.”
“I packed jewelry, but alas, my suitcase didn’t make it.”
“Igot youjewelry. Pieces I selected myself.” Killian cocks his head to the side, eyes glimmering with irritation. “Why don’t you accept what I offer you? You could pawn off the diamonds for a fortune when we get back to the states.” He pauses, and his lips curve. “Like you did with the necklace.”
He knows I pawned the necklace?Of course he does—Killian has a way of knowing almost everything about me.Almost.
“I pawned the necklace because it was sitting in my office. The things you got me last night can sit in the hotel room.” Maybe a maid will pawn them off.
“Why?” Killian sounds like he genuinely doesn’t understand.
Money has bought himalmosteverything—a ticket out of his impoverished youth, power, luxury, and women. He sees it as a cure-all, and it confounds him that I don’t share his view of it.
“Because I don’t need the cash. I don’t need the jewelry. I’m perfectly content with my paycheck.”
Killian rolls his eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous. You barely make ends meet on your salary.”
I shrug. “I guess we have different definitions ofmaking ends meet. I get to travel for my job, which cuts vacation costs. My IRA and 401K are maxed out. I get great benefits at Empire Journal, and I set aside money in savings and investments. I have everything I need.”
“But you don’t have everything youdesire.I’m offering you everything you could desire and more.”
“Money can’t buy what I desire. It can only give an illusion of meeting mywantsrather thanneeds. At their core, humans are simple creatures, Killian. Look at Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Anything above the safety tier is actually a desire and luxury, and I’m blessed to have many luxuries.” I shrug. “We’re all simple souls, I suppose.”
Killian’s jaw tenses. “I’m not.” He pauses. “And neither are you.”
“Don’t presume to know what I am and am not.”
Killian smiles wolfishly. “Why? Am I hitting too close to home?”
I push away my plate, leaning back in my seat and crossing my arms. Killian leans forward, bracing his elbows on the table.
“You’d like tothinkyou’re a simple soul and have easily-met needs, wouldn’t you? But you’re not, and your needs are far from simple. It took me nearly two months to get you to admit you like what I do to you—and there’s nothing simple about your sexual appetites.”
“Those aredesires, notneeds,” I say through gritted teeth. “And how do you know that I wasn’t just saying whatever it took to appease you and get you to stop?”
“Because I know you. I observe you. I study you, and I’ve learned you. You like to tell yourself lies—you like to tell theworldlies. But I see the truth.”
“I’m done with this conversation.”
Killian inclines his head. “For now. Take the jewelry, Lyra.”
“No.”
He growls. “You are the most stubborn, infuriating,confusingcreature I’ve ever met—”
