Page 134 of Heat & Deceit
Thirty-Five
JAVI
“I assure you, Caroline didn’t mean anything by that post. Once Lycus called me, I had her take it down.”
I hum, glancing around the ostentatious conference room. “Well, clearly your little Caroline isn’t a good listener. Should my pack take action to ensure she leaves my omega alone?”
“No, no,” her dad says quickly. “I will talk to her and make sure she puts this grudge to rest. I’m ashamed of her actions. Cardinal Media doesn’t want Pack Gray as an enemy.”
“You’re damn right, you don’t.” I hang up and glance at my lawyer.
“So, it’s a full day of taking down enemies, eh?” he asks with a wicked grin. He enjoys white-collar blood sport. It’s part of why he’s on retainer, but I’m not quite ready to issue orders to destroy Cardinal Media.
“Something like that.” I sigh.
We’re sitting inside the main conference room at the Pierce Pharmaceutical headquarters. Rome warned me not to mess with his parents, almost as though he was worried what they might do, but I’ve let his family live unhindered for too long. I should have stopped them after their first price hike ten years ago, but I didn’t, and now their prices are astronomical.
Their stock prices were just as high, but after a few strategically scheduled meetings, I managed to wrangle control.
Some might call it a hostile takeover...
I call it retribution.
Not only for Rome, but for every family out there who can’t afford their child’s medicine.
“They’re late,” Winston seethes. My lawyer is a hothead.
“It’s fine. They’re only delaying the inevitable.” I’m sure, once they realized there was a new chief executive officer, they shit their pants. Rome’s family owns 45% of the stocks. The remaining 55% was split between three families—all of whom hate each other. I’ll admit, it was a safe bet dividing the stock between families that would rather die than sell to their counterpart.
At half-past ten, they finally appear. Flanked by their own lawyers, Marge and Howard storm into the conference room. Howard’s mouth drops open, probably to tear into the new CEO, but he pauses when he sees it’s me. Marge grabs his arm, and the two trade confused looks.
“Javier,” Marge begins, face smoothing. Ah. She thinks they’re safe. “You’re the new CEO?”
“I am.” I smile, but it isn’t kind. I imagine it’s the sort of smile a wolf gives to a bunny before striking a killing blow.
Marge pales slightly. “Well, that’s such a relief. Isn’t it, Howie?”
“Depends on if Javier will honor family.”
I scoff. “Family?” Does he really want to play that card? They fired Rome. He was the only reason I held off for so long. I think, deep down, he expected them to change. Even when he began stealing the medicine to provide for those in need, some part of him had hoped his parents were good.
They’re not, though.
He looks so much like Rome, but where my friend and pack mate is kind and generous to those who deserve it, Howard is selfish. Marge isn’t any better. Her wrist is weighed down by diamonds and gold. According to their latest tax filings, they pocket the majority of the profits. Their senior scientists and other employees make less than the market average for their positions.
“If this is about Rome, I’ll have you know, he was stealing,” Marge says with a haughty sniff. “HR gave us no choice.”
“You were the owners.”
Howard starts to reply, but the past tense sinks in, and he scowls. “This is still our company. We built this place from the ground up. No young CEO will ever take that away from us.”
This is my favorite part.
I stand and rest my palms on the counter, leaning over the table. “Oh, but I did.”
“Javier,” Marge coaxes. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Howard is simply surprised, but I’m sure we can come to an arrangement that suits us all.” She gestures to her lawyers, and they slap a contract on the table and shove it toward me. The stack of paper glides over the smooth top, and I bat it away. The paper rustles as it falls to the floor with an unceremonious thunk.
“Is it my turn now?” Winston pipes up from behind me.
