As the World Falls

Chapter 1

Chapter One

J ames

I loosen the tie around my neck, feeling as though the air in the room is strangling me.

I was waiting for one of my employees to come to my office for a meeting, and although it was a good one, I struggled to give my praise, and the fact that I had to do so made me feel uncomfortable and suffocated.

I wasn’t good at showing my feelings or complimenting others. I excelled at the exact opposite—being cold and critical.

I hear a knock on my door, and then it opens. I look up from my desk to see Tobias Bowen walking inside, his expression a mask of indifference. He has no idea why I called him in, but I was sure he wasn’t worried. He was my right-hand man, for all intents and purposes.

“Sit down,” I tell him, gesturing to the seat opposite my desk.

“What’s going on?” he asks calmly, sitting down. I study him momentarily, noting his pale skin, dark brown eyes, and even darker hair that he kept buzzed short. He was a big, wide, muscular man, and his facial features were complex and rugged in a stone-like way. His smile and charming personality were his only saving grace because he looked like a terrifying brute if he wasn’t smiling at you or talking to you in any way that didn’t make you feel like your life was threatened.

“Do you know what a coo is, Tobias?”

He ticks one brow at me as he leans back in the chair. “A coo?”

“In simple terms, it means second in command.”

“Okay…” he says slowly.

“You’re being promoted, Tobias,” I state plainly. “You’ll be my second in command, which means I will delegate almost everything to you. I want you running this empire alongside me. Can you handle that?”

He sits up a little straighter now, and I glance at him, noting a small amount of shock in his features. “I can handle it. Thank you.”

His hands ball into fists for no other reason than the fact he had to be suddenly nervous. “Tobias,” I say his name sternly but gently. He and one other person in this world were the only ones I’d be like this for. The feeling was new for me when it came to Tobias, and it still made me uncomfortable at times, but whether I liked it or not, he was my partner and what one would typically consider a best friend. “You deserve this. I wouldn’t do this on a whim if I didn’t think you were fit.”

He nods, his limbs and hands relaxing. He kept himself so tense, and I never understood why. Mostly, he was a carefree guy despite work being his entire life. I’ve known him for five years now, and that whole time, he’s done nothing, and I mean nothing, but prove his loyalty to me. He was in a factory setting to eat, sleep, and work by my side. Nothing else. The only times he has any fun is if I practically demand, and then he will finally show the side of his personality that I rarely see. The fun side, I guess you’d say.

He reminded me of myself a lot in that way, although I couldn’t tell you the last time I’d had any fun. It’s been years, I know that.

“It’s nice to know you’re finally admitting you need some help around here,” he chimes in with a smirk, giving me that glimpse of him today. “Need someone to do the heavy lifting and all that.”

I press my lips together in a flat smile. “Exactly. I need someone to pick up the work's brunt so I can finally take a bloody vacation.”

His smile drops. “Are you telling me I’m going to be busier than I already am?”

I nod. “Very.”

“Mother fucker.”

“If you don’t want the job, then I can?—”

“I want the damn job,” he interrupts me, and I smile for real now, knowing that’s what he would say.

“Great. My assistant Marcy will review all your paperwork and pay raise with you, which I’m sure you’ll find satisfactory. Also, how are we on that deal with Andrei?”

“It’s progressing, but he informed me that he’s also in talks with Hodge Wiseman.”

I grimace at that. Hodge Wiseman is my competitor in the crystal industry. I have amassed my fortune from the trade of crystals, creating nothing but the most exquisite jewelry from them. Yet, Hodge came along, offering deals on cheap crystals and fake metals, and I won’t lie and say that it hasn’t propelled him forward and earned him a small fortune. But at the end of the day, those who seek the best and possess a more refined taste go through Labyrinth Crystals. He may have surged ahead with his tactics, but he could never surpass me.

“If he wants less than quality, then let him have it. I’m not in the business of striking deals with someone who wants to cheap out on the finer things,” I say irritably.

He grins at that. “He won’t like it if I say that.”

I glare at him. “Do I look like I give a damn what the man likes? Pull out of the deal altogether. I have better trades with people who respect this industry.” Tobias looks amused as he pulls his phone out to make the call. “Tobias,” I call him again before he leaves, pulling out my little black book from my desk drawer and tossing it to him. “Take this with you, ensure everything is accounted for, and bring it back to me when you’re done.”

He looks puzzled as he catches it, flipping open the first page and then looking back toward me. “Are you sure? I don’t know if this should be in anyone else’s hands.”

“I trust you,” I tell him because I do. “This is part of your job now. Do it well.”

I watched his jaw muscle flex widely, and I knew it was because he was feeling an emotion that we usually never say out loud to each other but know all the same. I knew he was appreciative. He didn’t need to say it. I gave him a chance when no one else would, and out of everyone in this industry, he’s the one who always showed up. He had my back much like I had his, and we both knew that giving him my ledger, something that could be my demise, was no small feat.

Tobias finally leaves, calling Andrei to meet with him and give him the news. I exhaled in relief, knowing my decision to promote him paid off, and he accepted it. I wasn’t kidding about that vacation. I’ve been in this bloody business for over fifteen years with no break. I would zombify soon if I didn’t do something about it.

My phone buzzes, and I click to answer, putting it on speaker as Marcy, my assistant's voice, filters through. “Mr. Kingston, Mayor Fireux is here to see you.”

I pinch my brows together, searching my brain for any appointment I had forgotten about with him. “Did we have an appointment?”

“No sir, but he’s being persistent. Says it’s urgent.”

I sigh. “Fine. Bring him in.” I was not in the mood for this shit today, but it was best I didn’t piss off any of the city's politicians, considering I make a large amount of money off them.

My door opened, and Marcy led Mayor Fireux in. I don’t miss how his eyes roam over her figure, and he doesn’t let them stray until she is gone and shuts the door behind her. He was a slimeball altogether with his pale rat-like face and fiery red hair he kept short and slick with an unsettling amount of hair gel. He has a beard now, unlike the last time I saw him, but it didn’t help his image. He was a small, lanky man who hid his figure behind stiff, tailored suits and had the attitude to match his insecure personality. I honestly don’t know how he got elected mayor two runs in a row.

I clear my throat, directing his attention to me as I scowl at him from behind my desk. “What brings you by so unannounced, Chuck?”

He walks into my office and drops down into the seat Tobias had just occupied moments ago despite my not inviting him to. “I heard about your little mishap last night,” he says, displeased.

There was no mishap last night. The club I own, Underground, had police sent to it for illegal activity and dealings, which may or may not have been confirmed. Either way, the police left convinced that all was right and there was nothing illegal happening—at least, they did after I spoke to them.

“There was no mishap. It was a false call.”

He curls his lip at that, and I watch, amused as he looks annoyed. “Don’t be coy with me, James. We both know you have a hand, or should I say dollars, in the police force.”

“You know nothing,” I tell him smugly. “My business is that of crystal, Chuck. I don’t dabble in politics or city-run authorities.” It was a lie because I did have a hand in the police force, and it was a big one. The current sheriff was appointed by none other than my close friend and me, who also have a small investment in the men in blue, and because of that, they disregard most of my underground business deals for lack of a better word. But the police were the only thing I had ever taken control of when it came to the city, so it was only a little white lie. The rest was true. I'm not as fond of politics as I am of politicians, which means I was thoroughly irritated by his presence at the moment.

“The police force is mine. I am the mayor of this city. I need control of it. I look like an idiot without their cooperation. I made the offer before. You either work for me or against me.”

I can’t help but laugh loudly. He had some balls coming in here trying to propose such a thing; I’ll give him that. His jaw clenches as his face reddens, and I know I’ve hit a nerve, but I don’t give a shit. “Chuck,” I grin, feigning innocence. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He stands now, frustrated, grunting noises escaping him. I sit calmly in my chair, my eyes tracking every move he makes with glee. “This is my city, James,” he barks out. “My city. I know who you really are and won’t think twice about exposing you. Don’t make me remind you who owns this city.”

I cock a bored brow at him. “Is that a threat, Mr. Mayor?”

“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll take it as one. I don’t care if they call you the cold king of the rich. You don’t rule me or this city. I do.”

I grin at his dramatics. “If you really own the city, Chuck, then why are you doing your damnedest to remind me?”

He guffaws, his eyes widening as he looks down at me with embarrassed anger. “Mark my words, James. This city will forget you and your friend Luccio ever stained it when I’m through with you.”

“Now, now,” I tsk. “That’s not very mayoral of you.”

He makes more grunting noises as he strides out of my office, slamming the door behind him as he does like a child. I finally ripped my tie off my neck and undid the first couple of buttons on my shirt, easing the snaking feeling around my neck.

I pulled my cell phone out and dialed the number of my friend, Luccio.

“Hey,” he answers after the first ring.

“Chuck Fireux is onto me about the police. He seems rather determined to snuff us out.”

Stef laughs. “I didn’t even feel a trickle of fear about that news. You?”

I chuckle, a dark thrill twisting in my stomach. “His barging into my office and threatening me was the most entertaining part of my day.”

“I bet. How’s the desk life treating you these days?”

“My bones should be ash by this Friday,” I respond tiredly.

“You could always come back and work?—”

“I don’t work for anyone,” I cut in.

“I was going to say by my side, James. You should know better than anyone that I would share my empire with you. I have before,” he reminds me.

“I appreciate the sentiment, but you know how I feel about it.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. Big solo man wants to rule the world,” he says teasingly.

“We both know you control nearly the entire city, Stef. I just needed my sliver of it.”

“Well, if your sliver ever gets to be unfulfilling, I have a whole damn cake just waiting for you. Say the word, and I’ll take you back, brother.”

I swallow down the laugh that wants to come out of me. “I think I’m good. Besides, my slice got much bigger now that I brought Tobias Bowen in.”

“He’s a good one. That was a smart move. You work yourself too hard.”

“Says the guy who works himself into near death every day.”

“Don’t act like what you do is any less dangerous.”

“Just on the weekends, mostly.”

He scoffs. “Coward.”

“We can’t all snap necks on the regular like you, Stef.”

“Yeah, on that note, I’ll catch you later. My next meeting has just arrived, and I need to get my kit ready.”

My stomach jumps at the reminder of his kit and what he does with the instruments inside of it. “Sounds fun.”

I can hear his grin as he says, “It will be,” before hanging up the phone.

I lay back in my chair, sighing as I saw it was only a little after noon. I was utterly exhausted today. They never tell you that when you have it all, you have everything except the one thing you thought having it all would finally bring you.

Peace.