Chapter 2
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?"
"Yeah, just finalizing some deals."
"That's vague as fuck."
"Which was intentional as fuck."
He chuckled. "Aight, I'll see you in a few days."
After ending the call, I scrolled to my sister's contact and pressed dial. As expected, it went straight to voicemail after four rings.
"Jona, I'm calling, again." I kept my voice even but I was fucking annoyed. "It's been two weeks. Whatever's going on, we need to talk about it. Call me back."
This was getting out of control. I understood her need for independence but the silence and distance she created with me and Cress was getting out of hand.
If Jona didn't get her shit together soon I was going to track her down or shut off her access so she had no choice but to answer my calls.
Unfortunately, right now my focus was on getting this waterfront deal finalized.
I couldn't afford any complications, but as soon as my phone vibrated with a text, I felt the bullshit surfacing.
I opened the thread from my assistant and got annoyed.
Trinity: Mr. Scot Whitney has just outbid us on the riverfront project.
I frowned. Scot Whitney. Who the fuck was that?
The name Scot wasn't familiar but Whitney was.
The Whitney family was a major national developer but the only people I was familiar with who were associated with the brand were Gerald and Alexander Whitney.
I also had no knowledge of Whitney operations moving into small markets before now.
The waterfront project would be lucrative but was small compared to what Whitney usually invested in.
Me: Send me everything we have on Whitney and his development company.
Know your competition. It was a lesson my father had drilled into me since childhood but I learned to take it further. Know your enemies, your allies, and especially those who could be either.
My phone vibrated again with a text from Werner this time. My jaw tightened as I read it.
Werner: Potential bidding war could be happening.
"What the fuck?" I mumbled. This shit couldn't be happening. Not with my waterfront project. Instead of responding via text, I called him back.
"Find everything you can on any recent inquiries about properties surrounding the McKenzie land and have it to me before the end of the day."
I ended the call and massaged my temple. Whoever the fuck this Scot Whitney was had just made this personal, whether he knew it or not.
Needing a distraction, I pulled up the schedule for Erogenous and decided to spend a few hours releasing some tension there.
"On the bench," I demanded as I unbuttoned my shirt then shrugged out of it.
I turned my back to place it on the chair in the corner but heard her moving behind me.
When I had eyes on her again, she was on the bench with her chest lowered across the top padded section while her knees pressed into the lower extension, spreading her wide enough to be fully exposed.
She arched her back and pushed her hips upward, giving me an amazing view of what she was offering.
I walked over and lightly brushed my hand over the curves of her ass, noticing the way her body trembled from the contact and anticipation.
"Do I need to restrain you or can you hold still?"
"Restrain me, please, Sir."
She kept her head down when she spoke, so she didn't see the smile that crossed my face.
My palms skimmed the back of her thighs then over her ass before I reached for the leather restraints and secured them one by one, first across the small of her back, then over her calves before I moved in front of her and strapped each wrist to the leather padding where they rested. She was now completely at my mercy.
And I was ready to play…
While she was completely naked, the only thing I had removed was my shirt. But now that I had her ready, I took my time removing the rest of my clothes. By the time I was completely naked and next to her again, I could see random shivers pushing through her body.
I lifted my hand and let my fingers move down her spine. She sighed in contentment. "Restraints feel okay?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Tell me immediately if they become uncomfortable."
"Okay."
My hand came down hard on her right cheek. "Shit, I mean… yes, Sir. I will tell you immediately."
I left her to gather a few things. I had played a scene with her once before and had already familiarized myself with her preferences and hard limits. I placed what I needed on the small table next to us.
"We're going to use the basics today. Tell me what they are."
"Red is my safe word, Sir."
"And when you want more?"
"Green, Sir."
"And when it's too much and you need me to slow it down?"
"Yellow, Sir."
"Good." I gave an approving nod even though her head was down and she wasn't looking at me.
The beautiful brown skin on display and the luscious curves of her thick body had my fingers aching to touch her so I got straight to it.
I brushed my hand over her ass once more, then down her thighs, and let the tips of my fingers brush over her exposed pussy before I pinched her clit.
She moaned in approval and I rewarded her by thrusting two fingers in, which had her entire body tensing.
I pulled them back and pushed back in at the same time my other hand came down hard on her ass.
She groaned her approval and tried to rub her body over the cushioned padding but the restraints didn't let her get far.
"You need more?"
"Yes, Sir, please."
I started a nice steady rhythm of fucking her with my fingers, only pausing occasionally to pinch her clit and press firmly against her spot. She tensed around me, which had my dick growing thick with anticipation. This was exactly what I needed.
I stopped at Giselle's office and knocked on the door before I stepped in even though she'd sent one of the staff to ask if I would stop by to see her before I left for the evening.
It was Tuesday, one of the less busy days at Erogenous, which worked in my favor.
I liked to keep my time here as exclusive as possible.
There was so much paperwork signed upon gaining membership that what I enjoyed here would never be spoken of outside the club but I still didn't like the questionable looks attached to me frequenting the place.