35. Michaela
Michaela
Five days later
W hen the elevators to the executive floor open, I step out, my eyes glued to my screen.
“Unbelievable.” I re-read the jaw-dropping headlines. I shouldn’t walk and read at the same time, but I can’t help it.
‘RIPLEY MADIGAN UNDER INVESTIGATION ON SEVERAL FRAUD CHARGES’
‘DIRTY OLD MAN: RIPLEY MADIGAN’S HAREM OF YOUNG LOVERS EXPOSED’
‘KING K?NIG’S EMPIRE TO SUE RIPLEY MADIGAN’S’
‘SHOCKING SCANDAL IMPLODES INSIDE KING K?NIG’S KINGDOM’
‘MICHAELA K?NIG’S EVIL STEPMOTHER UNDER SUICIDE WATCH’
That last headline is the most shocking one of them all. I hate everything about that manipulative woman, but I feel for her. The backlash has been brutal. The media has stoned Thana to death with their less than flattering exposés.
You brought this on yourself, dear stepmonster.
I was in a lunch meeting with the director of an art gallery when the shit hit the fan.
One minute, I’m enjoying a delicious salade nicoise , the next, the name Konig is breaking news on the large flat screen TV behind the bar.
I had to cut the lunch short and rush back to the office.
With my eyes still transfixed to my phone, I type in the code to my office with my free hand.
I’m still reading as I walk into my office.
As I close the door, my thumb swipes across the screen.
‘MILLIONAIRE POTTER MACCAAK ARRESTED AT THE MEXICAN BORDER’
An evil grin splits my lips. “They caught you, asshole.”
“They did,” a voice says.
I jump in fright.
My eyes meet Phoenix’s. “What are you doing in my office?”
“I needed to see my wife. Since I have the combination, I let myself in,” he says.
“Next time, give a girl a heads up. You almost gave me a heart attack.”
He responds with a cocky grin.
He’s sitting behind my desk, as comfortable as if this were his office.
With his hands interlaced together, supporting his chin, he resembles a ruler pondering the fate of a disloyal subject.
Since he isn’t wearing a suit jacket or a tie, I’m going to guess he came to the office straight from Soren’s house when the news broke.
Suit or no suit, he looks good enough to suck.
“Make yourself at home, why don’t you,” I say.
“I already have.”
I smile despite myself.
“Did you miss me, kitten?”
I could be cheeky, but what’s the point? “I missed you a lot.”
He stands up and comes to sit in front of the desk. He licks his lips, as if he were a predator about to devour me.
Yes, please.
“Get over here,” he says.
I close the space between us and come to stand between his parted legs. I toss my phone and my handbag on the desk and peer into his gorgeous blue eyes. “I’m here.”
He runs his index finger from my wrist to my shoulder.
I shiver.
He reaches out and grabs me by the back of the neck, bringing our foreheads together until they touch. “I missed you too.”
I take a step back and cross my arms across my chest. “Oh yeah, prove it.” So much for not being cheeky.
“I will in a minute,” he says, placing his hands on my shoulders. His expression turns serious. “But before that, I want to give you an update on a few things.”
The past five days have been intense. The Konig men have been bouncing from their lawyer’s office to my father-in-law’s mansion, strategizing a plan of attack.
To say they were angry with Ripley Madigan and his puppets would be putting it mildly.
They were breathing fire. As a result, Phoenix was out the door early in the morning and he wouldn’t come back to the penthouse until late.
As much as I missed him, I didn’t complain.
The enormity of what he was dealing with was all-consuming.
“I haven’t opened up much about this shit fest because I was protecting you.” The sincerity in his words is touching.
“I understand,” I say.
“Dad, Slate, Wilder, and I are going for the kill. Roman supports our decision.”
“You’re going to sue them?”
“We’re going to annihilate them,” he says.
“We have the best lawyers money can buy on our team. We’re going to sue the hell out of Ripley, Potter, Brock, and Mrs. Pisier-Litoris.
By the end of this ordeal, those crooks won’t have much left to their names.
Ripley might still have a cushiony stash of cash, but he’s going to learn the hard way, he isn’t untouchable.
Contrary to popular belief, not all publicity is good publicity.
Our PR company will play an important role in his demise.
With enough bad press, Ripley will be exposed for the callous monster he is.
I’m not sure it’s enough to crumble his kingdom, but the blow will peg him down by several notches and damage his reputation.
All that bad press will trickle down to his hotels, and ultimately, his wealth.
That should wipe the permanent smug smirk off his fucking face for good. ”
“I’m sure a lot of people will think twice before choosing one of his hotels.”
“Let’s hope so.”
Once the security guards detained an infuriated Potter, they called Phoenix and the police.
The three Konig brothers arrived on the scene like warriors ready to declare war.
Phoenix was so enraged, he lunged at Potter, pure hatred shinning bright in his eyes, fists flying, and cursing up a storm.
Both Slate and Wilder had to hold their older brother back.
Giving Potter leverage would be detrimental because the asshole would find a way to turn it to his advantage.
There’s no way out for him. He’ll have to pay for his crimes.
The recording from my phone was too faint to make out much of Potter’s conversation with Ripley.
I was devastated my efforts were in vain.
It turns out, it didn’t matter. Millions of dollars’ worth of art require a twenty-four-seven high-tech security system that includes video surveillance with sound.
The second Potter started talking, every word was recorded.
There’s no way he can dispute that kind of proof. Same for Ripley.
“It’s going to be a long legal battle ahead, but I’m confident things will turn in our favor,” Phoenix says.
“I have no doubt they will.”
“Have you talked to your father?”
I nod. “Yes, we talked this morning before my lunch meeting. Thank you for doing that. You’ve been so generous, but this takes the cake.”
“Thana handed us everything we needed on a silver platter. The hotel needs a publicity campaign to ward off any potential bad press by association. It’s irrefutable, your father and you had nothing to do with Thana’s pedophile enabler lover.
Plus, now that the public knows you were jilted by her callous and criminal actions, they have sympathy.
No one will dare to cast the first stone. ”
“Daddy is so grateful––and elated––we get to keep the name intact. So am I. The Villiers Grand Hotel lives on.” Thank God.
“Just the way it’s supposed to be.”
I shake my head as emotions bubble up.
“A little less than six weeks ago, Daddy and I were on the verge of losing everything.” I let out a loud sigh. “And now, there’s hope. Mom must be throwing a big party up in heaven. Our family hotel gets a happy ending after all.”
“Speaking of happy endings, I need to show you how much I’ve missed you these past few days,” he says.
“That’s an abrupt change of subject.”
“Not really. It falls right in line with our conversation.”
I shoot him a quizzical look.
He reaches and grips my chin. He stares into my eyes as though he’s peering into my soul. “So you missed me, kitten?”
“I’ve confessed that much.”
“Just checking.”
“It was hard to fall asleep alone in your massive California King bed.”
“It was hard falling asleep next to your warm, sexy body, and not wake you up.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“I knew it was a temporary situation and it wouldn’t have been fair to wake you up at three in the morning for sex.” He taps the tip of my nose with his finger.
I smile.
“I have a gift for you,” he says.
“What’s the occasion?”
“Do I have to have an occasion to buy my wife a gift?”
“No,” I say. “It’s unexpected, that’s all.”
Something dangerous veils his eyes. “Lucky for us you’re wearing the perfect outfit for the gift.”
I frown and glance down at my pretty, feminine white blouse and hot pink midi skirt combo. “I don’t follow.”
He gives me a onceover. “Pants would’ve made things a lot more… complicated.”
“I get it’s cocktail hour somewhere in the world, but surely you’re not drunk.” I laugh.
He doesn’t.
“No. I’m not drunk.”
That pantie-melting look again.
My senses tingle.
“What are you up to, Mr. Konig?”
“It will all make sense in a minute, Mrs. Konig.”
“Okay.”
“I got you this.” He shifts on the desk and grabs something behind him.
“What’s—” I stop midsentence when he produces a small bottle of lube and a small cone-shaped object. “Is that what I think it is?”
“I don’t read minds, kitten.”
“Is that a butt plug?”
“It is,” he says, a wicked grin stretching his lips.
I let out a shuddering exhale.
“Oh, okay…” I hesitate. “You bought me a toy, and you came to my office to announce we’re going to have some kinky fun later tonight at home to make up for the last five days?”
“No. I came to your office so we can give it a test run,” he says.
My jaw drops.
“Now?”
“Yes, right here, right now.”
“Have you lost your mind?”
“Five days without fucking you, Michaela? Yeah, you could say that.”
“Shouldn’t we wait?”
“Why?”
I tilt my head to the side. “The location…”
“The door to your office is locked. The rest of my afternoon is clear and so is yours. I checked your schedule with your executive assistant.”
I stare at him, dumbfounded.
“You can deny it all you want, but we both know you came so hard you forgot your own name the last time we had some fun in my office. This is no different.”
It’s not like I can deny it. He knows the illicit nature of office sex is kind of a turn on for me.
I remain silent.