Chapter 70
Gen
Irub my forehead with my thumbnail. I’m shattered.
The amount of manpower Anton has allocated to the Cannes pop-up is immense, but there’s no way I can stand back and let them try to work it all out for themselves, so I’ve been hands-on.
We’re all heading out there on Friday, which is in just three days’ time.
I’m also dealing with some HR headaches, namely that our wizard of a concierge, Natalie, handed in her notice two days ago.
She’s off to Rapture.
They made her another offer. One she couldn’t refuse, dammit.
They’ve got to be running this thing at a giant loss, given the amount of money they’re pumping into it, but clearly they’ve got deep pockets.
As do we, but we also have sound business sense, and just because another player in the market is behaving irrationally, it doesn’t mean we have to.
Thank God for Anton. Yes, he’s fucking me senseless every night, which is definitely not helping with my exhaustion levels. But we’re in such a heavenly love-bubble that I’m flying high on endorphins.
Who needs sleep?
Not me.
Simply being in that man’s orbit is heady. Being what feels like his sole focus is fucking crack. In that period when I was lusting after him, and yearning for him, and wishing I wasn’t, there was no way I could have imagined how adoring he’d be. How attentive. Or even… how needy.
I had this fixed impression of him as cold. Calculating. Brutal. And he can be all those things. But with me he’s kind, and loving. He’s generous with his emotions. Open-hearted.
And yes, he’s intense. Demanding. But in the most intoxicating way. I knew he would see right inside my soul, and rip my heart out, and require that I laid myself bare for him. But he does the same for me. He holds nothing back. He consumes me, and I’ve never been so seen.
I don’t know how that man had my number from the moment he laid eyes on me. I can only surmise that we’re soulmates, and soulmates know the secrets of each other’s souls, even the ones we hide away in the dark so the world can’t suspect them.
Anton suspected.
More than that, he knew. He saw a woman flawlessly kitted out in her business armour, and he knew exactly what I needed. Knew just what would sate my body and send my soul soaring.
We both need the same thing. For him to dominate me completely, and for me to submit completely. Trust completely.
Because when he ties me up and edges me until I’m begging and practically weeping, he sets us both free.
Rafe interrupts my glowy, loved-up train of thought. ‘Fucking hell!’ he shouts, pushing his chair back and standing up, his fist to his mouth. He stares intently at something on his phone screen.
‘What?’ Zach demands.
Rafe pulls his fist away. He’s grinning broadly. ‘You’ll never guess what. Rapture’s finished.’
I frown. ‘What do you mean?’
‘I mean those tossers have been closed down. They’re getting done for money laundering.’
Money laundering? My mouth hangs open. ‘Holy fuck,’ I say gormlessly, because I’m utterly shocked. I thought they seemed dodgy, but money laundering’s a whole different level. ‘Who’s telling you that?’
He brandishes his phone. ‘Ed at Cerulean.’
‘There’s no way that won’t impact their day jobs, too,’ Zach observes.
He’s right. Those two guys who founded Rapture—Jed and Henrik—are both partners at Barbican, which is one of the biggest macro hedge funds in London. Surely the regulator won’t allow convicted money launderers to trade.
‘Jesus,’ I breathe as the implications sink in. These guys are ruined, surely.
And our biggest headache is dust. Just like that.
Cal whistles and rubs his hands together in glee. ‘Fucking nice. Let’s see how many members and employees come crawling back to us, eh?’
‘I have to tell Anton,’ I say gleefully, picking up my phone. ‘He hates those pricks.’
I shoot off a triumphant text to him.
Guess what? Rapture’s been closed down. Money laundering!!! Can you believe it? xx
His reply comes straight back.
You’re welcome xx
I stare at my phone in horror.
You’re welcome?
You’re fucking welcome?
The joy in my veins turns to cold dread. I’m instantly nauseous.
Anton did this.
Anton destroyed these guys, and their business, and their entire careers.
For me.
I push my chair back and grab my handbag.