23. Jackson
Chapter twenty-three
Jackson
“F uck!” A howl erupts from deep inside my chest, my lungs seizing as I take in short breaths. Fury surges through me, and I smash my fists against the desk, hurling everything off it. As the papers and objects scattered across the floor, my gaze falls on the worn ledger, the binding torn and fraying. In an instant, my mind snaps to what truly matters—something far more important, hidden away in the bottom drawer.
I bend down and yank the drawer open, rifling through it until my fingers close around the small box. I let out a breath and pull out the sealed box. Pressing my thumbprint to the lock, it clicks open, revealing the USB drive inside.
The sound of my office door opening breaks through the chaos. “Is everything all right, Mr. Blake?”
“No. Get Wayne on the phone. NOW!”
I need to set my emotions aside, burn them to ashes, and pull myself together. Beneath Georgia’s betrayal, there’s an even bigger issue at hand.
Fucking Hallstead and his son.
I always knew Vince was trouble. Jealousy and hatred are written all over him, just like his worthless father. But this? Blackmail? Why the hell would he want the ledger now? If I hadn’t walked in, would she have found the USB as well?
I shake my head, already knowing the answer. Only one person knows the importance of what’s inside that ledger.
Burt.
It’s been a lifetime since I’ve crossed paths with him. A man I considered a brother.
“I can’t believe we did it. This is gonna work.”
“Fuck yeah, it’s gonna work. The plan is flawless. No one’s ever created a coding system like this. It’ll be impossible to duplicate, which means the demand for our program will be insane.” I slap Burt on the shoulder. Years of hard work, and we finally developed a coding system that’s set to revolutionize the medical field—a platform that integrates AI, robotics, and real-time diagnostics to perform surgery with unparalleled precision, minimizing the need for human intervention.
“I’m so proud of you, baby!” Veronica jumps in my arms, pressing her plush lips to mine. “Baby, we’re going to be rich.”
“We’re all gonna be rich,” Burt chimes in.
I squeeze Veronica’s ass, grinding her against my eagerly growing hard-on. “And what do you plan on doing once I’m rich, baby girl?”
“Showing you how proud I am of you.” She grabs my cock through my jeans, and I buck my hips into her hand.
“Unless you’re willing to share again, you two need to get a room.”
I gaze over Veronica’s shoulder. “That was a one-time deal, buddy,” I remind Burt. There’s a slight crease in his brow. I’m no fool. I see the way he looks at my girl. Not a chance. I’m not one to share. Too much booze had me out of sorts the last time. Mark my words, it won’t happen again.
“While you’re writing up the contracts, let’s get our ducks in a row before we present our program.”
“Leave me to do all the dirty work while you get your dick wet, I see how it is.”
“Oh, I’m definitely gonna get that, my friend. But I’ll take care of submitting all the patent requests. Make sure everything is solid and copyrighted—”
“It’s fine. Enjoy yourself. I’ll take care of everything.”
“You sure?”
Burt smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. It could also be that he’s in love with my girlfriend. Because I can be an asshole, I stake my claim and grab Veronica’s ass, thrusting up. She purrs, throwing her head back, and I can practically hear the grinding of Burt’s jaw. He slams his bourbon back and discards the empty glass on the table.
“You two enjoy.” He gets up, grabs the copied notes from my ledger, and walks off.
I call after him. “We’re gonna be fucking rich. Put a smile on your face.” I grab my own glass and raise it to him. “Cheers to our future, brother.” I down my drink. His eyes flick to Veronica before he makes his exit. I grip Veronica’s ass cheeks and grind into her. “If I were a betting man, I’d say my best friend is in love with you.”
“And I would say that’s a real shame since all I want is your cock, baby.”
“Is that right?”
“I’d do anything for you, Jay. Fuck me, beat me, I don’t care. I’ll do whatever it takes to be yours always.”
“Hmmm… that sounds enticing. Why don’t we go back to my place and start with fucking. If you’re a good little girl, I’ll tie you up and turn your ass red.”
“You’re talking my true love language, baby. Let’s go. We have a lot to celebrate.”
The memory makes me sick. The months that transpired after. Years of friendship. Dedication and loyalty. Fucking gone.
“ Say something, you motherfucker.”
“You can’t have it all, Jackson.”
“Have it all? This was ours! Both of ours! You fucked me.”
“You’re just mad because I did it before you had a chance to do it to me.”
“I would never have fucked you over. We were partners.”
“Until you decided you wanted it all to yourself, just like everything else. I did what I had to do—”
“You motherfucker!” I lunge forward, grab the lapels of his shirt, and slam him against the wall. Then I bring my fist back and crush it into his nose. Blood spurts across my face, but I can’t stop. Punch after punch, the severity of what he’s done rings in my ears.
“You’re gonna retract those patents.”
“It’s too late—”
“Retract them!”
“Fuck you,” he gargles, spitting blood out of his mouth.
I shove off him, and he slides down the wall. Rage fogs my vision. My hands shake. “You’re fucking dead to me. And this is far from over. As you know, brother , no one crosses me.” I step back, spitting in his face. “You better hope you make enough money. It’s gonna take an army to stop me from my revenge.”
“Fuck!” I roar as the pieces fall into place. The system failure. The impossible back-to-back glitches…
“Sarah?” I call, and she scurries back into my office.
“Get me the contact info for Burt Hallstead. He’s over at Terra Blueprint Consulting.”
She nods and then exits without a word.
I lower my head, dragging my fingers through my hair. How could I have let this happen?
Because you were blinded—foolishly manipulated by the temptress the Hallsteads put in your path.
Rage and regret flood my veins, the force so overwhelming I grip the edge of the desk, trying to steady myself. Seeing her with the ledger shattered everything. She wasn’t supposed to betray me. My divine fruit, my perfect vision, was everything that brought me peace and happiness. Now, all that is tainted by the sting of betrayal.
I try to swallow the rage. It scorches its way down my throat, igniting a fire in my chest. What were once sparks of passion have erupted into a full-blown inferno. I trusted her. I fucking put my entire relationship with my son on the line for her.
My fists slam into the desk, my head dipping as I inhale a staggered breath. She fucking manipulated me, and I fell for it. The fury inside me coils tighter, twisting into something darker—something dangerous.
Sadness.
The things I was willing to sacrifice. All for her. Because she made me feel something I’ve never experienced. Lust, desire—those were expected. But it was more. It wasn’t just about having her or the sex. It was about owning her. Devouring her beauty in ways I haven’t in years. Her laugh. The way she pretended not to feel me watching her. The way her skin would pebble with arousal. Our talks. How fucking smart she is… the way her goals made me want to be a part of them.
She was a quiet storm—feisty yet shy, with a hidden sadness she kept locked inside, and all I wanted to do was protect her. And now, it’s all been thrown away.
I should have never touched her.
The intercom beeps. “Mr. Blake, I have Wayne on line two. The phone number you requested is in your email.”
“Thanks.” I pick up the receiver and press line two. “Wayne.”
“Morning, Mr. Blake. Your assistant told me it was urgent—”
“That field trip—did you find the surveillance?”
“Not yet. The files came up corrupted. Gary has IT trying to retrieve—”
“You said the kid looked out of place. I need you to describe him.”
“I’d have to think—”
“I need the security footage NOW. I’m pretty sure I know exactly who was there. I just need proof.”
“Sure. I’ll talk with Gary—”
“Make it your top priority today.”
There’s no doubt he hears the bite in my tone. “Of course. I’ll get working on it now.”
I hang up.
I open my email and pull up the contact information Sarah sent over. “Good afternoon, Terra Blueprint Consulting. How may I direct your call?”
“Jackson Blake for Burt Hallstead. I’m sure he’s expecting my call.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Blake. Mr. Hallstead is unavailable.”
“Bullshit, he is. Put him through.”
“I would, but he’s not in. He’s working remotely for some time now.”
“How fucking convenient.”
“I can take a—” I hang up. Figures he’s hiding. Cowardly piece of shit. I tap the edge of the mahogany wood, jaw tight, as I dial a number I’ve worked to scratch out of my memory. Sadly, not hard enough.
“Jackson? Wow, what a—” The sound of her voice sends a chill through my blood.
“Where’s Burt?”
“Hello to you too. God, it’s been years since I’ve heard your—”
“Cut the bullshit, Veronica. Where’s your husband? Or even better, your piece of shit son?”
Her theatrical gasp has me rolling my eyes. Veronica is all drama. My words don’t even phase her. She’s a coldhearted bitch and knows her son is a piece of shit. “Jackson, you haven’t called me in years, and this is how you speak—”
“You know why I haven’t. You’re a manipulative bitch.”
“You don’t mean that. You used to lo—”
“That wasn’t love, baby. That was regret. Thank God your true colors showed. You’ve always been conniving and money-hungry. You did me a favor by making yourself someone else’s problem.” It wasn’t until she left me for Burt that I realized Veronica had always been a predator, revealing her true nature when she discovered I wasn’t getting my share of the pie. “Tell your husband I know, and I’m coming for him.” I slam down the receiver.
“Chill, little lady. It’s fine,” Noah says to my assistant as he walks in.
Sarah rushes in behind him. “Sorry, Mr. Blake. I told him you were on an important call.”
“What’s with all the yelling?” Noah asks.
“None of your business. And if my assistant says I’m busy, don’t barge in—”
“Dude, calm down. I was coming to ask about Georgia. She wasn’t at lunch, and she’s not answering my texts. Did she not come in?”
My hands clench around the edge of my desk. “Noah, I don’t have time to worry—”
“Yeah, but if she still isn’t feeling good, someone should—”
I slam my fists against my desk. “Stop! I do not care. She’s a big girl and doesn’t need babysitters. Now, if you don’t mind, you can get the fuck out of my office!” My chest heaves. I feel like my heart is going to explode. Fuck. “Noah, I—”
“No. It’s cool, Dad. I’m out.”
“Noah, wait,” I say to his back. He doesn’t stop. My office door slams shut, and I close my eyes, bowing my head. “Fuck.”
Taking in a deep breath, I pick up the receiver and dial another number. “Stone.”
“Craig, I need a favor.”
He gets right to the point. “Shoot. Business or personal?”
“Both, actually. I need you to run a check on the Hallstead family. Burt, his wife Veronica, and their son Vince. Dig deep. I want financials, whereabouts, what they ate for fucking dinner.” I provide the new detailed information that Wayne provided with the warehouse system glitches and any potential connections that may be related to Hallstead.
“Got it. Anything else?”
“Yeah. I need you to look into someone else for me. Georgia Price. Find out anything you can on her. Also, has she been in contact with Vince Hallstead at all prior to a month ago? I need this five minutes ago.”
“I’m on it.”
We disconnect the call. If she’s been playing me this whole time, she’s going to wish she never stepped foot inside my bedroom. I will fucking destroy her.