Chapter 13
“I want to buy you out,” he declares.
His words ricochet in my head, echoing minutes after those damning words fell from his perfectly, poised lips. I tilt my head to the side, hoping to shake the budding intrusive thoughts from my mind.
“You want to buy me out. Why?” I ask, curiosity pulling in favor instead of murder.
Who am I kidding? Murder is still on the table.
He pulls his feet from the table, leaning forward to match my pose. “I want to take your business and make it better.”
“Are you saying I’m not running my business properly?” I bristle, ready to end this meeting before it even started.
He lifts his ivory-toned hand, waving my comment away. “No, that’s not an insult to what you have accomplished thus far, but numbers don’t lie. Your business has been at a stalemate. The last few years on public record have shown as much.”
I incline my head in confirmation, allowing him to continue with his proposition.
“I can make the necessary changes to bring in more revenue, more customers, and more products. Unfortunately, it means rebranding. Out with the old, in with the new,” he reasons.
Tipping my drink towards my mouth, the burn from the whiskey comforts me as I consider his plan. His approach is bold, making me believe he is truly invested in my business. I suck in a sharp breath through my teeth, ready to see how far he’ll take this arrangement.
“I want to be involved in any changes. I still own the club,” I droll.
Nodding his head, he reclines back into the leather seat. “Temporarily. I accept your request. Once you sign the deed you’ll fade into the background, but will still know the changes being made.”
“And what is your offer?” I ask, needing to know how far he will go to get what he wants.
He shifts in his seat, spreading his legs wider. “There isn’t a price that I’m not willing to pay,” he counters.
Smirking, I let his words simmer as I pull my phone from my suit pocket. My thumb scrolls until I reach Mae’s name, mon papillon. I swiftly press the green call icon while he watches me with keen attention, perhaps he finds my silence unsettling. The phone rings three times before her delectable, southern twang reaches my ears.
“Hello, Atticus,” she answers sweetly.
I revel in knowing that bringing my little butterfly to her ridiculous warehouse was indeed the right move. The sound of soldering, clanging tools, and Mae’s bated breath have my cock stiffening. It’s been two weeks too long since I’ve had her.
“Mon papillon, I need you to come to the club,” I drawl, setting my plans into motion. “Mr. Kudo has offered me a deal, and what kind of husband would I be if I didn’t include you?”
Ren’s jaw ticks at my mention of including her.
Interesting.
Mae clears her throat quietly, “Of course. I just need to shut down shop and clean myself up–”
Growling, I cut her off. “No. Shut down and come straight here. Ten minutes, Mae.”
Hanging up before she can find a rebuttal, I raise an eyebrow. “You understand, of course. Mae is part of this business.”
His dark brows furrow contemplatively before he waves his hand again. “Very well. We can discuss this further once she arrives,” he concedes.
Gravel crunches outside of the office window followed by footsteps tapping along the asphalt, announcing my butterfly’s arrival. Ren’s body tenses, like an animal ready to hunt his prey. Little does he know how right his instincts will be.
Everything comes at a price and Ren Kudo will pay mine.