Page 40 of Beast

I shouldn’t have let things get so intense last night. The way she begged for my cock, the way she surrendered to my domination—it was intoxicating.

But she’s a distraction I can’t afford. The reason I buy women in the first place is because I don’t have time for entanglements or relationships. I’m a busy man, with a multi-billion dollar company to run and rivals to outmaneuver.

Falling for someone has never been an option for me and yet here I am, obsessed with her. Blake is not like anyone I’ve ever met. Her defiance and steel are admirable in her position. I love how she challenges me it only makes me want her more.

Tossing the contract aside, I rub a hand across my face. There’s no use trying to work right now because all I can see if those blue eyes sparkling with defiance and desire. Somehow, I’ve got to get her out of my head.

That’s when I notice the time. The board meeting starts in five minutes. They can’t see me distracted so I’ve got to pull myself together.

With a deep breath, I stand and straighten my tie. Time to go put on a show. Even ahead of the board meeting, my mind wanders to Blake. I wonder what she’s doing. The desire to check the cameras has been clawing at me, but I disconnected them after she asked me to.

Straightening my shoulders, I stride into the boardroom. The shareholders are already seated around the long mahogany table, their gazes sharp and assessing while they track my entrance.

“Good morning, gentlemen,” I say briskly, taking my seat at the head of the table. “Shall we get started?”

The expressions on their faces are solemn. They mean business today. Ordinarily, these meetings are little more than a formality—a periodic update for the major shareholders before they go back to their golf games and mistresses. But today there’s an undercurrent of tension in the room. They’re out for blood.

Rodrigo speaks first, his reedy voice cutting through the heavy silence. “Perhaps you could start by explaining these rumors we’ve been hearing about a rather interesting new acquisition of yours.”

I keep my face impassive, betraying none of the irritation I feel at his probing. The only way they could know about me buying Blake is if Pablo tipped them off.

“I’m a collector of rare, beautiful things,” I reply smoothly. “Surely the nature of my personal acquisitions is no business of this board.”

“It is when it impacts the value of our shares,” snaps Eduardo, his meaty fist thudding the table. “Your illegal indiscretions reflect poorly on all of us.”

Leaning back in my chair, I regard all of them individually before speaking. “Then let’s discuss business, shall we? Profits are up 22% this quarter...”

The facts and figures roll effortlessly off my tongue, but my thoughts keep straying back to Blake. Is she thinking of me right now, as I am of her? Does she feel the same magnetic pull and addictive thrill?

Once I’ve finished giving them the numbers, I wait for their response.

Rodrigo shakes his head. “Your focus seems to have strayed from the company lately, and there are concerns about where your priorities lie.”

My focus has only strayed for a couple of weeks after spending most my life laser focused on this fucking company. They’re vultures eager to exploit any perceived weakness. I built QuantumTech Solutions from the ground up.

“I can assure you, my priority is, and will always be, the success of this company,” I reply evenly. “I founded this empire through blood, sweat and sacrifice. No one wants to see it prosper more than I do.”

Eduardo scoffs. “Yet your attentions appear divided and you are being sloppy in your personal life.”

Michael clears his throat. “While no one can prove you purchased a woman and supported illegal trafficking, the rumors don’t help matters.”

I’ve been doing so for years and no one has batted an eyelid. Pablo is behind the rumors, that I’m certain of. “And who exactly is spreading these rumors?”

Carlos clears his throat. “That’s not important. Even if they aren’t true, the weight rumors have is surprising.”

I shake my head. “You’re all listening to a criminal spreading rumors about me because he simply wants to shake our company down for real estate he desires,” I state.

They bristle a little at that.

“It would be wise not to listen to gossip especially when it can be unfounded and untrue.”

Instantly, the tension in the air shifts. My denial about involvement in trafficking has appeased them a little, even though it’s a lie.

Rodrigo nods. “Fine, but what assurances can you give us that your extracurricular activities won’t become a distraction? We all saw you with that woman at the gala and she’s different from the other women you parade around.”

Fuck.

Am I that obvious with my infatuation?

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