Page 47 of Forever Fake

“A fake wedding,” I remind her.

“Fake relationship,” she points out. “The wedding will be real.”

“Good point.”

CHAPTER 21

Blake

“Mr. Zaleski’s busy at the moment, but he’ll see you as soon as he can.” The receptionist points to the seats against the far wall. “You can wait there, Mr. Baron. I’ll let him know you’ve arrived.” She recoils under my glower.

I’m not used to being keptwaiting,especially when I have an appointment with a client. Mr. Zaleski knows who I am, is he playing games? Testing the waters? I desperately need his prime slice of Manhattan property. If this was any other deal or potential client, I’d leave and make a new appointment after being sure he understands that I don’t like to be kept waiting—for anyone. For any reason.

A couple of minutes tick by as I lean against a wall, my gaze locked on his office door. My scowl deepens when that door finally opens and none other thanEion fucking Baneemerges.

We’re the same age. We went to the same university, where I graduated at the top of my class by a single point over him. To say our rivalry in college was ruthless would be an understatement. It was made worse by two of his brothers, Alistair who was two years ahead of us, and Malachy a year behind. It was Roman and me against the Bane brothers.

Now that we’re adults it’s a different type of war we wage. I’ve tried to take down their entire family, but they’re one of the few untouchable empires. Plus, Roman and I agree that one of the younger Banes, Niall, is an okay fellow. So, we have a sort of truce with him.

“Baron,” Eion Bane drawls as he approaches. His light brown hair is as perfectly styled as his tailored suit. I hate that his family and I use the same tailor. Can’t the Banes find their own people to patronize?

“Bane, what an unpleasant surprise.” I straighten to my full height, coming eye-to-eye with Eion. “I heard we were after the same slice of real estate.”

“You might be after it, I’ve got it in the bag.” His smile pisses me off.

“I wouldn’t be so confident if I were you.” The stakes are high for me, and Eion will undoubtedly underestimate the lengths I’m willing to go to in order for my brother to inherit. He’s always underestimated me, that’s how I graduated top of my class and he didn’t.

He steps around me. “This one I am confident about because there’s no other option. Mr. Zaleski will be selling to me. That’s a fact.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Bane. He hasn’t heard my offer yet.” I bare my teeth at him—it’s not a smile—and head toward Zaleski’s office.

Not only did this fucker keep me waiting, but he was entertaining Eion Bane while he did it. Two strikes against him. If this were any other deal, I’d walk away.

I inhale a deep breath and square my shoulders before tugging the door open. I need to be calm. Killing Zaleski’s a bad idea, or at least a counterproductive one. But he’s not making a very good first impression and I haven’t even met him yet.

The office is as sterile as the reception area. A large glass desk positioned near the floor to ceiling windows dominates the space, two chairs in front of it, a bar cart to one side. On the opposite wall is a seating area with a sleek, modern sofa and coffee table. This room screamsI have no personality, just a lot of money.

“Mr. Baron, pleased to meet you.” The man who approaches me is in his late twenties with short black hair and gullible green eyes. He’s an open book dressed in a business suit.

Prey.

No wonder Eion’s so confident he has this deal in the bag. I nearly laugh out loud.

Instead, I shake Mr. Zaleski’s hand and drop into one of the two chairs opposite him. “Whatever Eion Bane’s offering you, I’ll double it.” It’s a ridiculous opening offer, but I prefer to get this over with as soon as possible.

Zaleski’s eyes bulge. He recovers quickly enough from the shock and runs a hand through his hair. “I appreciate the offer.”

But…

“But it’s not only about the money,” he continues. “I’m in charge of my family’s rather large estate and we don’t sell our land on a whim. I need to know your development plans, and they need to be written into the contract, if I decide to sell to you.”

“I see.” I don’t see. What my company decides to do with the land is our business. Apparently he doesn’t see it that way. Isn’t thatspecial?

In one sweeping glance, I size him up. He’s young and out to prove himself as a responsible businessman. He’s also going to be a pain in the ass. Clients like him have to be wined and dined, they enjoy theget to know each otherphase, then there’s always more than the price of the sale. There’s extra little favors andsometimes a mutually beneficial ongoing relationship—but not always.

Sometimes they have an accident. Oops.

This is why Liam needs to step in and take over Titan Enterprises after graduation. I don’t have the patience for this shit. I was never meant to make business deals in a boardroom.

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