Page 13 of Degrading Her

“Right. Ranchers.”

Hatchcom Focus used its own terminology. At the Feldman Farm, we called our men hunters and ranchers; at Hatchcom Focus, they called their men assets. We called our targets ‘livestock orders,’ and they called theirs ‘hits.’ They paid their assets on a contractual basis, always considering them disposable, knowing that they could be replaced with the right offeroreliminated. This gave Roth an advantage in some ways; Hatchcom Focus had grown at a much faster rate than the Feldman Farm.

But it also meant that they were always in the midst of a potential mutiny. We already had a few contacts within their ranks, ready to switch sides.

Across the room, Fiona’s third glass of champagnedangled from her hand. She was close to the dance floor, a friend trying to get her to join in.

In the end, Fiona was disposable. But Roth’s company was valuable to me.

“We’d like to buy Hatchcom Focus,” I said. This was generous of us, thefriendlyway to do business. “With Hatchcom Focus as a subsidiary business of the Feldman Farm, we’ll be unstoppable.”

“How much are you offering?”

“Fifty million.”

A smile crossed Roth’s face. It was overpriced, but knowing Roth, he wouldn’t give up Hatchcom Focus readily. But I wanted to end thisnow.The more of his employees were mine, the better.

Otherwise, we’d have to resort to violent measures.

“I’ll have to consider it. Unless, of course, we could make Feldman Farm a subsidiary of Hatchcom Focus instead.” He patted me on the back. “Buy it out from under you.”

That would never happen.

“Perhaps we’ll consider,” I said.

Fiona was finally yanked onto the dance floor, where someone awkwardly bumped into her hip, causing her to spill the last sip of her drink. Fiona reddened, but swayed her hips the tiniest amount, trying to push away her worries. It was amusing to see her letting go for once.

“Who is she?” Roth asked.

“Family,” I said. He didn’t need the details.

“We must protect our family.”

I glared at him, knowing those words were chosen for a reason. I gritted my jaw. “I’m sure you would do the same for yours,” I said.

“My wife left me recently. Found a new job,” he said.This confirmed my information. “We’re separated.” His eyes fell. “It’s been hard.”

“My condolences.” It was hard for me to sympathize, as I had never had any interest in a wife or a family in the past. Regardless, Roth’s reaction was likely an act. A way to pretend to be normal, when he didn’t care about his wife any more than I cared about Fiona.

I shook his hand again. “If that offer doesn’t suit you, let me know, and I’ll see what I can do. We’re very interested in your company.”

“Thank you, sir,” he said.

I gave my men instructions to keep an eye on Roth. Soon, the married couple returned to bid their goodbyes, and I followed the meandering crowd out of the ballroom, my eyes glued to Fiona’s chestnut hair.

“You want us to take care of her, boss?” one of my ranchers said.

I gave a clipped shake of my head. Though I trusted my men with my life, when it came to Fiona, I had an entirely different agenda, one that I trusted only to myself.

“I’ll take it from here,” I said.

A valet brought Fiona’s car to the drop-off point. I dialed a cab company, then stepped in front of her.

“Park to the side,” I said to the valet.

“Excuse me?” Fiona said.

The valet shut the door and parked out of the way.

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