Page 10 of Emergence and Ascendance

He studied the images but his expression was impassive. "It's beautiful, damn sure has a lot of potential, but Dad is going to have a lot of fucking questions when he finds out you're developing outside of the Whitney legacy."

"I don't care. I'm using my own money. The inheritance Mom left wasn't tied to the family business for a reason. She wanted me to have options."

And independence…

Our mother had been my greatest advocate. The only one who truly understood my need to have a voice in this stupid ass, male-dominated Whitney dynasty. The money she left me was my guarantee of having something that could genuinely be mine.

"I’m not worried about your father.” I cut my eyes at Alex who grinned because my sarcasm was loud as hell.

“This property is different. I don’t wantjustanother Whitney Hotel or development with our name slapped on the side."

Alex grunted. The Whitney properties were a hell of a lot more than just hotels with our name slapped on the side but I was being dramatic.

"You know I support whatever you want to do, Scot. I always have, but you're walking into some bullshit. Not just with our father but with Devereaux."

The mention of Christian had my attention more than the mention of our father.

"I’m assuming you did the research I asked for?"

"Yeah, I did. There was no fucking way I was letting you do this without knowing all the moving pieces." He reached down and pulled a folder from his briefcase and I smiled. Alex was old school, just like our father, but it didn't annoy me the way it did withthat man. "Christian Devereaux. Thirty-eight yearsold. Comes from a powerful local family in Crescent Falls with questionable business interests throughout the south."

"Define business interests." I reached for the folder.

"Legitimate ones like upscale hotels, nightclubs, and a casino resort. All of them have been acquired within the last five years which is interesting. He’s invested a lot of money branding his family name in specific lanes. There are also rumors of other things." Alex's expression turned serious.

"Like what?"

"Their family is deeply connected, politically and with some shit you don’t need to be attached to. I’m really not feeling this."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning you're walking into his territory and taking something he clearly wants. Their family has a reputation because they’re connected to a group called The Collective."

"Which is?"

I could tell from the look he delivered that I wouldn't like what he was about to tell me.

"It's a network of influential Black families who have pull. Legal andillegal. The Devereauxs are in deep. On the surface, they push political affiliations that support Black politics, but they're really just criminals."

I flipped through the file, studying the images of Christian. He was sexy as hell with eyes the color of brown liquor that looked good against his caramel skin. In some of his pictures, his beard had some hang time, which was my weakness, and the barely there smirk had my stomach tensing a little. His file said thirty-eight but I could easily give him late twenties, maybe early thirties at most. But his eyes held the experience of someone who had been through things.

"Interesting," I mumbled, while my focus shifted to another image of him at what looked like a charity event. Shit…this man was fine as hell. "But it doesn't change anything."

"And you're also using Scot Whitney on all the paperwork. He probably thinks he's dealing with a man which means he's likely thinking by any means necessary."

I smiled. "That's his problem, not mine. I can handle myself and since when do you have a problem with me being ambiguous about my gender? You’re the one that told me it's useful in negotiations. People are more straightforward when they think they're dealing with a man instead of a woman."

"Yeah, I said all that, and normally that's true, but this is different, Scot. I won’t be there. You’re doing this solo. When he finds out…"

"By the time he finds out, it will be too late for him to do anything about it and bullying a woman, even in business negotiations, won’t work in his favor." I closed the file and handed it back to him. "I'm not worried about Christian."

Based on the look Alex gave me, he didn't seem convinced.

"You should be. He's not like the developers you've dealt with and outmaneuvered before. The Devereauxs are a different beast, Scot. They're fucking criminals."

"I didn't get where I am by backing down when things get complicated and I’mnota criminal which also works in my favor."

"Don’t get too cocky. You got where you are by being more strategic and patient than everyone else. He wins by playing by a different set of rules or by any means necessary. You can’t compete with that. Just be careful with this one, please."

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