Page 44 of King
Chapter Seventeen
ALANA
It’sbeendayssinceI’ve seen Dylan. I’ve avoided him at all costs. If he knocks on my door, I refuse to see him. I can’t deal with him and do what I need to do to save mine and Amelia’s lives.
Emilio has set up the meeting for tonight. While he insists I bring Dylan, it isn’t possible. He doesn’t trust me enough to do this and I know he’ll try to stop me.
Sitting on the bed with my laptop in my lap, I’ve been trying to distract myself with work. Looking at the time passing on the clock is only making my anxiety worse. So, I’ve been working hard for the past hour getting some of the words of my story on paper.
“I only need a few more months, Florian. Please.” The begging starts as soon as Alrick shuts the door behind him. It annoys me, but I expect it. It always happens. “And I will have your money.”
“Plus, interest?” I arched my brow, and he looks away.
Of course, he wouldn’t. He’s drowning in debt, and when I take over Williamson Holdings, I will acquire all his other debts, too. Nothing I couldn’t manage, but the promises Arthur made he couldn’t deliver. Arthur’s business hasn’t been producing for years and the man loves to gamble. A lot. Now everything has caught up with him. I knew it was just a matter of time before he came to me. I thought he’d come sooner than he did. All Olan’s friends have. Either they were saved by my hand or destroyed.
Although this was the usual tactic when it was time for payment, it coming from him was different. Arthur wasn’t himself. Huge dull dark eyes highlighted by dark circles emphasized the ashen skin of his sunken face.
Maybe he was sick?
Not your concern Florian.
I liked Arthur. Although I didn’t know him all that well, he seemed fair. I never understood the connection between him and Olan or how they became friends. His reputation as an upstanding businessman preceded him. But if I take pity on him, I have to take pity on everyone I reminded myself.
“Arthur, the terms of our agreement haven’t changed,” I rubbed my temples, the pounding in my head increasing, “unless you have payment plus interest, today. Do you?”
Of course, he didn’t have payment. Rarely do any of them. However, Arthur looked like a broken man. Like he’d lost everything. But his loss wasn’t my concern. He understood the deal when he came begging for my money. They all do. He agreed to the terms when he signed his name on the dotted line after I gave him out after out. Now he has to live with the consequences.
“I understand the terms of our agreement, Florian. But I’m out of options here. I need the money for Arabelle.”
Arabelle.
My cock twitched at the sound of her name, and I adjusted in my seat to get more comfortable. Even her name strikes something deep within me. Something primal.
Arabelle Williamson, better known as my obsession. The most beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on. She performed ‘Giselle, ou les Wilis’ the first time I saw her, I knew she had to be mine. The beast in me wanted to strip her bare and have her screaming my name until she couldn’t scream any longer. Her body slick and limp under me. But Florian, the sane side of me, stayed away to keep from ruining her, destroying her with my demons.
But I wouldn’t be distracted by my obsession with her. Arthur just lied. He didn’t need the money for Arabelle. She had her own and kept him and his other children afloat as her career soared. What he needed the money for really didn’t matter to me, but Arabelle didn’t need it.
“She will be named principal dancer soon Florian,” he continued, “and with that title comes money,”
The excitement gleaming in his eyes at the prospect of the money Arabelle would garner being named principal dancer, caused my stomach to lurch. And at that moment, I understood why Arthur and Olan got along so well. He’d use her just as Olan uses all his children no matter the costs.
His smile dropped when I narrowed my eyes.
“So, you would use your daughter, your flesh and blood to repay your debts?” My temper and disgust rose. He’d make her work twice as hard, so he no longer owed money. “They are your debts to pay not hers.”
“I’m not using her.” His chin lifted defiantly and crossed his arms over his chest. He knew I was right but refused to acknowledge it. “She’s a good girl. She will do what is necessary to help her family. To help me.”
Like always.
I sat back in my chair, interlacing my fingers, and eyeing the man who’s now lost what little respect I held for him. “Arabelle doesn’t need to work harder than she already is, Arthur.”
Hugo, one of my soldiers follows her whenever I’m not in New York and sends me a report every weekend detailing her movements. She practices, performs, attends the required parties for the dancers after the shows, and fulfills her obligation to photoshoots. That’s it. She has no life outside of dance and Arthur would put more strain on her to pay his debts. Other than dance she had no contact with anyone except her attorney Dale Austin.
“You know nothing about my daughter Florian,” he growled. “She will do what is necessary for her family. She isn’t your concern.”
She will always be my concern.
Repulsed at the thought of her working harder than what she already is I shook my head. However, this could be my chance to have the only thing I ever wanted–her.
