Page 70 of Kneel with the King
The King’s Gambit
Asher
The lounge is too warm.Or maybe I’m just overheating. Either way, I loosen my collar as I walk through the dim, wood-paneled space, scanning for Walter. The sweater I’m wearing smells like forest and cinnamon, making it impossible to stop thinking about the man who gave it to me.
I spot Walter near the fireplace, legs crossed, coffee mug in hand, looking perfectly at ease.
He stands when he sees me. “Asher,” he says with a bright, polished smile. “Good to see you.”
We shake hands, and I smile back—using my rehearsed business smile. “Thanks for making the time.”
“Of course. I always appreciate a face-to-face,” Walter says, gesturing for me to sit across from him. “Especially with someone whose brain I’ve been admiring from afar.”
I sit down, shifting slightly in the overstuffed leather chair. “Flattery gets you everywhere,” I reply, laughing lightly.
He laughs too, and I pretend to relax. A server appears, and I order a double espresso.
“I hope you’re enjoying yourself here,” he says, leaning back. “This retreat certainly has charm. And don’t get me wrong, I washonored to be asked to host it. But all these therapeutic exercises are starting to feel like a fucking cult, you know?”
I chuckle. “Yeah, the cold plunge nearly killed me. Literally. But don’t worry, I’m having a good time.”
“That’s great to hear. I’ve been wanting to do something like this for years, and it was Jacques who encouraged me to do this one.”
We chat some more about surface-level things: market trends, portfolio shifts, his distaste for crypto volatility. Being a self-made multimillionaire investor means that he knows a lot about the business side of things. We actually have a lot to talk about, and it comes naturally. It’s going well. I think. I nod along, contribute when I can, and wait for an opening.
Then, just as the server delivers my espresso, Walter leans forward and chuckles. “You know, I just found out this morning. About Ambrose.”
I still. “What about him?”
Walter raises his brows. “The acquisition. You must be scrambling.”
My pulse skips. “What acquisition?”
Walter tilts his head. “King & Rowe. They’re acquiring Fuse Financial Group.” He lifts his glass toward me. “Your firm.”
I forget how to swallow.
Walter pauses, suddenly wary. “You… knew that, right?” My mouth opens, but nothing comes out. Walter leans forward, lowering his voice slightly. “I got an update from my team at six a.m. this morning via my executive assistant calling the front desk. A holding company linked to King & Rowe filed paperwork to acquire Fuse. Quietly, but officially. It’s not public yet. But I figured out of all people, you knew.”
I hear the words. I just can’t comprehend them.
That fucking asshole.
Think, Asher,think. I shake my head slowly, eyes unfocused. My throat burns like I’ve swallowed smoke. The room spins.
Walter’s brows pinch together. “Asher… are you okay?”
I nod quickly, shaking off my rising fury. “Yes, sorry. Bit hungover today. Of course I knew about the acquisition.”
Walter smiles, easy and relieved. “Can you imagine if he kept it from you? Trouble in paradise.”
I laugh. “Right. Imagine.”
“So, I suppose that makes my job easier. And the reason for our meeting a little less convoluted.”
“I suppose so.” I rub my mouth, trying to disguise my shaking hand.
“If your firms merge, I can work with both of you,” he adds, clarifying. “Even so, it’s nice to catch up and chat, man to man.”
