Page 100 of Sacrifice (Corrupt Empire 2)

Chapter Seventeen

Avery

I’d been looking forward to my first official day as the owner of Daniels Holdings before the weekend, but after I’d been kidnapped and returned, nothing felt the same.

John was sat on the sofas by the coffee table, fiddling with a tablet whilst keeping an eye on the door. I didn’t much mind having him in here. My uncle had left not long ago after he’d seen for himself I was back safely. He’d been pleased I’d accepted I needed protection.

Ed was starting today. After I’d spoken to him on Friday, he was eager to get stuck in. I wasn’t sure what he’d been doing before, but he’d dropped his other job at the drop of a hat. I was glad I didn’t have to wait to have him start. Having someone I didn’t hate would make me feel less alone here. He’d be up later when he’d gone through some paperwork with HR.

I sat back in my chair and stared at my computer screen. There were too many emails I had to deal with and I just couldn’t think straight. Last night had been weird. The whole weekend had been a bit of a nightmare, but it was what I said to Aiden which bothered me the most. He hadn’t said anything. Did he think I wanted more from our relationship? Was he freaking out?

I sighed. I had no idea.

“That’s a big sigh. Everything okay?”

I looked up, finding John giving me a smile. He’d put his tablet down.

“Yeah, I’m just tired.”

Liar. You’re worried about you and Aiden, Rick and everything else in between.

“You had a tough weekend.”

That was stating the obvious. No one wanted to get knocked out by whatever drugs they’d given me for an entire day. Then be shown a bunch of horrifying videos which proved just how sick their family was.

I rubbed my forehead. I’d explained to John what happened on the way to work like Aiden asked me to. I hadn’t asked him if he knew Rick or had met him. I was curious about the man but not enough to pry just yet. Didn’t think Aiden would want me to considering he told me not to worry about Rick.

“You can say that again. Are you sure you’re okay with this whole protection gig? I can get my uncle to pick someone else.”

“I don’t mind sitting in the office all day if it means you’re safe. Better than some of the things Chuck gets me to do.”

“Speaking of my uncle, he keeps hinting at the company throwing me some kind of joint congratulations on the new job and birthday party. Has he actually arranged something?”

John smiled at me again.

“My lips are sealed.”

“That means he has. Wonderful. Just what I wanted. No doubt he’s invited all our clients.”

Clients of both sides of the business. I didn’t want to see any of those men. Not after I’d witnessed their sick fetishes and abuse of women.

“I can send you the memo which went out if you want.”

“So you do know about it.”

“He’s put me in charge of security for the event.”

I put my head on the desk, groaning. I didn’t want a stupid birthday party thrown for me. Turning twenty one didn’t mean much to me. I hadn’t even spoken to Aiden about it.

“Is it really that bad?”

“You have been to a company event before, right? Boring small talk and being the centre of attention does not fill me with enthusiasm.”

I heard a chuckle from his direction. Glad he found it funny. Becoming the face of Daniels Holdings was not my idea of fun or a good time. It had been hell, especially with the controversy surrounding my parents’ deaths. We’d had countless requests for interviews, magazines wanting a tell-all. I’d told our media department to tell them all politely to fuck off. No interviews. No exclusives. Nothing. I was not a fucking circus performer.

There was a commotion outside my door and it was flung open, the slam against the wall ringing in my ears.

“Sir, excuse me, sir, you can’t go in there,” I heard my new secretary, Saskia, saying as I raised my head off the desk.

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