He raised his glass of scotch to his lips and drank slowly. Its warmth slid down his throat and heated his core like a rapidly spreading fire. It was times similar this, sitting in the shadows of his five-thousand-square-foot suite that he felt almost free, a condition he knew was coming soon but not soon enough. He felt as though he’d been living in a prison for a long time, locked up under the thumb of his family, his father, and he was never quite good enough. Well, things were about to change. He’d show them; had shown them, in fact, but they were in for more surprises, the biggest yet to come.
It was because of certain people in his life that his movements were now restricted. It made him smile that to his way of thinking he was limited. He had access to anywhere in the world, but he was going to have to be a tad more careful. He didn’t want to be noticed by certain people, not yet. His plans for the future were at stake. He’d worked hard to get where he was at. Stepping on and over people was part of business. Those who didn’t or hadn’t learned it would never be where he was.
The business he’d built into an empire hadn’t happened because he’d been polite. In fact, he’d done it at his family’s expense. There were hard feelings as he had gone against the fiber of their morals, but he wasn’t in this to play nice. His family was why he had to change tactics... change course.
He refused to acknowledge this slight setback as anything more than a bump in the road. It always happened in business dealings. However, things were going to get better. He had the solution; the newspaper clipping he held in his hand had been the answer to his prayers.
He’d been there for the delivery. He’d been the doting grandfather figure that had disappeared before anyone could ask too many questions. The baby had been the answer to his prayers. Since he never trusted fate, faith, or God, he knew how to manipulate events in his favor—at least they would be eventually. The sight of that child being born had been the most incredible thing he’d ever witnessed. He’d always wanted a son... a boy. And now he had one that he would soon groom to be his proper heir. The child would do all he had not been able to, all under his watchful and direct guidance.
It felt so good that he couldn’t help but laugh. The sound was a bit rusty even to his ears. He’d not had much to smile about in his life, but all that was going to change and soon.
The thought of being able to pass on all he’d learned, to be able to mold and create someone in the image of himself, was almost overwhelming, even for him. It meant he would live on in infamy as he would teach the boy to do as he had done... only better.
Tarin came to mind. She hadn’t been what he’d wanted or expected but he’d made do. When he hadn’t been given what he’d wanted in life, he’d learned to make them happen. What made him smile and would undoubtedly piss her off to no end was she had no idea what she had done for him. He was pretty sure she had questions; not that he really cared, because she’d been a means to an end. He was pretty sure she hated him, but if by chance she didn’t, she would soon.
Parting with her son would be difficult for her but that wasn’t his problem. He wasn’t letting anyone get in the way of his plan. The boy was his and always would be, no matter what. Someday, she’d come to understand, even if he had to get a little firm with her.
He downed the rest of his drink and set it on the crystal tray on the mahogany table before pushing to his feet. He brushed off a piece of imaginary lint from his Italian silk suit before staring out the wall of picture windows that provided a clear, unhindered view of the city. To be sure, it was not the one he wanted to live in but had to until he was able to put his plan in place. Once he had the boy, he’d have to find a reclusive spot for a while but he was prepared for that. In fact, he’d be moving much closer to where it had all started for him.
He just needed his heir. Waiting even one more day was almost asking too much but he would. All the books said that early childhood was the most impressionable stage, so he wouldn’t wait much longer. It was definitely time to take his son. He wasn’t about to compromise on what he wanted, what was rightfully his, not for anything or anybody—even if they were family.
He picked up the phone and made the call he’d patiently been waiting to make for a long time.
“He’s two now. I want the boy.”
“I thought you wanted to wait until he was at least two-and-a-half?”
“Things change.”
“Yes, but we have an agreement,” Stephen’s voice trembled ever so slightly as he responded.
That sound of his sniveling was such a sweet balm; the guy still feared him, which was exactly what he wanted. It made it easier to keep him in line. “Oh, I get it. You’re worried that you won’t be paid for the next five months.”
“Well—”
“Nothing’s changed, except I’m taking him a little early.”
“Give me another week or two? And then you can have him.”
“I’ll meet you on Monday at the Calgary Zoo. That should be a good place to start our bonding. Make sure she doesn’t come with you.”
“That’s not going to be easy.”
“I don’t care. Get me the boy. I’ll be there Monday to collect him.”
“And the fee is now twenty million dollars.”
“Really, you think you can blackmail me?”
“Well, I’ve been following your orders for years. I’ve done my job—”
“—and been paid handsomely for it. I will pay the original final payment of three million dollars, plus the five months we originally agreed on, plus the exorbitant living allowance and not a penny more. Don’t screw me on this. If you need to know what I do to people who cross me—”
“Forget it. Fine. I’ll have the child there three weeks Saturday. I have my promotion party next Friday. I need her to attend with me.”
So he thinks he has a say. How cute. He was about to argue when he realized he still had some unfinished family business. It would be better if the boy wasn’t with him when he dealt with that but he wasn’t going to let this asshole think he had that much power.
“Fine. Two weeks from Saturday and not a day late.”
He hung up, relieved this was finally going to be over. He could move forward with his plans. Everything would work out the way he wanted it to. Family would pay and he’d have his son.