“No more than regular alcohol is just that, a poison.”
He drinks anyway, then coughs into his palm. “Long story short, the business is mine. I already have some partners who are ready to hit the ground running on a revamp and new lines of–”
“What partners?” I ask.
He shrugs. “Just business people, ones with good reputations.”
His glancing insult is amusing. “Anyone in business with a good reputation is absolute shit at business.”
“I don’t need any double talk from you. Just hand over my sister and agree to cut ties with the business, and we’ll be fine.”
“Why the interest in Vivian? You didn’t seem to care that she was locked away at boarding school for years on end.”
His eyes widen. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I think I do. I think now that there’s a large inheritance at play–and I’m well aware they left her the lion’s share of the money based on your many, many bad habits and untrustworthy behavior–you want to keep her close to you until she comes of age.”
“Let’s get one thing straight, asshole. I love my sister. Maybe I wasn’t there for her when Mom and Dad put their lives ahead of ours, but I can be there for her now. She shouldn’t be locked away anywhere–not at that school and not here with you prowling after her.”
He’s right about one thing: I’m definitely prowling after his sister. How could I not? She speaks to me on an instinctual level. I want to protect her, but I also want to hold her in my hands, her body and soul in my possession.
“I’m afraid you’ve wasted your time coming here today, Charles.” I stand and let out a sharp whistle.
The door opens, and Vinny steps inside. “Mr. Shelby, right this way.”
Charles glances at Vinny, who’s almost as tall as I am and built like a particularly angry linebacker. “You don’t want to do this, Griffin. My partners aren’t the kind of people who take kindly to insults or refusals.”
“I thought you said they were good people?” I’m going to have to get in touch with some of my contacts to find out who exactly has Charles by the balls.
“They’re better than you. Let’s just leave it at that.”
“That’s not saying much, now is it?” I smirk.
“At least let me take Vivian.” He puts his glass on my desk. “I’d be doing you a favor taking her off your hands.”
“No. Vivian stays with me.” I flick my gaze to Vinny.
He takes Charles by the elbow and pulls him from the room.
“You can’t do this!” Charles yells as Vinny shoves him through the foyer and out the front door.
A few of my guards reach for their weapons.
“No. He’s harmless. Stand down.” Is he, though? I think to an extent, Charles is impotent and certainly doesn’t have a leg to stand on regarding the business, but if he’s gone and gotten himself mixed up with the wrong sort of people–this could get messy. I send a message to Linn, my secretary, to put a few feelers out. She’ll know who to contact, who owes me favors.
I turn and stride down the hall to the kitchen.
Vivian’s already looking up when I walk in. “Was that Charles? It sounded like Charles.”
“He stopped by for a chat, but he had to be on his way.” I smile. It’s not a lie, but it’s not quite the truth either.
“Oh, I wish he would’ve come to say hello.” She grabs a spatula and flips a pancake.
“Those smell amazing.” I sit at the bar as Mrs. Putnam comes out of the pantry with syrup.
“She chose the recipe herself.” She gives me an eyebrow waggle, as if to say You better like them or else.
“If that’s the case, I’m ready to dive in.” I watch Vivian, her body perfectly curving in those goddamn adorable kitten pajamas of hers. It’s like she chose the one thing that would make my cock harder than stone. I adjust myself as I watch her cook. “They'll be done shortly. I hope you like them.”