I glanced at Sam after finishing it. He must be gloating, although often bad reviews helped sales to soar. I could only imagine what Xander was thinking right about now mostly given the author of the review.

  Onto the editorial. By the third paragraph, my mouth had dropped open. The man was accusing the Blackwell brothers and the people on the board of several horrific crimes including racketeering. Really? For what purpose? They weren’t members of organized crime and they certainly didn’t need to launder money. My God, Dorn was an idiot and the libel accusations would ruin his career. Blackwell had a kick-ass attorney.

  “What is the bozo trying to do?” I asked, although I was just thinking out loud.

  “Keep reading.”

  After a handful of other accusations, Dorn quoted several sources while obtaining his information. Some I knew. Some I didn’t.

  Then my eyes glazed over the mention of my name. What the hell? I pulled back, blinking a couple of times, forcing myself to read it again. And again. All the while, I was certain I was going to throw up.

  “According to Jessica Waldrop, currently top designer with Sindom Entertainment, a direct competitor of the Blackwell Group, once the merger between Sindom and what was thought to be the defunct Merrick Corporation goes through, the newly formed and cash-infused company will easily be able to rival Blackwell, even beating them at their own game. As she stated, the acquisition couldn’t come at a better time.”

  Holy fuck. What the hell? There was more.

  “However, upon further investigation on my own, I’ve learned Ms. Waldrop, while accepting the position of vice president of creations with Sindom, has also been vying for a highly coveted executive position with Blackwell. I must admit her game-playing skills are obviously better than my own. I wonder which side she’ll land on or if she hopes to build a following of her own.”

  The fucking son of a bitch was playing me by pitting me against both companies. “Sam. This is bullshit.”

  He sighed but said nothing.

  “I had an incident with this man the other night and he’s pissed. I said nothing to him. I wished I’d had him arrested for what he did.”

  “I don’t need to hear any excuses, Jessica. I trusted you. I provided you with an opportunity I believed would be good for both of us.” His laugh was bitter. “You. Betrayed. Me. All of us in this company. My wife. My family.”

  “I’m so sorry.”

  He spun around to face me. I felt even sicker inside. “Do you know what’s worse than the feeling of being betrayed? The fact my employees were sent a copy of the article, half of the troops reading and absorbing it prior to me coming in this morning.”

  I took a deep breath. That sounded like Sindom, Blackwell, and my reputation had been targeted. Was it possible Xander had anything to do with this? No; how would that help him? With the accusations, no matter how untrue they were, the company would take a hit. People were fickle that way. Back a winner. Condemn a loser.

  “Reporters are assholes. I know firsthand they’ll lie, cheat, and sell off their mothers for a great story. But no one else knew about the promotion you were offered or the merger. I was planning on announcing both on Friday. You have no idea what you’ve done. And it’s apparent I can’t trust you any longer. I’m very saddened about that.” His voice was so quiet it was extremely unnerving.

  I put the iPad on the table and stood. “Sam, I didn’t say a word to anyone. I swear to God on my mother’s grave, and you know how I miss her.”

  He studied me and his features softened. “There’s no other way someone like Dorn could have found out otherwise. None.”

  “I didn’t tell my family, my friends. No one.”

  “What about Xander Blackwell? Aren’t you close with him? Didn’t you attend the celebration gala they had just this past weekend? Pictures don’t lie, Jess.”

  My God. There were photographs of us? How much had Sam learned about me? Maybe good ole Dorn had made a phone call or sent an anonymous email. Bastard. If he was playing both sides, he’d want the highest return. Xander would never allow money to be exchanged for a blackmail attempt. I honestly wasn’t certain about Sam and that hurt. “Yes, I went to the gala with a friend as her plus one.”

  “Interesting. Did you apply for a job with the firm?”

  How was I going to lie to the man? “Yes, but it’s not for the reason you think. I’ve been planning revenge on Xander and his company for years. It was the only way I could get close to him and⁠—”

  “Just stop, Jessica. Please. I have a headache from all of this and I don’t think there’s anything you can tell me that will change the situation. This could ruin us.”

  “Sam. I swear to you I’d never intentionally hurt you.”

  “I thought I believed that. You’ve placed me in a situation I never expected to find myself in. I’m going to have to let you go.”

  “What?”

  “You’re fired, Jessica. Please gather your things and leave.”

  CHAPTER 30

  Xander

  “However, upon further investigation of my own, I’ve learned Ms. Waldrop, while accepting the position of vice president of creations with Sindom, has also been vying for a highly coveted executive position with Blackwell. I must admit her game-playing skills are obviously better than my own. I wonder which side she’ll land on or if she hopes to build a following of her own.”

  Reading the words for the third time created a burn deep within my soul. I pushed my iPad away, slowly turning my head to stare out the window.

  Dorn would soon be dead by my hands.

  And Jessica…

  I curled my fingers, squeezing my fisted hand. How could she do this? Exhaling, the tension in the room was creating a lit fuse with everyone. How had I been so wrong about her? I couldn’t buy it just yet.

  I’d experienced this exact behavior with reporters before. I was shocked the man hadn’t picked up the phone and contacted me, offering a retraction if I paid him handsomely.

  Which I wouldn’t do. Anyone who knew me was well aware I loathed extortionists of any kind.

  “I will enjoy ruining the man,” I said absently.

  “You do understand the guy isn’t smart enough to put all this together. Right?” Elizabeth asked. I’d noticed the moment she’d walked in how ashen she was. The truth about the semi-crisis we were facing was that the single article could create irreversible damage for years to come. I’d seen that before as well, some of our competition reduced to rubble.

  And our reputations were as brutal individuals and savage, merciless businessmen. It wasn’t a stretch to think we’d bought off or threatened anyone standing in our way.

  “How in the hell did this happen?” Christopher asked, his deep voice shaking. “How in the fucking hell were we blindsided by a two-bit reporter? Let alone the fact we had no clue Merrick and Sindom were merging. I mean, come the fuck on.”

  “Perhaps we should be asking you those very questions, Chris,” I told him, an edge in my voice. I wasn’t in the mood for any bullshit today. It had taken half the night and threats made to the editor of the gaming magazine to send us a copy of the full article before it had hit the streets at approximately eight this morning.

  The phones had already started ringing, investors terrified of the ramifications.

  Smirking, I shook my head as I wondered how long it would be before the FBI came knocking on our door.

  He flashed me a hateful look as he jerked to a standing position, his entire body tense.

  Christopher was usually a gentle soul, unless participating in the annual event. However, we were all on edge. When he lunged in my direction as if he was going to throw a punch, I stood to my full height, eager and ready to take him on.

  “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” I growled.

  “You’re threatening me now?” he challenged.

  “I don’t threaten, Chris. I take action.”

  “Oh, the big fucking he-man. Yeah? Go for it.”

  I laughed. He truly didn’t understand with a snap of my hand, I could render him unconscious.

  Or worse.

  The heat in the conference room was explosive.

  “Calm the fuck down,” Wilder snapped. “We’ll somehow manage to use the freaking article to our advantage. Dorn is a pig and his reputation precedes him. However, I am curious how you didn’t have a hint regarding the merger, Chris. That’s not like you. You’re always on top of everything. Every issue. Jesus.”

  We were all asking the same question. “I don’t know,” he answered. “What I do know is they did highly illegal activities prior to signing on the bottom line. I did a discovery run a month ago and there was nothing on the horizon. I did one last week. That’s when I found out about the game similar to ours, but nothing to indicate a merger of any kind.”

  I laughed bitterly. “I do find it interesting you also knew very late in the game about Merrick’s new and comparable game release. No pun intended.”

  Christopher appeared almost defeated. “They played us all. Okay? Tossing out crumbs we’d gobble up. They hid the merger as if their lives depended on it.”

  A flash of murderous desire jolted my system. I glanced from Zach to Wilder and could tell they were both thinking the same thing. If only I’d been able to react more quickly with Joel Merrick, things wouldn’t have gotten out of hand. I certainly couldn’t go on a killing spree at this point in time, but goddamn if I didn’t want to.

  Wilder pressed a few keys on his laptop, staring at the screen before spinning it around for all of us to see. It didn’t take a financial genius to notice how the company stocks had reacted since the market opening.

  The article had already produced a solid hit. It was barely after ten in the morning and the stocks had started to fall.

  “Whew,” Elizabeth muttered. “That’s terrifying. All the hard work we put into the game. Months of work.”

  “We’re going to lose sales,” Zachariah said. There was no emotion in his voice, but I sensed his anger. “But I agree in that we’ll use this to our advantage.” He gave me an evil grin.

  Hell, I was enraged.

  Soon, the blame game would start and while I was angry that Christopher in his role as our attorney had been behind the eight ball for two major issues, the real truth about who was responsible for the heightened deception hit closer to home.

  Or at least to my groin.

  I’d been thinking with my dick instead of my brain and it could cost us.

  It would seem the beautiful woman I’d been so taken with had held a hidden agenda close to her chest. Was all her innocence portrayed simply part of the game she’d played and done so with expertise? I’d almost gone on a rampage, demanding she talk to me. That would happen, but on my terms after I calmed down.

  If that was possible.

  However, if she was playing both sides, I would punish her. My cock twitched all over again.

  She’d certainly played the game better than any opponent I’d ever met in my life. Only this was all about the real world.

  Throughout the night, I’d vacillated from hungering for her even more than before and wanting to destroy her.

  Longing to punish her with my belt.

  My hand.

  A tawse.

  Then I’d fuck her in every hole, keeping her locked in a cage. Yes, that’s what I wanted. That’s what the twisted beast inside of me needed. But I couldn’t indulge in satisfying what I craved more than breathing air in order to survive.

  At least not yet.

  “The bigger news is the fact Sindom quietly merged with Merrick, the process already in motion prior to his untimely death,” Wilder stated as if we didn’t realize the other set of ugly ramifications. The three of us were doing our best to control the statements we made given both Christopher’s and Elizabeth’s presence. There were days that was difficult given our strong personalities. “With Sam Carter in control of both companies, if he’s a smart man, he’ll use Merrick’s assets while dropping any reference to Joel’s company. Sam will gain additional production sites, personnel, investment capital, and fresh minds.”

  “But he doesn’t have the same technology we do,” Elizabeth reminded us.

  “He might,” I threw out, mulling over the obvious employee treachery. I had a feeling whatever had been shared was just the beginning. “We’ve already had an obvious breach. What is there to say Merrick hadn’t paid someone extremely well to steal us blind?”

  “Exactly,” Zach hissed. “He does have a point. A damn good one. We can’t rest on our laurels on this.”

  Wilder looked at me and took a deep breath. “We’re still in a solid lockdown where we’ll remain as long as necessary.”

  “I’m curious now that the shit hit the fan. How did we not learn of the acquisition?” I pressed for a second time. There was paperwork that needed to be filled out, filings at the courthouse. And in truth, most people couldn’t keep their mouths shut. Company employees always knew when significant changes were about to be made and given levels of anxiety, they talked to someone.

  A part of me hated the horrific thoughts about Christopher running through my head, but he was certainly antsier than normal. My glare toward the man was met by his narrowed eyes. He had to know I would be watching him.

  “Evidently Joel told no one about the upcoming merger but his attorney. Sam did the same.” Wilder looked as stressed as the other board members felt. I was on a different plane this morning, not one I’d likely come down from easily.

  When I developed a hunger for violence and blood, very little appeased me. Killing someone might calm the beast, but I wasn’t into simple random kills. Although… A snicker rose to the surface.

  Dorn was another subject altogether. However, I knew ending his life immediately after the article’s release would likely drive law enforcement in our direction. It was apparent I’d underestimated the bastard.

  “They planned together to try and ruin us, hoping when we learned about their game and that it could be a rip-off of ours, we’d spend all our time rallying up a defense in our attempt to boost sales for Dark Nights. Brilliant if you ask me, very cunning. And we were fucking stupid enough to think we sat so high on a mountain that no one could touch us.” I laughed after making the statement. We were truly arrogant bastards.

  “The changes are already underway for version two,” Elizabeth mentioned and I had a sense she was asking if the new edition should be placed on the market since Jessica had been the one to recommend so many of the updates.

  “Keep going with it, I say. We’re not stopping our business practices because of one asshole determined to destroy us for some unknown reason.” Wilder nodded as soon as I issued the words.

  “I agree.” Zach shook his head. “What a fucking mess, but the business must continue. If our competitors believe we’re rattled, they’ll have a fucking field day.”

  My younger brother was absolutely correct. Appearances were everything. Well, almost.

  “It could be worse. Dorn is known for embellishing the truth. The buzz will die down and another story will take its place. We’ll take a hit, but we can weather the storm.” Wilder made the statement more for Christopher and Elizabeth’s benefit.

  “What about legalities? Can we sue Mr. Franklin for libel?”

  Zach’s question was already on the tip of my tongue.

  Christopher blew out a heated breath. “Yes, we could. But what do you hope to gain from it? He listed accusations, but in a way a judge might not see as being harmful. He used very careful wording, which likely means he was coached. Maybe this was planned just prior to the announcement of the merger.”

  In other words, the man’s family would continue protecting him. I got it.

  Zach snorted. “Yes, timing is everything. If the three of them were working together, it truly was a brilliant plan. You should check and see if Mr. Franklin has a sudden new crop of stock in either Merrick or Sindom. When the merger occurs, he could suddenly be a rich man.”

  “A very good point,” Wilder said.

  Christopher nodded and threw me a hateful glance. We’d never been on the best of terms. I thought he was a cocky bastard and he believed me to be the devil incarnate.

  I thought we were both right.

  What I was mulling in my jaded brain was whether Jessica had been used or if she was a part of the devious plan. Either way, at this point she couldn’t be trusted.

  That didn’t mean I had any intention of letting her go.

  “Then we go about business as usual for now,” I said, although my mind was elsewhere, my scathing desires bordering on psychotic. Dorn needed to pay for his sins. “That’s all we can do. Our customers and our employees need to see our confidence.”

  “And if the stocks tumble?” Zach pushed.

  “Then we deal with it. Let’s not allow our team to worry. We’ve weathered other storms. We’ll get through this one,” Wilder stated for a second time. He was turning out to be quite the corporate man. “I do want to find out where Dorn got his information. There was some proprietary business of ours listed. Find the damn leak.” He was directing his command to Christopher.

  “That I will do,” Chris said as he moved closer to the door. “Did Ms. Waldrop learn anything while being a test subject of the Dark Nights?” He was also well aware Jessica was auditioning for a slot with the Obsidian Society. Only Elizabeth remained in the dark, although she was very calm at this point. I was beginning to wonder if she knew more about the Obsidian Society than she was letting on.

  She was paying attention. That much I could tell.

  “Anything? She knows her way around primal games. Part of that is the work she’s currently doing with Sindom.”

  “You know what I mean, Xander. Was she provided with any proprietary information as pillow talk? Given your close relationship, I would deem it entirely possible.”