Chapter 1: An Idea gone wrong
Lucian's Pov
I leaned back in my chair, staring at the old man across from me with a level of disdain I reserved for people who overstayed their welcome. Which, in this case, was precisely what Gregory Williams had done. He was tall, sure—probably my height—but whatever grace he had left with his youth. At fifty-eight, the man looked like a melted candle in a suit.
He droned on about "once-in-a-lifetime opportunities" and "strategic partnerships," waving his hands like he was conducting some kind of symphony of desperation. I wasn't even listening anymore; I was far too busy wondering how this man had made it this far in life without someone permanently gluing his mouth shut.
"Lucian, this deal is going to make you richer than you've ever imagined," he said, leaning forward, his voice dropping as though he were sharing the secrets of the universe with me.
I raised an eyebrow, deliberately slow. "Gregory, I don't need more money. I'm already drowning in it. You're aware of that, right?"
The man chuckled, as if I'd just made a charming joke, when really I was just pointing out the obvious. "Ah, yes, but this... this is different. Think about it! Your name attached to our brand, our joint empire stretching across—"
I waved a hand, cutting him off mid-sentence. "Please. Spare me the dramatics. I'm not interested."
I could see the flicker of panic in his eyes, but to his credit, he didn't give up. The man was like a cockroach; no matter how many times I stepped on his argument, he just wouldn't die. He leaned in even closer, his beady little eyes glistening with some combination of greed and... was that hope? God, I hated hopeful people.
"Name your price, Lucian," he said, his voice almost pleading. "Anything. You tell me what you want, and I'll make it happen. That's how much this deal means to me."