3

I stare intently at the man sitting at the other of the table. He is very unhinged according to my sources. He does not think before acting which is not a quality of a good business man. I wonder what his father was thinking when he made him the heir to his family business. According to the intel I gathered on him, he is a bit of an airhead and his headfirst decision making skills is what got him in this position in the first place.

I look in his eyes and the eyes is indeed the window to the soul, because beyond the airhead allegations, I see something else. Levi Anniston is a greedy, conniving bastard.

Now his greed has landed him in debt. He is neck deep in debt and honestly, my sincere opinion would have been to apply for bankruptcy but Levi is proud and beyond that reason, his father would never agree to it.

His father decided to retire and leave him the family business. He was not the most sincere businessman but he was sensible. Only that his sensibility didn't stretch further beyond his business acumen seeing that he decided Levi would be his successor. The sister would have being a better person for the job. She has her own business that she started on her own after being rejected from the family business and from what I hear, they are raking in numbers which is impressive unlike someone that I know. But both his parents are little patriarchy bitches and it was the reason the business went to him.

"Levi, I don't see us being in business together. You don't exactly have a good record sheet."

If my rejection was affecting him, he didn't show it.

"It's not personal, man. It's just business."

I am tired of seeing his face and i am most definitely ready to see him out.

"The Crestwoods are on board with me."

Now, that's new. Someone clearly omitted that little detail when they were giving me intel on Levi.

I lean back in my chair. "Oh really, why would Connor want to do business with you?"

"I managed to convince him."

"Connor is not easily convinced, what did you say to him?"

His eyes narrow at me and his nose flare a little bit. He does not like the way I was grilling him but I have to know. In fact, for all I know, the Crestwoods are not on board with him and he is trying to use their name to get me to invest then use my name to get them in on the business. I know your game Levi and I've played it before.

"Fine. My wife helped."

Interesting. This took him a lot for him to admit and I know his ego took a very huge blow because the Annistons except Lauren are patriarchal fools that believe that women should be seen not heard. I am quite interested in how his wife helped but I don't push it.

"Okay. I'm in." He smiled. "But, I need a collateral."

I am playing a dangerous game and I knew it. His father would never stand in for him as a guarantor because working with Levi is a serious gamble and his dad never supported the way he ran the business anyway. He is one more trouble away from being disowned.

Levi took money from investors and did not pay them the agreed ROI. At some point, he was using investors money to run a Ponzi scheme. People started to sue, old investors pulled out and he spent the company's fortune on court settlements. Now he is trying to rise from his ashes and is looking for people to invest which is why he is here today. But Levi is a fuck up and that is why I would be giving him money from my own pocket. I would never jeopardise my business like that. Unlike Levi, the trust fund baby, that got everything handed to him on a golden platter, I had to work my way up from the ground. Rising above several rejections and racism. It's not easy being a black man in business. But I am not putting down money for just the investment, with Levi, it might not yield any returns I am doing it for my own amusement. I want to see who made Connor get in bed with this demon.

He rolls his eyes at me, "What do you want?"

I look at him, lean forward, put my elbows on the table, smile and say "Your wife."

Rage flash in his eyes and he stands up fists clenched and fuming. "No."

"Then we do not have a deal."

"Oh, to hell with you and your stupid deal Ezekiel." He shouts as he punches the back of the chair he was just sitting on.

I do not understand his rage. He does not like the girl. He is abusive towards her. He even refused to consummate their marriage and it has been two whole years. He prefers to disrespect the girl by sleeping with others even going as far as hosting orgies in their house. Their marriage is sort of a business arrangement. Levi's father gave him the condition to get married before he can hand over the family business to him. Pfft. As if marriage makes people responsible. Samantha's parents on the other hand saw an opportunity to be in laws with the Annistons and practically forced their daughter on him. It was the prestige for them. The show of emotion he is displaying right now was surprising to say the least. I think he does not want to lose the only thing in his life he has control over right now.

"Okay, Levi. I think you should think about it though. You don't even like her."

That seems to enrage him more because he rounds the table, grabs me by the collar and gets in my face, "What happens in my marriage is none of your fucking business."

"Okay bad man." I laughed a little and pried his fingers off my collar.

He is huffing and puffing, clenching and unclenching his fists. I love this reaction. He huffs one last time and started towards the door.

My demeanour changed. I am done playing with this man.

"It takes just one call to get the Crestwoods off this deal." That stops him in his tracks but he does not turn around.

"Also do her parents know that you are literally ten dollars from being bankrupt?" That makes him turn around. "They married their daughter off to you because you had the money. Keyword being had. Also, I wonder what will happen if they hear that you have been hitting their child." I tsk. They might have married her off for their own advantage but I am sure they cared about their daughter's welfare.

"You wouldn't dare."

"I know you don't believe that yourself."

"Ezekiel"

"Sit the fuck down Levi."

He glares at me, hard, and I hold his glare with one of mine, after thirty seconds of glaring, he walks away from the door and sits back down on the chair he punched just moments ago. How dramatic.

"I'll give you anything. Anything except my wife."

"I don't want anything from you. I've told you what I want and I am not asking." What is the deal with his wife anyway? Why doesn't he want to let her go, it is looking like it is more than the power play.

"Samantha is not a thing you can play with."

"Yet you won't keep your hands off her." I retort and he looked away. Is that shame I see?

"You have a choice. Walk out that door and I'll call Connor and tell him to pull out, leak your financial status to the media and personally fly out Samantha's parents to town and drop them by your house so they can check on their daughter. You can take your chances and leave." His eye flits towards the door. "Or you can take my investment money, deliver your wife to me and when I get satisfied with my dividends, I'll return her. You can even buy me out if you can afford it." I smile at him.

I know I have him by the balls because his eyes are filled with so much anger, I feel like it could combust me any minute now.

"You bastard."

"What do you say? I don't have all day."

"Fine." He says underneath his breath.

"What? I didn't quite get that."

"I said fine." He grits out.

I smile. "Levi, you are so brave." He must have figured that I am mocking him because his jaw ticks.

"This is the smartest choice you have ever made. Don't worry, I promise to take care of Sammy. She might end up not even wanting to leave after our contract has been fulfilled."

"It's Samantha to you, you bastard." He says angrily as he stands up. I smile at him and stand up too.

"Okay then, Levi, my lawyer will get in contact with you soon." I stretch out my hand to shake him but he does not take my hand. Rude.

He just storms towards the door and I call out to him as he opens it, "And Levi?" He paused, "Tell Sammy that I'm looking forward to making her acquaintance."

He does not look back but slams my door so hard that it rattles the things in my office.

My sister would die if she hears about this.