“What type of leader do you plan to be? You’re set to inherit one of the top companies that is built on luxury. You service uber rich guys like me.”

Fine, he had a point. There was no denying that I was born into this and now had to wrestle with my own personal morals surrounding the elite. I was the elite. It didn’t feel like it, but it was true, and this part of society was nothing like the others. Endless money created more than simple first-world problems.

We had a hand in shaping the entire world.

“I never thought about the whole me being a leader part.”

He stroked my hair and planted a kiss on my head. “So, let's sit and watch a movie. We have to get you through the worst of it before then.”

I fell asleep during the movie and James coming in around seven woke me back up. Brent wasn’t on the couch with me, but I was silently grateful no one saw me sleeping curled up with him. I still wanted to keep my distance from him romantically. Business had to come first, and we couldn’t complicate things by getting our personal lives twisted up in the height of this situation.

The trip to New York was lonely and long. James was silent. I figured he had nothing to say—he probably didn’t want to freak me out or put me on edge. It was still early in the day and the lobby to the offices was a deserted wasteland. No hustle and bustle yet.

“Miss Montgomery,” the doorman nodded at me.

“Good morning.”

The elevator dinged, sending off alarms in my body and spiking my adrenaline again. If the elevator could crash and send me to my death, that would have been preferable.

“Evans,” I nodded, walking into the boardroom. Not many men were in attendance.

“Miss Montgomery.” He set down an envelope. “I’ve come with news today. We are aware of documents withheld from company knowledge.”

I sat in the chair at the head of the table. My place at the table. “Jason Haines called me. He told me that Sylvia Montgomery has usurped a certain amount of power out from under him. Now, she’s coming for me.”

“Your new associate will be joining us.” The door opened to reveal Brent, Reaper, and Dave in suits.

Reaper was wearing a skull mask. Could be fitting.

Brent took a seat to my right.

“As Miss Montgomery said, Jason Haines has been a thorn in the Vaughns’ side for quite some time. He now seeks pity from the very hand he burned many years ago. This is a long and quite bitter tale of jealousy.