Craving My Sister’s Hot Husband

Rivals

DOMINIC

Adrian f*****g Hawthorn.

He looks the same as he did five years ago—maybe a bit older, more silver at his temples, but still carrying that easy confidence that used to make me want to put my fist through his face. He’s wearing a suit that probably cost as much as mine, and he’s smiling.

“Dominic,” he says, settling into the chair across from my desk like he was invited. “It’s been a while.”

“What the hell are you doing in my office, Adrian?” I don’t bother hiding my irritation. “How did you get past my assistant?”

“That was easy.” He leans back, completely at ease. “I just winked at your secretary downstairs. Charming woman. She let me right through. You might want to look at the kind of people you’re hiring.”

My jaw clenches. “Get to the point. What do you want?”

“Always so direct.” He crosses one leg over the other, and I notice the expensive shoes. Italian. Custom. “You know, if I didn’t know you to be a man of integrity, Dominic, I’d say you were f*****g your wife’s sister.”

The words hit like a punch to the gut, but I keep my expression neutral. “Excuse me?”

“Seraphina. Very gorgeous woman. Young and fresh.” He pulls out a handkerchief from his pocket, the same one he used on her face, and examines the lipstick stain with mild interest. “She had lipstick smeared at the corner of her mouth. Her hair was mussed. And you—” His eyes flick to me. “Your tie is crooked. Your collar’s rumpled. The office smells like sex.”

My hands clench into fists under the desk.

“But as I said,” Adrian continues smoothly, “I know you’re a man of integrity. So obviously there’s some other explanation. Right?”

“Get out of my office.” I thundered.

“Not yet.” He tucks the handkerchief back into his pocket. “I actually came here to discuss business.”

“I have nothing to discuss with you.”

“Oh, but you do.” He leans forward, and the easy smile fades. “I’ve been having some interesting conversations with a few members of your board. Robert Chen and Michael Torres. Know them?”

Of course, I know them. Chen and Torres have been with me since the beginning. Built this company alongside me.

“What about them?”

“They’re looking to sell their shares. Combined, they own thirty percent of Ashcroft Development.” Adrian pauses, letting that sink in. “And they mentioned it to me. Casually. Over drinks. Said they were ready to cash out. Retire. Move on to other ventures.”

My blood runs cold. “If they wanted to sell, they would have come to me first.”

“Would they?” Adrian tilts his head. “When’s the last time you actually talked to your board, Dominic? When’s the last time you weren’t distracted by—” He gestures vaguely. “Other things?”

I ignore the implication. “Even if they do want to sell, why the hell would it be to you?”

“Because I made them an offer they’re considering very seriously.” He stands and walks to the window, looking out at the city. “I’m very interested in acquiring those shares, Dominic. Very interested. And Chen and Torres seem inclined to accept.”

“No.” The word comes out flat. Hard. “You’re not buying into my company.”

“Our company,” he corrects, turning back to face me. “If the sale goes through. And unless you can match my offer—which I doubt you can, given your recent expenditures on your wife’s treatments and other things, it will go through.”

“Get out.”

“You have a choice here.” Adrian’s voice is calm and reasonable. “You can let me buy those shares and become your business partner. Or you can refuse, and I’ll make sure Chen and Torres sell to someone else. Davis Industries, maybe. Your biggest competitor. The one that’s been trying to take you down for years.”

He’s backing me into a corner and he knows it.

“You have forty-eight hours to decide,” Adrian says, heading for the door. “Match my offer, or step aside.”

“Why are you doing this?” The question comes out before I can stop it. “Why come back now? Why target my company?”

He pauses at the door, looking back at me. “You took something from me once. Something I cared about very much. I’m just returning the favor.”

Elena. He’s talking about Elena.

“Elena chose me,” I say coldly. “That’s not the same thing.”

“Choose you?” He smiles, but there’s no warmth in it. “Is that what you tell yourself? That she chose you over me? Or did you just have more money? More power? More promises you couldn’t keep?”

“Get the f**k out of my office.”

“I’ll be seeing you very soon, Dominic. Much more often than you’d like, I imagine.” He opens the door. “Oh, and give my best to Elena. Tell her I’ll be stopping by to see her. I want to make sure she’s being properly taken care of.”

The door closes behind him, and I’m left standing in my office, my hands still clenched into fists.

Adrian f*****g Hawthorne. Elena’s ex. The man who wanted to marry her before I came along and offered her everything he couldn’t.

And now he’s back. Buying into my company. Threatening everything I’ve built.

I sink into my chair and run both hands through my hair.

Chen and Torres. Two of my oldest board members. Two men I trusted. And they’ve been talking to Adrian behind my back, ready to sell their shares to him without even giving me a chance to counter.

Why?

I pull out my phone and call Chen. It goes to voicemail.

I try Torres. Same thing.

They’re avoiding me.

I set the phone down and stare at the door Adrian just walked through.

Forty-eight hours. That’s what he said. Forty-eight hours to match his offer or watch him become a major shareholder in my company.

And if I don’t? He’ll make sure the shares go to Davis Industries. The competition that’s been circling my company like vultures for years.

Either way, I’m f****d.

I stand and walk to the window, looking out at the city I’ve conquered. The empire I built from nothing.

And it’s all falling apart.

My marriage is a lie. My wife is sick. I’m f*****g her sister. And now my company—the one thing I thought I could control—is being threatened by the man Elena almost married instead of me.

I need to figure out how much Adrian is offering Chen and Torres. I need to find the money to match it. Need to keep him out of my company and my family.