Chapter 5
1415 Words
Chapter 5
Dave’s POV
The office was the same as always—efficient, structured, and utterly predictable. But today, there was something to look forward to. Today, DT Empire was sealing the deal that had been in the works for two months. Another acquisition. Another city under my company’s name. Another step forward.
Seated in my office, I flipped through the documents one last time. Everything was in place. Everything had to be in place. Precision was key. I reached for the intercom, paging my secretary.
A few seconds later, Maya shuffled in, clutching a notepad like it was a shield.
“You called, sir?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
I barely spared her a glance. “Prepare the conference room. I want everything set before the associates arrive. The documents—bring them there. No mistakes.”
She nodded frantically. “Of course, Mr. Thomas.”
I waved a hand, already dismissing her from my mind.
The moment she stepped out, John strolled in, the only person aside from my brother who had the audacity to walk into my office without knocking.
“How’s the king of DT Empire feeling?” he asked, smirking as he dropped into the chair across from me.
I leaned back, lacing my fingers together. “I’ll feel better once the contract is signed.”
John chuckled. “You and your obsession with control.”
I didn’t bother denying it. Control meant power. Power meant never being at anyone’s mercy.
John stretched his legs out, watching me with an unreadable expression. “This deal is big. Another hotel added to the empire. You ever stop to appreciate how far you’ve come?”
I gave him a cold smile. “The moment you get comfortable is the moment you get left behind.”
He let out a low whistle. “God help the poor bastard who ever tries to take you down.”
Before I could respond, Maya returned, looking slightly out of breath. “Sir, the conference room is ready. The associates have arrived.”
I stood without another word, John following.
As we walked into the conference room, the Chinese business associates rose to greet us. I shook hands, exchanging polite but clipped pleasantries before taking my seat at the head of the table. John sat to my left.
Then the meeting began.
It was smooth. As it should be.
Within an hour, everything was finalized. The property was mine.
Once the associates left, only John, Maya, and I remained. Maya busied herself clearing the table, moving quickly as if she could sense my impatience. Once she was done, she practically bolted from the room.
John leaned back in his chair, grinning. “And just like that, DT Empire expands again.”
I allowed myself a small nod. “One step at a time.”
As we exited the conference room and made our way back to my office, John suddenly smirked. “Don’t forget, we have that charity event tonight.”
I exhaled sharply. “Why the hell am I even going to that?”
John laughed. “Because for once in your life, you should pretend to be humble. Show up, shake hands, nod a few times, and then vanish into the night. It won’t kill you.”
I considered it for a moment. Annoying, but manageable.
“Fine,” I muttered. “We’ll attend.”
But deep down, I already knew—I wouldn’t stay a second longer than necessary.
By the time I got home, the penthouse was as quiet as ever—too quiet, which could only mean one thing.
“Raymond!” I called out from the living room, already knowing exactly where the little devil was.
No response. Of course.
I walked straight to his room, and just as I expected, my 13-year-old menace of a brother was glued to his gaming console, fingers flying over the controller, completely oblivious to reality.
Without a word, I yanked the plug straight out of the socket.
"What the hell, Dave?!" Raymond spun around, eyes wide with betrayal.I leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. “You’ve been at this all day, haven’t you?”
“That’s not the point! You just committed a crime!” He scowled, clutching the controller like it was his lifeline.
“You’ll live.”
Ray was brilliant, book smart, even, but a complete menace when it came to everything else. He drove the housekeeper insane, wrecked havoc on the penthouse, and somehow still managed to talk his way out of trouble.
Speaking of the housekeeper—where the hell was she?
“Where’s Greta?” I asked.
Ray yawned. “She went out to get groceries.”
I didn’t respond, just turned and made my way to my room—my sanctuary. The entire penthouse had a modern aesthetic, sleek, expensive, but my room? Pitch black.
Ray hated it.
Said it looked like a place where people got exorcised.
I called it peace.
A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts. “Greta’s back,” Ray muttered before disappearing.
“Tell her to come up,” I said, not bothering to look at him.
When she arrived, I gave her quick instructions for the night, letting her know I might stay at a hotel after the event. She nodded, used to my unpredictability by now.
Just as she left, my phone buzzed.
Tito.
I ignored it. I already knew what she wanted—something that involved wasting my time.
Instead, I stepped into my closet, scanning the impeccably arranged rows of suits. Finally, I settled on a black double-breasted three-piece suit—tailored to perfection, like everything I owned.
Still had time to kill.
So, I waited for dinner. Light meal. Nothing excessive.
After eating, I showered, dressed, and checked my watch—8 PM sharp. I dialed John.
“You left already?” I asked as soon as he picked up.
“Yeah,” he replied, the sound of traffic loud in the background.
“Why the hell did you leave so early?”
“Because unlike you, I actually checked the location. It’s two hours from your place.”
I groaned. “Great.”
“Yeah, have fun with that,” he said, amused.
He wasn’t wrong. I wasn’t driving two hours back after the event. I’d just get a hotel for the night.
Getting there was a nightmare.
Two hours and twenty-five damn minutes of traffic.
By the time I pulled up to the venue, a valet was already waiting. I tossed him my keys without a word and strode inside.
Gold. Everywhere.
The hall was drenched in golden light, as if the organizers were trying too hard to make a statement.
I ignored the crowd, the champagne, the meaningless chatter. I had one purpose—donate, show face, and leave.
As I made my way to the donation table, something stopped me in my tracks.
A glimpse. A figure.
Her.
The woman who had been plaguing my mind ever since that brief encounter at the restaurant.
But as I turned to look, she was gone.
Imagining things, maybe.
Shoving the thought aside, I made my donation and went searching for John. Found him.
And the moment I did, some sweaty, desperate executive scampered away as if his life depended on it.
John let out a long sigh. “Thank you. That guy has been kissing my ass for the past twenty minutes.”
“Sounds like a you problem.”
John smirked but didn’t deny it.
I was about to scan the room when I saw her again.
This time, I knew I wasn’t imagining it.
She wasn’t alone. Some other woman was beside her—didn’t care. She wasn’t the focus.
But her?
Backless, shimmery black dress. A slit that ran dangerously high up her thigh.
I wasn’t a man who chased, but she had my full attention.
And I never let go of something that caught my interest.
I leaned closer to John, eyes still on her. “Who is she?”
John followed my gaze, then smirked. “Finally interested in someone, huh?”
“Find out.”
John chuckled but nodded.
Before the event ended, an announcement rang through the hall—an afterparty. A club nearby.
I didn’t react, but as I turned my gaze back to
her, something in me decided.
If I didn’t get her tonight…
I’d still get her.
One way or another.
- Writer
