A TEMPTING ARRANGEMENT

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Ryan Dawson

POV

I didn’t think I’d be back in New York so soon; I wasn’t planning to return back to America for at least another year. I know I’ve been gone for long enough, but this place still haunts me as it did twelve years ago.

I rarely make my way to New York, hell I barely ever come here. I’ve been running from this place still I was a kid. I stare up at the blackened sky before looking down again.

Standing in the darkened graveyard I look around; the place is as depressing and dark as my heart.

I haven’t been back here since I left three years ago. My first day back and I’m visiting her as soon as I got off my private jet. Placing the roses on the grave. I stand back up. I take a deep breath.

The last time I visited was before my long trip to Russia. I always knew I’d have to come back; I just wish it didn’t still hurt as it did twelve years ago when I buried her.

The woman was my rock, she always reminded me to smile, to feel. The only time I ever feel an emotion now is when I’m standing in front of her grave.

I run my fingers through my hair. I’ve spent the last three years in Russia starting up an investment firm there.

“Have you been well mother?” I ask her. “Has heaven treated you well? I’m sure father spoils you and the two of you are waiting for me. Was he happy to learn about me? Are you finally happy?”

I swallow back the tears. I’d like to believe there is an afterlife, a life where my parents could be together for them to finally find happiness together.

I can’t even remember what my own mother voice sounds like anymore. I haven’t heard her call my name since then either. Her dying wish for me to be happy. But I can’t be happy without her.

I remember it like it was yesterday, I had just gotten a big payout on my first investment.

I was so excited to share the news with her, when I walked into her room, my mother was laying on the floor face down. I’d rushed her to the hospital.

We were told she had cancer, and we had no way to save her it was too late. Too damn late. Like she was expired food. It took everything in me not to punch the doctor in his face. My mother raised me better than that.

I know if my father was still alive my mother wouldn’t have worked herself to the bone.

For the first time in my life, I felt an anger toward a man I’ve never met. My whole body trembled with extreme hatred. I made a promise to myself the day she took her last breath.

That man will pay for what he did to my family. My father’s best friend and business partner. He trusted him and he stabbed him in the back, causing my father’s imprisonment, my mother fleeing and changing her name. Working herself into an early grave to put food on the table for the two of us.

I pull at my hair.

I’d worked just as hard. When I finally made my first smart investment, I was so excited to share the news with her. I even bought us dinner and a cake for dessert.

It was our first-time ordering pizza we never had the money to. I was so excited to share it with her.

I never even got to share it with her.

"You should know your son has grown up healthy. Though I can’t say I’m happy without you mom… I have a few people I trust. Not that I’d make the same mistakes father did.” I tell her in a whisper. “I wish to tell you I’m going to make Nickolos Davidson pay for what he did to you and dad.” I pause.

My father Tyler Strong, a renowned businessman, framed for insider trading, sent to prison where Nickolos Davidson had him killed.

Aisha Dawson formally known as Aisha Strong, she was forced to change her last time to run away the monster who killed my father. That very monster had what was coming to him. It was why I came back. I’d given a very good friend of mine his information and he was going to give me an in. I was going to get the bastard back for taking my parents from me.

My mother has always been a strong woman, she was pregnant with me when my father was framed for insider trading, fraud and a number of other charges. The man made sure my father’s case never went to trial because the day before my father’s court case he was found in his cell hung. They ruled it a suicide because he was by himself. But I never believed that to be true. I know the monster did it. Unfortunately for my father never even knew my mother was pregnant before he died. My parents epic love story was cut short, stolen from them. I’d heard stories of their love from my mother, I’d done my own research as well. I made a promise very early on that I’d get my revenge. The very reason I’m back in the States. I am ready to bring the man down. I hated him before but after my mother’s death my hatred only increased. I wanted to kill him with my own two hands.

Now I had an empire and was ready to strike.

I was, no am famous for how I can turn pennies into millions with one investment. I know soon Nickolos Davidson will seek me out to help him and I’ll take everything he stole from us back and then some more. That was why I have turned all attention toward myself making myself known, putting myself out there.

“I am so sorry for everything mom, for not being able to save you...” I sigh. “I know you would have been happy with me. Would you have been proud of me? Would you be disappointed in me for not being more open? For being unfeeling? If you were happy. Though I do pray you are up there with dad and that you are happy.” I tell her.

I swallow, before turning to look around the graveyard again. Seeing her was always draining. I started out in New York before moving to Miami. My main office is in Miami. Where Nickolos Davidson resides. I’ve kept taps on him, but not well enough to know his family. My main focus is on the man, I wanted to take him down.

And one day I will.

I wish my mother farewell before making my way back to my car.

The driver spots me and opens the back door for me.

I nod getting in.

He gets in as well. “Where to sir?” he asks.

“Let’s head to the hotel…” I tell him.

He nods and starts the car. “Sir I’d like to inform you; you received a phone call from Club XO…” he says softly.

I look up and nod.

He hands me my personal phone and I check the call log. I frown when I see Beast’s name.

I call him back.

“I heard you were back…” he says casually.

I don’t say anything.

“Still a man of few words, how sad. You do remember you’re like a son to me.” He comments.

When he realizes I’m not going to say anything he speaks up again.

"So, remember that story you told me three years back before you left?" he asks.

“Get to the point…” I remind him coldly.

I watch the city brightened by streetlights, the city is always so busy and lively.

“I found something you might be interested in…” he says smugly.

"And what is that?" I ask.

“When will you be in Miami?” he asks.

“I should be there next week. I have business to take care of here.” I tell him.

I don’t tell him I was stalling. He knows exactly why I’m visiting New York first. He knows New York is my first stop. Not for work, but to visit my mom. When my mother died, he took me in and helped me when I had no one else. I’ve always been grateful toward Beast.

“Come by the club. I know you haven’t laced up in years… You must be itching…” he tells me.

I don’t say anything, but I could feel my blood pumping. I haven’t felt this way since I left three years ago.

“Aren’t you excited?” he asks.

“I’ll feel something once I finally have what I’m looking for...” I tell him.

I met Beast when I was thirteen, that’s when I first found out about his club, he helped me. And the money I made from the club is what got me all of the things I have now. Beast is one of the only people I trust in this world. He helped me when I had nothing.

“I’ll see you in Miami next week…” I tell him to stop him from rambling. He’d go on for years if I didn’t.

I was already drained from visiting my mom. I didn’t want to be exhausted from this visit as well.

“You’re dismissing me. You do know I’m older than you right?” he complains.

“Bye…” I say before hanging up.

When we got to the hotel. My driver Thomas turns the car off and opens my door for me.

“Tomorrow sir?” he asks.

I look at him and nod. I get out and my security team meets me as we walk in together.

He must have called him. I rarely go out with them. There are ten of them and draw a lot of attention I don’t like on me. I have them because the press and the media love following me around.

“Mr. Dawson we would like to welcome you to Equinox Hotel, your room is cleaned and all of the requests your assistant has…” I block off the rest of what he says. I always do. I hate listening to people go on and on. Right now, I wanted nothing more than to grab a shower and sleep. I was exhausted and drained, I hadn’t slept in twenty-four hours, my body was starting to protest.

I nod, walking past him.

Walking up to the elevator, one of my men press the call button.

“Sir…” Quinn Hardy, my assistant walks up to me.

I nod at him. We went to university together and he was my very first hire.

I trust Quinn with my life. Like I said I don’t trust many people. Quinn and Beast were the only people I really trusted. Quinn started working for me because he didn’t want to join his families oil business and he was the only one who actually tried to speak to me even though I ignored everyone even my own teachers. Everyone assumed I couldn’t speak until we had to do a presentation and I was forced to present my assignment.

“We have a meeting with Quest in the morning. Would you like me to reschedule, or would you like to attend?” he asks.

“You can attend the meeting for me. I’ll read through the minutes…” I tell him.

He nods. “Yes sir…” he tells me.

“Let the pilot know we’re going to Miami the weekend.” I tell him.

He looks at me for a second. “Yes sir. I’ll fix your schedule accordingly.”

I give him a tight nod before getting into the elevator alone.

He knew better than to try and get on it with me. security would take the next one and I’m sure there are already at least three clearing my floor upstairs.

Quinn feared attacks so he would be sure to block off any possible attacks of which he could think.