To Say Goodbye

Chapter 5

Xander's POV

I'm glancing out my office window down to the busy night time traffic below. I can hear my investigative team discussing an investment request. I don't know why we are going over this request again. It is a waste of time. This is the fifth request from this business. It is floundering and on the verge of bankruptcy. The CEO, Bill Sutton, has been desperately seeking investments from various companies including mine. Though, he seems to be more eager for King Industries involvement than any other. He needs to get over his pride and file for bankruptcy or sell his business. He keeps trying to hold on though, because his livelihood is at stake. If he loses his business, he loses everything he has. I don't understand why my team is even reviewing it. The Business is in even more debt than the last four application investigations we've conducted. They should know better than to waste my time with this. My mind will not change. It will be a loss for the company. This business offers us nothing, but gains everything from our involvement.

I sigh heavily from exhaustion and frustration. I canceled plans with my brother for this. He was wanting me to go to our club with him tonight. I guess he wanted to introduce me to some people he met recently. He seemed genuinely excited about it. Although, he did have this devious glint in his eye, like he was up to something. However, I had to cancel on him again... for this stupid meeting.

I feel bad that I don't get to spent time with him like I used to. I miss how we were and I know he does too. He just doesn't understand the responsibility and weight I carry. I have to make dad proud! The company is flourishing, and I can't lose the momentum we have going. Not now. This was dad's dream and I'm going to see it through. I can rest when I'm dead.

I know Xavier worries about me. He is always trying to get me out of the office to socialize. Or more specifically to meet women. I will never understand why, women are worthless. I learned the hard way with that witch. Women are nothing but power hungry, manipulative, deceitful, selfish creatures. They are only after my money and power. There is no such thing as a genuine woman. Women are only good for one thing, s*x. That's it!

My mother is the only woman I truly trust. She is the only genuine woman I have ever known. She is a kind person with a heart of gold. The only one of her kind. I envy the relationship her and my father shared. I will never know that kind of love. Not with today's women.

Man, I really need to get laid! I need a release that only comes from a good f**k. These pointless meetings always cause unnecessary stress.

"Sir...Sir? We need to make a decision about this application soon. Sutton will lose everything if we don't invest now. It may be a loss for the company, but I think it would be wise to appease Sutton. Who knows what he will do if he loses his business. He may become unpredictable and reckless."

"No!" I shout turning to face my team. "Sutton is a bad investment! He has zero business skills and is a compulsive gambler. That is why his business is in so much debt. I will not expose our company to such a man for fear of what he may do if we don't. There is no possible benefit from our involvement, only loss. Say we do invest, what then? We risk opening ourselves to embezzlement or some other con from that man, that is what! So, I'll say it again since you clearly didn't hear me the last four times we had this discussion. Deny the investment request." I explain annoyed.

"But, sir..."

"I will not be changing my decision. Is. that. clear?" I ask lowly shooting daggers at each person in the room.

"Yes, sir" they reply in unison.

"Good, you may go." All of them scrable out of my office before they annoy me further. I glance out the window one last time before I head home. There is a glass of whiskey with my name on it at home! Ugh... I hope my brother is having a better night.

~~~~~~

Maggie's POV

Xavier and I are still sitting in the booth talking and throwing jokes. The girls went down to the dance floor a while ago and haven't returned. Not that I mind, they are having fun dancing and I'm having fun with X. He is such a good friend! More like a brother really, I feel like that is the kind of relationship we are developing. I feel so comfortable with him, like I can be myself. We haven't stopped laughing all night.

I look down to the dance floor to look for the girls. Brandi is sticking her tongue down some guy's throat, Mel is grinding on another guy on the dance floor, and Cass is at the bar taking shots with some rugby guys she called up. I swear she knows rugby players in every corner of the world. I turn back to Xavier to find him cringing at Brandi's steamy dance floor makeout.

"That could have been you, ya know!" I say laughing.

"Yeah... Watching it now, I'm kind of glad it's not!" he says scrunching up his face in disgust. His reaction makes me laugh even harder. I'm gripping my stomach and wiping tears from my eyes.

"What is so funny?" Mel asks glancing between Xavier and me as she walks up to the booth.

"Oh, Xavier was just enlightening me with tales of his close encounters with sloppy sucker fish!" I chuckle. Xavier is trying and failing to muffle his laughter as he looks down at Brandi. Mel follows his gaze and scrunches up her face.

"Yeah, you dodged a bullet there!" She chuckles. We love Brandi, don't get me wrong. She is really great, she can just come off too strong sometimes. Well, most times. "Mags, Cass is going home with her friends tonight and Brandi is taking her... uh... spit buddy home with her. Do you mind hanging here with Xavier for a while? So I can... um... you know... borrow the room for a bit?" she stuttered out giving me an apologetic look. See told ya! They always bail!

"Mel-"

"Don't worry about Maggie, I've got her. You go have fun Mel. I'll take Maggie to my place, I've got plenty of guest rooms she can stay in." Xavier cuts me off giving Mel a wink.

"Thanks man! You're the best!" she beams and gives him a fist bump. Then she turns to me saying "A girl has needs!" I laugh and shake my head as she walks away.

We talk for about another hour before Xavier asks if I'm ready to go. It is one in the morning and I'm not usually a night owl, so I give him a thankful nod.

"Andre, will you pull the car around?" Xavier asked a man I just noticed standing near our booth. He is wearing a black suit and tie with an ear piece. Looking like a latin Will Smith in Men In Black. Did Xavier have a body guard here that whole time? I just shrugged it off. He is a billionaire after all.

"Yes, Sir." Came his curt reply.

We got up and started to head to the lower level. I can tell I'm tipsy. As soon as I stood up I could feel all the alcohol hit me. Thankfully Xavier is helping me along slightly. We were just passing the bar when a man came storming up to Xavier and shoved him causing both of us to stumble back.

"Just the man I'm looking for! Xavier f*****g King!! Where is that asshole of a brother of yours?" the man shouted taking a threatening step forward. He was a shorter man, maybe 5'8", bald, with a beer gut. He looked menacing and his yellow teeth were showing through his sneer.

"Who the hell are you? My brother is not here, so I suggest you leave before I call security!" Xavier responded coldly stepping in front of me protectively.

"I'm Bill Sutton! The fucker whose business your brother denied to invest in tonight! I'm gonna loose everything without that investment, so I suggest you call up whoever you need to call to get me my money!" He yelled getting in Xavier's face.

Xavier stood strong, not faltering for a second. "I stand by my brother's decision. If he denied your request, there was a good reason. I will not be calling anyone to give you any money. Now leave!" He stated in a confident voice.

The man, Bill, took a step back eying Xavier. "Fine, have it you way." He said in a sneer. Then I saw a glint of something he pulled out of his pocket. A knife!