Falling for the Ace Assassin

Glaring Impasse

Jason frowned, “Explain.”

“Do you know who has been pushing for the meeting? Kyle, our bastard half-brother.” Johnson paused for effect but it was lost on Jason’s impassive face so Johnson just continued.

“If it succeeds, we have nothing to lose and we gain more funds for our R&D sector. However, if they are exposed, then we can throw Kyle under the bus and have them take the fall.”

Jason snorted, “Think of it from the other way, if it succeeds, Kyle would be promoted further dividing the company. If the partnership fails, then our company stocks would be heavily affected and your position as CEO would be called into question. It doesn’t matter who takes the fall, as the head of the company, you will be held responsible and will be made to step down. Who would be left to take over the company at that time? Our father? The incompetent fool would only further drive the company down to the ground.”

“We still have you.”

Jason stared into his brother’s eyes, “I’m only here to help you. If you’re gone, I have no reason to stay. This is Kensington Corporation, my last name is Smith. ”

Johnson raised his hands in the air in defeat, “Well then, I have another hour before they come to think of how to get out of this mess.” He stood up and walked out of the office.

***

Once Johnson entered his office and closed the door a soft smile broke over his lips and he started laughing. He wanted to test the waters and his brother didn’t disappoint him.

Jason was back and truly stood by his side. Johnson had noticed a major change since Jason started working at the company. Jadon was slowly opening up and talking more. A part of him feared that Jason would try to usurp his position like Kyle but the moment Jason said he was a Smith, he knew his brother didn’t want any part of the company. His brother still hated their father and wanted nothing to do with his legacy.

With Jason’s help, in a short week, they were able to clean up much of the mess his father and half-brother created. Now that things were finally moving in the right direction it was time to build the guillotine. Johnson didn’t keep around useless people– everyone had to serve a purpose.

Johnson sat in his chair, smiling serenely. He never intended to work with Brown Inc. The meeting was only called so he could publicly expose his half-brother, and get rid of the useless secretaries. Today was going to be very productive.

***

Jason sat at his desk staring blankly at his screen. He didn’t fall for his brother’s horrible acting but why did his brother feel the need to test him? Was Johnson afraid he would be like Kyle? They didn’t grow up together, but he knew Johnson loved him so why does he doubt him now?

He closed his eyes and leaned back into the leather headrest. Once he helped Johnson clear up the mess and gain complete control of the company, he would resign.

“Sir, are you okay?”

Jason opened his eyes and stared at Connie. How would he convince Connie to come with him when he leaves? He may be slow, but he wasn’t daft. He realized this was the woman he wanted to be with for the rest of his life, in any capacity. Work partners, life partners, intimate partners…

Jason inhaled sharply at the thought and started coughing. Connie grabbed a glass and quickly poured some water for him. “Are you choking? Do you need help?” Placing the glass next to him, she patted his back gently.

With a flushed face, Jason shook his hand and cleared his throat. “It’s… nothing.” He took a sip and followed Connie with his eyes as she walked back to her desk. The moment she turned around, he lowered his eyes and drank his water, his ears still a bright red.

***

Kyle Kensington, the second-born son of the Kensington family, is a haughty man. Inheriting his father’s brown hair and his mother’s brown eyes, he is a pretty boy but not much else. Having been born as a love child and later brought into the family following the legal wife’s divorce, he was treated with indifference by his paternal grandparents. To compensate, his father, Brutas Kensington, lavished him with all of his love and attention. Growing up in a family where he was surrounded by loving parents, he grew up domineering and entitled.

The elderly Kensington couple brought Johnson under their wing away from Brutas and Kyle, thus, a fragile peace was kept within the Kensington estate. Johnson was just a son of the previous marriage, so Kyle believed he should be the heir to the Kensington legacy.

When their grandfather skipped Brutas and passed the reins of the company to Johnson directly, both Brutas and Kyle objected vehemently but the old man was adamant stating Johnson was the most capable. Kyle hated the old man for his favoritism but today, all that would change. Everyone will finally recognize him for his efforts.

He was approached by someone from Brown Inc. with an irresistible partnership offer and Kyle lept on the opportunity. Kyle had his team run the numbers and they came back with a proposal for the Board.

Kyle swaggered down the hall, head held high. Finally, today was his day to shine.

***

A stretch limousine pulled up to the front of Kensington Corporation surrounded by a fleet of black SUVs. Dorian stepped out of the limo and was immediately flanked by his team; they walked into the building like a mob of models. The Kensington Senior Managers waiting at the door to welcome them stood in awe before Dorian; he was a natural-born leader with a domineering aura and his stunning good looks kept everyone’s attention.

A senior manager swallowed visibly, “Welcome, Mr. Brown. Please, come this way.”

Dorian scanned the building lazily. It was nothing special. Give him a year or two and he would swallow this company whole. Today was just a meet and greet, nothing too formal but he wanted to see just how great Johnson Kensington was.

The moment the elevator dinged as it reached its destination floor and slid open slowly, Dorian's deadpan face broke for a second.

There, just a short distance away, the small Asian kitten he saw last night stood behind a tall brunette man. Dorian’s eyes glittered in amusement when he caught her attention. Her smiling face faltered as their eyes met and she shifted unconsciously behind the man’s back. Just as he was about to speak, a man bounced into view from his periphery.

“Welcome, Mr. Brown! My name is Kyle Kensington, the General Manager of Operations. Thank you for coming all this way.”

Dorian gave a professional smile and took Kyle’s hand in a firm handshake. “Pleasure to be here.”

Kyle guided him past the young woman who continually shifted to stay hidden. Dorian, suddenly in a jocular mood, leaned back and tilted his head downward catching a glimpse of her small frightened face.

“Hello there.”

Connie hiccuped and looked down at the ground. Before Dorian could say another word, his view was rudely obstructed by a man’s chest. Dorian rose to his full height and stared into the eyes of the handsome brunette man– sharp blue eyes locked with brown eyes with shimmering gold flecks in a glaring impasse.