Page 4 of Discretion at Its Finest

“Say it.”

My voice was calm and composed. I wasn’t angry or vengeful, but that didn’t mean he’d walk over me again.

Finally, his shoulders sagged, his pride cracking beneath the pressure of reality.

“I needyou.” A slow smirk threatened to curl at the corner of my lips, but I didn’t let it show.There it was.“Gregory can’t handle the company. You already know that.”

Of course I fucking knew. I could have been the one to tell him that much.

“Why should I help you?” I asked. “I built something bigger. Something stronger. I don’t need the Newman name. I don’t need the scraps of a sinking empire.”

“Because you’re the only one who can.” His voice was tight and controlled, but I could hear it... the resignation and desperation underneath the crumbling pride.

Letting out a thoughtful sigh, I replied, “So… let’s say I fix what yourrealson destroyed. Then what? Will I be cast away again to not tarnish the already broken family name? Because I’m not interested in funding a charity case. I won’t step in to help Gregory just to be sent on my way… If I step in, I take control.”

“Reid—”

“No,” I cut him off. “You don’t get to negotiate and set terms. You came here because you have no options. Because Gregory hasfailed you. And as a result, everything you worked for is falling apart.” I let the words simmer for a moment before I shrugged. “You don’t have a choice in this.I do.”

His hand tightened harder around his glass, his knuckles turning white. His pride was still fighting to breathe, clawing for any last scrap of control.

“It… it won’t be that simple. The board—”

A humorless laugh escaped me. “The board?” Adjusting the cuffs of my sleeves, I approached him slowly before stopping beside him. I wanted him to feel how close I was. How much control had already shifted. “I don’t need their permission, Raymond.”

He looked up at me, his lips parting slightly, but he said nothing.

“Let me make one thing clear.” My voice dropped slightly, calm but lethal. “You came to me.Not the other way around.”

If looks could kill, I’m sure my dearest father would have no problem putting me underground.

“You always believed in luck, didn’t you?” My tone was almost conversational. “It’s what built you up. It’s what kept you afloat. Luck saved your empire more times than you ever deserved.”

I tilted my head, watching as the words cut through him. “But luck runs out.”

Reaching down, I took the glass from his hand, feeling the slight tremor in his grip before I lifted it to my lips. “If I decideto step in, I won’t just take control of the company.” I downed the rest of the drink, savoring the burn before setting the empty glass back onto the desk.

“I will takeeverything.”

We stared at one another for what seemed like hours. Raymond didn’t argue or try to fight it. He knew he had no choice but to accept. Slowly, he reluctantly pushed himself to his feet and turned to walk to the door.

Watching his retreating form, I poured another glass of whiskey before forcing it down. The burn didn’t bother me. Nothing did anymore.

I had spent years building something greater than anything the Newmans could ever touch. And seeing him walk out defeated, knowing that I was his only saving grace… it should have been satisfying. It should have been enough.

But it wasn’t.

Despite what Raymond may have believed, this was never about owning the company.

Never about destroying him or my pathetic brother. They had already lost. Their punishment was living with their own failure, and that had nothing to do with me. For the fun of it, even, I would burn their empire to the ground and let them watch.

However… there was still one more debt to be collected, one more piece of unfinished business, and one more person who had yet to pay.

The woman I once loved. The woman who watched as they buried me alive.

And never once tried to save me.

I scoffed, swirling the liquid in my glass before taking another sip. Maybe she convinced herself it had been the right decision… told herself it had been for the best.