G

ood's mansion without slowing, the gravel crunchi

and stepped out into th

moned him without reason, a

moved through familiar hallways, past portraits of Blackwood men staring down from gi

ver failed to

ajar, and a firelig

ine resting untouched beside a leather-bound book. His gray hair was combed back

Gregory sa

him. "Your message wasn't op

ed calmly. "It was

m. The heat from the fireplace pressed against his skin, b

a moment, his gaze assessing-measur

egory said at last. "And

His expression didn't change. "We've had t

ed forward slightly. "Before,

d slowly at his sides.

t Blackwood Enterprises to remain in your name, you wi

landed lik

ed himself a glass of whiskey, and waited. He refus

on't?" he a

te. "Then the company

lass frozen half

ble. Respected. But the empire will no longer be your

of money that made his blood simmer-it was the implication. To Greg

erything I've built,"

u didn't build it. You inherited i

harp and humorless. "T

regory corrected. "Empires

more force than necessary. "I

missive hand. "I di

Then what exactly a

ry replied simpl

that followe

. "And how do you expect me to produce one?"

smile, but something colder. "There ar

s eyes. "You're re

ory said mildly. "I assumed you

Damian snapped. "She wil

lifted slightly

amian continued. "An

ory studied him more clo

a

his chair. "Then you'll

You're talking about using

" Gregory replied. "You don't

ch twist, though he didn't sh

Damian asked. "Wh

nerously. Contracts ensure discretion. N

itable," Gregory added. "

at heavily

mes. This was madness, cold, calculated.

use?" Damian

he room effortlessly. He stepped closer, his g

d. "Because you kno

ing, options narrowing. The empire he had spent his

ckmail," Dam

ory corrected. "And le

door. "You're asking me to sell

avering. "I'm asking you to secure ou

tudy without another word. Outside,

nsion coiled tightly in his chest, Gr

No inhe

ed suddenly agai

creen-an incoming email forward

ial - Surrogacy Pr

ightened on the

e opened it. The fi

ma

al

arr

he path had been laid, w