Blackmailing The Billionaire (Billionaire Bachelors - Book 5) (23 page)

Across the room Lucas was glaring daggers at his new employee. She never smiled that way when he talked to her. Of course, he was normally barking orders at her. He still didn’t like the attention she was giving to another male and he really didn’t like the interest he saw in Mike’s eyes. As Lucas slowly looked her up and down he could understand that interest.

What did his father think he was doing, introducing her to Mike? Everyone knew he went through women faster than he changed clothing. Many women had been fooled by his act of affection but Lucas knew the guy only had one goal in mind and Lucas was sure that Amy wasn’t ready for the consequences of a failed office romance.

Lucas was even more irritated he cared. He consoled himself by thinking he was only concerned because if she got discarded her work performance would suffer, which would make him have to fire her. He would then have to take time away from his busy schedule to hire a new employee.

He was just about ready to storm over there, grab her arm and drag her away when his father approached him. “How you doing boy?” he asked far too slyly.

“Fine Father and you?” he automatically responded, not taking his eyes off of Amy.

Joseph was thinking that his plan was coming along just fine. His son was falling for Amy quickly and he didn’t even realize it. Joseph may as well push things along a bit more and help speed things up. In the game of love no one could lose.

“Don’t you think Amy and Mike look good together? She’s seemed a little lonely this past week,” he said.

“Mike’s a cad. I’m going to put a stop to this. You need to quit meddling in people’s lives Father,” Lucas said angrily.

“I’m sorry Lucas. I didn’t know you were interested in her. You know a boss shouldn’t have a romance with his employee,” he added. He knew his son well. There was nothing he enjoyed more than a challenge.

“I’m not interested in her," Lucas said, not fooling his father in the least. “I just know what kind of a man Mike is. He’ll break her heart and then her work will be affected. I’m only thinking of the work environment.” With those parting words he started walking in her direction.

Joseph chuckled to himself feeling downright giddy. Oh yes, his son was falling hard. He’d picked out the perfect match for him.

“Amy, we have some work to do," Lucas said as he approached her and Mike. He didn’t even acknowledge Mike’s presence. Mike, not wanting to upset the boss, slunk away without another word. Amy lost a bit of respect for him. She turned around, inwardly sighing.

“Yes sir, I’m sorry. I’ll get right on it,” Amy replied with her head held high while heading towards her office. She didn’t understand why he sounded so irritated. Everyone was at the party. It wasn’t like she was the one who’d thrown it.

Lucas followed her into the office, then stood there looming over her as she sat down. “I don’t like office romances, they cause nothing but trouble,” he informed her in his most stately tone of voice, which caused the hair on the back of her neck to stand up. She had to silently count to ten before responding.

“First of all, Mr. Anderson," she said through clenched teeth, “I was simply socializing with another employee. And second of all, who I do choose to have a romance with is none of your business.” Amy was surprised by the acid in her own voice

Suddenly he was only inches from her face. “When you work for me you will listen to what I say. Mike’s a womanizer and I don’t want to deal with the repercussions when he throws you out like stale bread and believe me, he will.”

Amy leaned back from him as her heart started beating hard. She was sure it was visible to him, even through her shirt. She forgot all about her anger with the man as the urge to reach out and grab him was so overwhelming. She wanted Lucas. Everything about him screamed sex and if he leaned in a couple of more inches and claimed her mouth she would welcome it.

For what seemed like an eternity she couldn’t break contact with him. She felt liquid heat pooling inside of her.
Look away, look away, look away,
she shouted at herself until she finally found the will-power to turn her head, wondering how long they’d stood there face to face.

Realizing how close he was to her and also the intense desire he had to kiss her shocked Lucas enough into standing up straight and retreating from her office. Before he could think about it he slammed the door, causing the pictures on the wall to shake.

Lucas leaned against the door and willed his body to return to normal. He hadn’t felt so much desire for a woman since his college days. Even then he knew he’d possessed more control. If she hadn’t broken their eye contact he may have ended up taking her right there on her desk, just a few short feet away from hundreds of employees who could’ve walked in at any moment.

It was most definitely time to go work out and expend some of his pent up energy. He went down in his private elevator, avoiding Amy the rest of the day, choosing to communicate through email only. It seemed to be much safer that way for the both of them.

Insert from Melody Anne’s Breakthrough Young Adult Book

Midnight Fire – Rise of the Dark Angel

Prologue

There are worlds within worlds. There are galaxies beyond what we could ever imagine. How did it all come to be? How is there order within the chaos? Is there one master for all the universes, or are there many? We may never know the answers to these questions. All we will know is the story of our own lives.

The gods of our universe are kind and giving, but where there is light, darkness isn’t far behind. Where there is good, evil lurks around the corner. How long until the darkness extinguishes the light?

Can one choice ultimately be the end of all mankind? Could we survive the apocalypse? I know we can because I lived through it. Or at least I’ve lived so far. I’ve learned more in the last few years than any one person should know. I’ve seen real terror, but I’ve also seen pure light. I’m scared. I’m so afraid for the people I love. I’m even more afraid for the world I’ve always known.

The darkness is so overwhelming. It pulses with an unbearable evil I wish I didn’t know existed. How could something so horrible happen? How could mankind turn against each other? Are we that susceptible to the whispering in our ears? Please, don’t forget me. Please, don’t forget we can survive, but only if we ban together.

Chapter One

“You say you have faith in them. You say they’re righteous, yet you don’t believe your own words,” Vyco snarled. Josiah simply smiled at his enemy, even though the demon was affecting him with his words. He wouldn’t give Vyco the satisfaction of knowing it, though.

“You won’t get me to fight you, Vyco. You wouldn’t win, anyway,” Josiah told him.

“I may have believed that ages ago, but you’re growing weaker the longer we exist. You aren’t so strong in your convictions. If you were, you’d have more faith in your children,” Vyco said, taunting Josiah.

“I have complete faith in my children, which is why I give them free will,” Josiah stated in the same calm manner.

“You call it free will, but is it really that, indeed? You still protect them from me. You still won’t let them make up their minds. Each time I’ve stepped in, you’re right there to block me. How is that free will?” Vyco taunted.

Josiah thought about his enemies words. The demon was the epitome of evil but he hadn’t always been that way. They were brothers and had once been closer than any other two beings. They’d battled - neither of them backing down from their beliefs. That’s when they’d fallen on opposite sides. Josiah had chosen the light, while Vyco chose the darkness. Vyco liked having the freedom to do whatever pleased him. Josiah chose to still be held accountable to a higher power than even him.

“I give my children free will, though it hurts me at times to do so,” Josiah said, feeling pain for those he’d lost.

“To truly give them free will, you can’t interfere. You must let them choose their own path, even if that path takes them from you,” Vyco drilled home his point. Josiah knew where the conversation was leading. He could’ve stopped it, but he realized Vyco had a valid point. How much free will was he really giving his children?

He’d created the planet Earth, giving it what it needed in order to thrive. Then, he’d plucked different creatures from many worlds, placing them together on one planet. He’d needed to prove the universe was inherently good and all the worlds could come together as one.

His children, as he considered them to be, had disappointed him many times over but he’d never once given up on them. Or, had he? Was he giving up by not having faith they’d resist Vyco’s evil whispers?

Vyco looked at Josiah as he struggled within himself to find answers. He fought an internal battle. Josiah knew he was giving Vyco exactly what he wanted, but he also knew his children could pull through.

“Why do you feel you need to be here, Vyco? There are so many other worlds and universes where you could go. You could create your own galaxy where you’d have free reign,” Josiah said. He was surprised he’d never asked the question before.

“Because, my dear brother, I can’t leave until I’ve proven you’re wrong,” Vyco stated with another snarl. Josiah looked at the demon he’d once trusted beyond any other being.

“You sadden me, Vyco. You’ve turned into something unimaginable. Why not leave and let us both get on with our existences?” Josiah asked.

“I will make a deal with you, Josiah. I’ve grown quite fond of earth. Many of your children are quite susceptible to my wishes, even though others have been saved by you, one too many times. If you agree to this deal, the winner will get this precious planet,” Vyco stated.

“There’s no deal I’d ever wish to make with you,” Josiah said, sounding more like the true god he was. Vyco cringed from Josiah’s wrath, but still, he didn’t give up.

“If you fully let your children have free will and don’t interfere with their decisions and they still choose goodness, then I will leave, forever,” Vyco said temptingly. “But, if they fall because they don’t have you whispering in their ear, they become mine and you will start over somewhere else,” Vyco stated, salivating at the mouth from just the thought of such a thing.

“How would it be fair for you to have free reign, causing chaos without my Angels stepping in to help?” Josiah questioned.

“I didn’t say your Angels couldn’t step in. I said you couldn’t,” Vyco said. Josiah sat back and pondered what Vyco was asking of him.

“If I weren’t able to step in, then you couldn’t either,” Josiah stated. Vyco cringed once again. Josiah could see the wheels turning in the demon’s head. He was thinking of a way around the stipulation.

“I could agree to that but to make this more fair, only one from each side will know what’s truly going on. You may pick one of your most trusted Angels and I’ll pick one of my Dark Angels to consult with. They won’t get to run interference with the others but they’ll keep an eye on things, making sure you don’t cheat. My demons will whisper in one ear, while your Angels whisper in the other. I guarantee if you aren’t there to guide your people, they’ll choose my way every time,” Vyco said with evil glee.

“Vyco, you have such little faith. You think all humans will take the easy way out. You believe they’ll steal instead of pay, or hate instead of love. You’re wrong. If they have the choice to choose love or hate, they’ll choose love,” Josiah said with confidence.

“I disagree, Josiah, but if you’re so confident bind this agreement and we’ll see what happens to your planet,” Vyco said eagerly, while pulling out the golden rope. If they bound the agreement, it was done and neither of them could break the bind or true death could follow and they’d cease to eternally exist. They would be pulled before the higher council and whatever decision they made would be final. There was no such thing as an appeal in that realm.

“I see you’re hesitating, my brother,” Vyco said once again with glee. Josiah did have faith in his people but to not help when they called would kill him. To have Vyco out of their lives for good would mean a whole new world, though.

“There needs to be a time frame, Vyco. If there’s still a draw in the end, then you depart,” Josiah said. He wouldn’t bend from that condition. Vyco hesitated. He knew the stipulation could end up costing him everything but then again he had nothing to lose. He’d seen what was in the human heart. There was far more evil than good.

“Ten years, Josiah and you’ll watch the fall of your humans, though I’m sure it will take far less time,” Vyco stated viciously. Josiah once again hesitated. He closed his eyes, praying for wisdom. Would it be the right thing to do? Would he be damning his children, or setting them free? He felt warmth spread through him and knew he had his answer.

When Josiah’s eyes opened, Vyco once again took a step back from the power and beauty shining through him. Josiah knew Vyco was rethinking his plan in the face of Josiah’s power. He also knew the demon would never back down, for fear of seeming cowardly in his own eyes.

Josiah extended his arm and waited. The decision was now up to Vyco. He could back down and crawl away, or step up and bind their agreement. Josiah pulled his own binding rope out, shining brighter than earth’s sun.

Vyco finally stepped forward and grasped Josiah’s hand. He withered a bit from the pure light and power shining from Josiah. He couldn’t pull free, though, as the binding had begun. They both wrapped the cords around their joined hands.