Corporate Plaything (14 page)

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Matt sighed. Why did the bad guys always come up with such idiotic lines just like in the movies? Matt felt compelled to give the man a little persuasion to spit out the truth. Azurian style. He grabbed his arm and broke a couple of his bones with the hilt of
Shadow Black
. The man howled.

“Now, let’s try again. Where’s Joseph Vincent?”

“In the corner room. Next to the generator!”

Matt released him. The man slumped on the floor, whimpering in agony about his arm. He looked so pathetic, Matt itched to break his leg so he would have something else to moan about. Matt caught Justin’s eyes. His brother seemed to read his mind.

“Don’t.” Justin brushed past him. “Let’s go.”

Matt turned around and followed Justin. They strode along the dimly lit passageway until they found the corner room. Matt kicked it open. The low hum of the generator welcomed them. The place was dark.

Justin groped the sidewall until he found the light switch. What they saw sent waves of rage through Matt’s veins.

Joseph Vincent lay broken with his wrists chained on the generator’s pipe. He had been severely beaten and was unconscious. Matt swung
Shadow Black
and cut the handcuffs. Justin knelt and checked Anna’s father’s pulse.

“He’s very weak. I don’t think he will make it if we bring him to the hospital. We need Ralph.”

“Shall we bring him straight to Azura, then?” Matt asked. He tried to remember if there were any beaches near the Queens area. Any nymph could head to Netherworld as fast as a blink of the eye when they touched ocean water and evoked their magic.

“We should be hasty.” Justin carefully lifted Joseph Vincent’s head.

Matt gritted his teeth.

“What’s the matter?” Justin asked.

“I’m going to kill Koleniskov.”

Chapter Seven

One week later

Justin pushed the remote to close the blinds on his office windows and leant back in his chair, watching Matt scrutinise the documents in front of him. Today was the last day for him and his brothers to be on the surface world. After sunset, they would drive to the beach and head to Azura.

Matt put down the papers. “All seems to be in order.”

“No regrets whatsoever?”

“This stupid company? You’re kidding me? You know I’m not fond of this surface world.”

Justin snorted. He knew that too well. Matthew loathed living in the heart of the human population. “Well, sign it and we’re all set.”

Matt plucked the pen from his jacket pocket and scribbled some loopy signature on the paper. “There.” He pushed the documents across the desk.

Justin took it and skimmed it one more time. He and Ralph had signed the sale agreement of the Martel Design House to Takaya Corp, the company who ran the biggest department chain in Asia. With Matt’s signature, their company was no longer theirs.

Originally, Justin was thinking to leave everything behind after they brought Joseph Vincent to Azura. He and his brothers had already got what they wanted and their future awaited at home with their new bride. With second thoughts, Justin felt he couldn’t leave the company that employed more than sixty people without any explanation. His employees’ daily bread depended on him.

The day after they brought Anna’s father to Azura, Justin returned to New York and received a lucrative offer from Takaya Corp. The giant department chain company wanted to exclusively carry all Martels’ lines for the worldwide market.

Justin had a better idea. He offered them the sale of Martel Design House, saying that he and his brothers wanted to retire early. Takaya Corp snatched up the offer without a second glance. Starting next week, his employees would have new bosses. Justin was assured they would be fine under the new management. One of the clauses in their sale agreement that Justin demanded was that no downsizing was allowed. And as far as the profit from the sale of Martel Design House and all of their combined assets, everything would go to more than a dozen charity groups across the globe. He and his brothers had no need for human money in Azura.

Matt rose from his seat and walked towards the window. He peered at the cityscape beyond between the blinds and drew a deep breath of what sounded like profound satisfaction. Matt had disappeared for a few days after they took Joseph Vincent to Azura.

When his brother returned, he didn’t say anything, but from the look on his face, Justin guessed he had just settled the score with Koleniskov. Justin didn’t ask and he didn’t want to know what had really happened either. As much as he wanted to keep Matt out of trouble on the surface world, he couldn’t deny Matt’s true nature. He was a
suleeh
, the punisher, and his brother took it personally when someone hurt people he held most dear. After all, Joseph Vincent was soon to be their father-in-law.

“When Anna’s coming back?” Matt asked. He loosened his tie and took off his jacket.

“Soon, I suppose. Ralph’s only taking her shopping downtown.”

Matt leaned against the blinds, crossing his arms on his chest, sighing. “I can’t wait…”

The Claiming. Justin felt the same. The urge to complete the bonds had been nagging in the back of his mind since the day he saw her for the very first time. For every Azurian
chatharnak
, the rite of their adulthood wouldn’t be complete until they officially claimed their mate. “Mother has arranged the preparation for the rite. Once we return, we could…”

There was a knock on the door and before Justin could answer, it burst open and Anna’s smiling face emerged. “We’re back!”

Justin’s mouth fell open when he saw their mate’s new dress. She had left with Ralph earlier wearing a simple tee and jeans, and now Anna was wrapped in a French maid outfit. The black bustier wrapped the sheer peasant blouse underneath deliciously, and the short frock barely covered her ass when she walked. The black lacy stockings she wore contrasted against her creamy pale skin. The outfit came with a frilly apron and matching headdress. Suddenly, Justin felt his cock hardening.

Anna put the shopping bags on the floor. She strutted towards Matt and gave him a kiss on the cheek. He was also as speechless as Justin was. She then came to him and also gave him a peck on his cheek.

“Like it?” Anna flaunted her outfit. “We were passing a costume store on the way back and we couldn’t resist playing dress up.”

Ralph closed the door. He had dressed in a three-piece pinstripe suit with a cane and a high hat. “I’m supposed to be a nineteenth century wealthy businessman and the lovely Anna is my personal maid.”

“Ralph, you look like a pimp,” Matt noted with a snort.

“I might be, but my maid is hot.” Ralph took a seat in a chair with exaggeration. He snapped his fingers and drawled in a false British accent, “I am fatigued from the long walk. Mademoiselle, fetch me a cup of tea, would you?”

Anna curtsied. “Yes, sir.” She giggled and sauntered to the kitchenette in the adjoining room. Her curvy hips swayed deliciously as she walked and the short frock offered a glimpse of the white panties she wore.

Matt hissed. “Screw Azura. I want her now.”

Ralph gave him a funny look. “We can’t claim her here. The magic—”

“Still valid if we take her home before midnight,” Justin interjected. He didn’t think he could wait until Azura to claim their mate properly. According to Azurian law, once the exchange of liquid lust between the bonded mates was initiated and the joining commenced, a
chatharnak
had six hours to bring his human bride home so his mate would be granted a long lifespan just like most Netherfolks were.

“In that case.” Ralph took off his hat and shrugged out of his long-tailed coat. “I have special things in mind for my pretty maid.”

* * * *

Anna waited for the water in the kettle to boil. She caught her reflection in the cabinet’s glass and grinned. The past few days had been the happiest times she had experienced in years. No more Koleniskov and the syndicate. No more living under false pretence and guilt. She was reunited with her father, found her true mates, and the prospect of her future couldn’t have been brighter.

So, the men she ended up with weren’t entirely human, and after midnight, she would never see the world she knew ever again? She had decided it wasn’t a big deal. Anna wouldn’t miss it. Her old life had never been kind anyway. Besides, Azura sounded like a whole new adventure. Spending the rest of her life with Justin, Matt, and Ralph there, and she wouldn’t have to worry about losing her father because of his declining health anymore. Ralph had healed him. And somehow, Ralph’s magic had given his father back years of his youth as well. Her father was no longer a frail sick man, but the healthy, vigorous person she once remembered. With the unexpected turn of events, Anna felt like she had won a jackpot.

She had to admit she’d freaked out after she’d learned the truth for the first time. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined she would be claimed by three gorgeous, walking talking wet dreams. She had never thought that mystical beings really existed.

For a while, Anna felt as if she had been stranded in the Twilight Zone or something. She was always a logical person. Science freak. True sceptic. Being confronted by the fact that the men who had been her lovers for the past couple of weeks were actually warrior nymphs threw out everything she had believed. But she’d snapped out of it eventually.

Ralph had a long talk with her while Justin and Matt went back to New York to recover her father. What had touched her the most was that he and his brothers promised to love her and take care of her forever.

Love her forever. For better or worse. Always by her side.

She then realised that nothing else mattered. When a man, or in her case, three men, pledged to love her forever, she knew she had better take the offer. It didn’t matter if they were human or half-nymphs, true love was hard to find.

Anna had faced another dilemma when she had to break the news to her father. To her surprise, he had given her a cool acceptance, saying if that was what would make her happy, then he’d be happy as well. At first, she had a hard time with why her father was so easy to accept the whole thing. She had expected some kind of chastisement or scorn. Her father was quite old school. She hadn’t calculated that he would accept her ménage relationship with her mates quite so easily. But then her father had confided later on that he had always regretted he wasn’t able to provide a good life for her, and she had been in hardship all these years. And if Justin and his brothers could give her all the happiness she deserved, he was at peace with that.

The kettle whistled.

Anna poured the boiling water into the cup. She steeped the tea and dropped in two cubes of sugar and stirred it again. As she brought the cup to Justin’s office, she felt giddy. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw her mates, feeling surreal. Sometimes, she still had to pinch herself to remind herself she wasn’t dreaming. Who would think a plain gal like her could get hot guys like them? She was the luckiest girl in the world.

“Your tea, sir.” Anna set down the cup on the coffee table. “Is there anything else you need?” She had discovered that she loved role-playing.

For the past week, Ralph had taught her how to have fun and enjoy every moment in life at its fullest. She admitted she had always been a stiff-assed workaholic and never allowed herself to stop for a moment and smell the roses. But everything had changed now.

“As a matter of fact, I do. Please surrender your panties, you won’t be needing them,” said Ralph.

“Oh?” Her eyes widened. Ralph was up to no good.

“It’s my brother’s wish.” He waved to Justin.

Justin leant back on his chair and patted his desk. “Present yourself to me.”

That was eerily familiar. She recalled about three weeks ago being in the same position. Only at the time, she was confused, scared, and desperate for her father’s freedom from the syndicate. Now that she was no longer carrying a burden, she was definitely going to enjoy this game.

Anna made a flirtatious bow. “Yes, sir.” She lifted her skirt and slid her panties down her ankles.

Ralph watched her with lust in his eyes as she handed him what he wanted. He brought it to his nose and drew a lungful of air. He purred. “Nice.”

Anna giggled. She whirled around and stalked towards Justin. “Sir.” She hoisted herself on Justin’s desk and spread her legs, presenting herself as he ordered.

“Good girl,” Justin praised. His violet eyes blazed. He took each of her feet and planted them on his armrests. “Are you ready?”

Watching her pleasuring herself to completion? Wasn’t that what he wanted? Anna caught the underlying tone in his voice. “You mean…?”

“Yes,” Matt answered. He sat at the edge of Justin’s desk and looped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her in to give her a kiss. A hot, long kiss.

Anna felt lightheaded when he parted from her lips. “I’m ready,” she whispered. “I thought we were going to do it in Azura?”

“We simply can’t wait.” Justin rose from his chair. He took off his tie and suit jacket. Anna wanted to help him unbutton his shirt, but he tapped her nose with the tip of his finger. “Sit still.”

She abandoned her attempt and just watched. Ralph and Matt were also disrobing. Justin shrugged off his shirt and unbuckled his belt. His pants dropped a heartbeat later. He was hard; the bulge in his underwear was impressive. Anna couldn’t resist getting a hand on him. She groped and squeezed his erection. His cock jerked.

Justin let out a low growl. “Naughty girl.”

“Well, it is mine, isn’t it?”

“Of course,
sharime
.”

Justin let her pull his briefs down. His cock bobbed free. Thick and hard. Mouth-watering. Anna unconsciously swallowed her saliva. She stroked him, marvelling at the virile, hot flesh. A droplet of pre cum leaked from his tip. Anna leant down to lick him.

“Wait.” Justin halted her. “Do you know the rites?”

“We exchange tasting our…you know…”