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The Inheritor Of The Houston Empire 1• Panties in the Car!
Under the bright afternoon sun of New York City, Matthew Donovan scooped a bowel full of water and splashed it on top of the dull sedan he was scrubbing down at the car wash.His phone suddenly buzzed loudly, vibrating inside the pocket of his jeans. Calmly, Matthew wiped his damp hands before fishing out the phone. Glancing at the screen, a smile lit up his weary face. It was his girlfriend, Ashley, and she was just what he needed to brighten up his day.He accepted the call. “Hey Ashley, what's up?”“Matty, I need $300, like right away!” Ashley had a sweet voice, but as usual, she was very direct. “I just found this gorgeous necklace, and I want to buy it before someone snatches it away.”The earlier smile on Matthew’s face quickly disappeared. He knew how much Ashley loved her jewelry, but he also didn't have that kind of money with him. “Uh… Ashley?”He could sense her frown through the call. “What is it!?”“I only have $200 on me right now. Can't it wait until—”“No, Matt! It can
The Inheritor Of The Houston Empire 2• Betrayal
Matthew was numb, his eyes were locked on Ashley but he just stood there, not knowing what to say or what to do.Her expression shifted from anger to shock, and soon she began to avoid his gaze.As he connected the dots—the underwear in his hand, her earlier furious accusations, and the look on her face now—everything fell into place for Matthew.Now, she felt like a stranger. But a stranger's betrayal wouldn't cut this deep.“Ashley,” he finally managed to say, his voice was low and trembling with emotions that were barely restrained. “You cheated on me?”Ashley’s mouth opened and closed as she struggled to find the right words. Not that Matthew would believe a word out of her mouth.“Matthew, I—” she stammered, taking a hesitant step back. “It’s not what you think, I—”“Then what is it?!” Matthew found himself almost yelling. “How can you do this to me?! I’ve given you everything I could! All these years, all the sacrifices I made... was it not enough? Was I not enough?”“Well, isn'
The Inheritor Of The Houston Empire 3• Beaten in Prison
Matthew sat on the cold, hard bench in the police station, his head still throbbing, his ribs aching and his entire body weary from the earlier ordeal.Out of nowhere, three men in black suits had arrived and picked him up from the car wash, forcefully taking him to the police station. So there he was, handcuffed with his face low as he regretted his life.He regretted ever meeting Ashley! He regretted falling in love with her!Policemen walked about in the station, there were low voices and the clattering of keys. It was a busy day, and no one cared to listen to his pleas of innocence.“Look at you,” Darrell Ferguson, who was standing just a few feet away, sneered. He was flanked by two officers who seemed more like his personal guards than upholders of the law.“Pathetic, useless thing. You thought you could stand up to me? You, a mere car washer against the man who runs this city? You're as stupid as you're poor! You’re nothing, Matthew. Nothing but a worthless piece of trash.”Eve
The Inheritor Of The Houston Empire 4• Most Important Client
“Get him cleaned up!” the chief commanded the officer. “And bring him to my office. Now.”The officer, along with another that had just arrived, scrambled to obey. They lifted Matthew and half-dragged him to the station's medical room where they hastily patched up his wounds, cleaned the blood and urine with a wet rag, then wore him old, lost and found clothes.Although he was too dazed to comprehend what was happening, Matthew had caught snippets of their nervous conversation. Who was this Harold Wellington and why had he come for him? Matthew had no friends in high places, no connections to power. It made no sense.Within minutes, he was ushered into the chief's office where a man in an expensive tailored suit stood by the window, holding a briefcase. He had dark hair, and his eyes were sharp behind his pair of glasses as he assessed Matthew.‘Who is this?’ Matthew wondered. ‘What is going on?’“You harmed him,” the man said to the police chief once he was done with his assessment.
The Inheritor Of The Houston Empire 5• The Houston Family
Matthew sat on the black, plush leather seat inside an expensive Jeep that was being driven by a stern chauffeur. In his mind, he was trying to put together the events that had just happened because none of it made sense to him.Maybe one of the men had hit his head so hard and he was imagining all of this. Beside him was Harold Wellington, the powerful lawyer who for some reason had come to his rescue. Although he felt too overwhelmed to ask them, Matthew needed his questions to be answered.“Why are you helping me?” Matthew finally asked Wellington. “I don’t even know who you are.”Wellington glanced at him briefly, an assuring look on his face. “I understand how confused and overwhelmed you might be after all of this. But I assure you it will be fine, Matthew. My name is Harold Wellington. I'm your family's lawyer—your true family, the Houston family.”Matthew blinked. “Houston family? I've heard that a lot today. I don't know who they are so I don't understand what you're talking
The Inheritor Of The Houston Empire 6• We Will See Whose Face Will Be Laughed At
“So because you are the manager of some family business then you think you can mock me?” Matthew asked with a voice that even though was calm, carried his frustration of everything he had been through today.“Ah, so the hick can talk, hm?” Spencer Delacroix mocked, a shark-like grin on his face. “You should learn to watch your mouth. My family is very powerful. We even have deep ties with the Houston family, which is even why I'm here; to discuss business and cooperation. But instead, I have to endure the presence of a beggar like you, sullying this reception hall with your rags.”“You are the one who should learn to watch his mouth,” Wellington said with a stern voice. “The Delacroix family is a small enterprise, your family is barely worth half of the Houston family’s wealth. The matriarch of the family hasn’t even granted you an audience, and yet you dare to humiliate the young master of the Houston family?”Spencer's eyes widened with amusement and he glanced at Matthew, who was s
The Inheritor Of The Houston Empire 7• The Matriarch's Wrath
The presence of the matriarch commanded the utmost respect. She hadn't even said a word, and yet an aura oozed out of her as she walked into the reception hall. She was dressed in an elegant but understated suit, and she walked royally as though she was twenty years younger. Her hair was silver and had been impeccably styled and packed behind her head. The bodyguards that had opened the door for her walked dauntlessly by her sides and scanned the room with their military eyes. Spencer Delacroix gulped. But realizing that this was the woman he needed to impress, he did not waste any time, he rushed forward eagerly, walking past Wellington and Matthew, desperate to make a good impression despite the earlier fiasco. “Mrs Houston!” he said with a big smile. “It’s an honor to see you! I am Spenc—” But the old lady didn’t so much as glance in his direction. It was almost like he wasn't even there, like his presence was meaningless compared to the grandness of the matriarch. Her shar
The Inheritor Of The Houston Empire 8• Billionaire Card
Inside the Delacroix family’s corporate office, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Spencer Delacroix stood in front of his father in his office, heart pounding, knowing how strict his father was and how much he'd fucked up.Across the large mahogany desk, Edgar Delacroix was glaring at his son with disappointment and anger. A slim, shrewd man in a suit was standing beside him, he was John Lockhart, their family lawyer, and in his hand was a file.“Father, I’m so sorry,” Spencer begged. “I did not realize wh—”“Shut up, Spencer!” Edgar roared. “Shut up and listen to Mr. Lockhart and what he has to say. You must realize the consequences of what you have done. He will list all the names of the powerful families that have severed their ties with the Delacroix business — our business!”Spencer's heart dropped.“Go ahead, Mr. Lockhart.”The shrewd lawyer turned over a page on the file. “The Valences, the Turners, the Maronis, the Carters, the Davidsons, and the Wests,” the lawyer announ
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175 • What the Houstons Want
Ashley's heart dropped when she noticed the determination in Richard's eyes, by all means he was willing to keep her there.“Please you have to let me go, I need to go home.”He patted the spot beside him on the bed as he smiled widely. “C’mon don't be stubborn, come and sit here with me,” he said. From inside the car Charles knew that they still had to find a way to manage the situation while they waited for the police. “Ask him how long he wants you to stay,” Charles said. Ashley swallowed the lump forming in her throat. “H– how long do you want me to stay here with you?”The way she looked into her eyes made a shiver run down her spine. “Honey, what is giving you this illusion that you're going to leave?” She slowly backed away from him as her mind started to race with multiple options. If she attacked him now maybe she would still be able to run for it. But then the guards outside would probably see her, they certainly wouldn't let her leave this place alive if they were to f
174 • No for an Answer
Ashley had kept the camera at a high vantage point in the room, and when she started to undress Matthew and Charles had to look away. To some extent Matthew felt sorry for her, the fact that she had to do things like this just to make money and keep face was sad. But then it was her choice to make, Ashley had always been overly ambitious but not even half as hardworking. She wanted things to be handed to her easily and wouldn't mind doing anything just to get quick money. As usual Richard had used her to relieve his sexual frustrations, and they went on for several minutes. Finally Richard was knocked out after he had climax and he was lying down on the bed with Ashley against his chest.She didn't move an inch and she simply waited for him to sleep off. “Ashley what's up? Is Richard still awake?” Charles asked as he tapped his earpiece so his sound could get transmitted. The tiny sound receiver in her ear screeched to life. “Yes.” She quietly inched away from him, careful not t
173 • In Due Time
Xander's hands gripped the steering tightly as he drove home, eyes fixed on the road ahead. He still didn't know what to make of the conversation that he had just had with Lola. His phone started to ring, disrupting the silence in the car. He raised an eyebrow and looked towards the passenger seat to see who it was, but it was an unknown caller. He wondered who could be trying to contact him so he slowly reached out with his other hand, while he kept one hand on the wheel. He swiped up to accept the call. “Hello, who is this?” He asked, raising one eyebrow. An awkward silence stretched out and it seemed like the person on the other side didn't want to say anything, however he could hear their breathing. “Hello,” he asked again. “Xander,” the masculine voice sounded. His eyes grew wide as his pulse quickened. He knew far too well whose voice it was. “Dad.” He brought his car to a slow stop by the sidewalk. “Where are you?” he asked, the urgency evident in his voice.“Son, I can
172 • Back Against the Wall
Xander was by the balcony when he heard footsteps approaching. He turned to see that it was his mother Martha. “How are you doing son?” She asked in a soft tone.His body tensed up and he couldn't bear to look her in the eyes. “How do you think I'm doing? After finding out everything that I just did, I'm not okay.”“I know that growing up your father never really allowed us to bond, but I hope you know that I love you, I always have.”At that moment it was like a heart broke into a million pieces. He stepped forward and enveloped her in a hug.”They had never shared this kind of vulnerability before. The moment was perfect and they remained like that for a long time.“All those years of enduring torture with him, you should have just left.”“Yes I should have, and you know, I considered it at some point, but the only thing that kept me was you. I knew that if I ever left you Raymond would make sure that I never saw you again.”Now he was beginning to understand his mother more; she e
171 • Money for the Birkin
Back in the hotel room Edward and Vito had just finished making love to each other and they were resting on the bed. Obviously none of them had seen Vanessa in the lobby. “You are so beautiful Vito,” Edward said to her, stroking her lips. She blushed a little at the compliment. “Thank you,” she said in response. “You should check your phone. I have sent you some of the money for the things that you asked for.”Her eyes grew wide. “You sent me money for the Birkin and the car?” He nodded. She kissed him again multiple times. “Thank you so much.”He got up from the bed and started to dress up, “I need to return home now, they might start to wonder just where I have been.”Vito smiled, “I’ll also return to the condo now.” When Edward was done getting ready he left the room and exited the hotel. He didn't want to leave at the same time with her because he knew that it could easily get people talking. She was on the bed smiling excitedly when she pulled out her phone and called Ashl
170• Anderson Cabrera
He didn't even bother to wait for Vanessa to wake up before he left the hotel room. He got into the cab outside and left. While the driver was still moving towards the hospital where he was supposed to meet with Amelia, since that was where he was told to come meet her, he blocked Vanessa's number immediately.He was hired by Amelia for a mission which he had just completed so now he had no reason to pretend that he was even into Vanessa.The whole time Amelia had hired him as a part of her revenge plan against Vanessa. His real name wasn't even Anderson Cabrera it was just a name he had made up so he could be with Vanessa.When he got to the hospital he had it straight to Amelia's room and she was alone in the room thankfully.“Ma’am what happened to you, it seems like you got into an accident or something.”Amelia immediately brushed it off; she cared more about what he had come to deliver to her. “ Don't forget about it, the most important thing is that I'm alive and I'm recoverin
169 • Surgery Booking
Vanessa drove to the hotel and parked her car outside, she made sure to wear her shades properly as she felt like it would conceal her identity. What she was about to do was very scandalous for somebody of her status. When she got to the reception she looked at the lady. “I need one of the luxury rooms,” she said.The receptionist quickly typed in something on her computer before she raised her head to face Vanessa. "Okay, that will be one thousand dollars.”Vanessa handed over her black card and then the girl immediately swiped it and made the payment. “Please do enjoy your stay here ma'am.”“Oh I will,” Vanessa replied with a smirk on her face. After getting the room details and the key card, she made her way to the elevator and then headed upstairs.When she was there she entered the room. The wooden floors and monochromatic color in the room gave it a very luxurious feel, and the intricate detail to the ceiling design was just stunning. She gently settled on the bed, noticing ho
168 • Catch Feelings
Vanessa walked into the hospital with a wide grin on her face, she was putting on sunshades which he had to adjust.Her assistant Tiffany was holding everything that she had brought and was finding it hard to keep up because the huge flower was obscuring her vision. She was also trying to make sure that the box of chocolates didn't fall from her hand.Vanessa reached the reception and she leaned forward. “Hello there, good day I came to see Amelia Houston.”The receptionist looked up at her. “Good day madam, are you a relative or close friend?”Vanessa's smile faded but she struggled to keep it up. “Yes you can consider me a close family friend.” She felt extremely disgusted for even saying those words out loud. The receptionist quickly typed something into a keyboard before she raised her head again to show her the way. “Ma’am you can just go straight down and then turn to your left, it's room A7.”“Thank you very much darling,” Vanessa said and then she turned to face Tiffany gestu
167 • Safety Guarantee
Xander still had his back flattened against the wall and when he heard what she said he immediately left before he would be spotted.He knew that Lola didn't exactly say anything wrong, but the idea that she still had some residual feelings for Matthew bothered him deeply.He leaned against the wall at the end of the hallway and pretended like he had been there the whole time. “Are you done talking to your grandmother? Was she okay?”Xander nodded slowly. “Let me drop you off at home.”“Oh…” Lola was a bit taken aback, his offer was sudden and brash. “Okay it seems like you have somewhere important you need to be?”“Yeah I need to go to the mansion and take care of some things,” he lied, pressing his hands against the bridge of his nose. She nodded and then they left together. But before she totally exited the hospital, she looked back at Matthew, just to glance at him for a second.Even though Lola knew that feelings didn't just disappear into thin air, and that she would obviously