Chapter 10

After ending the call, Lilith shot me an icy look. "You heard what I said. Go pick up Adam and book us a room." I couldn't care less who she decided to sleep with. Adam Ziegler no doubt had easy virtues just like her. What I did care about was the contract she wanted me to approve. "Ms. Storm," I began. "This contract is problematic. The Zieglers, to my knowledge, have been plagued by financial troubles. I'm worried that—" "How dare you, Leon! You're just a mutt mooching off my family's goodwill! You will do as I ask without question!" she thundered, cutting me off. I frowned. "In that case, Ms. Storm, feel free to sign off on the deal. I won't be handling any part of this collaboration, either." "What did you just say?" Lilith screeched. Before I could react, she kicked me, and I fell to the floor on my rump. "How dare you speak to me that way? Your job is to sign that document; if you refuse, you can get the hell out of here!" She thought she held power over me, believing her family and company gave her an advantage. Little did she know my presence was solely due to a contract with Yaeger that would expire in less than a month. I pinned Lilith with a hard stare and knew there was no point in arguing with her. As such, my only option was to speak to Adam directly about this. Without another word, I left the office and drove to the residential area where Adam was waiting in one of the villas. "My, my, if it isn't the Storm family's lapdog," he drawled, shoving his hands into his pockets and looking me over with contempt. For a former scion whose family was knee-deep in debt, he certainly had the gall to look down his nose at me. What an interesting character indeed. "Open the door for me," he barked. "You could at least have some good sense, even if you're a dog." He kicked the car door as he shot me a challenging look, daring me to rise to the bait. I barely tolerated the idea of picking him up. If he thought I would concede and open the door for him, he was wrong. I resisted the urge to tell him that being ugly did not give him the license to be stupid, or conceited. "Ms. Storm is waiting for you," I said curtly. "If you want to see her as soon as possible, you'll have to open the door yourself and get in the car." Adam blew his fuse. "How dare you speak to me that way! I could make you kneel before me with just a phone call, you know!" What a buffoon. I wondered if he even had a brain up in that head of his. I didn't bother getting into an argument with him, so I said, "Go ahead and call Ms. Storm. She'll be angry, but if she gets into a foul mood, you won't be getting any action tonight." Lilith's mood swings were spectacularly volatile. To her, men were no better than toys. Whatever docile façade she put on for the benefit of her bed warmers would vanish the moment she pulled on her clothes. Adam clenched his jaw after he heard my warning, but he got my message loud and clear. He opened the door and begrudgingly got into the car. I could tell he was keen on getting into bed with Lilith, and not just because she was a beauty—he was plowing her for money, too. "Drive!" Adam ordered angrily. I kept my face bland as I stepped on the gas, but I did not forget why I agreed to come and pick him up. "Mr. Ziegler, I've gone through the contract your family drew up. I suggest you take it back." Adam snorted. "Are you giving me orders now, Leon? Don't you know your place? Who are you to boss me around? I'll have Ms. Storm sign off on the deal. What are you going to do about it?" I said flatly, "The Zieglers are in dire straits financially, and I know you desperately need the money. Ms. Storm is close enough to you that you could probably get her to fund whatever business proposition you've come up with. "But you can forget about this collaboration. You don't have to listen to me, of course. I'll just have Mr. Storm read the contract, and we'll hear what he has to say about it. I'm sure he'll figure out your plans right away." Upon hearing this, Adam blanched. He knew I could make good on my threat. I hardly ever bothered Yaeger on trivial work matters, seeing as I was empowered as an assistant to run the company according to the by-laws. I would be a failure if I had to run to Yaeger every time I encountered a problem. But that did not mean I was a tiger without claws. I would push back when necessary. Ignoring Adam for the rest of the drive, I dropped him off at the hotel and escorted him to the room. I left after that. Lilith called me not moments later.