Chapter Twenty-One:
Percy's POV
I had to make sure the little miss enrolled in the right business school before heading to base to finish sorting out the assassin problem. Luther was already tucked in bed when I left—he needed the rest, and today was Saturday.
Someone cleared their throat behind me, and I rolled my eyes as I turned.
"Took you long enough," I muttered.
She stood there with a proud expression on her face. Spinning around, she asked, "So, do I still look like a desperate bitch?"
I raised a brow. She was only wearing a branded dress—not even the latest in its collection—but she didn't need my honest opinion.
"Desperate bitch? No. Runt? Still yes."
Her expression flattened, and she huffed. "Second, come with me. We're taking the Rolls Royce."
Why did she say that like I wasn't allowed? Boldly enough, she slammed the door closed as I approached and signaled the driver to move. The betrayal I felt when the driver actually did was palpable, and the BMW rolled towards me.
"Did you see that, Third?" I turned to the young man watching us from the window. "A good Samaritan like me just got trashed."
He shrugged. "I'd trash you if you called me a runt too." He quickly closed the window and disappeared inside.
Unbelievable. Even my own butlers weren't on my side. I sighed and got into the BMW. As long as she'd be trapped doing actual brainwork at business school, she wouldn't have time to bother me, and my cars and butlers would be at my disposal.
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Percy's POV
Luther kept his head buried in a document, so I opened the door for him or he would've crashed into it. He nodded and kept going, and I turned back to the little miss's room.
Somehow, watching her sleep was therapeutic—maybe because it was my bed, the one that healed my insomnia.
"Hey," Luther called. "Don't go back there. We're staying in your room, right?"
I closed the door. "Didn't you say your room?"
He shrugged. "I don't want you to wake Edward. He's been staying in my room these days."
I raised a brow. I hadn't known that. His little brother had been more concerned about Luther lately, and today's visit was due to his request. I hoped the incidents hadn't begun to worry him.
They'd recently lost their mother, and now their older brother was all they had. It steeled my resolve to protect Luther from the conspirators. Nothing could replace him now.
"Do you remember Liunel?" Luther asked, snapping me from my thoughts. "I just saw the iconic contract they drafted with Xexi. It's crazy how they're still one of the biggest shareholders."
I rolled my eyes. Just another creepy pack. They contributed nothing but money, didn't attend meetings, and their representatives always wanted preferential treatment when they visited.
Of course, I knew this because I was usually the one cleaning up their messes—Luther was too nice.
"What do they have to say about the director's demise?" I asked.
Luther looked away from the document. "They only gave their condolences. Nothing... else."
"What else did they say?" I asked again, noting how he'd worded his response. I knew his speech patterns, and he was holding something back.
He hummed. "They said they hoped her demise wouldn't affect Xexi's productivity. I don't know if it was a joke or not." He forced a chuckle.
My fists clenched. How heartless could those mangy dogs be! The director's death wouldn't affect productivity? Like hell, it wouldn't! And they had the audacity to say that to her son's face?
"And you don't think it's a threat?" I frowned. "You should've told security to throw them out and freeze their accounts. Xexi doesn't need them as much as they need Xexi."
Sometimes, even Luther forgot that Xexi was already self-made. He was a lot like his father—easygoing, too agreeable, and willing to let others bully him while he suffered in silence.
I wouldn't tell him to be any louder; they might kill him like they did his mother. But he couldn't just stomach everything. I sighed, rubbing my face.
I'd have to handle this myself. "Finish those documents and head to your room. I won't join you."
He nodded meekly and left with the documents. I really wished he could get angry sometimes, but maybe that was too much for someone like Luther.
"Liam, yes," I said when my call went through. "Night work. Liunel Enterprises. You mentioned they're sending supplies to their pack this week, right? Are they done yet?"
"No, the last one's going out today. Do you want to intercept it?" He sounded eager and ready.
He knew I would. Since it was the last supply, it was probably the extra goods they arranged in case something went wrong—and something would go wrong. I wasn't connected to them in any way, so their welfare didn't concern me. The innocent pack members wouldn't necessarily suffer, only the top management would bear the loss.
"Kindly burn it. Make sure it causes enough traffic to make headlines. Let Liunel Enterprises trend tomorrow for the mistake of their driver and vehicle."
Liam let out a satisfied sigh. He'd probably been itching to blow off some steam since the assassin attacked his place. Setting things on fire was good therapy for him.
"Of course, if the goods are worth it, you can sell them. Just be careful it doesn't trace back to your boys," I added as an extra precaution.
His response was positive, and I cut the call.
Liunel Pack was the second-largest pack in North America and might be in good standing with the little miss's pack. I'd heard they were on the decline and might not hold that position for long. Not my problem.
I thought of going back to Luther but decided to let him concentrate. Besides, I didn't want to wake Edward. As I crossed to the other mansions, I ran into my mother in the living room.
"Shouldn't you be getting your beauty sleep?" I asked.
She smiled. "And you?"
"I'm on my way."
She nodded slowly. "Seraphina became an orphan today. Take it easy on her, will you?"
Did that mean she didn't believe everything the little miss had said? That made me feel better. "I'll try. She's very primal, though, and I don't know how to fix that."
My mother frowned slightly, so I swallowed the rest of my words. Sure, all ladies are beautiful, but my eyes weren't that deceitful.
"The business school will improve her. They do more than just teach empire management." My mother stood. "One day, she'll return, and you won't even have the chance to talk to her."
Yeah, right.
"She'll have a confident light about her," my mother smiled, "and people will be drawn to it."
That wasn't a lie.
"Well, good for her. Starting business school means more protection and more work for my boys, so she better learn all she can," I said, folding my arms.
My mother shook her head, walking to her room. "Good night and sleep well. I'll be trusting you with her safety."
I watched her leave before stepping out of the building. There wouldn't be much sleep for me tonight, not with everything happening. I couldn't let anything happen to that family.