ANGEL'S WRATH by SK (SIN CITY HEAT) (4 page)

 
 
 
 
He missed his parents more than he could put into words and had always expected them to reconcile, become a family again. Unfortunately, he'd been estranged from them at the time of their death. Now it was too late. Angel had no one to blame but himself for the wedge that had been inserted into the family unit which eventually succeeded in tearing them apart. While still in high school, he dropped out and began hanging in the streets. When his activities turned criminal, his parents washed their hands of him.

 
 
 
 
 
“Angel, we’re here.”

 
 
 
 
Jolted back to the present as Dre, his driver and bodyguard, pulled up in front of the restaurant, Angel blinked, shaking off the
 
after effects of the trip down memory lane. He needed to focus on this meeting because it was too important. Once the contract was signed, it would finally put him in a position to achieve what he had been working towards since he’d found out the truth about his parents’ death. This, more than anything else, had driven him to achieve more wealth and power. All of the illegal activities he was involved in became a means to an end in order to get to this point.

 
 
 
 
Once inside the restaurant, Angel and Matt followed the hostess to a private dining room where the meeting was taking place.
Angel barely noticed the magnificence of the decor. The sophisticated, old money elegance screamed exclusivity while still maintaining a cosmopolitan, urban ambiance. However, it could've been the worst dive in Vegas for all Angel cared. The only thing that mattered tonight was him leaving with what he'd come for, and he had no doubt he would.

 
 
 
Upon entering the dining room, a man who looked to be in his mid-thirties stood up, introducing himself as the head of the legal department at
Davidson World Corp
. His pale features were framed by a shock of neatly cut black hair. Light blue eyes peered from behind the frames of thick lensed glasses as he extended his hand first to Angel then Matt.

 
 
 
 
“Mr. LaCroix. I'm Neil Breckinridge. It’s nice to finally meet you after all of those business calls.” The man smiled pleasantly, studying Angel as they shook hands. To say this was one of the oddest deals
DWC
had ever brokered would be an understatement. Up to this point, meetings were conducted via numerous conference calls, a flurry of faxes, and endless emails. "I’m afraid Mr. Davidson will be a little late and sends his apologies. The company jet was delayed due to the horrendous weather the east has been experiencing, but I assure you he will be here momentarily. Until he arrives..." He nodded to the woman standing beside him. "We have full authority to act on his behalf.”

 
 
 
 
“Hello, Neil. And please…call me Angelo. It’s nice to meet you as well.” Angel swung his attention to the attractive woman staring back at him. With an inherent ease perfected through experience, he kept his facial features expressionless. Angel's amused eyes glided over a curvaceous shape she tried to hide underneath a dark blue, pinstriped power suit. The gray, silk blouse that caressed her full breasts was her only concession to femininity.

 
 
 
 
 
Neil noticed Angel staring intently at the woman and smiled as he performed the introductions. “Angelo, this is Nicole Randolph. She’s the senior investment analyst for the company.”

 
 
 
 
When Nicole stretched out her hand, Angel's larger one curled around it. His attention never left her face, wondering if her dark, brown skin was as satiny smooth as it appeared. Her warm, chocolate eyes practically dominated her face.

 
 
 
 
Nicole cleared her throat and pointedly glanced down at their clasped hands.

 
 
 
 
Angel raised an eyebrow, letting her know he was well aware of the fact that he still had her hand captured in his. Waiting several seconds more, he deliberately released his hold, making it clear he let go only because he was ready to do so. His eyes traveled over the delicate blouse again.

 
 
 
 
Everything about her screamed uptight, professional businesswoman, but behind closed doors, something told him she would transform into a fucking tigress, one Angel would love to tame. His nostrils flared when he thought about her claws digging into his back as he made the tigress purr like a kitten.

 
 
 
 
The corner of Angel's lips lifted knowingly when she exhaled in a slight huff. Irritation exploded like fireworks in Nicole's eyes before her lashes swept down, but not before Angel noticed her annoyance.

 
 
 
 
His smile widened as he tilted his head to the side, reevaluating his first impression of her. Hmm. Maybe the tigress’ purr was more of a roar when she got riled up and excited. He couldn't wait to find out.

 
 
 
 
"Shall we get started, Mr. LaCroix?" Nicole's voice held a hint of a challenge.

 
 
 
 
"By all means, Ms. Randolph. I'm more than ready."

 
 
 
 
Nicole's eyes narrowed. The words were uttered innocently enough, but it was Angel's tone that made her pause. Confused at the vibes in the room, Neil looked from one of them to the other. Clearing his throat a bit too loudly, he suggested they all have a seat and order an appetizer until Mr. Davidson arrived.

 
 
 
 
Well aware of his boss's penchant for beautiful females, Matt's mouth twisted to the side as he pulled out his chair. The women Angel kept in his home resembled a gathering of the United Nations, and by the looks of things, he intended to add one Ms. Nicole Randolph to the fold. Matt glanced thoughtfully at the woman in question as he sat down. Somehow, he didn't think she would be satisfied with being a part of Angel's vast personal collection. This could be interesting. Very interesting indeed.

 
 
 
Deciding to go over the main points of the contract while they waited, Angel sat back and watched Nicole as she discussed the intricacies of the different clauses with a knowledge he found fascinating. Intelligent women were some of the sexiest, most stimulating creatures on earth, but Angel preferred a woman who was satisfied with the job of looking beautiful. As far as he was concerned, that should be their main goal in life. He wasn't saying they shouldn't have other interests and hobbies, but when he came home at night, the last thing he wanted to be reminded of was business. Some might call him a chauvinist, but he really could care less about others’ opinions of him, not that anyone would dare speak their objections out loud anyway. He lived by no man's rules but his own and that would never change.

 
 
 
 
Tuning back into the discussion, Angel took a sip of his drink, but remained quiet. Although he hadn’t contributed anything to the conversation, he knew that contract like the back of his hand. He was aware of what
DWC
's objection to it was. They were all in agreement on everything except for one important stipulation:
DWC
's stock.

 
 
 
 
He would be loaning
Davidson World Corporation
an extraordinarily large amount of money…millions. The banks were not making loans to businesses the way they used to due to the state of the economy, and the company’s working capital was at its limit. Angel knew for a fact that all other financial prospects had been tapped out. Matt contacted the company per Angel’s instructions and informed them that Angel’s company,
NaDa Holdings
, was looking for businesses to invest in and
Davidson World Corporation
's name came up as a potential investment opportunity.
DWC
was eager to discuss the offer further and eventually a deal was struck.

 
 
 
 
Both companies’ lawyers had gone over the contract with a fine tooth comb. The only bone of contention was the clause which said that in addition to a low interest rate on the loan,
NaDa Holdings
wanted ten percent of
DWC’
s
stock within thirty days of the date the money was deposited. Hence the meeting tonight to try to resolve this issue and sign the contract.

 
 
 
 
“I’m sorry, this is unacceptable.” Nicole shook her head, fixing Angel and Matt with a firm look which told them they would not change their mind.

 
 
 
 
Angel took his time and placed his glass on the table before staring at Nicole. He had barely taken his eyes off her all evening, and if she noticed, she gave no indication that it bothered her. Angel had already instructed Matt that there was to be no compromise.
DWC
needed
them...
not the other way around. They didn't know that he was aware of just how desperate they actually were. One of their employees had been on his payroll for years. That’s how he knew exactly when to strike and what offer to make.

 
 
 
 
Matt removed his reading glasses. “Nicole, I’m afraid this part of the agreement is not up for negotiation. Either you accept our terms or the discussion is over. And I have to be frank. Once the deal is taken off the table, it will not be offered again.” Angel intercepted the subtle look Nicole and Neil exchanged and was prepared for what was coming.

 
 
 
 
Bringing her attention back to Matt, Nicole regretfully shook her head and sat back in her chair. “Giving you ten percent of the company is out of the question. We’re prepared to repay the loan with an interest rate far above what we’re paying financial institutions.”

 
 
 
 
“Then why don’t you borrow the money from them?” Angel asked quietly. Nicole and Neil turned their heads in unison and stared at him in surprise. These were the first words he’d uttered since negotiations began.
 

 
 
 
 
“Well, uh, I really can’t discuss that, but I assure you, if we need to, um, we will,” Neil bluffed.

 
 
 
 
“Mr. LaCroix, if we can't work through this and come to some compromise then I’m afraid the deal is off.” Angel saw the apprehension in Nicole’s eyes seconds before she hid the emotion.
DWC
needed this deal desperately.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Angel became very still, his face unyielding. Picking up his drink, he threw the rest of it down his throat then stood up without a word, buttoning his suit coat. Matt did the same, quietly gathering the papers and putting them in his briefcase. Nicole gaped at them in surprise when Angel held out his hand to shake Neil's hand, then hers.

 
 
 
 
“
Davidson World Corporation
was our first choice to invest in, but we’ll have to pass. Good luck to you.” Matt nodded to them both then followed Angel.

 
 
 
 
Both men were steps away from the door when Neil called Angel's name in a nervous, anxious voice. “Wait!”

 
 
 
 
With his back still to them, Angel smiled.

 
 
 
 
“Uh…Angelo, let’s not be hasty.”

 
 
 
 
Angel turned around, cocking a brow at Neil's choice of words. “I’m not being hasty at all. I have to say, though, I'm a busy man and don't like my time wasted. Before we came here, you were well aware of the terms and were told they wouldn't change.”

 
 
 
 
Neil looked at Nicole then back to Angel. “What about five percent of the company in addition to interest?”

 
 
 
 
Angel’s gaze didn’t waver. “Ten.”

 
 
 
 
Neil ran a nervous hand over his mouth, glancing down when his cell rang. Relief flashed across his face when he saw the name displayed on the ID. Snatching the phone from the table as if it were a lifeline, Neil held a placating hand up to Angel and Matt. “Could you give me a moment?” When Angel hesitated, Neil added, “Please. This is Mr. Davidson. I won't be long."