had been tempted to take her once again only a few moments ago, but too much was on his mind and he knew it would have been a mistake.
Now, though, he had other things to worry about like his missing objectives, the new policy that was getting arranged, business partners that were stuck in Orlando because of a flight delay, and so much more. His car was down the street, in its normal parking spot. His motorcycle was next to...his friends. He wouldn’t be able to say his name till the man was back. Staring at the pair, they really were the men’s pride and joy. The Agusta 1100 F4 CC was a top model, something that his friend had held immense pride in — not that he drove it much. It wasn’t meant for the business of the city that they were in, the bio of the bike closer to that of a town-bike. His car, though...
Lucian pushed open the door to his office. Rarely did he stay at his own house. If anything, he lived, breathed, and ate his work. The office was his home, and it wasn’t like he had a choice. So many things would come up at once, and get over-pilled by other things. It was an overwhelming process, his work-life, but he put up with it.
At least he had help...or, some. He had been taken while on vacation, and Lucian had strived to keep an eye on him. He knew more than most what it was like to be overwhelmed, but his friend had also been in such a danger that Lucian hadn’t been allowed a slip-up.
The feeds from the camera earlier had shown him what he believed to be his worst nightmare. It had been fabricated delicately, as close and realistically designed as a butterfly's wing. If his tech hadn’t found it, who knew how longer he would have been in the dark about it.
He rode the elevator to the top of the building, waiting for the ping to signal its arrival. It didn’t take long. In less than a minute, he was in his desk and listening to the voice machine read him the messages he had missed while he had been out. His secretary was busy enough that he had given her a small bit of vacation time, and it hadn’t been that big of a deal to take on the responsibility of her work along with his own.
In his early days as an entrepreneur, he had been his own secretary, too wary of losing his newfound power to trust it with anyone else. He was hardened by life, by the things he had seen and done and how long he had lived, but it only helped him in his work. Dealing with snotty men with jewel engraved sticks stuck up their butt was nothing new, and he was known for his cool reserve when handling them.
And how ruthless he was with his power.
The lights flickered on automatically, the fluorescent lights casting a yellow glow because of the lamps that they were in. His desk was large, mahogany, and cluttered. It was probably the messiest it had ever been, and he wasn’t excited to clean it. He remembered the conversation that Levi, Devlin, and he had had as he sat in his desk and pulled the papers out.
It was close to midnight, and the moon was at its highest. Except for the lamps, it was the only source of light that filled the room. The one-way window was open, thick curtains pulled back, and the pull the moon had on him was getting stronger.
So subtle it was like the caress of a baby's hand on his shoulder, he turned in his chair and looked up at the orb. It was white, pale and glowing, surrounded by darkness. As he stared at it, the more he realized that the moon was like Devlin. Lately, she had seemed...more demure, but it was tainted with... Lucian shook his head, unable to place it. Whatever it had been, it wasn’t something he wanted around his work.
He turned around again, the swiveling sound of his chair the only sound beside the scrape of papers as he picked them up and studied them. He forced himself to focus, knowing that this was a big deal and he had to take care of the problem.
An hour later, a call had been placed in New York and the news was being blown up.
One of the most influential men in