I’m sitting at my desk looking at the schedule for the week when my assistant Laura pounces into the room.

Her eyes are as fucking wide as saucers, and she appears to be visibly sweating. What the fuck could possibly already be going wrong at 9:30 in the morning?

“I’m sorry. I can’t stop him from coming back here.” Her voice is full of panic, and her short red hair is spiky on the top. She wears black-rimmed eclectic glasses that have a bead necklace attachment hanging for easy access.

“What are you talking about?” I stand up, expecting gunshots or some other bullshit to start firing at me any second.

“David Brigman is coming in here,” Laura announces contritely. I know that in any other circumstance she can move mountains, but right now is apparently a different story.

“David Brigman?” I say with alarm. “Why the fuck is he here?”

Of course I know who David Brigman is. He’s the psycho ex-boyfriend of Piper’s who looks like a Gap model but has the mental edge of a person who belongs in a fucking mental institution.

Before I have any chance to prepare or fucking hide―or run away for that matter―David storms into my office, his facial expression claiming rationale.

“This is a private office,” I say and take a step towards him as if I’m marking my territory.

“I don’t give a shit what it is,” David says, clenching his fists at his side.

“Should I call security, sir?” Laura peers back and forth between me and David, worry spreading all over her face.

I consider her proposal for a second. Sure, it sounds like a good idea, but if this guy wants to fight me or something, I want to know the fucking reason why.

I’d rather get shit out in the open right here with witnesses and not give David an opportunity to blindside me later with a hatchet or something.

“No,” I shake my head. “I’ll talk to this asshole. Just stay nearby in case I change my mind.”

I nod to Laura to get her to cooperate, and she reluctantly backs away. “It’s okay,” I convince her. “I’m fine; we’re just going to talk.”

When Laura exits the office, David turns back to look at me.

“Okay, so what the fuck do you want?” I ask as if I’m only remotely interested and tremendously aggravated by his mere presence in my office.

“I know all about you,” David’s grin forms into an ugly sneer.

“Excuse me?” I ask.

David nods. “Yeah, I’m going to ruin you unless you do what I say.”

“You are being really fucking vague, dude,” I say with irritation.

“I know what’s in that contract, and I am going to tell everyone unless you listen very carefully.”

The blood drains from my face, and my heart falls through the floor. Fuck, this dude has me cornered.

“What contract?” It’s a fucking feeble attempt to act oblivious, but it doesn’t work on David.

“Nice try,” he hisses. “I read the Baby Batter contract in Piper’s office.”

Now that he tells me the name of my no-longer-private agreement with Piper, I know he’s not fucking bluffing or pretending anymore.

“So, what is it that you want?” I sneer at him.

“I want your company.” His jaw hardens.

I laugh out loud. “What the fuck are you talking about? Do you really think I’m going to give you my company?”

“If you don’t back out of the Baby Batter deal and leave Piper alone, then I’m going to crush you and take your business.”

“How exactly do you plan on doing that?” I cross my arms, eager to hear this fucking asshole’s explanation.

“You forget the part about how I’m a member of the board for Lacy Desirables,” David says. “I have people backing me.”

“Good for you, do you want a fucking medal?” I roll my eyes, but inside, I’m bubbling with a nervousness that’s threatening to surface.

“I’m accumulating enough investors to take over your company if it comes to that,” David says.

“Can you please elaborate?” My voice is shaky, and I fucking hate myself for showing my jitters.

“I know your company is struggling,” David gives me a smug look. “I have Shanghai factories just itching to take over your plants and factories.”

“You’re lying,” I snarl and clinch my teeth.

“You only wish,” David laughs hysterically, like the fucking insane reject that he is.

“I report everything I learn in the board member meetings to my advisors in Shanghai. They are ready to fork out a bucket load of money to get their hands on your company.”

I want to throw this bastard right through a fucking wall, but that will only escalate the rising number of my current problems.

“So, let me get this straight,” I say and shift my weight. “If I don’t back out of the Piper agreement, then you are going to pursue all these threats?”

I can’t fucking believe that this guy has enough income, sources, or brain smarts to pull off a blackmail of this epic a proportion, but I can’t exactly stand idly by and wait to see if he makes good on his promise either.

“That’s right,” David says and crosses his arms with a satisfied grin that I want to punch right off of his stupid fucking face.

“Who the fuck do you know that is so power hungry for my business that they are willing to help a guy like you?” My tone is condescending and I mean it to come out that way.

“I’m not giving away sources,” David says defiantly.

“You fucking better, if you want me to believe that you are actually serious about all this shit!” I yell, a little too loudly, and hope that no one comes fucking rushing into my office.

David rolls his eyes and caves surprisingly fast. Maybe I can find a way to manipulate him, but I might have to appease him for the moment.

“I’m with the CEO of Shanghai Manufacturing,” he states proudly. “They want their hands on your business.”

I swallow hard and look at the ceiling with my hands on my hips. I take a deep breath. I can’t fucking let some stupid fucking overseas operation take my company away from me.

I work too hard for this shit, and it would cause the job loss of dozens, if not hundreds, of employees working in my current factories.

I sigh dramatically. “I need some time to think about this,” I say and look directly at David.

“Fine,” he says. “You have forty-eight hours.”

Fuck, I have to think of a plan of action―and quickly, before this asshole destroys my life and my empire forever.