Do you think you’re the only male with something to prove?

The question echoed in Mal’s ears with a powerful force.

The reason Sard didn’t consider the Onyx family his competition was because he had something to prove to someone else. Sard didn’t have his sights set on the Outer Planet Rank List but focused on some other measure of success. He knew Mal’s frustration.

What was his goal, and what did it have to do with the “appointment” he had in the Onyx Corporation lobby or the “item” his underling had just called that he had received?

Sard held Mal’s gaze, CEO to CEO, dominant male to dominant male. And then, when he was certain they had communicated, he tore his gaze away and forced his way out the office door.

Kyan ghosted after him, a silent and deadly giant. The elevator dinged open, the heavyweight disappeared, and the floor lightened.

Seconds passed into minutes.

“That male needs to fall into a volcano.” Pyro stepped out of his ripped dress pants and exchanged them for new ones that did not have a giant tail hole coming out the butt. “He doesn’t care what number we are? What a lie!”

Jasper and Alex were nodding in agreement.

Mal disagreed. But he held back his thoughts.

“Yes, he’s only hanging onto his lead by stealing our best ideas,” Jasper said.

“And improving them,” Alex said. “I have conducted additional research. I believe I know how he is doing this.”

“Yeah?” Pyro zipped his trousers. All the dragons had a closet of spare outfits in their offices. “Spit it out.”

“You are beginning to sound more and more like the humans,” Alex told him.

“I spend a lot of time with them. But what’s your conclusion?”

“For the last three product launches, the Carnelian Corporation has sold their products with secondary items.”

“Free gifts with purchase?” Jasper rubbed his mouth. “That’s expensive.”

“But effective. The secondary items have become collectibles.”

Usually, companies distributed a consumable. The Onyx Corporation had launched their blue jeans with a bar of chocolate, which had been popular, but their freight had traveled too close to a sun and ruined half a shipment. Also, some people had eaten the chocolate and returned the jeans. It was a risk after all.

“So why didn’t the customers return the product and keep the secondary item?” Jasper asked.

“The Carnelians required the collectible to be returned for the refund.”

“And they still managed to make sales?”

“Very good sales.” Obviously. Ones which the Onyx Corporation would struggle to match.

“What were they distributing?” Pyro straightened his collar and cuffs. “Free sex?”

“Small cards.” Alex made a square shape with his fingers. “With a picture on one side and a phrase on the opposite. Dragons are purchasing the products, venerating the collectible, and even framing them.”

Huh. “Like a greeting card?” Mal asked.

Alex nodded.

“We have an artist,” Jasper said. “We can distribute our own greeting cards.”

Yes.

“First, we have to select a product.” Mal sat in his chair behind his desk again.

No more distractions.

No more thinking about Cheryl. No more obsessing about what she was doing. No more wanting to call her in his office, alone, to smear her scent on him as he pounded his release into her and branded her for all other males to stay away.

Enjoying her gentleness, her bright eyes, and her smile were luxuries he could not allow himself.

Once they reached number one, he would reward himself with her again.

What secret asset did Sard Carnelian know he had?

He stated that to the other dragons. “Nothing matters more than settling on our final best-selling, number one product to launch.”

“That, and finding another woman to marry you,” Jasper said.

Alex froze.

Mal leaned forward. “What did you just say?”

The office dropped deathly quiet. Pyro glanced up from his grooming.

Jasper’s eyes widened. He turned to Alex. “I thought you told him.”

Alex’s nostrils flared. “There wasn’t time.”

“Tell me what?”

Jasper steadied himself and spoke plainly. “You need to find a new wife, Mal.”

Fear spiked into his chest. He couldn’t breathe.

Cheryl didn’t want to marry him. She realized he would never reach number one. He would be worthless once his company was sold and he had nothing again. She had no reason to stay with him.

Denial flushed into rage. Mal shot from his chair and slammed his fists into the mahogany desk. “I’m marrying Cheryl!”

Alex shut his lips tight. Jasper squared his shoulders.

“Congratulations.” Pyro ambled out the door and disappeared down the hall.

Mal fixed on Alex. He’d heard wrong. They had already been through this. His second-youngest sibling was in error. “You made the appointment with the Justice of the Peace.”

Alex swallowed, white. Then, fighting his grimace, he spoke the words Mal most feared. “She changed her mind.”