1, Chapter 1 (Quinn) Last night went how I figured it would. Well, almost. The earlier part the evening I spent with a busty brunette whose can’t remember. It have been or Candy. I am fairly started with a C. We met at a cocktail party thrown one of investors. Fancy scantily clad women a yacht. Not my kind of party, but I go the is. My date for the evening ended up out with someone else, so I found another date. busty brunette was very bold, which to me, so I took her down to a stateroom below deck. Her dress hit the floor the moment the door was closed. she was on her knees my belt. I had her on every flat surface the in various positions, until she was breathless exhausted. As got dressed, she handed me a paper with her number on it, which threw trash my way the yacht. She than delivered on what her eyes promised when she glanced way before. The part of my evening spent using the weight room in my penthouse to work off some frustrations and exhaust my body. That didn’t work so I dressed for the club I frequent, then two hot in a private room. Threesomes a work and I left them than satisfied. Then I went home and passed out after I showered again. Physical exertion has been my go-to distraction for now. I used start my mornings some mornings go to fantastic gym found to my penthouse. Mixed Martial Artists all over the world train at gym. I know the owner well. I have my own gym but this morning I the sound of other the to distract me, so head to to sweaty. Nightmares from past woke me up this morning and I really use a distraction. Even after years of therapy, I am still chasing in morning. at least on mornings fall into with the night before from the extreme of not days. The years have gotten but I am forever haunted by my as a soldier. After parking my truck at the entrance, head inside to get my day started. I with the who gives me the double glance always. Her eyes over my exposed skin as grab gym bag off the floor and the locker room. The on my chest always attention. I the insignia of the Army Rangers on right bicep. Then cherry blossom goes down the arm to mid-forearm. Hidden within leaves are little crosses with names and dates. never tell who notices them what they are for. On my arm is a full tattoo sleeve many different images. The one that stands the most is my St. Michael’s medal. A tiger lily sits at base of medal with a name in flowing script the petals. Annora, the girl, now woman, who branded my soul hers for the keeping. I don’t want back. I head straight to the locker to store my gym bag then I wave at the owner of the gym, Hollis, as I walk to the weighted heavy bags. I put one ear bud in I down to the task at hand. Distracting myself. worked an hour then thoughts of I am heading in life creep up my as I give the punching bag a beating. I like where I am in my professional life. What I done with money has me who am today. That and never-ending support of my best friend, is now my partner. We up together, went the together, then got out to some things together. It is life that is edging towards the point of no return. Work until my comfortably numb, fuck a different or two every night, then go home to my empty penthouse. is lonely existence. One I force on myself. Though the life I am living is not how I saw my life a teenager. Back then, I never more than a few days at a time. At until I enlisted in Army to hell from my father and the ghost of my mother. I thought of like seriously someone, but I reminded of how my last ended. That shit won’t again. don’t date. I take out, them an enjoyable time, then fuck them until they are screaming name. Then I them in their beds to sleep it off while I go home. Sometimes, I am sitting alone the darkness of my living room, I am terrible human being. I do to these women is but they know what are up for when they agree to out with me. Hell, of them are practically begging me for attention. clear, I see that have destroyed the punching bag. head the locker room to shower, then a check off on desk for the bag. The drive back uptown to my penthouse is long, but it will clear head further. By the time I arrive at the office, it nearly nine the morning. My thick hair is slightly messy, I like it that way. I am wearing navy-blue suit with a white button-up shirt beneath, without a tie. secretary with a smile, and I don’t miss the lust in her eyes. “Hold my calls until Aaron gets in, then send him to my office. ” “Yes, sir. ” The last few days have been hectic since we started inquiring about our next venture. We have to buy a hospital but the one want is some serious financial crisis. have a to get that, but the owner has been resistant to meet with us. Time will him down. How time it man to realize he a sinking ship? If our luck holds, the old man will come to with reality sooner rather than later. I look window office towards the to see if has arrived yet. still glad I had the office when I bought it. As is now, the entire top floor is mine. Well, mine and my best Aaron’s. G&C Enterprises is company name, a name that us about a year to agree on, it has worked well for for the last five years. “Ok, the board members General called. are willing to for a meeting. ” Aaron says as he enters my office. Aaron is dressed a gray pinstripe suit, his hair still in military buzz cut favors, and his eyes are at the file in my hands. I know he is for, but I haven’t decided what we will if they refuse to sell. We are offering to a hospital, one that used to have the most prestigious programs on the coast but come on challenging times over last few years. G&C Enterprises owns and many help war veterans. We own specialize in artificial limbs for combat veterans. Companies work give housing to those veterans who their homes wars their country. When I about at Mercy General, I it the one. The we been looking for. Their program used to get patients from all over the country. once considered top of the for helping wounded veterans get back to their lives. Then hospital some terrible investments and started cutting to the program. had thought of just funding the program, but made the observation that we would have more control just bought the hospital. So am at the folder in my hand, not ready to open to see the will show how Mercy General doing financially. They gave us a copy their records for the last year, but I wanted to deeper look at how they spent their money. “Is it or better than what we expected?” I Aaron. “Open and find out,” replies. He in one of the overstuffed office chairs in of my desk. I groan, then do as he says. I the file and scan over the pages quickly. The hospital is doing worse than expected. a few major changes, I sure it can be rejuvenated back used to be. What me the is the veteran’s program. Some numbers in file do not what they originally gave to us. The discrepancies alarm me. of that were have gone to the program didn’t go where they claimed. Where did it go? That will something to find out. I will give my friend a call. He a corporate investigator. I want to what been going on those funds before we buy Mercy General. want a accounting book before we move forward. “Call Mac, we need him to pull threads on discrepancies,” I Aaron as I close the file. “Already on it. I him a copy of both files they gave us and told him our concerns. got pissed and said dig deeper us. He get back us today. start the buy the hospital we wait his call,” Aaron says. “Why do I even bother making you you are always one or two steps ahead I ask him. “That, I will either. They will be here at two tomorrow he says. Then he his seat. will go grab some lunch, then can strategizing our approach. ” Sometimes my best friend knows me better I know myself. I have only allowed one other person to get that to me. No, stop, don’t down that road, I tell myself. Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Updated for All Books Updates… ot the time go down lane. have meeting notes to prepare. Who that I would from being an angry teenager to a soldier, then to a rich executive? sure as fuck never expected my life to turn out this way. I shake those away I hear the elevator ding, return from lunch us. I grab the and my Aaron to his office. We discuss game plan over lunch. “Do you think we persuade them to sell?” asks. To else, looks calm, I know him well. The twitching of his left he taps his foot his desk. He is the hospital board will to sell. I understand his as I share the same thoughts. There is good that we can for our fellow veterans with this acquisition. Yes, we could have just bought the Veterans Program. Aaron is right. We much more control over what with program we the hospital. a need for reform the very foundation of Mercy General. have cash flow out than coming in. As it looks they will barely be able stay open for rest the if something isn’t done now. Aaron and I a game plan to things right Mercy General. all hinges one old his son, and the rest of the board of directors. hope Mac finds that will give us a trump card. I have feeling that there is more going with General’s finances that even the old man knows about. “I think Mac something that we use to them our favor. ” “What makes you that?” “The outflow of funds goes beyond what it should a hospital that size. With the programs operates, they well the black. Not to mention how they have a year to raise for those programs. The is going somewhere it shouldn’t. ” “I thought the same thing when I read over the report. I was thinking of using that thought in the meeting to them open their eyes. ” let’s wait on card until we hear from Mac. want concrete of my theory before I use it against them. ” I shake head laughter at a joke Aaron makes rich old men. the of going over our game plan. We refined our notes, goals, and first priorities. Neither of know the first thing about running a hospital. We people that do, who are on board to help us if the sale goes through. Please let luck be on our side.