Total Surrender

4 - PROBLEMS

“I’m sorry, boss,” Anderson said in a sober voice. “I have no idea how he got in, but I’m going to speak with the guards in the surveillance booth now.”

“You do that,” Malcolm snapped.

“Right away, boss. It won’t happen again.”

Malcolm walked dismissively by Anderson and spoke into his com. “Hunter, I need surveillance footage from the employee parking lot for the previous three hours by the time I reach up to my office.”

“On it,” Hunter replied immediately.

Malcolm shook his head in disgust. In as much as this was the world he’d created for himself, he was growing weary of it. The man who had accosted it was no different from the hundreds of people clamoring to get into the club he’d created. It was the only one of its kind in the country. People came in droves to hook up and explore their dark s****l side. Some would be fortunate to get in; some would not.

He strode inside and used his private elevator, effectively avoiding both staff and patrons as he was eager to get to his office. His private quarters afforded him the opportunity to see the entire club on surveillance cameras as well as from the semi-transparent glass making up the southern wall of his office.

Malcolm usually indulged in what the club had to offer when it suited him, but he never kept a woman or a man for more than one night—and there were two places he never brought them to: his private quarter’s at Ecstasy or his home. He guarded those as much as he guarded his privacy and his wealth.

He was very particular with whom he took to his bed. Firstly, they had to present a challenge to him. And secondly, they had to be able to totally submit to his will. He was a dominant and needed to be in complete control, just as he was in control of every aspect of his business and personal life.

He’d built his empire, by being brutal and aggressive when it was necessary, and he had no reservations getting what he wanted by any means necessary. He was a man who was feared by those who knew him and knew of him. They gave him complete respect and deference. That fact served him well. He had no weaknesses to exploit. There was no way to infiltrate his judiciously fortified domain. He considered himself a God – untouchable. If that made him arrogant, so be it. He was simply stating facts.

HOWEVER…

While he had everything a man could possibly want, he was beginning to feel bored lately… restless.

At the age of thirty-eight there was nothing more for him to accomplish. Life was no longer a challenge. He’d need to find something to pique his interest soon or he would go mad.

Mason and Sampson were waiting in his office, their expressions grim.

“That problem in the parking lot should not have happened,” Mason said.

Sampson stood silently as was his norm. His sheer size alone got the message across, so he rarely used words.

“No,” Malcolm said caustically.

As he spoke, he grabbed the remote and turned his attention to the screen where the surveillance footage of the parking lot would be displayed. Irritably, he fast-forwarded until finally he discovered the source of the breach.

“That fucker,” Mason growled.

Malcolm’s expression was grim as he watched one of his VIP guests pull in and park midway of the lot between two other vehicles and got out as though he was merely visiting the club. The patron was a known associate of Malcolm’s archenemy. But Malcolm hadn’t prohibited him from frequenting his establishment. He didn’t discriminate against money and the person was usually a big sender. Viewing the footage, Malcolm smelled a set up. It wasn’t until the man was well into the building that the backseat door opened and the man who’d thrown himself at Malcolm crept sneakily from the vehicle, hunched down so as not to be seen.

“Kick him out,” Malcolm snapped in Mason’s direction. “Escort him off the premises and show him what happens when someone conspires against me. When you return, eliminate his security clearance to all entrances to the club.”

Mason departed with haste to carry out his instructions, leaving Sampson alone with Malcolm. Malcolm took a seat at his desk and made sure all the surveillance cameras were up and running. Then he turned his attention to Sampson, the man who took care of any problems he encountered in his illegal business dealings. He also cleaned up any unwanted messes. He did so with levelheaded proficiency and never botched a task.

“I want you to check on the status of our latest shipment. It was delayed. I also got word that the new state prosecutor is looking to make a name for himself by taking down some big fish. He has started to sniff around my businesses looking for points of weaknesses. Word is he is creating a special task force. I want to know by tomorrow who is on his list for consideration. We need to stay on top of this. I’ve been in business too long to be taken down by some wet behind the ears prosecutor.”

Sampson nodded. “You’ve got it boss.”

Malcolm nodded. “Report back to me as soon as you’ve got any information. If no one on our pay roll makes it to his list, we’ll need to make new friends.”

“Consider it done,” Sampson said, even as he turned and disappeared into the far corner where the darkness concealed another exit from the office.

Malcolm clenched his jaw. Just another day at the office, only the desperate man throwing himself at him pissed him off more than what this new prosecutor was up to.

If he wanted a s*x partner or in some cases, partners he knew where to look. He damn sure didn’t need some piece of trash clinging to him like s**t under his shoes, expecting him to fall all over himself to take what he so vulgarly offered.

His partners didn’t call the shots with him. Ever. If he saw something he wanted, he took it. He was in control. Always. No exceptions. Not a woman. Not a man. Not anyone. And he planned to keep it that way.