Master Of Sin Read online

  I jerked back as Shane, one of the Stooges, tried to grab my shoulder bag. "Do not touch me. I want to know what is going on."

  No one said anything.

  I stalked toward Dara's office and found Adrian standing there with her.

  "As punctual as ever." Dara approached me. "Did you enjoy your liaison with Hagen Lykaios yesterday?"

  I glanced at Adrian, who shook his head, giving me the signal that things were pretty bad.

  "I have no idea what you are talking about."

  "Oh, come off it, Penny. I've known about your little crush on him since you were a snot-nosed teen. I never thought you'd sell yourself to him."

  I furrowed my brow and searched the room, trying to make sense of what the hell was going on.

  Then my eyes settled on the burly man sitting in the corner. He seemed engrossed in a newspaper, but I knew his attention was on me. I knew I'd seen him over the years, but I couldn't place him. Probably someone who filled a spot in Dara's bed when she was between nineteen-year-old pool boys and bored with her personal security.

  "Who's that?"

  "None of your concern. We're here to discuss you."

  "Dara, I don't have time for this. I have a meeting with one of our distributors for the Holland project in twenty minutes."

  I turned to leave, but Dara grabbed my arm. "Not so fast."

  Shrugging off her hand, I glared at her.

  "It has come to my knowledge that you are involved in a business dealing with a known criminal."

  "Business dealing? You're nuts."

  "If not business, then what? The evidence I have says you either are working with Hagen Lykaios or it’s something personal. Care to clarify?"

  I peeked at Adrian again.

  "Don't look to him. Today he learned what kind of sister you truly are." She threw a set of pictures on her desk, some falling on the floor in front of me.

  They were pictures of me sitting on the veranda of Hagen's new restaurant. There was one in particular with Hagen's hand covering mine as we stared into each other’s eyes. Then there was another of me leaving the club. My face was flushed, but all other outward appearances looked like normal.

  "I don't see how these say I'm a traitor or a whore or whatever else you want it to be. I was having lunch with a childhood friend."

  "That’s where you’re wrong." Dara gave me a knowing smile and gestured to Adam, one of her thugs, to hand me a folder.

  I opened it and found a document listing company bylaws and clauses.

  As I came to a highlighted section, all the blood drained from my face. I looked up at Dara.

  "You can't be serious."

  "According to the bylaws, to maintain a security clearance in the company, all executives have to adhere to a morality clause. You, my dear, broke several of them." She stepped toward me. "You associated with someone known for moral turpitude."

  Dara smirked at the man in the corner, and I felt such anger pulse in my head that I wanted to scream. That bastard had to have been part of this.

  "That makes no sense. Neither Hagen nor any of his brothers have been charged with any crimes. Having lunch with him hasn't broken any bylaw."

  "Your association with Hagen Lykaios puts a cloud around any business this company conducts. He is well known for his association with the unsavory element of Las Vegas. No matter how he cleans himself up, he is still tainted by that world. And those pictures show you are way more than just a family friend as you say."

  There was a hard edge to her tone, almost as if she was jealous. I shook that thought from my mind and focused on her craziness.

  "It has also come across my desk that we are in negotiations with a major liquor distributor for the next batch of our European elderflower exports."

  Yeah, my fucking company, bitch.

  "I will not have any of your antics taint the contract." She glared at me as she leaned against the front of her desk. "From my research, the CEO of the company is very selective and she will only recommend companies that meet their criteria of excellence."

  It took all my willpower not to blow my cover and tell her the contract negotiations were terminated as of now. When I'd drawn up the contracts for Kipos to be the supplier of elderflower for PSK Distilleries, I was hoping to give Kipos a boost in revenue for the upcoming year so when Adrian took over, the shareholders would see the success he could make of the company.

  Hell would freeze over before I gave the contract to Dara.

  "I'm the one who's in discussions for the contract. They will only work with me. If it wasn't for me, Kipos wouldn't have been even a contender for the bid."

  She waved her hand. "You view your importance a bit too high. I'm sure the head of PSK will see working with the CEO of Kipos a better fit."

  "I wouldn't bet on it," I mumbled.

  Dara heard me, and the scowl on her face grew angry. "It is my call as the head of the company to make the decision on how we conduct business."

  "Meaning?"

  "It is time you stepped aside. I won't have you tainting Adrian's future."

  "You've got to be kidding. I've brought in more business than any other executive in this company." I turned to Adrian. "Are you seriously listening to this?"

  A look passed in his eyes that I couldn't honestly read, but I only hoped he was going along with this to trap Dara.

  "I don't have much say in this, Penny. Mom is making some valid points. You should know better than to get involved with Hagen. Implied underworld activity is just as dangerous to future prospects as directly working with convicted criminals."

  "What? But you…" I trailed off, taking a step back, and tried to clear the confusion clouding my mind. "Adrian, you believe this bullshit?"

  "Yes. Mom should handle all new business at this level."

  Was he really siding with Dara?

  The back of my throat burned with tears as I tucked a stray hair behind my ear and tried to keep the overwhelming sense of sadness from washing over me.

  That was when I saw Adrian twirling the pen he liked to have on him at all times. I stared into his eyes and saw a slight lift of his brow. Relief washed over me. He was playing a part. He wasn't turning on me.

  Then a frown and irritation crossed his face. Okay, he was pissed that I'd thought he'd betrayed me. He was going to let me have it later. I deserved it for doubting him, even for half a second.

  "Don't try to appeal to Adrian. He has no say in this. I've already spoken to the board. They agree with my decision."

  "So, in other words, you’re firing me."

  "She's finally caught on. For a Stanford graduate, I expected you to see the light sooner. You are no longer employed by Kipos International. You need to hand over all company electronics, including your phone and laptop."

  "Wait a second. I need time to remove all my personal information and files from the computers."

  "Company equipment is not for personal use. You forgo any privacy the second you break company regulations."

  Well, fuck. Where was a scrambler when I needed one?

  "Penny," Adrian said in a low voice and walked up to me, taking my hand.

  He slipped a small metal object in my palm. I knew what it was without looking at it. Relief washed over me as I took the device that would wipe my computer's hard drive as soon as I set it against my laptop.

  "Fine." I released a breath. "I'll leave. Will you come over later so we can talk?"

  "Instead of wasting time talking, I suggest packing. You have three days to move out of the apartment provided to you as an employee of Kipos."

  "Now wait just a minute." Adrian faced Dara. "Where do you expect her to live?"

  "Not our problem."

  Adrian opened his mouth to argue but shut it when I shook my head.

  I'd always known when I'd moved into the company townhouse that it was a risk to get attached. This was why I'd spent so much time at the house my parents had built. The property belonged to Adrian and me per Papa's
will. Dara could use it, but she would never have any authority over it. The only problem with moving into the house was that I’d never know when Dara would show up or if she would have the place bugged when I wasn’t home. And I couldn’t expect Adrian to constantly come home to scan the place when he had a full course load and a full-time job.

  "Adrian, I'll be fine. I'll stay with friends until I find a place." I opened my shoulder bag and reached inside, pressing the device against the hard drive of my laptop, and pulled it out. "Here. I won't need this anymore."

  Adam walked up to me, but instead of handing it to him, I let it drop to the floor, causing a few pieces of the computer to break free.

  "You did that on purpose," Adam barked. "That's damaging company property."

  I shrugged. "Then have me fired. Oh, wait. That already happened."

  "Under that wimpy demeanor, you always were a bitch," he muttered.

  "Yep. And it's only going to get more obvious." I glared at Dara as I walked out of the room and toward the elevators.

  I wasn't going to even attempt to go to my office. Jeffery knew where I hid all the critical company files in my cabinets and would get them to me.

  It took me a few minutes after exiting Kipos headquarters for the haze to set in.

  What had just happened? Had Adrian orchestrated this whole thing?

  Adrian's words echoed in my mind. "All I ask is that you trust me."

  Dammit, Adrian, what the hell are you up to?

  Did he have any idea what havoc Dara could cause the company without me in the picture? I was going to wring his neck when I got him alone.

  That would have to wait; right now it looked like I had to find a place to live. My best friend, Amelia, a former MMA fighter and now international sports promoter, lived in Greece, and moving overseas wasn't an option. My only other real option was my cousin Henna, but she worked for Collin Lykaios and lived in his mega hotel until her new house was complete. I knew she would give me a place to stay without question, but I couldn't see myself living in a hotel run by the very man who threw out his sons without a backward glance.

  As I reached my car, my personal phone beeped. It was a message from Adrian.

  Adrian: Go find Hagen, he’ll give you a place to stay.

  Penny: I don't think that’s a good idea.

  Adrian: It's not like you could lose your job if you're seen associating with him. You already got fired.

  Penny: You think you're so funny.

  I laughed to myself, shaking my head and opening the door of my car before slipping behind the wheel.

  Adrian: I bet you’re smiling.

  Penny: Yes, I am. Answer a question for me.

  Adrian: Go ahead. I have a feeling I know what you want to ask.

  Penny: Why did you have me fired?

  Adrian: Let me go somewhere private and then I'll call you. It's better to talk than text.

  As I waited, I pulled out of the parking garage and headed down the road to my soon-to-be-empty apartment. I wasn't going to even think about staying there anymore. I'd rather get a hotel room. At least there I'd have the comfort of knowing my privacy was ensured.

  The second my phone rang, I pushed the Bluetooth speaker to answer the call and greeted Adrian with, "Start explaining."

  He groaned. "Well, hell. I didn't expect you to be so pissed."

  "I'm waiting." I had the urge to tap my foot but resisted, since it would only cause me to speed and then I'd risk being pulled over.

  "Penny, think about it. If you give someone enough rope, she will hang herself. Mom thinks she has me underhand. She doesn't realize I'm on to her need to control the company and our inheritance. Money has always been her motivator. I've known since I was in first grade that she got pregnant on purpose with me to land Papa."

  "And what does this have to do with me being unemployed?"

  "You aren't unemployed." I could almost see his frown. "The goal is for her to go against Papa's will and then take her down. I'm the only one in position to do it. I also have access to areas you never had. Like her office and private meeting room."

  "And how will she go against Papa's will?"

  "The will states that a Kipos heir has to hold an executive role at all times. She's already violated it by firing you. That's step one. The next step is for me to catch her funneling money into the offshore account I recently discovered she had."

  "Are you saying she's stealing?"

  "Is that really a surprise?"

  "I guess not. Adrian, I get you're a super sleuth when it comes to finding information, but it has to be completely legal if we want to file any criminal charges against her. If Dara is caught, then she’ll use every loophole to get out of the situation."

  "Already on it. That is why if you listen to me, my plan will work."

  I released a sigh. He was right.

  "So, what am I supposed to do in the meantime?"

  "You're kidding, right? How about expanding that liquor empire of yours? I hear a certain Lykaios brother is very vested in your success. So vested that he has quite a few businesses designed around it."

  The thought of Hagen made my stomach jump. Why would he go out of his way to design a club around Firewater?

  "Did you have something to do with Hagen using Firewater as the signature liquor for his clubs and restaurants?"

  "I was as surprised as you were. I didn't discover it until I went to a walkthrough session and saw the private tasting room for the various varieties of whiskey and saw all six types of Firewater on the menu."

  How long had Hagen known about my business? As far as the world knew, Firewater was owned by a reclusive billionaire who lived in the Maldives.

  "Speaking of Hagen—" Adrian broke into my thoughts.

  "What?"

  "Isn't it time you scratch that itch you've had for him since you were a kid? He wants you. You want him. Plus now Mommy Dearest doesn't have any say in it."

  "Get serious. He isn't the commitment-type of guy. I won't be a notch on his bedpost."

  "Think about it this way. He can be a notch on your bedpost. If you go in knowing it has a timeline, then no one gets hurt."

  The fact I'd thought the same thing over and over throughout the previous night wasn't something I planned to share with my baby brother.

  "My sex life is not up for discussion. At this moment in time, I have to pack my shit and then find a decent hotel for the next few nights. I've been evicted, or did you forget? And with the six trade shows in town, I'll be lucky to get an hourly motel."

  "It's handled."

  "Meaning?"

  "Meaning, I just sent a message to Hagen. He says you can have an apartment at the Ida. He'll have the access card waiting for you at his office there."

  Before I could respond, Adrian said in a frustrated voice, "Don't you dare argue about this. For once will you let me take care of you? You don't have to take the lead in every damn thing. I arranged a place to stay. I didn't arrange for you to marry him."

  I could almost see the irritation on Adrian's face.

  "Fine. I'll head to Ida now. But this is only temporary."

  CHAPTER SIX

  Penny

  * * *

  A LITTLE BIT BEFORE NOON, I pulled into the driveway of Ida. It had taken me longer than I expected to arrange movers and pack my suitcases with enough clothes and necessities to last me until all my personal items could be transported to the apartment Hagen would lend me.

  I was estimating it would take me about two weeks to find a decent apartment. Preferably one close to the warehouse where my labs resided.

  I wondered how much an apartment in one of Ida’s towers went for. Probably in the millions.

  Would I offend Hagen if I offered to pay him rent for the next few weeks?

  More than likely. Even with all their modern ways and business practices, the Lykaios brothers were Greek, and Greek men had a very traditional view when it came to those they were vested in.

  An att
endant approached, eying the car. With a smile, I handed him my keys and walked through the doors of Ida. The second I stepped through the threshold, I was struck by the beauty of the interior.

  A giant glass sculpture greeted every visitor with an array of colors that mesmerized. The clean lines and muted tones of the rest of the lobby's decor gave the hotel an edgy modern vibe. I had no doubt that Zack had built this property with Hagen in mind. It was refined, yet had the aura of something wicked hidden around some corner. Something that made the visitor seek out the danger.

  The reception area was empty with the exception of a few employees working on tablets. The hotel would open to the public in a few weeks, and rumor had it they were already booked to capacity for almost a year out.

  The only parts operating were the casinos and shows, which had made their debut last month. I'd missed the invitation-only casino opening celebration because of a last-minute trip to India. Hopefully, nothing would come up, and I could attend the hotel opening in a few weeks.

  There was a light scent of sugar and baked goods in the air, making my insatiable craving for sweets wake from its slumber. If there was something I couldn't resist, it was yummy baked goodness. I followed my nose and came to a patisserie. There were cases after cases of any and every type of dessert one could imagine. And to my surprise, there was my personal favorite, kataifi. It was made with a special type of pastry that looked similar to angel hair pasta. There was a nutty center hidden within the strands and a sweet sticky syrup. What I wasn't expecting was that it had a whipped layer of sweet cream custard on top, the same way my grandmother, Yia Yia Ana, would make it.

  Just as I was about to break down and buy a piece of the baked heaven, a man approached me.

  "Ms. Kipos, I'm Damian Riker, Ida's general manager. Mr. Lykaios said he’s waiting for you in the Diávolos Lounge."

  I lifted a brow. "Hagen has a lounge at the hotel called the Devil's Lounge?"

  A smile tugged at Damian's lips. "It was actually Mr. Pierce Lykaios's idea. Let's say only two of the three brothers thought the name choice was fitting for the man who would reside on the property."