Apex Desire | Read Free Preview
Read chapters 1–3 of Apex Desire free. Unlock the full ebook when you are ready to keep going.
Chapter 1 — Chapter One
The broadcast resumed, Next, the deaths of Theresa and Arthur Wolfe have shocked Los Angeles. Last week, the owners of AstraCore tragically died while returning from Italy after their plane went down somewhere over the Atlantic. Sadly, the rescue team has been unable to find.....
I shut off my cheap TV before the reporter could say another word. My small living room, which had also been my bedroom since my bed broke three weeks ago, went dark. The curtains were closed tight. Forget letting any natural light in. I had been living like a vampire ever since I got the news about my parents, so why not go all the way.
Somehow, a whole week had passed since my parents plane crashed. They left everything to me, a guy in his late twenties who had been perfectly happy running a small business in Little Saigon. Now, I was the owner and CEO of their drug company, AstraCore.
The company made tons of different medicines for everyday American lives. I had never paid much attention to what they actually produced. I only knew about one drug, the one I had taken my whole life for an illness my parents said I had had since I was a baby. Whatever was in it worked, because I could not remember ever having a bad episode.
But that was the extent of my knowledge.
See, my parents had not handed me anything on a silver platter. Sure, they were incredibly rich, but they wanted me to work for things. So after high school, I was on my own. No monthly checks, no college tuition paid, not until I proved I would use a business degree well. Even then, it was only enough to get by. The rest was up to me.
I took my college classes in the mornings and worked my tail off every evening. I was a busboy, a dishwasher, a server, you name it. It paid off, and I got my degree after four years. After that, I looked for management jobs in restaurants because that is what I knew. It took time, but I had been a manager at my current place for years now, and we were doing okay. We were not fancy, but the regulars loved us, and I was proud of it. My restaurant was never going to make me famous, though.
That is why I was so stunned they left the company to me. They must have had a whole board of talented business people. People with more experience than just running restaurants. My dad never taught me about the company because I had never wanted to run it. In my mind, they were going to live forever, so who would be next in line did not matter.
But now, it was all on me.
I dragged a hand through my messy black hair and decided I needed a shower before heading to the office. Today was my first official day as CEO, and I felt completely out of my depth.
If only I had had more time with them. If only I could talk to them one more time and ask what in the world I was supposed to do without them. In just seconds, I had become a CEO and an orphan, and it was awful. I still could not believe a whole week had gone by.
All the legal stuff was exhausting. Anyone else would probably be thrilled with all the money that was transferred to me. But to me, it was just a harsh reminder they were gone. All the money they had worked for their entire lives, just sent to me in one click like it meant nothing.
I had not even looked at my bank account. My apartment was a mess, but I did not want to use any of the money. Not yet.
My mom and dad's old assistant had contacted me. Mostly to say she was sorry, and then to reluctantly ask when I planned to come to the office. Apparently, the board was being really pushy and wanted to meet me right away. I had given myself one week to grieve.
I shuffled to my bathroom. It had a shower spout sticking out of moldy tiles, a sink with one working faucet, and a toilet. It was almost eight in the morning, so I could not take long. Even though I was not as devoted to this job as my parents were, I wanted to make a decent first impression.
I washed my hair and body in about three minutes. I did not bother shaving my stubble. I just brushed my teeth while checking my fridge for any bit of old food, but it was empty, unless I wanted three day old takeout for breakfast. Instead, I rinsed my mouth at the kitchen sink and tossed my toothbrush down next to the dirty dishes I still needed to wash.
Then I went to my wardrobe, which was really just a cupboard with a pile of unfolded clothes shoved inside. After I got the news, I had kind of shut down. Taking care of myself or cleaning up had not been on my mind. I had spent most days just staring at the TV.
I had quit my manager job soon after hearing about them, which meant I had nothing but time. But I had not done anything useful with it.
I pulled out a pair of blue jeans and a white T shirt. I gave the shirt a quick check and was glad to find no stains, so I put it on. I put on my underwear and socks, found a pair of black sneakers sticking out from under the pile, and slipped them on.
My apartment didn’t have anything really formal. I’d never needed it. Even for my parents’ funeral, I just wore a white button up and black jeans, my old work clothes. I never had my dad’s style, but maybe I could learn now.
The only thing keeping me going was this new start. This side of business and life was completely unknown to me. I’d built my own life and saved up money, but everything was different now. I was going to make sure it was better.
I would make my parents, Theresa and Arthur Wolfe, prouder than they already were. Going from managing restaurants to leading a giant pharmaceutical company was a huge jump. But they thought I could do it. They believed in me. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have left me everything in their will.
And I mean everything. The money, the company, their home, all of it was mine. I wouldn’t take that for granted.
That thought gave me the confidence to leave. I grabbed my keys, locked the three locks on my door, and hurried down the stairs. The elevator was broken, and I was out of breath by the time I reached the street. I really needed to get back in shape.
I went to hail a cab, but a sleek Mercedes honked at me. I walked over, confused, and bent to look inside. A bald man in a black suit and sunglasses rolled down the window.
“Nathaniel Wolfe?” he asked.
“Just Nath,” I said. “Who are you?”
“I’m taking you to AstraCore,” he replied, like it was obvious. “The board knows you don’t have a car.”
“I get a chauffeur?” I asked, amazed, as I got into the passenger seat. “That’s awesome.”
“You’re the CEO now, Mr. Wolfe,” the driver said with a slight smile. “A CEO should arrive in style.”
I couldn’t stop grinning as I buckled up. It
was my first real smile since I heard they were gone.
Chapter 2 — Chapter Two
I was full of nerves and excitement the whole ride downtown, tapping my knees to calm down.
“Would you like the radio on?” the driver asked politely.
“Sure,” I said. Pop music filled the car, helping me relax. I rolled the window down, letting the wind hit my face. It felt so good to be out. I hadn’t realized how much I’d been hiding in my apartment.
We drove past tall skyscrapers in Los Angeles. I sort of remembered the way from a few childhood visits. We stopped at a massive building with blue tinted windows that mirrored the whole city.
“Here you are, Mr. Wolfe,” the driver said. “Good luck on your first day.”
“Thanks,” I said, unbuckling. “See you tomorrow?”
“Same time, unless I’m told otherwise,” he confirmed.
I smiled, closed the door, and turned to face the building that was now mine.
It felt like a dream. How could this be real? Last week, my job was about barely getting by. Now I was CEO of a huge company in the middle of downtown.
I still felt dazed as I walked to the main doors. They slid open with a soft sound. The reception area was huge, with gleaming black marble floors and walls. Small crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceiling. A dark oak desk stood ahead, where a beautiful woman typed, not noticing me yet. There were only a few expensive brown leather chairs and some exotic looking potted plants.
The receptionist stopped typing as I approached. Her pink acrylic nails hovered over the keys. She gave me a wide smile. She had chocolate brown hair in a short bob that framed her face, and her skin was a deep mahogany. She looked like a supermodel.
"Good morning," she said in a perky voice. "How can I help you today, sir?"
"Uhhh," I trailed off with an awkward laugh. "I'm the new CEO."
"Oh, I am so sorry, Mr. Wolfe," the receptionist said right away. "Your outfit threw me off."
"Just Nath," I corrected, giving her a sheepish smile. "And yeah, I think I need to rethink my clothes."
"All in good time. For now, welcome to AstraCore. I'm Imani. It is a pleasure to meet you." She held out her manicured hand for me to shake. "Lila is waiting for you on the ninety ninth floor. That is your office."
"Lila?" I asked, confused.
I knew the name, but I could not remember from where. Everything before this morning felt like a hazy dream.
"Lila was your parents' Executive Assistant," she explained. Then her face froze. "Oh, god, I am so sorry, I"
"No, it is okay," I said quickly to reassure her. "It is unavoidable. I am here to fill their shoes after all."
"I am sure you will do that perfectly," she said with a kind smile. "Head on up when you are ready, Nath. Lila is going to help you settle in. Show you the ropes, explain how things run around here."
"Awesome." I nodded. "Thanks, Imani."
"Do not mention it." The receptionist winked before she started typing again.
If the rest of the building was as grand as this lobby, I was in for a treat.
I walked away from the desk toward one of three elevators on the other side of the room. Exotic looking plants in crystal pots sat between the metal doors. I looked closer and saw they were real, not fake.
I felt a little bad about forgetting Lila's name. She had been the only person I really spoke to since my parents died, even if it was only business. That did not count the people who just offered their condolences.
I pushed the white marble button with the up arrow. The elevator door slid open immediately with a soft ping. The elevator was huge inside, with black and white marble floors and mirrors on all the walls.
I pressed the button for the ninety ninth floor and looked at my reflection. No wonder Imani did not think I was the CEO of a billion dollar company. I looked like I had just walked in off the street. I really needed new clothes to fit in here.
The elevator shot upward like a rocket. Before I could fix my messy black hair, the doors opened on the ninety ninth floor.
I stepped out carefully and looked left and right like I was crossing a street.
The hallway was huge. Natural light came in through massive floor to ceiling windows. Straight ahead, down a long stretch of black marble, were dark oak double doors. Beside them, against the wall, was a small desk made of the same wood.
My feet carried me down the hall before I even knew it. I stopped at the desk. I guessed this was Lila's, and whatever was behind those doors was mine. I felt bad she was out here and not in a real office. Maybe I could change that. I probably had the money to remodel this whole place. Giving my assistant a proper space would not hurt my budget.
Her desk was simple. A laptop, a notebook, and a fountain pen were arranged neatly. On the corner was a worn travel guide for hiking spots near Los Angeles. The pages looked soft from being read so many times.
"Mr. Wolfe?" a voice called out, making me jump.
"It is just Nath," I corrected automatically. I turned to see a stunning blonde woman walking out of the double doors. She had a dazzling smile as she shut them behind her.
Her long blonde hair was pulled back in a high ponytail from her beautiful, sun kissed face. I could not help but look at her. She wore a black pencil skirt that ended just above her knee, showing her lovely legs through opaque tights.
She had on a tight white blouse that showed just enough to make me nervous. I tried not to stare. She wore expensive looking black heels that added inches to her height. Without them, I guessed she was about five foot four, so she would come up to my chin.
Her green eyes met my dark brown ones. They looked like they held a whole forest inside. They were bright, full of life, and they sparkled in the sunlight from the windows.
"Nice to finally meet you," she said, and held out her hand.
"Yeah, nice to meet you, too," I stuttered, rushing to shake her hand.
Chapter 3 — Chapter Three
Lila chuckled as I shook her hand, maybe a little too hard. I was finding it hard to focus on anything but her full pink lips with their glittery gloss.
"Sorry about not warning you about the company car," Lila said. "I did not want you to feel rushed. The first day can be intimidating."
"You are telling me," I chuckled, a bit breathless. "I appreciate it, though. I was just going to get a cab."
"Not anymore, Mr. Wolfe," the blonde said with a playful wink.
"Really, you can just call me Nath," I said. 'Mr. Wolfe' makes me think of my father.
"Alright, Nath." Lila smiled. "Well, I am here to help you in any way I can. This adjustment period will be as long as you need. We do not expect you to dive right into making big decisions."
"That is kind of a relief, actually," I admitted. "I have a business degree and I have run restaurants, but a multibillion dollar pharmaceutical company is new."
"And we do not expect you to be an expert right away," she reassured me, putting a gentle hand on my arm. "Think of me as your guide. Anything you want to know, I can tell you. Your parents wanted me here for you."
"How long did you work for them?" I asked, clearing my throat to push away the sad thoughts.
"Four years," she said with a sad smile. "They hired me right out of college."
"Wow, they must have really liked you," I joked weakly.
"Yeah, they did," Lila said softly before she straightened up. "Listen, not to get straight to business, but your parents wanted me to give you a few things."
"Really? Like what?" I asked, surprised, as Lila opened the top drawer of her desk.
I tried not to stare as she bent over in that pencil skirt. I let out a deep breath and turned my back until she found what she was looking for.
"First, a key to their apartment," she said, pulling out a golden key. She also had a small, old looking video camera and a sleek black phone.
She handed me the key and I put it right in my pocket. I did not want to think about going to their place without them there. We had not spent much time there in recent years.
"Company phone with every contact you will need," she continued, passing me the smartphone.
"And that thing?" I pointed to the camera.
Lila hesitated, looking at the battered old camera like she did not want to give it to me. I had never seen my parents with it.
"This is for you and you only," she said seriously, which was different from her usual bubbly tone. "I suggest you look at it later. When you are home. Alone."
I frowned. It sounded like a warning. What could be on it? I was very curious, but I still had the whole day ahead.
"Can I leave it here with you until I go home?" I asked. "I think my curiosity will win if I have it in my office."
"Of course." Lila nodded and put it back in the drawer. "Speaking of your office, do you want to see it?"
Her grin was infectious, and the sad feeling faded.
"Absolutely," I said with an eager nod. Lila giggled and led me to the closed double doors. "Do you want the honors?" she asked, her eyes shining.
"Sure," I chuckled, putting my hands on the metal handles.
I took a deep breath and pushed them open. The office was incredible and way too big for one person. Then I remembered it used to be for two.
Now there was one oak desk at the back, in front of a wall of bookcases full of books and trinkets. Two plush leather chairs sat in front of the desk. The room had rich decor and paintings on the walls.
The paintings showed strange scenes, like wolves with lambs or packs howling at the moon. They looked very old and detailed. It was weird.
I held back a laugh. It must have been a joke because the company was called Astra.
"What is with all the wolves?" I asked Lila, turning in a slow circle.
A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling. Light from the huge window hit it perfectly, casting rainbows on the wall. When Lila stepped beside me, the light touched her sun kissed skin beautifully.
"Funny you should ask that," Lila said with a nervous chuckle. "I think they just liked matching the company name."
I could tell she was not being completely honest. Either talking about my parents was hard for her, or something strange was going on. Maybe my parents were in a wolf cult. How would I know? We barely saw each other.
"So this is all mine," I said, walking to the desk and running my hand over the smooth surface.
"Sure is," my assistant confirmed. "I am just outside. Whenever you need me, call on the phone, it is number one, or poke your head out."
"How come my parents never got you your own office?" I asked, looking up at her green eyes.
She seemed caught off guard. The blonde played with her hands and gave a shy laugh, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"I do not know," she shrugged. "I guess it was not necessary. I work fine out there. There are more important things."
"Four years of service and you still have a desk in the hallway?" I asked lightly. "My parents believed in hard work. Four years is a long time."
"It is really not that important," she said, waving her hand. "Honestly, I do not mind."
I watched her. She clearly did not like the attention. But she had worked hard for four years with little to show. It felt wrong for me to be in this huge office while she was in the hallway.
I made a mental note to find her a better space. But for now, I let it go. I did not want to overwhelm her.
"Alright, what is the plan for today?" I asked. I saw her quietly sigh in relief at the change of subject.
"Well, if you feel ready, the board wants to meet you," Lila said, brightening. "The meeting room is on floor eighty. Each board member has their own floor."
She walked around the desk and pulled a notebook from a drawer.
"I wrote down information you might need," she explained, flipping pages. "The building layout, board members names, their personalities. I will go over it with you now."
"Are they going to mind this?" I gestured to my clothes. Lila chuckled and shook her head.
"You are the CEO and majority shareholder," she said with a smirk. "Your word is law. If you wanted to change the dress code, they would have to listen."
"You should tell the staff I managed at the buffet in Little Saigon that," I joked. "This is all so different."
"Good different?" my assistant asked hopefully.
"Good different," I replied with a smile. "Alright, tell me about the board."
I sat on the edge of the desk. Lila stepped around to face me. She took a deep breath, getting ready for her explanation. I made sure to listen closely.
And definitely not to her cleavage right in front of me.
"Okay, the board members you are meeting today are your inner circle," she began. "The larger board is not your concern yet. Your inner circle has four people. At the head is Harold Whitaker. He has been in business longer than we have been alive. He knows what he is talking about."
"Harold Whitaker, Chairperson and human Yoda. Got it," I said with a nod.
"Sure, but do not say that to his face," Lila giggled. The sound made my heart skip.
"Who is next?" I asked, leaning forward.
"Evelyn Hart, the Vice Chair and Whitaker's right hand," she continued. "She worked with your parents for years. Think of her as the Mace Windu of the group."
"Evelyn Hart, Windu. Understood," I grinned.
"Then there is Nina Clarke," Lila said. "She is the Board Secretary. She handles agendas, scheduling, accountability."
"Alright, and who is last?" I asked.
Finished the preview?
Unlock the full ebook now and continue the story right away. Get instant access after purchase — no shipping, no waiting. Delivered as PDF and EPUB for reading on phone, tablet, or desktop.