The Merciless Alpha(erotica)

“Todd borrowed $1. 2 million to purchase your 70% of the company five years ago. Now, total liabilities are $2. 087 million against assets of $1. 46 million,” Patricia said. “Cash flow is just as bad. Revenues last year were $817k against expenses of $1. 422 million. The company settled five lawsuits for breach of contract in the past two years, with two more pending. The debt service is killing them; when you combine poor management with this kind of debt load, you have a death spiral.”

“What would you two recommend for a purchase price,” I said.

“Whatever the auction calls for,” Jacob said. I glared at him. “Volkov Construction needs a cash infusion of at least a million dollars to remain liquid and reduce the debt load to a manageable amount, and they need to flip the revenue numbers. That is your job; you built the company, you’ll need to rebuild it in the eyes of the customers.”

“I can do that,” I said.

“How much are you buying? Majority share? Your seventy percent back? Or do you want the eighty-five percent the Millers now own?”

“Eighty percent would be ideal, but a minimum of fifty-one percent, so I have full control of the company. Susan can keep five percent; if the company turns around, she and her children deserve to share in the earnings. If it goes bankrupt anyway, they aren’t out any more than they are right now. Her home equity loan gets paid back first; I don’t want any loans left that are not secured by Company assets.” I couldn’t believe Todd mortgaged his home to keep it afloat; all he did was risk losing everything he had.

“Let me run some numbers, and I’ll let you know the parameters that would make for a fair offer,” Jacob said. “You’re putting a lot of money at risk for other people here. I hope you know what you are doing.”

“I do,” I said. “I need to do a few more things before we meet with Susan. I’ll leave you to your work for a few minutes.”

The two went back to their computers while I drove out into the hallway. “What’s going on, Larry,” I said.

“I got a call from my friend in the Council. They have been meeting with Susan Miller all morning, and they are very interested in this meeting you are having with her. They will be accompanying her here.”

“Do they realize I have humans here?”

“I don’t think they care, Leo. They are also bringing in the big gun. Luna Adrienne McInnis is here to mediate between the Miesville and Welch Packs. He said that the Council will not leave until this mess is sorted out, one way or another.” Luna Adrienne was making her name with the Council six years ago before Catherine got sick and I stopped paying attention to Pack politics. “If the State Department had Adrienne, we’d have peace in the middle east within a week.”

“Or they’d all be dead,” I said. “Wonderful.”

I opened the door to my office and drove back in. “Change in plans,” I said. “The meeting with Mrs. Miller is pushed back to six o’clock. I need the two of you to prepare an offer. Write it up, leave the percentage of the company, and the amount of the sale blank for now.”

“You plan to close the deal tonight?”

“If it is to happen, it will be tonight. Sell assets as needed to ensure my portfolio has enough liquid assets to cover up to a $1. 8 million purchase price. That should be more than enough to cover whatever the agreement is.”

Jacob Burnwell let out a sigh. “It’s never simple with you, Leo.”

“Think about what kind of indemnity we need to have and how to protect my interests. You’ve got a couple hours, counselor.”

“Thanks.” He stood up and put his papers back in his briefcase.

“It was a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Volkov,” Patricia said. “Here is my card, don’t hesitate to call me if you have any questions.”

“You aren’t returning for the negotiations?”

“No, my part is done. Todd Miller may not be a good businessman, but his wife kept the books properly, and I provided an accurate accounting of the business financials. What you decide to do about that is not my area.” She gave me a smile. “I hope to see you again when you are back on your feet.”

“Thank you,” I said. “Larry, please see them out.” As they went to the driveway, I drove back to use my bathroom and freshen up. I was finishing up when Mike linked me. “The Council members and Luna Susan just turned onto 91 in Miesville,” he said. They were a few minutes out and would pass Jacob and Patricia soon after they left my driveway.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

“We’ll do this in my office; I’m not worried about Susan with the Council here. I will link if I need anything.”

“Of course, Alpha.”

I drove around to behind my desk, and Anita came in and placed a tray with coffee, tea, and snacks on the table by the window. “Anita, please arrange the chairs for three people, with one of those chairs close to my desk on the window end for Susan,” I said. “Seat them, offer refreshments, then leave me with them.”

“Are you sure you don’t want Larry or Mike in here to back you up?”

“I’m at enough of a disadvantage being stuck in this scooter; I don’t want to compound it by hiding behind another wolf. The Council will not allow us to harm each other, and Luna McInnis won’t allow anything to get out of hand.” I had been considering my options for dealing with her since I found out she was coming; I had chosen my path and hoped it wouldn’t burn me. Looking out the window, I saw the two cars drive in and park.

Beta Mike met them as they came to a stop, and left the link open for me. “Chairman Wolfe, Luna McInnis, and Luna Miller, welcome to the Miesville Pack. I am Beta Mike Winters, at your service. Alpha Leo sends his apologies for not greeting you in person, but as you will see, his injuries prevented it.”

“Thank you, Beta Winters,” the Chairman responded. They walked into the house, where their coats were taken, and Mike led them to my office. “Leo, it has been a long time,” he said as he walked into my office.

“Indeed it has, Chairman Wolfe. I believe it was the 2014 Alpha Summit in Sun Valley,” I responded. My wolf pushed forward, alerting me to something, but he didn’t say what. A pleasing scent, like cedar and rain, was in the air; it drew me in, but I couldn’t identify its source.

He shook my hand as he inspected my sling and boot. “You will recover?”

“Yes, in eight weeks. The ligaments of my ankle took the brunt of it. The shoulder will be fine in two weeks.” He moved around the desk, and behind him was Luna McInnis. My breath caught in my chest as I saw her; she was tall and elegantly dressed, her deep-red hair gathered to hang down her back. She was wearing white slacks and heels, a matching blouse with delicate beadwork, and a light grey jacket. “Luna, welcome to the Miesville Pack,” I said as I held my hand out. My wolf felt the dominance of hers and rushed to meet it. When our fingers touched, a tingle shot up my arm. My hand gripped hers a little tighter for a moment, and something passed between our wolves before I let her go again.

“It is my pleasure, Alpha Leo.” She held the look into my eyes a few seconds too long, before shaking her head slightly and stepping back. My wolf was acting weird; I pushed him back and went on with the greetings.

“Luna Susan,” I said with a smile. “Thank you for coming.”

“My apologies for all that has happened between our Packs,” she said as her hand reached for mine. “It should never have been this way.”

“I know.” I waited while they sat and received their drinks from Anita, and the door closed behind her before I started. “Thank you all for coming. I understand the Council’s interest in this, but Luna Susan and I have a long history with each other. You are welcome to observe, but the two of us are not negotiating through the Council. Mediation is neither requested nor required. Instead, I will work through these problems with my friend and former Packmate.”

“That would be wonderful if you can do that, but the Council’s interest is in seeing this settled before any other human entanglements are created. Perhaps if you had involved us earlier, some of this could be avoided,” Luna McInnis said.

“Perhaps. In any case, I will not waste Luna Susan’s valuable time.” I turned my attention to her, reaching out to grasp her hand. “There is one thing we will discuss that is not negotiable,” I told her. “Your mate knocked my vehicle off the road, seriously injuring a fellow Alpha, and three people who are very important to me. In the process, he caused the turn of a human and lost three of your Pack members attempting to kill a four-year-old girl. This was done without a proper challenge, and after I had warned him to stay out of a conflict between my Pack and the Marengo Lake Pack. The penalty for this is death.”

She nodded and started to cry. “I did not know,” she said.

“I believe you. What I need to know right now is whether you accept that your mate’s death. If you want to fight for his life in the human or the werewolf system, we have nothing to talk about.” It was a hard line, but it was the only way. I handed her a Kleenex.

“I love my husband, but I can’t forgive him for this,” Susan said. “Three of my close friends are widows, and he’s facing decades in prison. He left me with this big mess, and I don’t know how I’m going to live and where I will raise my boys now,” she said. “He decided on these actions without me, because he knew what I would say. I will mourn his death, but I understand it must happen.”

I gave her a minute to compose herself. “What were you hoping to achieve tonight, Susan?”

“My Pack is disintegrating around me,” she said. “It’s not just you starting your Pack; people see what is happening with Todd, and with Volkov Construction, and are running away as fast as they can. I’m not worried about someone challenging for my Alpha position, Leo. In a week, there won’t be five wolves left with me.”

I patted her hand. “I have a way to end the human investigations if you are willing to help, and Todd does what we need him to do.”

“How?”

I looked over at the Chairman and Luna McInnis; they were following closely, but giving me room to lead the meeting. “I think we can agree on a few goals we would all want here. Our people have a stable Pack structure, Volkov Construction continues to provide good jobs for many of our members, and you and your children are provided for. Would you agree?”

“Of course. I would add one thing, and that is my status. I’m worried I won’t find a Pack willing to take my family after what my husband did.”

“I will take you in my Pack if you agree to the terms, Susan. As you said, you and your children were not part of the decisions. I will not see you punished for them.”

She looked up, her face showing a little bit of hope. “You would do that? What would your Pack say?”