CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

Luther expected to find Scarlet in the office, sitting on her daddy's lap and planning revenge for her mommy. Nate could surely learn a thing or two about cruelty from his daughter.

But, to Luther's surprise, the pup spending time with daddy was Jaden. The little boy had finished eating cookies - there were still crumbles on the table - and was reading with Nate.

Hopefully, not the revenge plans.

«Hello,» Luther said, distracting Jaden from his reading. The little boy jumped down from his chair and ran to the elder.

«Grandpa!» he exclaimed. «Welcome to our office. Dad was teaching me math.»

«Oh, good. And how do you like math, Jaden?» Luther inquired.

«It's interesting.»

«Good, good,» the man said.

«Are you here for the joint venture?»

Luther blinked, surprised. Did the kids know more than he did, already? Those little beasts would become dangerous once they grew up. But he couldn't help but feel proud of them - even though he knew he had no merit in their achievements.

«How do you know all of that?» Luther inquired, then.

«Scarlet told me.»

«Oh, and how does Scarlet know?»

Jaden didn't reply, but just turned to Nate. He stared for a few seconds until Luther also turned to check and found a slightly guilty expression on the coldest and most focused CEO in the city. He did tell Scarlet. At least part of it.

«What do you think a joint venture is, Jaden?» Luther asked, then.

«It's when you and daddy do something together. Or with your companies... Scarlet said so.»

«That's right. It's a collaboration for the duration of a single project. This is a weird joint venture because we won't document the project. But it'll be like this: we'll cooperate until we reach our goal and then, we'll part ways.»

«Cool. It's better than working together always, right?»

«That's right I've learnt not to entangle my business with family. Not too much, at least.»

Jaden tilted his head, curious about that part.

«Does it mean I shouldn't always help Scarlet with her homework? Or that dad shouldn't work with aunty Sam?»

«It's just my experience, Jaden. Other people might have other views. I'm sure you and Scarlet won't ever betray each other. You're twins, after all.»

«And our mommy wouldn't be happy.»

«That's right,» Luther chuckled. «Now, are you still working here? I can come back later if that is the case.»

«No, grandpa! You can stay! I can do my homework!»

Jaden's worried expression, almost scared that Luther would leave, made the elder chuckle amused. It warmed his heart and made him feel that old family link he had forgotten. He had been betrayed badly, but having kids dance around him still felt... essential.

The twins could be little beasts growing up, they could even be dangerous, but they couldn't fake how much they cared for him. It made him keep his sane mind in that world that so much had changed since the day he had been locked away.

«I'm glad you and Lara met,» he said to Nate. «I truly am.»

Who better than his old friend's son to take care of a child he loved like a daughter?

Nate sighed, wondering if it was true or just a trap. But his kids also would say something like that on occasion. They were glad he was their daddy and not some other, dangerous guy. It didn't sound like a compliment, though.

«Let's move on with our project,» he said. «Shall we?» Read new adventures at empire

Luther seemed to remember what he was doing there, and he nodded, his face turning serious in a single second. The kids were cute, and his niece was important. But he had to ensure his brother and sister-in-law had what they earned. For revenge, but just as much for his future. And Lara's future.

They were dangerous because they had no limits. They would hurt her, eventually.

«Let's,» he said.

He read a paper Nate had prepared, considering the offer. He would convince the Claytons' competitors to refurnish LY Corp for a while at a better price than the market prices. As a result, the suppliers would sell at a higher price too.

Since Nate had gotten control of the supply chains, they could easily spread the voice that they were ready to buy raw materials at a good price. For the time being, the suppliers would all rush to sell to Luther's companies, and Luther would sell to Nate.

They would create a bubble effect for the time needed for Clayton Enterprises to fail. They wouldn't be able to sell their products at a good price but would need to buy at a higher cost.

«If I know my brother well enough, he had saved a bit to prevent something like this from happening,» Luther said, then. «It will take quite some time.»

«We will be passing money from one to the other,» Nate said. «I will buy from you at a higher price, true. But you will also buy from my suppliers. In the end, we'll make the same money circle from my hands to yours. Back to mine. We can resist longer than your brother can, can't we?»

«Well, if I know Gracelyn well enough,» Luther said, «it won't be necessary.»

His brother was careful, true. But his sister-in-law had always had big dreams. Even the recent expansion of Clayton Enterprises towards the construction market... That sounded a lot like her idea.

«They just opened a subsidiary. They build things, now. It's an investment that requires money, Nate. It won't take too long, we surely can resist. Also, I'm starting a few small businesses on the side. Something non-related to any of this.

I have my back covered.»

He sure had learned a few things from his brother's betrayal.

«I'm just concerned about one thing. Bankruptcy isn't enough for what they did to me and Lara. Losing all their money isn't enough.»

At that point, Nate chuckled.

«I think it might be enough. It's not about the money, Luther. It's about prestige. Their good name. That's what will hurt more than anything else.»