Vow of Surrender

Chapter Eighteen

Adam groaned as he pulled up to Benjamin's house. It was surrounded by a wrought-iron fence with a gate in front of the driveway. He needed to push a button to be let in. The fact that he had to jump through so many hoops just to have a conversation irritated him. He didn't want to deal with the fancy gate and the mile-long driveway or the butlers.

Okay, maybe he didn't have more than one butler. it was a nice house--four stories, custard yellow siding, white shutters. Adam's family had been here several times for dinners in the past. Benjamin had proposed to Nina at this house Christmastime last year.

Adam didn't have anything against rich people. If someone worked hard, earned a good paycheck, then they deserved to buy themselves a nice place. He just had something against his sister's future husband who was meddling in the family affairs.

"Good afternoon!" a voice on the gate intercom said. "Who am I addressing?"

"This is Adam Drake. I'm here to see Benjamin."

"I will let him know you have arrived. Please enter after you hear the buzzer."

The gate buzzed then slowly opened. Adam drove up the steep driveway. He parked then walked up to the door and knocked. Not long after, the butler answered, friendly as usual. Apparently, John had served the family for three generations. After Benjamin's parents retired and began living a life of constant traveling, they passed John's butler service to their son.

"Hello again, Mr. Drake! How have you been?"

"I've been well, thank you. And yourself?"

"Quite well! My wife and I just celebrated our fiftieth anniversary. We--"

"That will be all, John," Benjamin interrupted. "I can take it from here."

John gave him an appreciative smile then left the room. Adam could have knocked Ben's teeth out, but he couldn't start off swinging. Wouldn't want to ruin his perfect smile before the big day. Benjamin was shorter than him and lean. He kept his brown hair gelled back and he had the face for Hollywood.

"Such a fuzzy demeanor you have with your staff," Adam jabbed.

Benjamin gave him a cold smile. "When you have a company to run on top of a home staff it can get old having to babysit everyone."

"Well, I run four companies and I like to think of my staff as family. But that's a personal preference, I suppose."

"We all run our ships differently. Come in. I was just about to pour a drink."

Adam followed him down the elaborate hallway. A large portrait of Benjamin hung on the wall, his attire straight from the 17th century. Adorned like some kind of prince.

What he didn't see were photos of Nina and Benjamin. He knew for a fact Benjamin brought her on several business trips around the world, and she had tons of photos of them in her room at their parents' house. Why didn't he flaunt his wife-to-be with pride the way she did with him?

"What'll you have?" Benjamin asked.

"Jameson if you have it, thanks."

Another woman came in and opened the liquor cabinet. Benjamin told her what he wanted and she poured the glasses. The prick didn't even pour his own whiskey.

"When you called, I was surprised. I don't think you've ever come alone."

"I have a few things I'd like to discuss. Mainly about the upcoming wedding."

"Nina bear showed me the arrangements she wants. I plan to help decide the venue sometime this week and discuss catering."

"Oh, so you are helping her plan the wedding."

Benjamin smirked and crossed his legs. "Why do I have a feeling you didn't come to bitch about my wedding?"

"Because you're not a moron. I know about the deal you made with my father. You had no business going behind my back!"

"Your back? Last I checked your father owns Calypso."

"He made me assistant manager which means I am his business partner. He can't make any decisions without my say."

"Tell that to the $600,000 contract we have in the works. He planned to signed for it tonight at Sunday dinner."

"The hell he is! You can't buy yourself into this family. The Drakes have always owned Calypso and they always will."

Benjamin put a hand to his chest. "Ouch. Last I checked, I was marrying into the family. I'm doing this for Nina and for our children. With the way things are going with you, it'll be up to Nina and me to help carry on the legacy."

Adam set his glass on the table then clasped his hands together to keep from punching him.

"What are you implying?"

"Face it, Adam. You're in your mid-forties. Kai is in his fifties--"

"Not yet, but irrelevant. Continue."

"The point is you are as old as you are with no promise of marrying or having children anytime soon. Your time is running out. You're not getting any younger. With the exception of Dakota, your father can't count on your and your brother to carry on the family name."

That was rich. Resorting to calling him old and blaming his greediness on fear fro securing a future for Adam's father's grandchildren.

"We're not selling. We'll figure our own shit out."

He downed the rest of the Jameson then set the glass down, standing up and walking out of the living room. He was almost to the door when his phone buzzed. He checked the message, and when he saw it, his stomach turned.

"What the f*&% is THIS?" Adam demanded.

"Insurance. It is you, right?"

Benjamin had followed him out, and Adam turned around, glaring at him.

"You had me followed?"

"Just wanted to know what my future wife's family was into. I had no idea you were a deviant."

Adam closed his fist around his phone. The video Benjamin had texted was of him at the dungeon. He was blindfolded in the hair, aroused, and moaning as the Domme struck him with the crop.

"Does your family know about your extracurricular activities? I doubt it. That club has been linked to drug activity."

"My personal life is none of your damn business!"

"I think it will be when the public finds out one of the managers of Calypso has friends in low places. It would destroy your father. You wouldn't want to disappoint him, would you?"

Adam's anger boiled over and before he knew it, his fist collided with Benjamin's face, knocking him backward. Two men rushed into the room, each grabbing one of Adam's arms. He shrugged them off, backing up.

"Don't bother!" Adam growled. "I'm leaving anyway. And if you think you can blackmail me into selling, you're wrong!"

Benjamin smirked as he rubbed his bruised cheek.

"Game on, Drake. I wouldn't underestimate me. Calypso Casinos will be mine just like half the businesses in this town. Just you wait!"

Adam massaged his knuckles as he showed himself out. He hadn't hit anyone in a long time. Not since his wild days in his twenties. His father made him promise no fighting if he was to become assistant manager, and he'd kept his promise until now.

When he got to the car, he punched the door to release the rest of his pent-up rage, denting it in the process.

"Dammit!"

He got in, squeezing the steering wheel before starting the car and driving off. He hadn't let his temper get the est of him in a while, and he'd snapped. As much as he wanted to call Caedance and let her push him to his limits, he couldn't. She wasn't his girlfriend, so it wasn't appropriate to go to her with these issues. She didn't need to see him like this.