Profit & Lace: A Dark MMF Romance Read online

Good Day, USA

  Jennifer:

  Welcome to Good Day USA. I'm your host, Jennifer Long.

  Jan:

  And I'm your co-host, Susan Duran.

  Jennifer:

  We're starting off today with major breaking news that's got the city talking. So shocking that we're advising all our viewers to be sitting down and not operating heavy machinery when they hear or see this broadcast.

  Susan:

  That's because what New York City has been waiting for has finally happened. Eliza Seymour has lived up to the reputation that she's known for.

  Jennifer:

  Media outlets around the city were tipped off late last night through anonymous sources that the heiress has been carrying on a romantic relationship with both Derek Stackford and Carter Blake.

  Susan:

  That's right Nicky. Sources indicate that Ms. Seymour not only has an intimate relationship with both her stepfathers, but may have had sexual encounters with both men simultaneously.

  Jennifer:

  A threesome?

  Susan:

  The best kind. It looks like Eliza Seymour really hasn't changed much. Just learned to hide it better.

  Jennifer:

  Was there ever really any doubt that she had changed? Did we all expect that she went to Paris and then just because her father died she came back as a nun?

  Susan:

  Critics are charging that there is an added level of depravity in this situation because Ms. Seymour is sleeping with both of her stepfathers at the same time. The relationship has a faint taboo nature to it, they say.

  Jennifer:

  It has a very strong taboo nature to it. But there really isn't anything very wrong with it on paper. Neither of the men are her biological father. Neither of the men has actually forced themselves on her. And neither of the men knew her in any way before she had turned 18 years old.

  Susan:

  It's a deliciously dirty situation to be in, for sure. But many of you may be wondering what the reaction of the elder Mrs. Wanda Seymour has been to all this.

  Jennifer:

  And that's the interesting part. So far the reaction has been zero. Complete and utter radio silence. Nothing at all.

  Susan:

  We know that Wanda and her stepdaughter are not the best of friends. There is very little love lost in that relationship. And usually in a situation like this, you would think that the other party would take a moment to gloat.

  Jennifer:

  It could be that Wanda Seymour isn't basking in triumph now, because she's waiting for something even bigger to happen.

  Susan:

  Such as?

  Jennifer:

  If this leads to the end of Eliza Seymour keeping control of her family's finances, then Wanda Seymour would give up making any mention of anything right about now. She'd be biding her time. Letting her stepdaughter do all the self-destruction right in front of her.

  Susan:

  Scary thoughts. Thank you, Jennifer. Unfortunately, that's all the time we have today.

  Jennifer:

  Right. When we come back, stay tuned for exclusive coverage from Senator Parker Trask as he highlights his transition from hard partying playboy to champion of the common man in the Senate! All after these commercial messages!

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Derek

  I look at the flat screen TV mounted on the wall and watch the newscaster with a numb feeling creeping over my body.

  "Allegations mount as Stackford Capital's CEO, Derek Stackford, is under intense scrutiny for sexual misconduct. Sources, who prefer to remain anonymous at this early stage of the investigation, say that Mr. Stackford is engaging in sexual relations with his stepdaughter, billionaire heiress Eliza Seymour, for reasons that have yet to be uncovered."

  I shake my head at the TV. Of course they're playing up the father-daughter angle. So fucking predictable … especially with Wanda behind this.

  The newscaster continues, "Since these allegations have surfaced, other anonymous women are coming forward, claiming that Mr. Stackford has in the past approached them inappropriately by either placing his hands up their skirts, or groping them. And that's not all. If that weren't enough, sources are also uncovering another scandal—one involving Mr. Carter Blake. It appears Mr. Stackford and Mr. Blake have been involved in a shocking affair with each other. All of this leaves investors rattled with the moral implications that these claims bring forward."

  I grab the remote and click the TV off. I can't watch anymore of this, but the truth is, I can't escape it. My face is on the front page of every news website, and even on the front page of every business newspaper.

  Headlines like, "Can Mr. Stackford Fend Off Sexual Misconduct Allegations?" and "Is It The End For Stackford Capital?" keep grabbing my attention … even when I'm trying my fucking hardest to ignore them. It all makes my fucking head spin. I open my desk drawer and pull out a bottle of Aspirin, swallowing two pills with a shot of whiskey.

  I'll give Wanda credit for one thing; she sure knows how to start a media shit storm. Her PR connections must be deeper than the Mariana Trench.

  But if she thinks I'm going to back down from this, she has another thing coming. I just have to figure out what to do because some of my biggest clients are leaving the firm for what they think is greener pastures. I've been taking calls since sunrise, and it's beginning to feel like I plug one leak, just to have another one spring up. Emails are coming in faster than I can humanly answer them, and even my secretary has her hands full.

  I visualize a Hydra from Greek mythology—a beast with nine heads that's nearly impossible to kill because the minute you chop one head off, two grow in its place. You get the fucking picture. My life is in utter chaos right now.

  My phone rings, and I pick it up.

  "Stackford speaking," I say, fully expecting to hear another disgruntled client on the other end of the line, but it's my secretary, Julie.

  "Bad news," she says. I can't help but notice the defeat in her voice. "Two more clients have pulled out. I'm sorry, Mr. Stackford. There was nothing I could do."

  "It's not your fault," I say. "Thank you for letting me know; I'll take care of it."

  I hang up the phone and sink back into my chair.

  I massage the pounding pulse in my temples with the tips of my fingers and then I hear a slight knock on my office door.

  I'm sure it's my secretary, delivering another batch of sobering news.

  "Julie, give me a minute to breathe. I know it feels like we're on a sinking ship, but I promise you that we're—"

  But my voice is cut short when I see that's it's not Julie at all walking through the door. It's Mandy.

  I watch as she walks in, a purse the size of a travel bag slung over one shoulder and she closes the door behind her.

  "What the fuck are you doing here?" I ask. If she's here at Wanda's bidding, I have zero patience for her threats, or games. I'm already up to my eyeballs in media scrutiny, clients jumping ship, and gossip juicier than a sirloin steak.

  "Wait," she replies, raising one finger in the air. "Hear me out."

  "You have ten seconds … starting now," I reply, looking down at my watch.

  "I have a proposal from Wanda," she replies.

  "Of course you do," I say, rolling my eyes. "Has there ever been a time when you've been in my office without Wanda hiring you to be here? Can you think of a single time? No? I didn't think so. I think you should leave now."

  "I have a way out of this mess," she says, ignoring my questions.

  Instead of responding, I look her up and down, and wait for her to continue.

  "There is a solution," Mandy continues. "If you want to save your business, you should do as I say and take my lead."

  "Look where that's led me," I say, lifting my arms into the air in an exaggerated gesture. The improbability of what she's saying is so comical that I'd laugh if I weren't so fucking pissed off. Just seeing her here, stand
ing in front of me, brings my blood pressure to dangerous levels.

  "Here, take this," she says, handing me a piece of paper.

  I grab it, reluctantly, and read it over. And honestly, I'm shocked with what I see.

  "I can't do that to Eliza and Carter," I say, looking back at Mandy.

  "Can you afford not to?" she asks me. "Let's be honest, Derek. If an investigation happens, you're going to be the first one to take the fall … with all of your other … shenanigans."

  "What's that supposed to mean?" I ask.

  "You know exactly what I'm talking about," she laughs. "You don't exactly have the cleanest of reputations. You're no saint, that's for sure. You're a bad boy through and through, and the whole world knows it. Don't kid yourself."

  The words bad boy echo in my brain.

  I've made a lot of mistakes in my personal life.

  And maybe she's right.

  Maybe this is something I can't overcome alone.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Good Day, USA

  Hello and welcome to Good Day USA.

  I'm your host, Melissa Lee.

  Ida:

  And I'm your co-host, Ida Jolley. We're here today as breaking news rocks Wall Street.

  Melissa:

  It seems like nowadays breaking news is always rocking Wall Street. But this time around we have an already juicy situation that's getting even more scandalous.

  Ida:

  That's right. Sources close to the family dispute between Wanda Seymour, Derek Stackford, Carter Blake, and Eliza Seymour say that not only has Eliza been romantically linked to both men simultaneously, as well as at the same time, but that Derek Stackford and Carter Blake have engaged in sexual relations on their own.

  Melissa:

  It's like if I had two dads who just couldn't wait for me to get ready and come down and decided to start ahead of time. You know, getting down.

  Ida:

  Right. Although this is a lit bit more extreme. Two step-fathers of the same daughter engaging in sexual intercourse together. New Yorkers are most likely scratching their heads wondering how this family has gotten to this point.

  Melissa:

  Scratching heads is one thing. I'd be scratching something else. Have you seen either of these two men? Can we put them up on screen? So you can see just the damn good looks on Derek Stackford who we know as the bad boy player. Or Carter Blake? The strong and silent alpha. Both men are worth billions of dollars. Both men are hot. Like panty melting hot. And both men want the same woman.

  Ida:

  Critics though are split. On one hand, there are those who are saying that these rumors are disgusting and Derek and Carter should be ashamed of themselves. On camera today, Wanda Seymour, who was married to both men, stated for the record, "This doesn't surprise me one bit. Neither man had time for me. I'm glad that they've found each other, if that's truly the case."

  Melissa:

  This isn't the first time the two men have been involved with the same woman when it comes to Eliza. Both men were at one point married to her mother.

  Ida:

  It just seems that after the mother. And then the daughter. Now they move on to each other.

  Melissa:

  And there are already repercussions. In addition to the criticism levelled on Eliza, it now appears that both Carter and Derek are starting to feel some of the heat as well.

  Ida:

  Correct. Business seems to have slumped at both men's organizations and inside sources are telling the media that people are waiting and watching to see if they still want to park their capital in either company.

  Melissa:

  Or whether to even work for the company. They could decide that the outside troubles of both Chief Executives are too much to deal with, and both companies could suffer a brain drain.

  Ida:

  It's going to be interesting to see how the three of them get out of this one. And what will happen to Wanda Seymour when she learns that both her ex-husbands have been sleeping with each other?

  Melissa:

  As well as with her ex-stepdaughter.

  We've suspended all other news coverage today and will continue on this topic alone with a larger panel of seven experts who are qualified to speak on this situation by the fact that they have some acquaintance with either Eliza, Carter, or Derek. We’ll continue coverage and then repeat all coverage for those of you who may have missed it in a continuous 24 hour loop for at least five days. So, hold on to your seats while we explore this breaking news after this commercial break. Stay tuned as we bring you news as it happens on this very important matter.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Carter

  Fuck, how the hell did the press find out about what happened between Derek and I? It doesn’t make any fucking sense. Unless we were being spied on, I don’t see how they might have found out about us. Unless … unless Derek told someone. But no, that doesn’t make any sense. Why would he do such a thing?

  Not that it matters now; the truth is out there, and it’s being spun into a multitude of half-truths and bullshit stories, all of it so that more newspapers can be sold, and more audiences reached.

  All that has plunged my office into chaos. Analysts and interns are running around like headless chickens, and even my legal department seems to be acting as if the nuclear holocaust had just started. Amongst all the chaos and despair, only Cheryl seems to be keeping a cool head. Thing is, I know that she was just keeping a smile on her face for show, because she knows how much I need someone to hold onto in the middle of this storm.

  “You can drop me here, I’ll walk the rest of the way,” I say through the intercom, leaning back against the leather seat in the limo. A minute later the limo parks close to the sidewalk and, without waiting for the driver to open my door, I step out onto the street. I’m just a block away from my apartment, and I need to get some fresh air. Maybe that’ll help me cool my head.

  Buttoning up my jacket, I throw my overcoat on top of it and close it, sheltering myself from the light rain that has started to fall. People rush all around me like a river current, everyone going about their daily lives completely oblivious that chaos has been unleashed in the financial world. Some of them might've read about it, but it’s not like whatever story the newspaper has made up will have an impact on their daily lives. Just like every day, the world keeps on turning without giving a crap about what happens to anyone in particular.

  I walk inside my apartment building as if I’m in a daze, my brain racing at one hundred miles per hour. I’ve tried to reach Derek and Eliza, but I can’t get through to them. That has me even more worried, but it’s not like I’m surprised, much like what happened to me all day, they’re probably swamped in meetings and phone calls, dealing with their own brand of chaos.

  Stepping foot inside my apartment, I shut the door with the tip of my foot and throw my overcoat and jacket over the couch. I roll up the sleeves of my shirt and, still feeling as if I’m inside of a dream, I make a straight line toward the drink cabinet. I’ve never been a hard drinker and, even though wine is usually my comedown drink of preference, today is a good day to follow Derek’s footsteps. I pour myself a hearty dose of a 40-year-old Glenfiddich and, without even blinking, I down the whole thing at once. I grimace as the aged malt burns its way down my throat, and then I pour myself one more.

  I feel my phone buzz inside my pocket and I fish it out in a hurry, hoping to see Derek or Eliza’s number on the screen. Instead, it’s a text message from Cheryl. I tap the screen with my thumb, and two simple words glare back at me: “TV. NOW.”

  Sitting down on the couch, drink in my hand, I grab the remote and turn on the flat screen over the fireplace. I’m ready to run through a lot of channels before I find whatever it is Cheryl wants me to see, but the moment the TV lights up I realize why she only told me to turn on the TV: almost every channel is broadcasting the same thing.

  A few talking heads are babbling about the
scandal of the day, but what draws my attention is the headline underneath them: Derek STACKFORD PRESS CONFERENCE IN A FEW MINUTES.

  What the hell is Derek thinking? Talking to the media at such a time is like pouring gasoline into a fire that’s already out of control. Grabbing my phone, I try to call him once more, but to no avail.

  Fuck.

  Gripping the glass in my hand so tightly it might just shatter, I look at the TV with wide eyes and a racing heart, anxiety kicking in as I wait for Derek to show up. It doesn’t take long; just five minutes after I turned the TV, and the image pans to Derek entering a press room, a dead serious expression on his face. The whole room is abuzz as he walks in, but then the noise dies down as he assumes his position behind the mic.

  “Good evening,” he starts, giving one passing glance over the crowd of reporters and then focusing on the cameras in front of him. “I came to you because I think it’s time the world knows the truth. As we all know, Eliza Seymour has returned to the US to manage the Seymour estate. As everyone also knows, Eliza is my stepdaughter, and she came to me soon after arriving in the United States. She had partnered with Carter Blake, and they pressured me into helping them embezzle a large sum.” He reaches for the glass of water on the side and takes a deep gulp, and I notice that he’s sweating.

  “Eliza wanted to get a large share of her fortune out of the country through an investment in Red Lion Aviation and, together with Carter, she tried to enlist me to her cause. I tried to stop them, but … but I couldn’t. I’ve already contacted the IRS and the Department of Treasury, and now this matter will be investigated through official channels.” He gives one more passing glance over the crowd and then just purses his lips. “That’s all,” he says abruptly, and then the room seems to explode, every single one the journalists in there trying to scream out a question.