Mae

The next day, I walked into the FCA building with my head held high, even though I hadn’t thought I’d be back this soon. Although, if I’d never been visited by the devil, I still would have bounced back eventually…of that I was certain. Nothing kept me down, not even a knife in my back. Plus there was no way in hell—pun intended—I would show the rest of this company any weakness. Let any of them try to come for me. Especially now that I had some serious firepower in the form of a devil in my back pocket.

When I woke up I’d almost wondered if the whole thing was a dream. The night before, Azrimin had literally disappeared after a single drink, fading into smoke in front of my eyes. But when I wandered to the living room after my shower, there was the bottle of champagne, still sitting on the coffee table, evidence enough for me because I’d never drink the stuff alone. Of course he couldn’t have bothered to clean up the mess for me since it was only a snap of the fingers to him.

As I walked toward security, I thought about the amazing things Azrimin had done to prove he was, indeed, a devil. It almost made me smile, though I didn’t know why. Would I ever be able to get used to the supernatural? To me it was something I once read in a book, back when I had much more time on my hands. I’d never put much stock in religion—like I was going to believe in some old dude in white robes directing my destiny. No, I’d made my own choices, controlled my own life. Just like my father had taught me.

I also remembered when I was little, how my father would tell me my mommy was in heaven, but as I grew older, I stopped believing him, and he stopped saying it. Still, if the devil existed, then didn’t that mean… My stomach knotted at the prospect, so I left the thought hanging, pushed it away. I just wasn’t sure how to square those ideas now that I knew hell, at least, was an actual, real place.

Shaking off my unease, I directed my focus on getting my revenge. Keep your eye on the prize, Mae. And Azrimin was my ticket to that prize.

I would do whatever it took to get my father’s company back and make Harriet and Clinton pay in the process. And a bonus, I thought at seeing Barry Smith up ahead, going through security, would be clearing out all these chauvinistic assholes on the board. Barry was an early bird, though I didn’t know why since he hardly did anything. He’d been in the room yesterday during that impromptu boys club meeting. Oh, I’ll find a special punishment for every last one of you…

Determined and ready to put this plan into action, I tapped my pass to get through the security gate, ignoring the stares of the guards, then headed to the elevator bank.

A sense of calm settled over me as I stood in front of the elevator. The halls were virtually empty at this time and aside from Barry, who headed up before me, there was no one around to distract me or put me on edge.

The quiet space allowed me time to think about my actual plan specifics, which I technically didn’t have yet. The main question was, how could I best utilize Azrimin’s…talents to take down my stepmother and stepbrother? Just the thought sent a spark of excitement through me.

The bell signaling the arrival of my elevator went off a second before the doors in front of me opened. To my surprise, the very devil himself was waiting inside, and with two cups of coffee in his hands. I supposed it made sense he was there, but part of me expected I wouldn’t see or hear from him unless I summoned him. Then again, Azrimin already seemed to have a sense when he was needed.

He grinned as I stepped in. “Good morning,” he chirped as he held a cup out to me. “It’s your favorite.”

I’d been so preoccupied this morning, I’d forgotten about coffee and eagerly snatched it up. But when I took a sip, I had to force myself not to sputter it back out. Is that… Yes, it was coffee all right but with the added bit of at least two shots of whiskey.

Pulling the cup away, I glared at Azrimin. “Seriously? A little early for whiskey, isn’t it?”

Azrimin shrugged, and I registered that he was back to his drab mailroom attire. “A little of your favorite, a little of mine. I’m surprised you’re here today, by the way. Figured you’d be home planning your revenge.”

His abrupt question threw me, and I found myself answering honestly before I could consider whether telling the devil the truth was the right move. “There’s no way Clinton’s going to run this company the way it should be. He’s a walking disaster when it comes to business.”

Azrimin’s face seemed to agree but he didn’t verbalize.

“I’m going to find out how he’s fucking things up, because I know—sooner or later—he’s going to fuck things up. And to do that, I have to be here.”

Azrimin finished a sip, then nodded thoughtfully. “I see. And then we get smiting? I do love to smite.”

I resisted the urge to laugh, sticking to my vow to keep all interactions with the charming devil professional. “Sure… But first we need a real plan. One that ends with me getting control of the company…”

Azrimin’s grin faded and he groaned. Scrubbing a hand through his thick black hair, he said, “That’s not sexy. Not to mention anticlimactic. You sound like a Business Insider article.”

“What do you mean, that’s what I do…business.”

“Sure, but this is a revenge plot. Where’s the personal, the passion? How are you going to hurt them?”

Before I could answer, the elevator door dinged. I had been so engrossed in my conversation with Azrimin that I didn’t pay attention to what floor we were on. When the doors opened, I had to bite back a groan at seeing Clinton standing there.

His face fell for the briefest of moments when he saw me, but he quickly covered it and stepped inside the elevator without a word. He and I had had our ups and downs over the years but when it came to verbal sparring, I’d always had the upper hand. He might have been older in years but I had all the experience, wisdom handed down from my father, and brains. Sometimes I almost felt bad for my stepbrother, but this was not one of those times. All I wanted to do was hurt him. But that was out of the question…at least for now. I would remain professional until it was time to strike.

I needed to show him that his bullshit promotion didn’t bother me, and that I’d succeed despite him and Harriet. Swallowing back the bile his presence elicited, I said, “Good morning, Clinton.”

Clinton frowned, his brows furrowed as if he didn’t understand simple English. “It’s President Palmer.”

I could only gape at him, certain I hadn’t heard him correctly. What were we? Twelve? Did he seriously… I heard Azrimin snicker and turned to glare at him, but he was no longer in the elevator with us. I knew he could disappear at will but it was almost like he was invisible at the moment. Then I remember the previous night, watching the board members partying, unable to see us.

Clinton cleared his throat, and I realized he was actually expecting me to say the words. Begrudgingly, I bit out, “President Palmer.” I even attempted a slim smile just to show he couldn’t bait me, but it appeared I’d failed based on Clinton’s gloating reaction.

He donned a wide smile and slipped his hands into his pocket, whistling a little tune as he stared up at the numbers changing between floors.

I hated seeing him so damn happy. Unable to keep my guard up, I snapped, “Is this seriously how you wanted this all to go? You’re not ASB president, Clinton. This is my father’s goddamn company and you better show it some respect.”

For a second, Clinton seemed taken aback, like he didn’t expect I would call him out. But then his brows came down low over his eyes, and he sneered at me. “You’re not going to ruin my first day, Mae. This is better than I could have ever hoped for.”

The elevator ding seemed punctuate his cruelty, and Clinton stepped aside with a nod, his smug grin still present on his face. “Uh, I believe this is your floor. I’m going all the way to the top.”