Auctioned Mates Revenge
Chapter 68

The invitation came from Mordecai a few hours after my conversation with Renda and Emoni. Just after that was another invitation to a s*x party at his mansion to be held a few days after the grand opening of Club Heaven. I wasn't surprised, but I was intrigued by the timing and the event. A s*x party could mean a lot of things. It would be good to know who else would be there and what Mordecai's aim was. Regardless of what his plan was, I had plans of my own. I moved the extra mattresses into the unfurnished rooms in the apartment building where I was housing the staff and hired a head of operations for my businesses on the west coast.

Walter called, almost cheerily to chat about the order I wanted to be delivered to Club Heaven. Grace got me Owen and the others' smoking preferences as I considered what to do next. A knock sounded on the door and Felix entered, his eyes were listless again. He'd smoked something else since I last saw him.

I was aware that Felix had a smoking routine he rarely deviated from, but I never considered that he might be addicted. The blends he made were formulated purely from natural ingredients. They didn't come with the harmful side effects, addiction included, that other brands did.

Felix sunk into a chair, "So, Ben's here. They're having an important dinner at Mordecai's, and I'm almost certain that Grace had a flashback when we went to see the dungeons. Nice work by the way."

My lips twitched, a bit of my irritation eased, "Why are they having dance classes?"

"You don't think it would come in handy to have backup dancers already on staff?" Felix asked, "Besides, they looked like they could use some fun."

I sat back and nodded, "What does Ben want?"

"He was at the border, so probably to be nosy. The way he always is when it comes to you. Considering how much you hate the man, you'd think he'd get a clue."

My lips twitched. Felix didn't know the truth, but even if he did, I doubted his thoughts would change on the matter.

"Mordecai extended the invitation."

Felix nodded, "I thought he would. He knows that if Ben did, you'd refuse."

"Have you seen Wade?"

He laughed, "That idiot called me, said he wanted to work out a deal for a party he wants to host back in Warhammer." "And?"

"I'm planning to upcharge him a nuisance fee." He smirked, "About Blooming Vibes..."

"Yes, I bought the company and no I don't' intend to sell to you."

He huffed, "You're really going to compete with me?"

"I was actually hoping you would help out and we'd come to an agreement." He lifted an eyebrow at me and I grinned, "Full supply in exchange for some minor oversight." "What sort of minor oversight?"

"Well, it would be more beneficial, wouldn't it, for a merger under me than under you, wouldn't it?"

Felix's eyes widened and he groaned, "You just don't know how to not take over stuff, do you?"

I rolled my eyes, "It's a good idea. It's a better idea than your half-planned buy-out."

He glowered at him, "Not everyone has the luxury of having Ben and Mordecai hoping to be on their speed dial."

"I have plans for the current CEO of Blooming Vibes. With the right maneuvering, he's not going to be running Blooming Vibes for long. After the merger is complete, Devereaux Botanicals will have tax breaks in Warhammer and Midnight. You can't get a better deal than that." He grumbled, "Go on."

"And access to the transportation network that's going to be developed in the north."

Felix frowned, "What do you mean? Teagan? You know she hates all things that are fun."

I sat back, "What I tell you doesn't leave this room. I wouldn't tell you normally, but I need an ally in this dinner we're going to."

Felix frowned and sat up, narrowing his eyes, "What's going on, Matt? It's not like you to get like this. Is this Armand's doing?"

My lips twitched, "Not exactly. It's more complicated than that. Let's just say I'm... taking a different approach to working out my frustrations against Ben, Mordecai, and the rest of the world."

Felix nodded slowly, "Go on."

"I am planning to get Skyfall and Frost Melt to fall and be annexed by Midnight."

He frowned and sat back, "Okay... I didn't realize you liked Mordecai that much. I guess if you had to choose the brand of crazy..."

"Then, I'm taking over Midnight."

His eyes widened, "For f**k's sake, Matt. When I said go big or go home, I meant at a party, not trying to start an all-out pack war!"

Felix's hand began to twitch, his leg started to bounce and he pulled out his cigarette case. In a flash, I leaned forward and snatched it from his hand.

"Matt, that's not funny-"

"Explain why I should let you get high right now," I said, narrowing my eyes at him. "I need you clear-headed for this dinner tomorrow and you're clinging to your cigarette box at the mention of what the end goal is. What the hell is wrong with you?" His gaze darted to one side and he took a deep breath.

"Are you addicted to your own blend?"

He scoffed, "Don't be stupid. My blends are not addictive. Same with Blooming Vibes."

I looked at the case. It was a nice, sleek black before I glared at him.

"Then?"

He huffed and leaned forward, "I have prescriptions, Matt."

I frowned and shook out the box that was inside the case and froze at the plain prescription printed on the box with his name on it for Mellow.

Smoke as needed.

"Needed for what?"

He tossed the other cigarette case, this one in gleaming silver, and sat back, holding out his hand.

"Can we leave it at reasons for right now? I'm not in the mood to go through my troubling medical history."

I slid the black case back to him and picked up the silver case to pull the box free. This prescription was for Middle Ground at what I knew to be a near pharmaceutical grade concentration of various chemicals. Smoke twice a day in between meals.

What the hell could be wrong with him that he needed to smoke twice a day at this amount on top of Mellow whenever it wasn't enough.

He breathed out a plume of smoke, "You're going to give me a f*****g heart attack, Matt. For f**k's sake. Why not bring Armand into this?" "Because Armand can't sit at the table, and you know it."

Felix took another drag and nodded stiffly, "Just tell me what you need from me, alright?"

I was glad that he seemed on board even though he seemed troubled by the prospect. Felix might not be perfectly alright, but he had been someone I had grown to rely on a lot more than I ever thought I could.

The evening of the dinner party, Felix and I rode together with him blowing smoke out the window from his Mellow cigarette. We arrived early enough that I should have some time alone with Mordecai if I needed it.

We walked in and the sound of several voices came to my ears as we were guided towards the main parlor. There went my plan of having a bit of time to work on Mordecai. To my surprise, it wasn't just Mordecai, Ben, and other faces from midnight. Teagan, Calvin, Andrew, Megan, Gordon, and Greyson were there as well.

Teagan's husband and second-in-command was nowhere to be found, but she sat beside Gordon as if they were lovers. Megan sat beside Greyson, leaning into his space as Ben sipped from his tumbler. Lucas growled as we glided into the room. "What a gathering," I greeted. "I might have worn a different shirt."

Mordecai laughed, waving me in, "Take a seat, Matt, Felix. Wade should be coming back soon enough and we'll head to the dining room."

So, Ben had brought the idiot. Good. I couldn't wait to see how stupid he looked sporting a cast.

I took a seat, poured a glass of whiskey as Felix greeted people, being the usual social butterfly he was. It was still concerning to me that he was sedated most of the day, but he was clear-headed enough to be my alley in this.

"So, you're here," Wade's voice drifted towards me. I sipped my drink, ignoring him. "Where's your whore?"

I smirked looking at him. He had a cast on his arm and his left leg, leaning on his crutch. One of his eyes was still swollen and his scowl looked a little lopsided.

"Wade, I heard about your accident," I said easily. "Should I sign your cast?"

Mordecai snickered, "No fighting before dinner. It's not nice to beat up a cripple."