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1~The Sinners Life

  • Writer: Jennifer Byars
    Jennifer Byars
  • Nov 16, 2021
  • 10 min read

Updated: Nov 27, 2023

"A fool knows the price of everything and the value of nothing"



CHAPTER 1

Warning: This chapter will have a couple swear words and a sexual suggestion.


Duncan glanced down at his sleek black watch with the glistening diamond in the face, saw the time, and grinned, glancing over at the corridor leading to the main conference room. He called the conference room "the fishbowl." It was in the middle of the floor with no walls, only windows so everyone and anyone could watch what was going on while he broke a man, or woman, completely.


It was almost one p.m., and just a couple hours ago, he had brought one of the oldest oil family's companies to its final resting place. The money he made from the deal was in the millions. It was nothing more than petty cash for him at this point in his life. He could have retired seven times over by now if he had wanted. But Duncan was in his prime, and at thirty-five, who wanted to sit back and watch the world go by when you could own it.


In five more minutes, Duncan's next victim would make their way to his arena, and then the fun could begin. Taking a company apart was what he did best. The feeling it gave him was such a rush. It was better than any drug or extreme sport he had ever taken or done for the thrill. To control what would happen to a company and a person's life and the people who worked under them is like playing God. Of course, some might think he was Satan himself, which never bothered him. And since there was no such thing as a devil, demons, or a God for that matter, he might as well be the real-life devil here in the real world.


With a twitch of his lip, Duncan flipped on the computer and glanced at the screen. "What poor sucker is going to be my next little project?" He mused when his intercom came on.


"Mr. Baker, Mr. Woolhouse has just arrived for the two o'clock meeting, sir."


"Thank you, Sybil, show him into the conference room. I'll be in shortly."


"Yes, sir."


Twenty minutes had passed before Duncan pushed back from his desk to go to the meeting. He slipped on his jacket, straightened the sleeves with the platinum cuff links, ensuring they could be seen and made his way over to the bar. He pulled out a diet soda, took a sip, and took a look at himself in the mirror. "You are one handsome devil." He smirked, admiring his strong jawline straightening his tie, "These peons won't even know what hit them by the time you get through. I can already smell the scent of fresh blood in the water." He chuckled, slicking back the side of his wheat-colored hair, "But you might as well give them something good to look at while you take everything they've ever owned away from them."


The firm's floor was very modern and posh, but that was expected for the country's largest and most respected financial firm. Everyone Duncan passed said hello or slid to the side like good little subservient servants. As he made his way to the fishbowl, he caught a glimpse of the CEO sitting at the table. The stress lines were deep and dark between the eyebrows on his already wrinkled face. The young woman sitting next to the old man looked close to tears, and he couldn't help but smile. "Easy pickings Duncan, and easy money."

It only took twenty minutes to destroy one man's life's work. Yet, Duncan couldn't help but wonder if he could accomplish his goal the next time around in five. That was something he'd have to remember and shoot for. A challenge could make it even more enjoyable for him.


His office was already streaming with people going in and out working on the upcoming deal. Papers in their hands, phones ringing off the hook, laptops out, people with ear pods and talking, shouting, and swearing at the person on the other line. This was what he loved to see. This was what he demanded of his employees; it meant he was making money. And nothing meant more to him than the money, which meant power, and power could make people bend to his will.


The skylight was an array of blues, oranges, and yellows when everyone had left Duncan's office. He sat at his desk, basking in the glow of the computer and the money that was sitting in his bank account. Three more companies' money is soon to be added. He took a sip of the scotch next to him and grinned. "I believe it'll not take that much longer before I can take down this firm and make it my own. What a fucking rush that will be."

"Sir, your tux is here, and your limo is downstairs waiting for you." Sibyl's voice chimed in, breaking him from his thoughts.


"Bring it in,"


Before entering, Sibyl knocked on the door, laid the black bag on the sofa, and turned around. "Is there anything else you need before I leave for the night?"


"No, I'm set."


With a nod of her bobbed gray head, she looked up. "Then, good night, sir." She said, then left the room.


Duncan chuckled, walked over to the bag, and started to take out his tux. Thankful the older woman wasn't a chatty Cathy. Sibyl was the perfect secretary. She had no problem telling billionaires to take a seat and then have them wait. Many of Duncan's friends said he should get himself a leggy blond or a voluptuous brunet for a secretary, but why invite that kind of trouble to the office.


Yes, it was always fun to have an afternoon romp before a meeting, but then again, letting a female into his space could lead to trouble of biblical proportions. It was something he had seen a dozen times before in other friends' lives. That's why Sibyl was perfect. She wasn't looking for a husband or even to be seduced, thank god. Her husband was retired; she had an old cat framed on her desk, and she did her work without questions. The only stipulation the older woman had was when it was time for her to leave, she left. She didn't work Thanksgiving, Christmas and never call her on Sundays; she was at church. With such balls like that, Duncan had hired her on the spot, and that was seven years ago.


Once Duncan was dressed, he slipped on his black cashmere coat over his tux and headed to the lobby. An older man greeted him as he made his way to the door, glancing out at the snow that started to fall in the night air slipping on his leather gloves.


"Good evening, Mr. Baker." The man said, opening the door and hurrying himself out to get the door of the limo as well.


Duncan didn't say anything; he didn't feel the need to be polite to the hired help. Instead, he got into the car and sat back as the door shut behind him. A hand with slender fingers went over his thigh as he glanced over at the owner. "I thought you were never going to get here." A low, rasped voice purred.


"I'm here now." He chuckled, "And I see you got the dress I sent you."


"It's gorgeous!"


Duncan glanced over at the long legs exposed in the silk navy blue dress, the long brown hair in soft curls, smoldering brown eyes, and red lips that were smiling at him. "You know how to make a man forget his obligations and have other things on his mind, Jewels."


"I don't see any reason why we can't just do that. I know how to keep you warm on such a cold night."


"That is the one thing I know you know how to do, and you do it well, but I have to make an appearance at this banquet tonight. I have to at least give the appearance of appreciation to the owners of my company before I take them all down."


"You are so bad, Duncan Baker. But I've always been a sucker for a bad boy." She gushed, taking ahold of his arm and kissing his cheek.


"Being bad is what I do best." He chuckled, letting Jewels continue to do what she did best to get his mind off things. But as they started to drive off, he saw a man about his age standing on some sort of box. He held a book in his hand, talking to people and many more that passed in the snow. As the limo drove by, Duncan watched him talk passionately to the small gathering, and then their eyes met, and he stiffened. Duncan knew that the windows were tinted, but it was as if this raggedy man could see him. The feeling of lips on his body drug him from his thoughts and the strange feeling that overcame him and fell comfortable back into the seat and let Jewels work her magic.


The limo pulled up in front of the lavish skyscraper where the award ceremony was held. Duncan loved these things. Loved the way people looked at him, the jealousy in their eyes. But, most of all, he loved that it was a way to show off his status and abilities.

When Duncan stepped into the dining hall, people stopped and watched as he and Jewels walked in. Five people started instantly making their way to him, and he couldn't help but smirk. Every woman in that room looked him over, and all the men's eyes went to Jewels and then him. They wanted what he had, and it was such a rush!


Once he made his way through the gaggle of wannabes, he sat at the assigned table and took a seat. Across from him sat a middle-aged man, well dressed with a much younger woman than himself with more flesh exposed than even Jewels. The man lifted up his glass and gave Duncan a grin that said more than words could express.


Duncan gave a slight nod, and they both went about their business. The next man at the table was on the plump side in what looked to be a rental tux. The man's hair was cut very short, showing his thinning hair. The woman sitting next to him staring at this man with a girlish smile on her face was homely as hell. Her hair was neither blond nor brown but in-between. She had some meat on her, that was for sure. The dress she wore could have been bought at a thrift store, and it covered every inch of skin. Duncan thought it was a blessing more than a curse, considering her figure. She had barely any make-up on, but what she did have was neutral and nonexciting. And as Duncan sat there staring at these two odd people who obviously had no business being at a million-dollar banquet, the man glanced up at him.


"Hi, I'm Robert," but Duncan just stared at the man and the homely woman that was with him. "Um. I'm Robert Cromwell's son."


"Bob has a son?" Duncan asked, never hearing about any kids Bob had, let alone a son.


"Yes, my mom was married to him for a short period."


"It must have been really short. I think Bob's on wife number five, and you look pretty young."


"Dad has been married six times. My mom was number three. They were married for a year before they broke up." Robert answered, "And this is my wife, Melissa."


"Nice to meet you." The chubby woman smiled.


"Ah, yes, nice to meet you,"


"Are you going to introduce us to your wife?" Melisa asked.


"Wife?"


Robert laughed and put his arm around his wife. "I think Melisa is referring to the woman next to you."


Duncan glanced over at Jewel's, whose eyes rolled, and then he chuckled. "Jewels isn't my wife. She's just a friend."


"A friend with benefits," Jewels purred, wrapping her arm around Duncan's and licking the side of his face.


Robert gave a slight grin. "I see,"


"So, you do," Duncan chuckled, glancing over Robert's shoulder at Bob Cromwell.


Bob was one of the richest men in the world. He was a mean son-of-a-bitch and would rob candy from a baby if it meant making money. But this guy who claimed to be Bob's son, he and his wife could have passed for poorly paid social workers. But it was always a good thing to get to know the CEO's family, especially a son. "So, Robert, what do you do for a living?"


"Oh, I'm a missionary."


"A missionary? Really? Do you mean to tell me that Bob Cromwell has a son who goes around telling people about God when Bob loves to think of himself as a devil?"


"Yes, he does think that doesn't he, and yes, that is what I am," Robert answered and then smiled. "My dad and I are very different from one another."


"I'd say." Duncan chuckled, taking a sip of the drink that was brought. "I can't see Bob approving of any kid of his doing something like spreading science fiction to backwoods people out in a jungle."


"They're not backwoods. They just live differently from us, is all. And it was tough to tell dad that I wanted to go to seminary school instead of Harvard."


"But he let you?"


"He didn't have a choice; I put myself through school so I could do what I believed was my calling."


"Calling? Oh, brother, you're in deep,"


Robert's eyes slightly enlarged, but the smile stayed on his face. "Yes, I suppose I am. If you'd like, I would love to tell you what brought me to my choices in following Jesus,"


Jewels started to giggle and then rubbed Duncan's arm. "If you think your father is a devil, Duncan thinks he's Satan himself. You're barking up the wrong tree when it comes to this man and anything about religion."


"Religion isn't Jesus, and you never know how God could work in a person's life," Robert said. "You know we all get only one chance in life to repent and accept Jesus as our savior before we face God when we die. Have you ever thought about that?"


"Why would I think about something so stupid? There are only three things in life that are constant. We're born, pay taxes, and then die; that's all Life is. Anyone with a brain knows we came from monkeys; at least that's what the scientists say, and I'm fine with that. I don't care about a moral compass or right and wrong. You do you, and I'll do me. My world runs on only one saying, and that is... only the strong survive. And if you're right about all this heaven and hell stuff, then I'm going to hell." Duncan shrugged. "When I get there, I'll take that place over too, tear it down, and rob that devil of everything he has before I kick his ass out and run the place myself."




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