She clenched her legs, scolding herself for letting her thoughts run wild.

She closed her eyes, willing her mind to clear itself, except the action only served to thrust her into recollections.

How he'd picked her up in a possessive, yet delicate manner.

How he'd laid her on the bed and gazed at her with an intensity that pulsed straight to her core.

How he'd run his hands, his tongue, across every curve.

How he'd teased, squeezed, nipped, lightly bit.

How he'd kissed her as though his life depended on it before...

"DIAMOND!"

Her eyes shot open. "Huh, what?"

"I've been trying to get your attention for two minutes now," Everett told her.

Xavier stood next to his best friend, biting his lip to keep from laughing. He was well aware of what was going on with his wife. It was written all over her face, if her flustered cheeks weren't enough of an indicator.

He himself was having a hard time dealing with the fact that they'd had to come into the office unexpectedly. He hadn't been able to focus, despite the crisis. When he was alone, his thoughts drifted to the look on his wife's face just hours before.

The look on her face when she completely let him in, let him join her fully as one.

"What do you want?" Diamond snapped at Everett.

Everett scowled at the mild attack. "Well nothing if you're coming at me with that attitude. I'll leave it to your husband to tell you."

Everett walked away from the couple, and Diamond looked up at her husband expectantly. She was slightly annoyed to find him amused, especially when he too walked away, heading into his office. She huffed, following after him, only to have her back against the shut door as soon as she'd walked in.

"What's eating at you Mrs Kingston?"

She sucked in a breath, her mind already racing as her husband's hand made its way up her skirt, skimming along her garters. "Xavier."

"You know, Rett was just trying to tell you that he appreciated the notes you made from the meeting with the investors. They were really helpful with this situation we're in."

She heard nothing. The ringing in her ears wouldn't let her hear anything. His warm breath was on her neck as she unconsciously leaned towards him. She was waiting for him to touch her, but he wasn't.

His lips hovered above her skin, and his fingers danced too close to where she wanted them to be.

"Xavier," she moaned.

"What is it my love? What is it that you want?" he whispered in her ear.

"I want you," she replied.

He laid a soft kiss at her throat. "I'm right here. Tell me what you want."

"Xavier," she complained when he'd almost touched her where she wanted him to.

His other hand travelled to her chest, only for him to settle his unmoving palm on it. "Use your words my love."

"I want to live out my fantasy," she hinted.

He smirked before turning her over, his hand finding its way back up her skirt as his fingers brushed over her underwear. "Hmm, I don't know. Do you think you'd be able to be quiet? You weren't very quiet this morning."

"There's only one way to find out," she said cheekily.

He let out a low chuckle. "I guess there is."

His fingers got to work, while his other hand managed to lock the door. The blinds were already shut as Diamond bit her lip, fighting to keep in her mews of pleasure. She pushed her skirt up, allowing him better access.

She could feel him behind her – could feel exactly how she made him feel. The whole experience was still so very new to her, to her feelings, but she took pride in knowing the power she had over her husband sexually.

Xavier couldn't get enough of the whole experience. He'd never done anything like this before, and it was thrilling in the weirdest way to know that they were doing this in an office filled with other people working.

Diamond thought she'd drawn blood when she reached her peak, from how hard she bit her lip. While she was breathing heavily, she was vaguely aware of her husband moving behind her. A moan escaped without her permission as he slid into her.

"Love, you can't do that. The whole office will know what's happening in here if you do," he warned, unmoving.

She grinding against him, making him growl lowly. "Fuck them."

"Well, that's what I thought I was about to do to you."

Her comeback to his unexpected dirty words was lost in her throat when he rammed into her. She hadn't even noticed that he'd moved them to the wall on the side, until she realized that the move alone would've been an obvious sign to their activities had they been at the door still.

She was sure she was losing all her wits as he moved in and out, until his fingers found her most sensitive part. She came apart at the contact, but he kept going. She couldn't believe she could still take it, until she felt the familiar feeling coiling inside of her.

She was panting, swearing, whispering his name, and he relished in every second of it. They met each other stroke for stroke, while he serenaded her with sweet, sexy, dirty nothings. When she climaxed a second time, he gladly joined her, revelling in the sexy mess they were.

"I distinctly remember your fantasy involving my desk. I guess we'll save that for next time."

She let out a breathless giggle, her forehead on the cool wall. "Whatever you say boss."

"Aren't you glad you brought some stuff for the bathroom like I suggested?" he questioned brazenly.

She turned to shoot him a blank look. "I will not justify that with an answer."

However, as they made their way towards it, she knew his words were true. She just never imagined that the first time she uses the room would be because of such an instance – something she knew he realized when he laughed.

"I hate you," she told him once they were done cleaning up.

"I could say so many things to counter that, but I'm a smart man, so I'll say nothing," he taunted.

She smacked his arm before walking back to the office. "This is your fault."

"Please do enlighten me on how you reached that conclusion," he requested, following after her.

"You're the one who runs a billion-dollar corporation that interrupted our sexy time," she stated confidently.

His laughter filled the room, making her smile. "I guess I see your point."

"I'm glad you do, which means you also agree that I deserve to have you make it up to me," she bargained.

He raised an eyebrow, amused, before wrapping his arms around her. "I thought I just did."

"Not even close Kingston. We have to cover every base of our place before we're even," she said seductively.

He grinned before leaning down to kiss her. "Well then, who am I to argue with such a fair compromise?"

She smiled before kissing him again. Things were getting heated once more, with the both of them realizing that they'd opened Pandora's box – and that perhaps a second honeymoon was needed to ignite the flame fully, and then douse it to the point where they were ready to join civilization again.

They were brought out their moment by a rattling sound. "Xav? Are you still here?"

"They must be here," Xavier commented, his breathing slightly rapid.

"Let me check you," Diamond offered.

The second knock went off as Xavier was inspected by his wife. "You're good to go."

"What are you going to do while I'm in there?" he asked her.

She shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe I'll go to lunch with Emery. We haven't really bonded since we came back."

"Alright. I'll tell Rowland to linger. I don't want you to be in any danger," he said.

"Speaking of, when are you meeting your PI?" she questioned.

"Tomorrow morning. Do you want to go with me?" he asked as they walked towards the door.

She nodded. "It will calm my thoughts to hear everything for myself."

He unlocked the door before pulling her in and kissing her forehead. "Everything will be ok love. Trust in that."

"I trust in you," she whispered before pecking his lips.

"Sheesh! I've been knocking forever!" Emery exclaimed when they opened the door.

"We know. We heard you," Diamond teased.

Emery rolled her eyes. "Xav, they're here. Rett sent me to ask you to bring the Remington folder."

"Why do I need the Remington folder?" Xavier asked.

"Because Shawn Remington is here."

Diamond noted the confusion on her husband's face. "Who's Shawn Remington?"

Emery had been interested in knowing too since her fiancé wasn't saying anything to her. "Someone who we thought was dead."

Xavier left them with that, walking into his office to search for the file his best friend requested. He knew that Everett was thinking the same thing he was, having the same scenarios running through his mind.

They'd kept the file, both somewhat hoping that this day would one day come.

"Xav, who is Shawn Remington?" Diamond asked her clearly shaken husband.

He found the folder and walked over to kiss his wife. "This is definitely going to take a while. Maybe you and Emery should head to the apartment. Rett and I will find you there."

"Xav, you're scaring me," she commented.

"I love you Diamond, more than life itself."

"Xavier!" she exclaimed, but he proceeded to walk out of the office.

"Rett did the same thing to me. Dee, there's something off going on here. We need to find out exactly who Shawn Remington is," Emery commented.

"Did you try looking him up?" Diamond asked.

Emery nodded. "Nothing shows up. It's like he doesn't exist because the Shawn Remington's who pop up look nothing like the man in that boardroom."

Diamond was silent for a few seconds, thinking. "There's only one place where we're either going to get more answers, or more mystery. Let's go."

The two of them headed out, leaving their lovers to confront whatever it is they were about to confront. Xavier walked into the tension filled room, and his eyes immediately found him – Shawn Remington the third.

It had been years, but the man looked like a grown-up version of his teenage self. There were two other men, and three women in the room, and Everett was conversing with one of the women. Their attention shifted to Xavier once they noticed his presence in the room.

"Xavier Kingston, an honour to finally meet you in person," Inga Taurus stated, reaching out her hand to shake his.

He shook it firmly, regaining the composure he's known for. "The pleasure is mine Ms Taurus."

She turned to the other people in the room that weren't Everett. "These are my associates Derek Ashford and Mark Gould. These are my sisters Uma Taurus and Reyna Simpson, and this is my business partner William Fenster."

Xavier caught Everett's eye and immediately understood why he needed to have the file with him. "Welcome to you all."

"I was telling Miss Taurus here that we're willing to hear them out, despite the short notice and underhandedness of everything," Everett commented.

Uma laughed. "Please, call me Uma. I am truly sorry about how I made the whole thing sound, but you have to understand that this is purely business, and we only do business with the best."

"The buttering up isn't necessary Uma. We're fair businessmen who consider all their options, despite the, circumstances," Everett jabbed.

Inga smiled. "I knew this would be a worthy collaboration for us."

"And what exactly is the purpose of your entourage? For someone who made it clear that you only wanted to meet with the two of us, it astounds me that you'd then bring this many people with you," Xavier stated bluntly.

Something Everett was grateful for.

Throughout the years, this kind of system worked for them. Xavier is the beast, and Everett is often there to soften his blows, except in this situation, he was letting the beast run free. Something wasn't right about this, and he knew that only Xavier in his truest brute form would get them through this.

"We were warned about your, brash nature," Uma remarked.

Xavier leaned back in his chair, mildly amused. "And I'm sure whoever told you about my brash nature told you that I don't like to have my time wasted. My time is precious Miss Taurus, and you're eating into the little bit I've spared for you with trivial matters."

"No need to be rude," Reyna attacked.

Xavier scoffed. "Rude is you calling us at the last minute about a deal you shouldn't have known anything about, to tell us that your competitor is dirty, but having nothing to show for your accusations. You insulted me personally, calling me blind and stupid for choosing to do business with them if I recall, and this is after you were rude to my wife because she wouldn't let you through to me. You don't get to tell me about rudeness."

Reyna shrank in her seat, while Inga cleared her throat, leaning forward. "I will echo my sister's sentiments and apologize once more, not only for how this matter landed onto your radar, but for how my little sister handled matters with your wife. I had no idea that Reyna requested that your assistants not join us in the meeting. I imagine it only made things worse."

"What exactly is it that you're here to discuss with us?" Everett took over the reins.

He could tell that they wouldn't be getting anywhere discussing who was rude to who.

"Marcellus Wellington is a snake who is conducting shady deals behind his father's back."

The statement served as a reminder to Xavier on why he agreed to this meeting in the first place. Despite how it was set up, his wife had no idea what the agenda was since it was only revealed to him. He had lied and told her that they were having issues with some of their new investors, hence having to come in and interrupt their time together.

The whole Wellington-Babineaux saga was still new to everyone, so to be told that his brother in law is not only shady, but is shady behind his father in law's back, was something Xavier knew he had to attend to with urgency – not just for the sake of his company, but for the sake of his new family.

Even if he hadn't fully come to terms with the concept yet.

"Again, where's the evidence?" Everett reminded.

"We don't have concrete evidence, but you can just ask anyone who knows who he really is. Marcellus Wellington is a backstabbing, no good for anything snake!" Uma spat.

Xavier shot her a look. "Someone sounds scorned."

Uma shifted uncomfortably, only confirming his words. "You're here on a lover's spat?"

"Mr Kingston, surely you'd take any accusations against potential business partners seriously," Inga commented.

"I would if they had any basis to them. All you've done is come here and waste my time. You still haven't told me the relevance of the rest of these people, and now you're admitting that you haven't come here with anything solid to state. I assume you can see why I'm getting irritated," Xavier noted.

There was movement from the one man in the room who had Xavier and Everett anxious as he leaned forward. "He is a snake, but he's a careful snake."

"And we're supposed to believe you?" both Xavier and Everett asked.

The man sighed. "Everyone, leave us."

"What? You're kicking us out?" Reyna asked in disbelief.

"Go," he confirmed.

They looked at him in incredulity, but nonetheless followed his instructions. "William?"

"They don't know who I really am," he told them.

"And we do?" they asked.

"Yes, and no. A lot has happened since then," he said.

"We watched you get shot. They pronounced you dead on the scene. Hell, we compiled a folder and had PIs look into you to make sure that you were really dead," Everett pointed out, pointing to the folder Xavier had walked in with.

"You looked into me?" he asked.

"You know why we had to," Xavier responded.

"I genuinely didn't expect you to, but you have to understand that it was the only way I could leave without putting you both in danger. The feds set me up with a new identity and a new place," he informed.

"Rodriguez was killed just two years after. You could've come back," Xavier argued.

"There was already a complication in my life. Trust me, you're not the first people in my life to be pissed off at the decisions I've made since that day," he stated.

"So, what? You're William Fenster now? Do your parents know that their golden child didn't in fact die?" Everett attacked.

"I am William Fenster to everyone in my new life. I've only encountered four people from my old life, and no, that doesn't include you two or my parents," he responded.

"Olive?" Xavier asked.

He nodded. "She told me that she wanted nothing to do with me. She's married now."

Xavier shook his head before pointing it towards the door. "And how did you end up with that wonderful bunch?"

He sighed. "Mr Taurus took a liking to me. He's hoping I'll end up with Inga."

For the first time since they were left alone, the tension was cut by Everett's laughter. "You don't seem keen."

Shawn chuckled tiredly. "You have just witnessed the Taurus sisters in action. That's all I'm saying."

"There's something else going on here Shawn. It isn't like you to let yourself get stuck in a situation like this," Xavier pointed out.

"Just for the record, it annoys me that you still know me this well," Shawn mentioned.

"There are certain things that don't change about people," Everett noted.

Shawn nodded in agreement before continuing. "I met Dane Taurus two years ago and he kept telling me that he recognized me from somewhere. I quickly made the connection that he was one of Rodriguez' associates, but I guess he was clean enough to not get caught in the crossfire. He wouldn't let the whole thing go, so I had to accept that he knew me and tell him that I was no longer that person. He was ok with that, stressing that he wasn't the man who dealt with Rodriguez either. Apparently, Rodriguez had something on him, so with the man dead, he didn't need to be in that world anymore."

"And that's when he asked you to work for him?" Xavier picked up.

Shawn nodded once more. "I wanted to make sure that the man was telling the truth, which he is, but I also needed his connections to that world. He made me his right-hand man and I'm able to keep an ear to the ground on that side. He may not be dirty, but he still has allies."

"But why? Doesn't William Fenster not have ties to that world?" Everett asked him.

"He doesn't, but after disappearing, I wasn't always William Fenster. There are some people that I ended up revealing my true identity to, and I need to make sure that they're safe. Dane would also prefer that I keep an eye out on his daughters and keep them safe from any potential danger that side," he informed.

Both Xavier and Everett were aware of the man's special set of skills, so they knew he was more than capable.

"Alright, fair enough. What about Marcellus? I need you to come at me with facts on this Shawn. It's imperative," Xavier stressed.

Shawn cocked his head to the side. "The kid's a prick, but you seem more concerned about this. Does he have anything on you? I'd be willing to help with him if he does."

Despite how long it's been, the two men in the room were still important to him.

"He's my brother in law, and I only just got this confirmed yesterday. This information is new to all of us, so I need to know that you're telling me a truth that you can one hundred percent prove, before we shake the very delicate table that is our family right now," Xavier explained.

"I have so many questions. How the hell did you of all people end up mixed with the Wellingtons?" Shawn asked.

"Greer is my mother in law," Xavier replied.

"Hamish and Greer only have two kids – Marcellus the asshole and Katherine the entitled bimbo. I know for a fact that Katherine isn't your type," Shawn noted.

"What you just said is true, all of it, but Greer had a child with someone else," Xavier educated.

Shawn frowned. "Your wife?"

Xavier nodded. "Like I said, the whole thing is still new to all of us, so I need your intel to be solid before I can do anything about it."

"This is really tricky for you then because I'm pretty confident that Marcellus is a criminal, or at least he's getting way in over his head. Inga has had an off feeling about him from the moment they met, but he managed to charm Uma, before breaking her heart after stealing company information. Taurus Industries is in trouble, and a deal with you guys would save them, but that's not why I came here. Marcellus is working with the new head of the gang, but that's not all. I'm also here because I'm pretty sure that you don't know about Treyvon's wife," Shawn told them.

"Treyvon's wife?" they asked in confusion.

"Yeah. I found out about her three days ago. I heard through the vines that there's a lady being kept there while her husband finds a way to pay the gang back. I did some digging around and learnt that her name is Ivy Kingston. She and Treyvon got married last year in a courthouse. I'm guessing that's why you don't know anything about her," Shawn realized.

"Treyvon is married," Xavier said to himself. It wasn't making any sense to him.

"The deal – this is why he wanted us to take the deal," Everett gathered.

Xavier sighed, rubbing his face. "Whatever this deal is, saves his wife, and he couldn't come out and say just that."

"I'm going to guess that it's not even about whatever deal he brought to you. Treyvon needs money, lots of it," Shawn told them.

Xavier frowned. "How much money are we talking about here?"

"It's small change to you, but it's a hell of a lot to a man in Treyvon's position," Shawn stressed.

Xavier was instantly annoyed at the connotation. "How much is it?"

"Four hundred and fifty million," Shawn informed.

Everett scoffed. "Treyvon never ceases to amaze. How the hell did he lose that much money?"

"To be fair, he was double crossed by some higher up players. The Chinese got wind of a deal he was close to closing because one of his people turned on him. They closed the deal with the Greeks before he could, and now the Russians want his head on a silver platter. However, that's not just it. There's something else," Shawn said grimly.

"What is it?" Xavier and Everett asked simultaneously.

They did not expect what he had to tell them.

The gate opened as the women drove into the yard. Dorothy Kingston couldn't gage the emotion in her daughter in law's tone when she called, so she wasn't exactly sure whether this visit was one that was high in spirit or not.

"Diamond dear, what's wrong?" she questioned once she'd opened the door. The frantic look on the young women's faces had her concerned.

"Shawn Remington," they blurted.

Dorothy wasn't sure how to react as a chill ran down her spine. "Where did you hear that name?"

"Who is he Dorothy?" Diamond asked lowly.

Dorothy pursed her lip before responding. "He's the reason why Xavier went to prison."