Please Me Daddy (Gracie) novel Chapter 24

**Across Distant Skies Lies Hope Waiting To Be Found by Kade Rowan Flint**
**The Bigger Fish**

Apollo

I stood before the two individuals, my demeanor icy and devoid of any semblance of compassion.

In my line of work, I had honed the ability to recognize fear when it flickered in someone’s eyes. It was a skill essential for navigating the treacherous waters of business partnerships. I had learned to read people as if they were open books, their emotions laid bare for me to dissect.

Fear always left its mark, manifesting in subtle cues that were impossible to conceal. Some would attempt to disguise their terror, donning a facade that was as convincing as a mask. Others, however, were far less skilled, their anxiety radiating like a beacon.

And standing before me were two such fools, their fear as palpable as the air around us.

The woman instinctively recoiled, her hand clutching the fabric of her dress as if it could shield her from the confrontation. The man beside her swallowed hard, his throat working visibly, the tension in the room thickening.

Pathetic.

“Y-you… what are you saying?” he stuttered, his voice trembling. “Is this how you should talk? Because of what happened, our child is in this condition!”

The woman nodded vigorously, her fingers quivering like leaves in a storm. “Yes! Even if you weren’t directly involved, the person under you was. You shouldn’t be so cold-hearted toward grieving parents! You even threatened us, saying we’d regret it if we didn’t agree to meet you.” Her voice cracked under the weight of her emotions, tears spilling down her cheeks like a river breaking its banks. “They say people without children will never understand a parent’s pain.”

My expression darkened, a storm brewing behind my eyes. She flinched, her breath hitching as if she realized too late the gravity of her words.

The man puffed out his chest, a feeble attempt to mask his fear with bravado. “Mr. Apollo, whatever you wanted to say, we don’t want to listen anymore. Please leave.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair, frustration bubbling just beneath the surface.

This was precisely why I eschewed kindness. Why I steered clear of sympathy and diplomacy like they were toxic substances. Ordinary, selfish people morphed into victims the instant they faced the consequences of their actions. They were never astute enough to seize an opportunity when it presented itself. They reminded me of dogs—throw them a bone, and suddenly they believed they were clever.

“Cold-hearted?” I echoed, savoring the word as it rolled off my tongue. “Is that truly what you think?”

I tilted my head slightly, observing them squirm under the weight of my gaze.

“You have no idea who I am, do you?” I said, almost feeling a twinge of pity for their ignorance. “That’s quite sad to witness. You should have done your homework.”

“I’ve shown remarkable leniency, holding back my restraint. I lost billions in a single week because of this scandal. Your lies shook the very foundation of my company. And yet, I played along with your little game. I extended chances for you to crawl back to reason. And here I am, sitting and listening to the nonsensical drivel spilling from your mouths, and you dare to label me cold-hearted?”

I leaned forward, a smirk creeping onto my lips.

“How about I finally demonstrate,” I said, my voice dropping to a low, calm tone, “exactly why they refer to me as the Devil.”

Their faces drained of color, transforming them into mere specters, as if they had just grasped the reality of who they were addressing.

“I had presumed everything was orchestrated by the two of you and that celebrity. But just moments ago,” I said, recalling the woman’s words, “I caught wind of an intriguing analysis. One that led me to realize I might have overlooked something significant.”

“You couldn’t have concocted this scheme entirely on your own. You are mere pawns in a larger game. Someone is lurking in the shadows, pulling the strings.”

The man opened his mouth, perhaps to protest, but I cut him off. “I’m not asking you nicely, so choose your next words with utmost care. If you fail to divulge the truth, I will unearth it myself. And when I do, you will wish you had begged for mercy while you still had the chance.”

They exchanged frantic glances, panic swirling like a tempest between them. When silence ensued, I pushed myself up from the chair, casting one last glance at the comatose girl lying in the bed, before turning to leave.

“I see,” I remarked. “You’ve made your decision.”

I had barely reached the door when the woman’s voice pierced the tense air. “No! Please, don’t go! We’ll tell you everything!”

The man’s voice cracked behind me. “Don’t you dare, Nora!”

“You bastard!” she retorted, anguish lacing her words. “I told you we shouldn’t do it! I warned you! You even used our daughter—what if she had died?”

I turned back just in time to witness the man look away, his mouth set tight with shame.

I remained silent, my mind racing.

Someone wanted to destroy me. They were willing to crush innocents to create a scandal. Fascinating.

Truly fascinating.

“So please… please save us. We’ve told you the truth. If they discover we spoke to you—”

“Save you?” I turned my gaze back to them, raising an eyebrow. “And why would I do that? Why would I save you when you didn’t even save your own child?”

They both flinched, their daughter lying unconscious in that hospital bed, reliant on machines for breath, and they still needed someone else to shield them?

“You’re right,” I said slowly, letting the weight of my words sink in. “Perhaps it’s because I don’t have a child. Perhaps I will never grasp a parent’s pain. But if I did have a child, even if it meant sacrificing every limb, I would protect her. I would let the world burn to ashes before allowing a single speck to touch her.”

“So, I have no intention of saving people like you,” I stated plainly. “But you remain useful.”

The man blinked, confusion flickering in his eyes. “Useful…?”

“Stay here,” I commanded. “My secretary will come to ensure your protection. I need my bait alive to catch the bigger fish.”

The woman whimpered, but I was already done listening.

“When this is over, you will face consequences for the inconvenience you’ve caused me. But at least you will retain your lives.”

With that, I turned and strode out of the room.

It was time to uncover who possessed the audacity to come after me and the foolishness to miss their mark.