Thirteen years after the party at Starke house, Jesse Miller is now in New York, interviewing for a job.
Only this isn’t just any job interview. This interview is with Cole Pearson. The man everyone wants to work for. The man, who, in five short years, has taken the business world by storm and amassed not only billions, but the attention of everyone, who wants to be someone. Fumbling his way through a disastrous interview, Jesse believes the day can’t get any worse. That is, until Cole Pearson turns to Jesse, and he sees not Cole Pearson, but Edward Starke. Aware Starke has possessed Cole Pearson, Jesse gathers a menagerie of men to take him down.
Can a ghost, a reporter, an ex-priest, and a childhood friend come together to end Starke once and for all, or will the possession of Cole Pearson only be the beginning?
Excerpt
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Chapter One
New York, 2025
Whatever you do, don’t make an ass out of yourself. And don’t barf on the man…dear God, don’t barf on the man. Shifting in the waiting room chair, Jesse adjusted the knot on his tie. His gaze moved up the wall to the many framed magazine covers, all of Cole Pearson—the man of the decade.
Pearson came out of nowhere, taking over old or failing businesses and making their products or services the most wanted in America. He was the man with the golden touch, thirty-five and already a billionaire. Everyone wanted to be him, and everyone who wanted to make something of themselves wanted to work for him. The competition was steep, the best of the best vying for positions, but not only that, Cole Pearson did all the interviews for the executive positions himself. Choosing those he believed would best fit his vision of where he wanted to take his company.
“Jesse Miller?”
Jesse started.
A young blonde woman stood at the edge of the waiting room. “Mr. Pearson will see you now.”
“Right. Yes.”
“If you will follow me, please.” She led him to a door. Stepping aside, she motioned for him to enter.
Jesse strode in the doorway. He stopped dead in his tracks, his jaw dropping. The office was massive, art and sculptures adorning every wall and corner. “Holy shit,” he whispered.
“Not the best first impression, I will admit, but the most unique one so far, I must say.”
Jesse’s breath caught in his throat. “Mr. Pearson, I can’t tell you what an honor it is to meet you, sir. Even if I did just make an ass out of myself.” He froze. “I don’t believe I just told you I made an ass out of myself. And I just did it again.” He waved a finger toward the door. “Should I leave now, before I make more of an ass…?” He closed his eyes. “Let me start again. I would consider it an honor to have an opportunity to work for someone like you. You’ve accomplished so much. Hell, I’m almost the same age as you, and I can’t say I’ve managed to…” He backed toward the door. “Maybe it’s best I leave, before I make it any worse.”
Pearson remained with his high-backed chair facing the view. “Stay. It’s refreshing to hear some honesty, for a change. I can’t tell you how tired I am of people feeding me bullshit all day. And believe me, I can tell a bullshiter a mile away. So, tell me, Mr. Miller, what can you give me that no one else can?”
“Oh God.”
“God isn’t something I need.”
Jesse laughed, but then cleared his throat. “I’m thirty, and I feel that gives me a distinct advantage over the younger candidates.”
“How so?”
“I have more life experience.”
“And what have you done with that life experience? What successes can you share with me?”
Once again, Jesse adjusted the knot in his tie. “I’ve researched every business you’ve taken over. How you restructured it inside and out. How you brought in the perfect people for the positions, researched suppliers, increased output, and for a fraction of the cost. How you rewired ad campaigns to reach the public, and made them believe they had to have what you were selling, whether they needed it or not.”
“And how exactly does that help me?”
“I see how you think. I know how you work.”
“Do you?” Pearson swiveled his chair to face Jesse.
Jesse stared. Instead of Cole Pearson sitting before him, it was Edward Starke. Squeezing his eyes shut, he then opened them again. Cole Pearson looked back at him, and he sighed in relief.
Pearson tipped his chair back, his elbows resting on the armrests, as he steepled his fingers.
“You tell me what needs to be done, and I’ll make it happen.”
A knock came at the door, and Pearson’s assistant came in. “You told me to let you know when Mr. Jaimeson returned your call.”
Jesse turned back to Pearson, his gaze moving to the young blonde’s reflection in the window. Only the reflection of what stood behind him wasn’t of a woman. It was dark, almost scaly, its eyes red. What the fuck? He held his breath, unable to turn his eyes from it.
“I think I’ve got a handle on what you’re all about, Mr. Miller. We’ll be in touch.”
Jesse took a step back. “Thanks for…Thanks.”
Help me.
Jesse stopped.
“Mr. Miller?”
“Did you…say something?”
“No.”
“You didn’t say anything?”
“I think we’ve established I did not speak, Mr. Miller. Now if you would, please. I have business to attend to.”
“Sorry.”
* * *
“Miss Evans.” Starke waited as Jesse left. “Tell Jaimeson I’ll get back to him.”
“Sir?”
“It would seem our Mr. Miller is much more than he claims to be.”
She frowned.
“He can see us, my dear.”
For a moment, she said nothing. “Shall I eliminate him?”
He shook his head. “No need for that. Who would believe him, if he told anyone, anyway?” He touched the tips of his steepled fingers to his lips. “No, I think he can be far more useful in my employ.”
“You’re thinking of turning him?”
“Not turning him, no. It would, however, be advantageous to have a seer on my staff. An extra pair of eyes on the lookout for infiltration.”
“And if you are unable to?”
He grinned. “I can be very convincing…when I have to be.”
“Mr. Miller’s parents are dead, and he is an only child. Who will you use for leverage, should he refuse?”
Starke gestured at the room filled with rare antiques, and the most expensive furnishings. “He’s a man of the world. If greed and power aren’t enough of an aphrodisiac, I don’t know what is.”
“And if it isn’t?”
He smirked. “Normally, I adore your pessimism, Miss Evans, but if it comes to that, I will simply tell him he works for me, or dies.” He shrugged. “That usually does the trick.”
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