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    Brash Company
    Brash Company
    Brash Company
    Ebook186 pages2 hours

    Brash Company

    By Crystal Perkins

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    Wealth. Privilege. Faith. Fear.

    Sully Ayoub came to America with everything Matt Corrigan could possibly give him. Money and power shielded him from hate, and violence, but it also made him think he could behave badly with no consequences. When he's confronted by a woman he had fired, Matt is no longer willing to turn a blind eye, and puts him to work.

    Poverty. Work. Love. Hate.

    Beckham Williams doesn't want anything to do with Sully after he had her fired, but working with him makes her see him differently. She sees a man of strong faith, who's hidden himself from the world. A man who might be everything she'd ever dreamed of, until her family and friends send him running from her.

    Friends. Enemies. Family. Lies.

    Sully immerses himself in his religion, taking on a new set of friends. Friends who don't all accept Beckham. She holds on to Sully as long as she can, but she can't live like this forever, no matter how much she loves him.

    When one of you is fighting for love, and the other is fighting for faith, can you both come together for life?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherCrystal Perkins
    Release dateSep 16, 2017
    ISBN9781370604357
    Brash Company
    Author

    Crystal Perkins

    Crystal Perkins has always been a big reader, but she never thought she would write her own book, until she sat down and did it. She lives in Las Vegas, where you can find her running author events when she isn’t reading, buying too many Sherlock t-shirts online or watching the Vegas Gokden Knights. A mac and cheese connoisseur, she travels the country looking for the perfect version, while attending book conventions and signings as a cover for her research. She writes Romantic Suspense, New Adult, Romantic Comedy, Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, and even a little Horror!

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      Book preview

      Brash Company - Crystal Perkins

      Prologue

      Sully

      I’m King of the World. Okay, Matt is the King, but I’m the Prince. Except I’m surrounded by real princes and princesses. So yeah, I’m just me, even though I pretend to be more.

      I play my part well, flying the globe in private jets, living in the best houses, and throwing the best parties. Everyone expects it from me, because it’s all I’ve ever given them. At least since my family moved to the U.S. I was just a kid then, but I learned quickly that the more I had to give everyone around me, the more willing they were to accept the Muslim kid.

      Thanks to Matt Corrigan, and the guilt he felt over something he thought he did, I’ve always had plenty to give. I’ve been giving, and giving for years now. Parties, meals, trips, holiday gifts...anything my so-called friends could think of, I’ve given them. It’s kept me safe for the most part, and I’m thankful to be breathing, but I’m tired. Tired of buying friendships, tired of keeping up the act of being a pompous ass, just tired.

      But, if I’m not this guy I’ve been for so many years, who am I? I just graduated from college, which is why we’re here, celebrating in a private room in one of my favorite Vegas restaurants. We could’ve celebrated at the Corrigan apartments where Matt and most of his friends live, but I didn’t want my friends there. I know most of the people in this room are here because of the Corrigan name, even after years of going college with me. They’re here to see what Matt’s going to give them for graduating—or what they think he’s going to give them. A rude awakening is all that’s coming their way.

      Because, I’m done. Done with the fake bullshit, the fake friends, and especially the fake women. All of it is only because of who I’m only one degree of separation from. Matt Corrigan, and yeah, Dylan Gallagher. The basketball star who’s crazy in love with my sister, Nev, and can get me tickets whenever I want is just as big a draw as the billionaire who thinks of me as family. Just another person for me to exploit, even if I hate everything I’ve done.

      My life is such a mess, but it’s going to get better. Matt and I talked last night, and I told him what I want to do now. What I have to do in order to regain some of my self-respect. It’s going to surprise a lot of people, including my sister, but I know it’s the right thing to do. I can’t go on living the way I have been. I won’t.

      Beckham

      My parents can’t afford dinner at this restaurant. It’s all I can think about as they smile at me, pride in their eyes. Pride that shouldn’t be there, but I can’t bear to break their hearts. Yes, I graduated today, but I lost my job last month. The job I need to eat, and have a bed to sleep in. The job I was damn good at, but lost anyway, because I had to say no to someone.

      A rich asshole called, and asked for me to arrange something I couldn’t, because it’s illegal. I told him we couldn’t accommodate him, explaining the law, but he called back and complained. He said I was condescending, and rude, so I was fired. Never mind that there was a recording of the call, showing I was actually polite. He’s connected to the richest of the rich, so I was gone, just like that.

      I’ve got two days to come up with rent money, or I’m out on the street. My roommate says she hates to do it, but she’s never really liked me, so it’s just an excuse. Her boyfriend keeps saying he’ll pay if I join them in bed, and that only made things worse. She thinks I might actually take him up on it, but I’d never do that—even if he wasn’t dating her.

      I get that she’s pissed, and I’ve been looking for another job in between finals, but everyone’s looking for a job right now, and I’m nothing special. My former job saying they wouldn’t re-hire me when other places call them doesn’t help, either. So yeah, I’m smiling, but I know we need to be at McDonald’s and not here.

      As I’m contemplating all of this, I hear a voice I recognize. Turning, I see the doors to a private room closing. They don’t close fast enough, because I see him. Sully Ayoub. Big Ass on Campus. King of the Assholes. The fucktard who cost me my job.

      I don’t even realize I’m across the restaurant until I’m slamming the door open. I hear someone tell me I can’t go in, but I ignore them. I ignore all the eyes that turn my way as I stalk over to Mister Privilege himself.

      You didn’t have to crash my party, Beautiful. I would’ve invited you.

      I. Hate. You, I spit out as I pick up the drink in front of him, and douse him with it.

      What the fuck? he yells, standing up, and glaring at me.

      Some of us need our jobs. Some of us don’t have rich friends who will make sure we have food, and a place to sleep.

      You think I don’t know that? I’m not stupid.

      No, you’re just the entitled asshole who got me fired last month because I wouldn’t kiss your ass.

      I see the realization dawn on his face, and something that looks like regret shines is his amber eyes. Shit.

      You lost your job? my mother asks from behind me, and I hang my head. Why didn’t you tell us?

      I turn, and take in my parents, who are in their best clothes. Clothes that cost less than the meal we’re eating. I feel no shame in growing up poor, or in the couple standing before me, but I want to sink into the floor, nonetheless.

      There is nothing you can do.

      They know it. I know it. Everyone in this room knows it too. Life is almost never fair. I’ve accepted it, but as I look at my parents, and see their faces fall, I want rail at God, and ask him how he could do this. How he could let these good people, who live a good life, struggle.

      Bitch, you need to leave.

      I don’t know which of Sully’s friends says it, but it doesn’t matter. None of the people in this room matter. I walk out with my head held high. Taking my parents’ hands, I walk out, knowing what I just said in there meant nothing to the people sitting at that table.

      Until Neveah Ayoub walks up to our table a few minutes later. May I join you?

      Yes.

      She’s even more beautiful in person than she is when she’s on TV with her boyfriend, the basketball star. She looks down at her hands, before bringing her gaze up to mine.

      My brother’s behavior towards you is inexcusable. I am truly sorry for what he’s done.

      You’re not responsible for him. He’s an adult.

      You are correct. It is not my fault, but I would like to fix it. Matt and I would, I mean.

      As she finishes her sentence, I hear a commotion, and look up to see all of Sully’s friends being led from the restaurant by Matt Corrigan and his friends. No one looks happy, especially the one with the bloody nose. I don’t know if he’s the one who called me a bitch, but I’m guessing he might be.

      I appreciate that, but unless you have a job I’m qualified for, I don’t know what you can do.

      I won’t accept a handout from her, or Matt. God knows, they can afford to give me one, but I’m not the kind of person who could take it; I work for what I get.

      As a matter of fact, we do have a job for you. It comes with an apartment as well. Come see Matt on Monday, and he’ll go over everything.

      Oh wow. Okay. Thank you. I’m a hard worker.

      I know, Beckham. There wouldn’t be an offer if you weren’t. And please, order whatever you’d like. Dinner is on me. Consider it a graduation present.

      It’s not until she’s walked away that I realize she called me by my name. I never said my name, but she knew. Corrigan & Co., and its Foundation are a mystery to most of the population, with many of them speculating about what they do. Once, I wanted to figure them all out, but now I’m just thankful to be working with them. Because, I’m definitely in. No matter what the job is, I’m taking it.

      Chapter 1

      Sully

      Tough love is supposed to suck, but I welcomed it. I loved having Matt telling me he was going to cut me off if I didn’t lose my asshole friends. I loved my sister telling me I needed to straighten up, and I loved my mother telling me she was disappointed in me. It’s everything I already knew, and wanted to change, but I didn’t know how to get out of the life I was living.

      How do you just tell the hangers-on who pretended to be your friends that they can go on their way? Or tell the women who’ve been sucking your dick that you’re tired of having random mouths servicing you? If that angry blonde hadn’t crashed my dinner, I’d still be getting sucked, and metaphorically, fucked. I should thank her, but I don’t know when I’ll be seeing her again. If ever.

      I take my prayer rug out, and give thanks to Allah as the sun begins to climb over the horizon. I’m alone on the grass lawn behind the C&C apartments I live in, but even if I wasn’t, I would be in my own world. I don’t live a strict Muslim life, but I pray five times a day, honor our holidays, and avoid pork. Not the best I could do, but it’s been a long time since I tried to do my best at anything.

      After my prayer, I shower, change into slacks and a button-down shirt, and drive to C&C. Today is my first day as a paid intern. After Matt kicked everyone but our friends and family out of my graduation dinner, he told me I was going to be interning at his company, starting today. There was no option of saying no. He told me to get rid of my friends, and said he’d tell me anything else I needed to know when I met him this morning.

      My usual security badge is waiting for me when I arrive, and an elevator opens for me as I approach. I step inside, and try to calm my thoughts. I owe Matt so much, and it’s been a long time since I thanked him for everything. When I stopped taking everything for granted, I still pretended it was owed to me, and that’s something I have to live with. Yes, I’m ashamed, as I should be.

      You can go right in, Matt’s First Assistant, Beverly, says to me when I step off the elevator.

      Thanks.

      Have a seat, Matt says, when I walk in. He waits until I’m in a chair across from his desk before speaking again. I’ve done you a disservice, Sully. I had so much damn guilt, and the only way I knew how to handle it was to take care of your family.

      You can’t blame yourself for the man I became. Nev didn’t turn out like me, and my mother has never taken one thing you’ve done for us for granted. I’m ashamed of my behavior. I am truly sorry for what I’ve put everyone through.

      "I can blame myself, because I turned a blind eye to your behavior. I gave you the use of a jet whenever you wanted one, paid your credit card bills without question, deposited more money monthly into your bank account than most people earn in a year. I did all of that, and more."

      You didn’t force me to take advantage of all of it—or you.

      No, but I enabled the behavior, and it has to stop. When that young woman said you got her fired, I was horrified. That’s not who I am, and by God, that’s not who I want you to be. Just because we have more money than most of the world, it doesn’t make us better than them. Above everything else, you not knowing that cuts me to the quick.

      "I do know it." I do. I pretended I didn’t, but I know it.

      I want to believe you, but your behavior suggests otherwise. I know the boy, who was so generous and loving when I met him, is still in there, but I need to see it.

      I’ll do whatever it takes to prove to you I’m the good person you once believed me to be.

      He nods. "You’re going to intern here, and you’re going to live off the salary you earn. I’m going to let you keep your car, and apartment, but you’ll be

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