by MK French
Trey Devereaux wants to prove herself and tries to take control of Devereaux Inc. from her estranged grandfather. His second in command Jeremiah Benton is protective of her grandfather and just her type. They have an intense attraction and Trey even warms up to her grandfather. But to prove that she has what it takes to run a corporation, she might have to give up on romance.
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| September 2021; Harlequin Desire; 978-1335735201 ebook, print (224 pages); romance |
A Very Intimate Takeover is the first Devereaux, Inc. novel of a planned series. We know from the start that Trey and her father Deuce are close and that Deuce can't forgive his father Ace for essentially cutting ties because he didn't love a woman Ace approved of. Deuce built his own company that is essentially a rival to his father's, hoping to someday enact revenge. With Ace having late-stage cancer, Trey jumps at the chance to manipulate her way into getting controlling interest in Devereaux, Inc. Jeremiah looks up to Ace as a mentor and father figure, and wants to honor that legacy not just by protecting the company, but taking on his last name as well. This puts Jeremiah and Trey at odds from the start, even if Jeremiah isn't aware of Trey's initial motives.
The characters live an upscale kind of life, but still carry the Brooklyn, New York flair in their speech and behavior. It felt like I was back in the area, making me feel a bit nostalgic. This is at heart a book about family and romantic love, and the scars left through generations when communication is lost. I appreciated seeing that, and that those who do wrong don't get a free pass. All of the characters in the book have to learn and grow to reach their happily ever after together, and I was cheering them on all the way through.
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Read an Excerpt of A Very Intimate Takeover
The envelope was smooth yet had enough texture that she took her time sliding her finger across it. The deep sandalwood beige, trimmed in a dark mahogany and gold foil, had enough flare to let you know the sender cared about making a good impression, but not so much that it was gaudy.
She opened the envelope and pulled out the folded paper carefully. She was curious to see what this J. Benton had to say.
Dear Mr. Jordan Dylan Devereaux,
I’m Jeremiah Benton, the COO at Devereaux Incorporated.
Please forgive my forwardness in sending you a physical letter. However, I needed to confirm delivery of this message while ensuring our communication remained private. What I have to say is too important to risk getting lost in your spam folder or intercepted by prying eyes. The elder Mr. Devereaux has forbidden me to share this with you, but I felt that as his son, you needed to know. I regret to inform you that Ace has fallen ill. Ill enough that his physicians have determined he may have less than six months of life remaining. I know I am a stranger, and this is a personal topic, but your father and his business need you now as his next of kin. If left to his sister, Martha Devereaux-Smith, Devereaux Incorporated will suffer. You are the only person who can stop her. Please don’t delay. For your father, and his legacy, I beg you to return to Devereaux Manor immediately.
Sincerely,
J. Benton
Trey rose in one quick movement, heading for her father’s office. When she arrived, she immediately paused. The grandfather she’d seen nowhere but on television and in business magazines was dying. She tried to process what this new knowledge made her feel, and all she could identify was numbness. But her father, having spent the first twenty-two years of his life at his father’s side, might feel something more than the nothingness that spread through her veins.
The door was slightly ajar. She was about to knock when she heard her parents’ voices.
“Destiny, she’s too quick to act. I’ve told her she couldn’t rely solely on her usual tactics, and she ignored everything I said and did it her way instead. Now, she can’t make this right.” Her father’s words cut deep, like a heated blade. He was still angry with her, his focus so fused to her failure, he couldn’t see her ability to get this job done.
“Deuce, practically from the moment we found out I was carrying Trey, you have demanded greatness from her. You used to place your head on my belly every night when she would kick me so hard I couldn’t sleep and say the same thing over and over until she calmed down. ‘Trey, you are Deuce Devereaux’s daughter, and there isn’t a man or woman that can stand against you.’ You believed that then, and in all this time she’s never given you reason to doubt her.”
“This is different, Des. This was her test, to prove to me she could handle everything I’m leaving to her. Now, after this disaster, I can’t retire. I can’t leave DD Enterprises until I know she’s ready. I’m so tired, baby.” The hitch in his voice yanked at Trey’s heart. His lack of faith in her might have raised her blood pressure, but hearing him this way, so fragile, so hopeless, felt like something crushing her from the inside out. “I’ve been fighting this fight with Ace for over thirty years. It’s taken so much away from my life with you. I’d thought I could retire early and leave it all to her, but now…”
“Don’t doubt her, Deuce. She will find a way.”
Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.
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