Page 105 of Lau Ahi
“And did it?”
“No. Asha does audits of accounts and since we’re friendly with the client on a personal level she was alerted to the discrepancies. Despite not being an accountant, Asha can spot unusual activity easily. Numbers have always been her thing and came to her easily.”
“And he’s bitter he was caught.”
William shook his head refuting my conclusion. “He’s bitter that he suffered consequences for his actions and now feels as though Asha only brought it to my attention so that she could step into his place.”
The reason for his son’s bitterness was now clear. “None of it had been carved in stone.”
“No, it hadn’t. But you can’t make a man who feels entitled see reason about much. Especially when it’s not in his favor.”
“So you’ve got two snakes, a daughter who wants to remain neutral, which means she’s caught in the middle and then Asha. “You let your son be treated like the golden child while Asha is the scapegoat. Your wife dotes on him like she’s fucking him and you do whatever you can for Asha out of guilt. You both give what’s left over to Sasha who feels as though her accomplishments are the only way either of you are ever goingto notice her. She knows that her mother fawns over her to piss off Asha and that you love her but you don’t think she could handle the responsibility of your business. You see past her mind and only worry about the superficial things that she has accomplished because you’ve unfairly placed her in a similar category as your wife. You haven’t revealed the true reason that you wanted this alliance in the first place to your daughter. It’s fucked up that you’ve put her in this position to be on the outs with both of her siblings because you refuse to man the fuck up and tell everyone that she’s who you choose to be your successor. I don’t know why you haven’t divorced your wife but it’s clear that the only thing you feel for her is disdain and the type of loathing I could only imagine my father felt for my mother. It’s the type that seeps into your every interaction with her and it’s toxic as fuck. You’ve got a lot going on.” He didn’t like the summary of his life but that didn’t make it any less true.
“Keeping my son on a tight leash is about the only way I can handle things as they stand. I don’t think he’s a bad person and that’s not paternal delusion speaking; it’s fact. He knows that his actions have ruined his chances to run things but I feel as though he’s going to still try to make a play. It’s better to have him close by and working within our company than on the outside and vengeful.
I raised a brow at his explanation, since it was the first stupid thing I’d heard this man say. “You’ve stripped away his pathway to success but kept him within the organization. I wouldn’t think that was the smartest idea. It can breed resentment.”
“Not to be disrespectful but isn’t that what your organization did to your mother’s family? I know very little but the Nakoas were not the original family yet you all have clearly stepped up and into those positions .Your grandfather was the one who negotiated, not someone from the bloodline I would think helped originate all of this. If you’re chiding me for keeping mypotential enemies close, maybe you need to follow your own advice, Ori.”
I knew he was right but that didn’t provide me with the clarity about what my next move should be so there was no need to speak on it.
“Things are under control.”
“Glad to hear it because as much as you realize that I’m entrusting you with almost everything I hold dear, I hope you realize that my regard extends to you as well.”
“You don’t know me.”
His smile was filled with pride as he thought about his girls. “That’s true. But Asha is one of the most precious things to me as well as her sister. The man who marries one will always carry the weight of the other because although two separate people they love each other without bounds. I’ve seen them gang up on Sasha’s exes and then go to bat for that same woman I spoke to you about when they felt it was necessary. It was a conversation that Asha had with her that made me look into the issues.”
“Semira and Asmarina will always be safe with me. On that, you have my word. They were already under one umbrella of protection because of their association with Nevaeh, it has just been extended and strengthened.”
“I hope you don’t mind me hangin around until the wedding. I don’t want you to think I’m hovering—”
It was funny how he was trying to lie to me. “But you are.”
He shrugged and it was clear he didn’t give a fuck how I felt. “But not for the reasons you think. Despite being successful, there’s still work to be done. I might not court investors or others to help make them money but I need to oversee what is going on. Asha is too busy with everything for me to assign her the task and my son can’t be trusted. Sasha has no love for business, besides the way she’s turned herself into an international brand. So I’m it for now.”
“You’re very proud of your girls.” I had wondered if Sasha was being left out in the mix of all the sibling troubles. Her mother doted on her to spite Asha so I was sure their relationship was strained. And William never hid the pride he had for his youngest child. But hearing how he sounded when he said Sasha was a business, it was clear he didn’t discount her success just because it wasn’t traditional.
“I am. I’m hoping one day I can say the same for my namesake.”
To me that nigga was a lost cause but I guess parental love made you delusional. Damn, is this what Faith was feeling at lunch?
“You understand that the consequences will be grave if he crosses a line that he shouldn’t.”
I didn’t bat an eye about threatening this man’s son to his face. Much better to do so to his face so that he understood the risk of not keeping him in check. I respected Mr. Avery but I wouldn’t lose any sleep if I had to eliminate his son.
With a nod of understanding, William picked up his glass and took a sip.
“I would be disappointed in you if they weren’t.”
“What do you get out of all of this?”
“I’m a revolutionary at heart. The way our country has fallen has irritated me to no end. Things are getting better but we are facing years of needing help before we can even begin to reach our maximum potential.”
“Still not hearing anything that rings true.”
“I do not want to be in politics. The idea of a life even more stifling than the one I currently lead would have me escaping this mortal coil.”
