Page 64 of Lau Ahi
“Shame. University would probably want its degrees back if the public found out.”
“You’re quick. I’m quicker. Your wit is not going to save you. Don’t underestimate me, Agent. Nakoa.” Space. We needed space to navigate all of this.
“On the contrary, dear wife, your wit is one of the things I admire most about you. Not as a means to dominate you or seeif I can outsmart you. This banter between us couldn’t be called witty if you were an idiot. A beautiful face with nothing behind it doesn’t tempt me.”
“And I do?” From the way his nostrils flared, I should’ve kept my mouth shut.
“You, my dear, are temptation in its purest and deadliest form. Someone who can draw me out of the place I’ve been residing for years and push me to be something I’m not sure I’m ready for. And right now, with everything on the line, I can’t do that. So as much as you want to…hell, I don’t even know what you want to do I can’t. I promised you a partnership but that is something that has to come later. There are too many balls in the air and—”
He stopped himself before he revealed too much and that was what snapped me out of the lull that I’d been in. The way he could so easily distract me was a problem. I was supposed to be stronger than this but he made me feel like a different person. Like a fool who would let a man change how she moved and behaved.
But isn’t that what marriage is, stupid?
“I’ll give you time to adjust to things because I understand this is a lot and you didn’t ask for any of it.”
“According to you neither did you.”
“I didn’t. But that doesn’t mean I’ll keep fighting the inevitable.”
“You can concede as easily as you have because you hold all the cards.”
“If that’s how you feel then I don’t have anything else to say about it. Contention isn’t how I want to live with you. Hopefully, we’ll have common ground between us. Lock up behind me, please.” He took a breath before making the request and saying please something I knew he did to soften his delivery.
Adjusting.
For me.
This is going to be so hard.
He leaned over and brushed a kiss to my cheek before turning and walking out of the front door.
ORI
“How are the profits looking for this quarter?”
Greed. It laced every syllable he spoke and I was ready for this meeting to be over.
Pappy was the best person to lead these meetings and I knew I had to get a hold on my temper when I took over. “Things are still getting ready for us to pass out the formal reports but we’ll ensure everything gets to you how we always have.”
“If we’re not here to discuss money, what are we here to discuss?” This tone was envy. Anger at not being in the position that Pappy was in and that I would soon step into.
This meeting was a waste of a perfectly good suit.
“Your nephew is getting married.”
I had to keep the snarl off my face from the way my grandfather spoke any connection between me and the people on the other side of the table.
I hated these meetings. I’d rather walk over hot coals barefoot than sit through them but they would continue to be my norm in an even larger capacity soon.
We were holding the Franklin family's quarterly meeting where we discussed everything that everyone was doing to contribute to the family. Everyone put in as part of the collective and received a share back. The Franklins had been prolific and although more had gone legit within the last few generations because they could tell the ship was sinking, some of those who hadn’t were bitter. At least one particular branch. My mother’s brother and his son hated that Pappy was in control of so muchof the family’s money. Truthfully, we could wipe our asses with what they contributed and the stake that we distributed back was worth about ten times what they brought in. Not to say that they were broke but shipping profits were measured in the millions per load, while they would be lucky to pull that in quarterly.
They refused to see it as good fortune and an easy come up for the family. They decided to be angry about it. The only other person here was a second cousin of ours whose people hadn’t been as bothered by Pappy stepping up for my parents. They were the ones who ownedExplicitand a string of gentlemen’s clubs, restaurants and venues around the greater DC area.
A look was shared between father and son but the elder spoke up for their side. “Okay. I’m not sure why we needed that information. It’s not like it changes anything that we do.”
Pappy didn’t show it but he was pissed. After living with him, I could tell down to the width of his smile whether he was angry or happy. This was Pappy’s smite smile.
This is going to be fun.
