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In an instant, the eyes of every man in the room were on me. I swallowed hard, knowing what I wanted to say but the words couldn’t leave my mouth. I glanced from my father to Nate, who bit his lip. He did that when there was something he needed to say but didn’t want to. I figured it was a reminder for his words to tread lightly. So, I did the same. I bit my bottom lip so hard I was surprised it didn’t start bleeding. At this moment, diplomacy was key. This was a marathon, not a sprint.
“Sounds like an interesting idea.” I folded my hands on top of the table. “However, we should focus on our other businesses first and expand the ones that have proven more fruitful. Once we get them situated then we can focus on expanding our trafficking business.”
Nate smiled slightly. I took a deep breath. Reggie stared at me, his mouth wide. He looked to my father and then back at me, but my eyes never wavered. Finally, he closed his mouth. He took both hands and wiped them down the front of his suit jacket.
Then it hit me. I thought of the Gold party house and then trafficking. “Also, I’ve been tossing around another idea that I think may work a bit better than trafficking.”
Everyone’s heads snapped up, waiting for me to continue.
“I have an idea for a place that would be an underground party place,” I continued. “I have to work out the details, but it would cater to all fetishes and prostitution, drugs, but not trafficking.” I shrugged. “Once word gets out, I’m sure it’ll make us more money than trafficking ever would.” I leaned forward, knowing I had the attention of every man present. “And the good thing about it is that it would be consensual. We won’t have to kidnap innocent girls to do it. But I digress. We can talk about that at another time. I’ll hold a meeting once I work out the details.”
Everyone’s mouths were open, and their eyes were wide.
Reggie nodded. “I see. That wasn’t the response I thought you would give. I know you don’t like that business venture, but I never thought you would come up with something to replace it.”
I smirked. “You underestimated me, Reggie.” I looked around the table. “Many of you did.”
A grumble of agreement resonated around the table.
I bit my lip again. “Right now, if a business makes us money and if it’s good for the family, then that’s all that matters right?” I shrugged. “I thought about it and how I feel about it really doesn’t matter. As I said, when I iron out the details for replacing a business, human trafficking or otherwise, then I’ll call a meeting. But I won’t take something away without replacing it with something equally as lucrative.”
Nate’s smile was no longer slight. He smiled so wide the skin around his eyes crinkled. “Correct, Addie. Whatever is best for the family.”
“Good!” I said, returning his smile. “So, we’re all in agreement then? For the time being, we’ll focus our energy on expanding our other businesses first. Then once they’re thriving, we can revisit this topic.”
Another grumble of agreement resonated throughout the room.
“Is there anything else?” asked my father, glancing around the table.
Silence filled the room.
“Then, if there’s nothing else, meeting dismissed.” My father smiled at me across the table, but Nate’s smile was just as big.
Everyone left except for Nate. My father poured up three glasses of bourbon and handed one to each of us. At first, the three of us drank in silence. When my father finished, his glass he stood up, walked over to me and kissed me on the forehead.
“I’m proud of you, sweetheart.” He turned to Nate and said, “I’m proud of you too. Good job reigning her in. That could have gotten very ugly.”
“Yes sir.” Nate held up his glass and took a sip.
He kissed the top of my head again. “I’m going to bed.” He smiled as he pointed at both Nate and me. “Don’t drink all the bourbon.”
I waited until I heard his footsteps going up the stairs before I said anything. “Being levelheaded is hard.”
Nate laughed. “It is if it doesn’t come naturally, and you’re okay with killing people.” He took another sip of his drink and smiled. “It’s true what they say about diplomacy. It truly is an artform.”
“I’m not okay with killing.” I shrugged as I looked into my glass. “I’m just okay with doing it.”
“Difference without a distinction.” He took a long sip of his bourbon. “I’m proud of you. You took what we had been telling you and threw it at them. It was very smart.” He chuckled. “And I love the idea for the party place to replace trafficking. How did you ever come up with it?”
I laughed, shaking my head. “The Gold’s party house and prostitution.” I shrugged. “It hit me to combine them during the meeting.”
“Brilliant!” He held up his glass. “To the future Queen of the Kingsley Family.”
I accepted his toast and took a sip. “I don’t want to be Queen. I wanted to be King. A king isn’t questioned or told he’s being hormonal because he made a decision people didn’t agree with.”
Nate nodded. “True.” Then he smiled as he held up his glass once again, looking me in the eye. “To the future King of the Kingsley Family.”
I laughed, shaking my head as we touched glasses and we drank together.
