AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"That went well. Phew.” She fans herself with a file.
"About as well expected."
She closes the door behind her, and sits in the guest chair, staring at me.
"I don't like to be stared at," I say, trying not to think about how that's true except for one particular case.
"What are you going to do?
"About?"
"Gerry."
"Nothing. If he thinks he can convince Nathan to sell to Baxter, then good. But I know Nathan. If he says he’s not going to sell to me, that means he’s not going to touch anyone named Baxter. Good luck to Gerry.'
"You really gave it all up?"
"No."
"You gave up the Watch deal."
"I still own 50% of the company, Odette. But I'd give it up right now... for the thing that I really want."
forty-two
Kiara
The days have started to kind of meld together in a blur. I’m ready to go back to work, but I also don’t want to leave the house. And I don’t want to tell Nathan why yet; there were enough things he had to worry about. It was bad enough that Kylian knew. He hadn’t gotten in contact again, and now I'm sitting at the table with the documents from the envelope that Kylian left for me strewn in front of me.
The letter that was attached is written in his hand. Explaining that he is not responsible for overseeing the staff and contractor for the casino. and that someone called Ronald Gai was in charge. He would manage me and my players and Kylian would have any access to any employee information. A contract had been drawn up to retain 15 prop players, with a fee 5% over what I had quoted. The players would have access to all staff privileges at the casino, including door to door transport to and from their residence and the casino in Macau. It would be a twelve-month retainer with a pay out of a minimum of three months.
These terms were so much more than what we'd initially discussed in his little salon. I would have to think about it, but it would be reckless to say no.
I'm still trying to recover from him being here last night. And the things he said. The truth is, I always expected him to submit an offer for Watch. And if the truth is that he didn't and I was the reason, I'm not sure I can handle the guilt that comes with that.
Nathan comes back tomorrow for the reading of Dad's will. With an estate as large as his, the lawyers had to clarify some details, as well as update values on some of his assets.
I read over Kylian's letter again.
And then, I pull my phone out and find a new voicemail.
I move out to the patio, sit in the chair he sat in yesterday, and listen.
"The woman on the fourth floor got another dog. This one looks like her. It has a perm and wears a lacy collar like an aristo-dog…"
When it's done, I press replay. And again.
I lie back, staring at the sky, and remember what it was like to sit next to him yesterday. Tomorrow is Tuesday, I promise myself that I will only continue going to Amber to be with Dad, and not for any other reason.
There’s a banging on my front door at some time in the dead of night. Nathan isn’t coming until tomorrow morning so it’s not like he forgot the key. I’ve had the gate closed all day, so no one should be knocking. Maybe it’s just a dream.
I try to go back to sleep when I feel rather than see my door handle turn.
“Hello?”
I’m going crazy from being home by myself too long. Tomorrow I’ll get Ananya to pick me up and take me over to the House. It’s time to go back to work.
I reach for my phone to text her to see if she can come over first thing in the morning and this time, I definitely see my door handle turn.
