Page 54 of Shâhzâdeh

Mr. Miller, Yacouba’s father, was seated at a desk when three other people popped on the screen. Two I knew, the other I wasn’t familiar with.

“What is he doing here?” The meeting was still on mute, which I was thankful for because Midas’ ass acted like he didn’t have any professionalism. He had sat forward, his eyes on the person I didn’t know.

“Who is zhat?”

“William Avery. That’s one of Nev’s best friend’s daddy.” He was still looking confused about what was going on and now my ass was, too.

“Zhe William Avery? Multi-billionaire William Avery?” That was a name that many regular people didn’t know, but people we dealt with weren’t regular. And neither was the man on the screen.

Midas sat back with a slow nod. “The same.”

My interest was definitely piqued because none of us were hurting for money. “Zhis is about to get interesting.”

Mr. Miller, because he wasn’t uncle X while business was happening started the meeting before my mind could wonder too far.

“To my fellow members of the elders’ council, there was a proposition brought to us through an outside source to plead their case with joining the consortium. Since our numbers are limited, only the parties that will be directly affected by this have been invited to the meeting today. Once the discussion progresses, we will move forward with discussing it with the rest of our members.” Mr. Miller had the same booming voice as Yacouba but nowhere near his height. His style and looks were passed down to his son as he was impeccably dressed in a black pinstripe suit.

“What does any of this have to do with me?” Ori’s cavernous voice boomed over the line and you could hear the displeasure in his tone. His grandfather glanced at him as though he expected his grandson to have some larger measure of decorum just because this was an official meeting. Anyone who knew Ori knew he wasn’t going to change no matter who was in the room. I knew that he was probably ambushed by the time he got back to DC. Which is probably why he looked like he was going to put his fist through the wall.

“Ori, just listen along with everyone else. We are trying to solve a problem and you and Xerxes are the only two who have the solutions. If you would allow Mr. Avery to speak, he can give you all a better idea of where we’re at.” His grandfather was almost his same height and weight and was still fit, despite his age. If the two of them started to tussle they would tear up the office.

Mr. Miller motioned to Mr. Avery who nodded his thanks before he began to speak.

“My name is William Avery. I own the largest Black owned venture capitalist firm in the world.” The man spoke with an affluent British accent but it was clear his origins were from the Horn of Africa.

“Second largest, no matter what.” Mi was feeding me the information under his breath and I was taking notes because money wasn’t my forte. Well making it was, but my focus was on weapons and real estate and ways to launder money. Yacouba dealt with that end of the money pool, which is why his father was the one leading this meeting.

“For those who don’t know me I was born in Eritrea, a small country on the eastern coast of Africa near Ethiopia. As all of you know, we have been through a lot. Famine, killings, invasions from the east and more. I’ve petitioned the country officials to let me do more to help, but so far I have gotten no support.”

I didn’t know if he was trying to build up sympathy or just giving the background, but my ass was intrigued.

“What is it zhat you want to do wiz zhis help? Not zhat your help isn’t altruistic, but zhere has to be somezing going on.” I knew the work that Nev did with the UCCA and hearing that one country wasn’t allowing a citizen to help when the collective was trying to move forward was surprising. Since he couldn’t voice his question because he was my second, I did it for him.

Mr. Avery turned to me not looking at all bothered by my question. “Corruption is the issue. They want me to pay them a kickback for any program that helps them help the people. I call bullshit on that. My money is to go straight to the people of Eritrea, which will eliminate the financial burden they say that socialism will provide. Why they aren’t jumping all over this is because it doesn’t benefit them. They don’t care if the national budget isn’t meeting the needs of the people as long as they can siphon off of public funds and live like kings.”

“You should remind them what happens to kings when they do not care for their people.” My mother gave the warning and I could see her mind turning as to how she was going to help. Which worried me because somehow our family was supposed to be in the center of all this.

“That would be a tactic if this country weren’t currently allowing a child to run it.” A point for Mr. Avery because the US didn’t have room to talk.

“Revolutions happen everyday. The point is knowing the right time to strike.” My mother’s sly smile held secrets I wasn’t privy to and wouldn’t ask her about. All would be revealed when necessary. “Please continue with what it is we can do for you.”

“I understand that it’s not my business. My issue now is how to get the help to the people anyway. I know that there are many people who have influence, but yours is the largest.” He looked hesitantly at the screen as though he didn’t want to speak too much on who we were or what we did.

“I don’t know if I should be proud of that fact or pissed that someone is speaking about us in ways they shouldn’t.” Mr. Miller’s face proved it was pride but you could only tell if you knew him.

“It was a compliment let me assure you.” Mr. Avery didn’t hesitate to smooth over any confusion, but he didn’t kiss anyone’s ass.

“The thing is, our family, our extended family was founded because of a mutual connection. There isn’t any room for new connections because that isn’t how we work.” As I spoke the feeling of dread increased in the base of my gut.

“Unless, like the Nakoa family, there was a marriage.”

I wanted to swear at the hopeful look on Mr. Avery’s face as he glanced between Ori and I.

Fuck.

“The reason the Cannon and Nakoa families are here is because you both are the only two who are left eligible to marry.” Mr. Miller looked concerned about having to bring this to us, but it was necessary.

“The Benoit family also has an heiress—” My mother with all her love was offering another solution because she knew how both Ori and me were.

---