Page 56 of Handsome
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Cyrus
For days now I’d been reaching out to my entire family concerning Darren Davis. He’d never make a dime from us or anywhere my family continued to do business.
Blacklisting took longer than I assumed, but at this point all the man’s windows of opportunity were closing.
My brother had been hard to get ahold of, so when Warren called, I knew I needed to take his call.
The first few minutes were just a rehash of his plans, but then the said, “I ordered myself furniture and set up some jobs for when I get to North Carolina.”
Being a heart surgeon meant I trained myself to step back from my feelings and be hyperaware of the present moment. With my clients I always did everything in my power to help them avoid surgery, if possible, which made my approach a novelty for some.
However, I’d been using that training for days now to slowly excise Darren from our lives. And Warren was one of the last pieces.
For now, I kept the conversation about him, and asked, “AndMamanandPedarknow?”
“I requested the time off at work, so he’ll be tipped off.”
My shoulders tensed. If Pedar had no access to computer, I’d have to wait untilhegot home, though I nodded and said, “Finding yourself is important.”
Warren then said, “Well, before I go, I did as you asked. Darren Davis is divested of all Norouzi investments, and he’s blacklisted from ever using our firm again.”
I let go of the breath I’d been unconsciously holding and said, “Good.”
“Can you tell me why now?”
I hadn't asked for or been given permission to discuss what Sarah shared, and Warren was the first one who asked. I tugged on my earlobe and chose my words carefully, “He… hurt Sarah in the past.”
“That’s all you said before too. Look, since we’re all blocking the guy now, I hope it’s because we’re ensuring that you and Sarah get to live happily ever after.”
Step one of ensuring she’d never again even see the man who abused her without her consent was now complete. If she chose to press charges, she’d have the advantage every weapon I had in my arsenal, because I was positive, she wasn’t his only victim. However, it was her choice and I only said, “It’s complicated, but we don’t want to ever do business with Darren Davis’s kind.”
“What did you do?” Sarah asked from behind me.
I turned around and she walked closer to me. “I ensured he has been barred from ever conducting business with or even near any of my family ever again.”
Her face went white. She pressed a hand to her chest and said, “So you’re protecting me?”
I rubbed the back of my head, unsure about the best way to answer, but then I shrugged and said, “We don’t do business with bad people—not when we know about it, anyway as we need to protect my family from potential criminal liability. And if I saw him ever, I’d be tempted to murder him for what he did to you.”
She shook her head but gazed out at the ocean as she said, “You’re a good guy who couldn’t hurt anyone, but you don’t always have to save me. I can take care of myself.”
This wasn’t about saving her. I put my hands in my pockets and said, “One ofPedar’srules is that we use our money to ensure good things happen and avoid anyone who might do or cause negative things. He said happy circular money ensures we continue to have plenty of it.”
She looked at me but didn't quite meet my gaze as she said, “Well, money has never been happy or circular in my world, but I think you'll want to come inside and have some water and the fun-looking snacks that were just delivered.”
Neither of us moved. I inched closer to her until I could feel her nearness without either of us touching as I said, “And now you’re taking care of me.”
Her face pinkened and she sauntered inside, flipping her hair behind her shoulders, and saying, “Nah I just like when you stare at my ass, Handsome.”
“Well, that is a bonus,” I said, and stared at her ass.
I wasn’t sure how to convince her that what was happening between us was good, or how to keep her safe without insulting her.
I’d just have to try harder, because I needed her with me and my son, forever.
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