Page 2 of Grave Kisses
“Does he know? I don’t know if I’ve met him,” I say.
“No. Alan never told anyone that you didn’t directly approve of,” Martin explains.
“Well, this should be fun,” I sigh. “I’m starting to think that maybe being so reclusive wasn’t as beneficial as I thought. I wish he had told me to suck it the fuck up and made me meet people.”
“He wasn’t like that, though. The first fifteen years of your life were horrific, and he wanted to be the peace and stability you needed,” Martin says.
“How’s your wife, Martin?” A woman asks with a crass tone.
“Noel is good, Tammy. How’s your husband?” Martin asks and then chuckles. “Oh, that’s right. He’s living with that little assistant of his, isn’t he?”
The woman scoffs and storms off, making Julie and me giggle. “That was mean,” I say.
“Well, Alan thought she was a cunt,” Martin laughs.
“Hey,” Noel says softly as she comes up from behind us and hugs me. I turn, and she smiles. “How are you, honey?”
“Oh, peachy,” I say.
“Tammy was just over here,” Martin laughs.
“Oh? How’s her husband?” Noel asks with a smirk.
“In a better place,” Martin answers.
“I can’t wait to be home,” I say. “These people hate me.”
“Eh. Fuck ‘em,” Julie says. “You’ll be a millionaire tomorrow.”
“Money doesn’t buy happiness,” I say. “It does give you enemies, though.”
“Does Archer know?” Noel asks.
“I don’t know. I’m afraid of what his reaction will be,” I say.
“Well, you call me if he gives you any issues,” Martin says.
“I will,” I say.
I am nervous about facing the world without Alan, but I promised him that no matter what happens, I will always stand my ground and do what’s best for me and my happiness. That company was his life, and so was I. It’s only right that I do what’s right for both.
Chapter Two
Marcus
Jet lag is abitch. I’m exhausted but wired at the same time. Dad has been so goddamn secretive about what’s happening to Alan’s shares of Vanderbilt Technologies and CyberSafe as a whole. His death was so unexpected that I haven’t quite processed it. He was a good man. It’s too bad he and his son were estranged. I’m guessing he will move back and take over, but I don’t know. Dad said he wasn’t at the funeral, but neither was I. People have lives, and death doesn’t wait for it to be convenient. I was across the world when I got the call, and I didn’t get back until well after midnight last night.
I am meeting with Jesse Huber, the lawyer who handles Vanderbilt and all its subsidiaries. She took over her father’s firm a few years ago and seems to be doing a great job. I tried to get information out of her too, but she won’t budge. Not evenAlan’s executive assistant would tell me when I texted her last night. Not that I talk to her all that much anyway.
Three people own shares for Vanderbilt. I own forty percent. Bellamy, my best friend and the owner of Teller Security, owns thirty, and Alan's estate owns the final thirty. If Archer is taking over, fine, but I deserve to know that. If it’s being sold, I should be the one leading that sale. I have to work with the damn person after all.
I am sitting in my truck drinking coffee when there is a knock on my window. I look up, and Bellamy opens the door. “Hey, man,” he says.
“Hey,” I huff. “Dad isn’t coming.”
“Why?
“He and Mom went on their vacation a week early. He said,‘Everything will be fine, son,’and left.”
