Page 46 of Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming
“He’s in Jamaica taking meetings.” Braxton tells him.
“How did this come about? Was this always something cooking up?” Ranson asks.
“Yes and no. We’ve received offers from a lot of folks to invest in something relating to mom’s roots. A lot of folks want us to rep our heritage by partnering with them. Turns out, Chris Rossmore has been looking to branch out from wine, and his fiancée, Izzie, has had incredible success with exploring the diaspora for hair care. He wanted to do the same. So, Mike set up a meeting with us and Chris, and the gears are now turning. We just need someone to be VP of finance for the brand. The job is yours if you want it, Ran,” Braxton explains.
“Let me see if I have this straight. My mother gave you money, and you and Kord used it to partner with a popular wine company to build a brand of rum for said company just so that I could run it and not be beholden to our father financially,” Ranson remarks.
“Yes, and you can continue to be an angel investor. On your own terms,” his mother says.
He turns to Lyric. “And this was your idea.”
“Not the specifics, but having your siblings and mother help you was,” Lyric answers.
“And you used the money I give you monthly to do this?” Ranson asks his mother.
“Nope, I know that money comes from the profits of the businesses you invested in, so it has your daddy’s hands all over it. I invested my own money that I inherited after I sold momma and daddy’s old house.”
“Momma, how come you never told me you invested that money?” Ranson asks.
“Because baby. You would have insisted I not use it and let you continue to protect me. I wanted to make sure that I could protect myself. And you. And your siblings. I didn’t want you kids to be reliant on your daddy. I knew he’d snatch it away at a moment’s notice. I know you thought working alongside him would make things different, but that man will never change. Money, power and control are his lifeblood. I’m just sorry you had to learn it the hard way.”
Ranson lets out a breath. “Me, too.”
He hugs his mother.
“What do you say, Ran?” Braxton asks.
“Yes, thanks, y’all.”
He hugs his brother again and then takes ahold of Lyric and hugs her.
“You really are good at your job.”
“I know,” she smiles.
Lyric
The following Friday,Ranson hosts Patrick and Aimee’s meet and greet. Ranson borrows Braxton’s yacht, which he so cleverly namedSexy Timesso he wouldn’t get it confused with his regular yacht. Lyric can’t believe she’s dating someone who has a family member with aregularyacht.
“Okay, Aimee.” Lyric does her makeup.
Once the blindfold is off, Aimee is going to see what this dude looks like, and he’ll see her. She wanted to make sure she’s ravishing, so Lyric is getting her ready. Meanwhile, Aimee has on nothing but a robe.
“This is by far the craziest thing you’ve done, and I want all the tea when you finish. Ranson doesn’t know, but Big Head has some security nearby just in case his friend turns out to be a fucking psycho. Not Roc or Pete, though.”
“Too bad, I could have had a fun night with all three of them.”
Lyric and Aimee laugh.
“You nervous?”
“No. Horny. Let’s do this!”
“And on that note.” Lyric shakes her head.
She takes out her phone and texts Ranson, letting him know Aimee’s ready.
Ranson arrives with a blindfolded, handsome bald-headed brother.
