Page 1 of Calculated Kisses with a Scorpio
“When we go in here,let me do all the talking, and keep your head. No matter what is said or how they say it, . . . let me handle it.”
I looked at my father upside his head with pinched brows.
The only reason I nodded instead of telling him I wouldn’t let anyone talk to me any kind of way was because of the apprehension on his face. He knew his son, and getting to me before anyone else could was for their benefit, not mine. Pops relaxed some, but he still looked like he was ready to toss his breakfast.
His retirement was in six months, and he should have been more relaxed.
“I got you, but you’re not helping your case, looking so uptight. We have these meetings once a quarter, Pops. Why you acting like they’re about to take you in front of the firing squad?”
He let out a dry chuckle.
“During this meeting, the board is discussing the progress of my successor. Your ducks are in a row except for one thing.” Pops looked at me square in the eyes and his left eyebrow rose. “I really just need you to sit back and let me talk.”
“Aight, old man. I heard you.”
Pops blew out a breath and then opened the doors to the conference room.
The conference room was filled with my father’s staff and the board of directors. Every three months we discussed budget, marketing, and everything related to Diamonds & Moore. Six months ago, I was elected as the new owner and CEO of Diamonds & Moore, so I went from hearing about the meetings from my father to sitting in on them. They only lasted until early afternoon, but they were draining.
My father and I took our seats, and the meeting commenced.
“Good morning, everyone. We have four items to discuss this morning. First up is the retirement rollout. This is where we begin transitioning the website to reflect your upcoming departure, and the welcoming of Kairo. Second, we have to schedule a time for Kane to meet with the party planner for the retirement party. We are behind on this, but six months should still be enough time for you to have the event you want.” Several of us chuckled. “Okay, let’s see . . . Oh, third up is Kairo. We need a list of names of who you want to take over the physical locations you currently oversee. Also, we need to know if there will be any changes to the current COO, CFO, CMO staffing. Lastly, Kairo, wedding details. I’ve checked my calendar but still didn’t see it added. Have you and your misses not picked a date?”
It seemed like every eye in the room was on me. There was no misses, and the only people in this room that knew that were my father and me. I sat up, cut my eyes at him, and blew out a breath.
“Unfortunately—”
“That’s my fault. I thought I had Yvonne update everyone’s calendar to reflect the upcoming nuptials. The wedding is in ninety days.” My head snapped to the right, but Pops kept his attention on Guy, the person heading the meeting. “We’re all excited, so my apologies for letting that slip through the cracks.”
I had six months before I needed to take my father’s place, and he chose ninety days as the best date to lie about?
Right now, I was as single as a dollar bill, so I didn’t see how I could be getting married in three months. I wanted to strangle the man who, up until this moment, had been my best friend. Kane Moore was the opps right now, and I needed to tell his wife she should be sleeping with one eye open. The meeting continued, but I wasn’t there. My mind was on the fact that I had three months to find a partner and convince her ass to be my wife.
Pops was about to have me out here looking just as crazy as him.
Steven, my hating ass archnemesis, tapped his pen on the table. “Before we head out, I think we should have a backup plan in case things don’t work out for Kairo and this . . . young lady. The bylaws stipulate that if the nominated candidate cannot fulfill his marital obligation, then there needs to be a second option. By our next meeting, if Kairo and his fiancée have not tied the knot, please have the names ready for his replacement.”
I sat up and leaned on the table.
“Bit—”
My father placed his hand on my arm.
“Steven, if you feel that is necessary, then by all means, put that on the docket for next quarter. Should KairoMoorenot be married by our next board meeting, then we will take a vote with a new list of names.”
Steven Ford had always been a hater, and his comments spoke to that truth.
Since he had been brought on as the chief financial officer, he had been on my father and the board about bringing in what he considerednew blood. Steven didn’t believe that just because I had the last name Moore that I should be the next owner and CEO of Diamonds & Moore. In his mind, it took more than my great-grandfather being the founder to head the company.
He wasn’t wrong, which was why from the age of seventeen I had been fully immersed in all things Diamonds & Moore.
“See. I just want to make sure we keep things fair?—”
“Nah, you just want your son to take over when he don’t know shit about Diamonds & Moore! You?—”
“Kairo.” My father hissed, and I snapped my mouth shut. “No matter what he wants to happen, know that you’re holding up your end of the bargain. That’s all that matters, right?”
I rolled my tongue over my teeth then nodded.
