Page 2 of Calculated Kisses with a Scorpio
Steven smirked, but it faltered when I grinned right back. He knew I was pissed, and he probably didn’t understand why I smiled. I had ninety days to find a wife and marry her, and I would just to shut him up. This was my legacy, and I wouldn’t have some random running my great-grandfather’s business.
After all his hardships in 1940 to even have this business, he’d probably turn over in his grave if a white man took over our company.
“I want to put his face through a wall. Why he always fuckin’ with me, Pops?”
He laughed as we walked toward his office.
“Because you let him. Everything doesn’t require a response. I swear you have your grandfather’s attitude, because had Kai Moore been at that meeting, Steven would have been put to sleep.”
“My kind of man. I need to call him.”
Pops scoffed and closed the door behind us when we made it into his office.
He was right about my temper, but there were only certain people who saw that side of me. Tolerating disrespect would never be something I did. It didn’t matter who you were. Steven liked to hide behind his position in our company, but if he wanted to keep his job, then he needed to ease up. My intention wasn’t to change anything when I took over, but if he kept at me, he would be out of a job. No way could I have anyone on my team who felt like I didn’t deserve my spot.
I sat on the sofa and waited for him to join me.
“Here.” He handed me a manilla folder, and I frowned.
“What’s this?” I opened it and my head jerked back. “Are these escorts? You cheating on my mama? We cool, but you should never be this comfortable with me. I love you, but it’ll always be her over you. Are you crazy?”
I stood, paced, and thought of ways I could kill this man without my mama finding out what he had done.
“Would you sit your dramatic ass down.” He hissed through clenched teeth. “I am not cheating on my wife. I would rather skin myself alive than break her heart like that. I see your dramatics came from your grandfather too.” Pops sighed and massaged his forehead. “Your mother found and vetted a few women for you to date, get to know, and potentially marry. She already knew about the timeline I would give and wanted to give you a head start.” He looked at me and frowned. “I should knock you in yo’ shit for thinking I’d cheat on my woman and then come to you about it.”
I smirked because Kane Moore was very serious about hitting me.
My parents met in high school and had been in love ever since. My father was the main reason I hadn’t found a woman I liked enough to settle down. The way he loved on my mother showed me how I should be as a husband, but not once had I run into a woman worth mirroring his actions.
They shouldn’t have been such good role models for their children.
“Calm down, old man. I had to be sure. Now tell your wife I don’t need her setting me up. I got this.”
“You don’t because, if you did, I would have a daughter-in-law right now.” He looked at me and smirked. “I’ll give you thirty days to find someone on your own. If that date comes and you haven’t found someone you can deal with for at least the next thirty years, then you’ll pick from one of those eight women. You are the last Moore, and we can’t lose our family’s business. This is the only thing that’s holding us up, Kairo. Find a woman on your own, or your mother and I will step in . . . Thirty days, Kairo.”
“Aight, thirty days.”
Although my face didn’t show my apprehension, I was sweating bullets.
It wasn’t a lot of time, but I couldn’t have my parents picking my partner. My father and I talked a little bit more before our conversation shifted to the Diamonds & Moore locations. I was the district manager over the three here in Rushin Springs, and finding someone to take my place would be a task. My brother, Karter, made it clear that he wasn’t interested in the family business, but our little sister, Kashia, had decided that she was ready.
My only problem was I didn’t know if she was ready to head three separate locations.
“Your mother wants me to cook tonight, so find your way to the house for dinner.”
“Cool. I’ll make sure I eat before I come. I ain’t trying to go to the upper room tonight.” I jumped up when he swung, cracking up.
Pops shook his head and pointed at his office door.
“Get out, and you’re uninvited from dinner and possibly the family.”
I laughed harder and didn’t miss the smile spreading on his face.
He stood and we slapped hands. I promised to see him for dinner, then made my way out of his office. When I got to the elevator, I ran into Steven and mugged him. I smirked when he tripped, trying to get away from me. He was lucky that every time we had an interaction, it was in or during HQ events, because had I caught him on the streets, he would have to see me.
As I got off the elevator, my cell phone rang.
“What’s up, Von?”
