Page 56 of Guarding Zuri
“Never. Sorry.” His father’s secretary had confirmed that he would arrive at Knight Shield HQ after lunch for twenty minutes before he had to catch his plane for another meeting across the country. It burned Daemon’s blood that his father had so little time for Zuri, but Daemon figured it was his fault. Daemon hadn’t accepted his father’s terms to transition into the CEO position, so he wasn’t giving his son any favors.
Daemon took her fidgeting hand in his and squeezed until the coolness of her skin ebbed away and warmed. “Relax. You know your country and the numbers. Do you want me in the meeting?”
She dipped her head, hiding a shy smile. “I’m not sure that’ll help.”
“Why not?”
Her eyes met his. “Because you’re distracting,” she whispered. She stared at his hand, still holding hers. “Very distracting.”
Daemon hooked a finger beneath her chin and tilted her head up. He looked pointedly at her lips. “Zuri…”
“Yes?”
“You’re the one who’s distracting.”
Her eyelids were already drifting closed when she smiled. She waited, lips parted. He angled his head down, professionalism be damned.
A throat clearing in the distance broke their connection. “Sorry,” Roland said from the door. “Your father’s here.”
“Already?” Daemon looked at his watch. “He’s an hour early.”
“Says he’s ready now.”
Daemon cursed underneath his breath. “This is so disrespectful.”
“It’s okay,” Zuri said. “I can do the presentation now. It’s fresh in my mind, so it’s probably better this way.”
Daemon rounded her shoulders with his hands, feeling the tightness. He kneaded them. “You’re tense. I can have a masseuse here in five—”
She shook his hands free. “I’m tough. There’s a difference.”
A twinkle sparkled in her eyes and Daemon grinned. She didn’t need him to coddle her. “I’ll send him in, then.”
Roland had left the room and Daemon turned to go tell his father to wait when he felt a hand on his arm, halting him.
“Daemon?”
The space between Zuri’s brows bunched and lines formed around the corners of her mouth. “Thank you for everything. I don’t know how I’m ever going to repay you.”
His eyes went to the ceiling. “If Roland hadn’t interrupted us.”
She let out a short laugh, her expression softening. That’s what he wanted to see, her relaxed. His father was a shark who was attracted to fear and loved to shred his prey. He placed a kiss on her forehead. “I have faith in you. Now, stay loose. I’ll go get my father.”
He exited the room and stomped all the way to his office. He entered and saw his father sitting cross-legged on the black leather couch, phone to his ear. His father gestured for him to enter and close the door while he continued his conversation.
“I’m at Knight Shield right now. Yes, my son’s company.” He laughed, his facial expression softer than Daemon had seen in a long time. Daemon realized he looked a lot like his father, despite having his mother’s eyes. Whatever was making his father laugh, Daemon was glad for it. He liked seeing his father in a positive mood.It’ll be good for Zuri.
“I haven’t considered buying him out, but maybe that’ll convince him to take my spot.” Arthur winked at Daemon.
On second thought,Daemon wished his father would frown. Daemon circled a finger in the air, signaling to his father to wrap up the conversation. Arthur raised a hand and then ended the conversation.
“Sorry about that, son. One of my longtime investors. Got to keep them happy to stay rich.”
“Dad, what are you doing here?”
His father’s salt-and-pepper brows bushed. “Excuse me? I have an appointment with the lovely Zuri Msongo. My assistant confirmed it.” He swiped at the screen of the latest iPhone model. “If she wants to rule a whole country, she should be ready for her appointments.”
Daemon growled. “She doesn’t want toruleher country andyou’reearly.”
