Page 58 of Guarding Zuri
“No? Wait…” He took a step back, unable to comprehend the two-letter word. “He said, no? To—to what?”
“He said Knight Industries would not be investing in Bendola—and good luck.” Her neck tightened as she swallowed and Daemon believed she had to swallow a lump of pride to repeat his father’s words.
“I’ll talk—”
“No.” She came to him and crossed her arms. “This time, I mean it. I no longer need your services. I release you from whatever agreement or obligation you think you have toward my father. You’re fired, Daemon Knight. Take me home.”
CHAPTERNINETEEN
Daemon took the turn into Knight Industries HQ a little too fast, drawing an angry horn blast from the driver in the opposite lane as they swerved to avoid a collision. He gunned the engine up the long road, the looming headquarters building ahead of him. It looked like a glass castle on a hill and Daemon wanted nothing more than to drive his car right through it.
He’d been working on his speech the whole way from Ashburn into Falls Church, a very affluent DC suburb where his grandfather had built both the family home and the headquarters for Knight Industries. Unfortunately, he hadn’t gotten past the expletives he wanted to hurl at the man.
He couldn’t get Zuri to say another word to him about the meeting. She had left the conference room after firing him and demanding he fly her home. He would’ve brushed it aside as another ill-timed jest, but she hadn’t yelled at him nor insulted him. With a quiet but firm voice, she had stated her intention to return to Bendola. The tears in her eyes had drained the air from his lungs. Unless he wanted to be accused of trafficking in persons, he had to submit. The plane was fueling at the airport; while Zuri packed the clothes he’d bought her, Daemon broke a few traffic laws to see his father, who wasn’t answering his phones or returning his calls. He had wanted to tell her that no matter what his father had said, he’d fix it.
But first, he needed to know what his father said.
He pulled into a spot designated for him—right beside his father’s.Is that a new car?A Tesla Model S sat in his father’s parking spot, and Daemon envied the 200 miles per hour speed that car had compared to his at 180. He could’ve been here faster in that car.
He took the private elevator to the CEO suite and was promptly stopped outside the door by his father’s secretary—an older woman with short, graying red hair, round face, and beady eyes that always made Daemon’s stomach twist a little. She reminded him of his fifth-grade teacher, who gave him detention at least once a week. The woman was a guard dog and ferociously protected his father’s schedule. She held up a thick hand and quickly stood from behind her cherry-colored oak desk, the other hand on her hip with authority.
“Hi Madeline,” Daemon said with tired patience. “I know he’s in and isn’t in a meeting,” he said when she opened her mouth. He didn’t have time for the typical excuse. Whenever he wanted to see his father, the man could barely give him five minutes, but now that he wanted Daemon to take over the company, he couldn’t stop seeing him.
“Your father doesn’t wish to be disturbed.”
“That’s too bad,” Daemon said as he side-stepped Madeline and swung open the door. “Father?”
“Ah, Daemon. I wondered how long it would take you.”
Daemon walked across the expanse of the suite, lit with the natural light from the surrounding floor to ceiling windows. His father sat behind his desk, his chair facing the windows with a view of the lush green forests that surrounded the property.What a view, Daemon thought, even though he’d seen it a number of times. Chained to a desk wouldn’t be so bad if he had this serene of a view of nature.
“I still haven’t made up my mind,” Daemon said as he walked deeper into his father’s office. “I said I’d let you know.”
“That’s not what you’re here for.”
“No, it’s not.”
His father swiveled around. “Well?”
“What did you say to her?” he asked in a low voice, keeping his sharply rising temper in check.
“I’m sure she told you.”
“She said that you said no.”
“Then that’s what I told her.”
“Why?”
“Did you see her presentation?” Daemon remained silent, sensing the trap. If he said no, then his father would reprimand him for not preparing her. If he said yes, he’d still give the same reprimand. Arthur sighed. “I’m not the man for the job.”
“Excuse me?”
“Knight Industries isn’t the right company for the job.”
Daemon laughed. “Who are you trying to convince?”
His father’s eyes flashed a challenge. “As long as I’m CEO, Knight Industries will not enter into any contracts with Bendola.”
