Page 61 of The Roadie
Kira and her stepmother immediately left the room, barely giving Brett a second glance.
Mr. Abelman went to the large credenza that bordered the back wall. There were crystal decanters filled with amber liquid on the marble top, but Mr. Abelman ignored them and retrieved a bottle from the cabinet below. He snatched two heavy crystal lowball glasses off the credenza and walked back to Brett. “Have a seat.”
Brett did as he was instructed, while Mr. Abelman dropped the glasses on the small round table that sat in the middle of the four wingback chairs, which landed with a significant thud as they hit the tabletop.
Mr. Abelman studied the label on the bottle for a few moments before he finally sat down.
It was a 30-year-old scotch, and Brett took it as a good sign. You don’t break out something like that when you’re about to read someone the riot act. On the other hand, this could be something to soften the blow, a peace offering of sorts, after Mr. Abelman told Brett how he really felt about him marrying Kira.
Mr. Abelman placed the bottle next to the glasses and sat back in the chair. He studied Brett, who sat steadfast without averting his gaze, before he began. “People think work is the most important thing in my life, but it doesn’t compare to how much I care about my family. Everything I’ve done in my life has been for my two girls. I’m sure you know that their mother passed when they were young.”
Brett nodded but didn’t want to say anything because he didn’t want to interrupt the man.
“I’ve raised those girls by myself. I’m very protective of them. Of course, I love them both equally, but Kira is my youngest and that makes me a little more protective over her.”
“I love Kira very much,” Brett said. “I’m protective of her as well. I would never do anything to hurt her. You have no reason to doubt my intentions.”Lighten up, he told himself. The last thing he needed was to come off as defensive and end up in a pissing match with Ron Abelman, one he’d surely lose.
“I’m not questioning your intentions, but there is one obvious reason I need to speak to you.” Mr. Abelman raised his brows, adding more lines to his forehead. “Do I need to spell it out for you?”
It hit Brett like a ton of bricks. He should have realized it sooner, but it wasn’t a factor in their relationship, at least not for him. “If you think I’m with her just for her money, you couldn’t be more wrong. I have every intention of signing a prenup.” Actually, the thought never crossed his mind, and Kira never brought it up. But, then again, they hadn’t talked about marriage until yesterday. Now, he realized that this was exactly what Mr. Abelman wanted to talk to him about in private.
To Brett’s surprise, Mr. Abelman scoffed at his statement. “That goes without saying, young man.”
Brett narrowed his eyes. “I may not be wealthy, or even well off, but I provide for myself and my brother. I’ve been taking care of him since he was 15. I didn’t rely on anyone or social services. I did it all myself. I still do.”
Mr. Abelman nodded with agreement. “I’ve done my due diligence. I always have when it came to my girls. Even Mr. Wilder, who lived his life in the public eye – with no filter, I might add – didn’t get a free pass. I vet everyone who steps into my girls’ lives. There are no surprises.”
“If it wasn’t about a prenup, what did you want to speak to me about?”
“I know you’re an adult, but you don’t have a parental figure. There are some things that you need to know, so that falls on me right now. I understand that your generation thinks they know everything in the world by the time they’re in high school, but I’ve lived a long and arduous life filled with ups and downs and have overcome many obstacles. You may think I’m old fashioned and a prude, but I can assure you that I’ve seen many things in my life because of the line of work I’m in.” He took a deep breath. “My daughter loves you, and I truly believe your intentions are genuine. Please don’t let me find out otherwise. Don’t underestimate my power because it extends all the way to the West Coast and beyond.”
Brett gritted his teeth. “I told you. I love Kira, and I’d never do anything to hurt her.”
“I heard you the first time, young man. But things aren’t always going to be as sunny as they are right now. You and Kira will have difficulties, just as every marriage does. I expect you to do right by her, even in the darker times. So, when things aren’t as perfect as they are now. When things are rough, just remember who I am. If you betray my daughter or mistreat her in any way, I will surely be informed. You may think that most women, especially those as independent as my daughters, wouldn’t come running back to their father in times of crisis, but I’m always there for my girls. When they need something, they come to me. They know that. They practice that. As I said, I’m a little extra protective of Kira since she’s the youngest, but also because she’s more sensitive than Audra. Audra is all fire and fight. But Kira is all heart. If you break that heart, you will answer to me.”
Brett hated the tone of this man’s voice, his posturing, and his outright threats. It took every bit of self-control not to pound his fist on the table and yell that he would never hurt Kira, but he knew when to back down. This was a man protecting his daughter. A papa bear looking out for his cub. Brett understood and actually admired the man for his steadfast loyalty to his family. “You can count on me to do the right thing, sir.”
Mr. Abelman nodded once, and then picked up the bottle of scotch. “I’ve had this in my liquor cabinet for almost 20 years. I’ve been waiting for the right moment to open it.” He ripped off the gold foil covering the cap and unscrewed it. “I think today marks the perfect occasion to break the seal.” He poured three fingers of honey-colored liquor into each of the glasses, picked them both up and handed one to Brett. It was heavy and had a thick rim and emitted a musical twinkle when they touched glasses.
“Welcome to the family, Brett.”
