Page 8 of Royal Pain
Kwai always gets to his lecherous point.
“You’re both assholes,” I chuckle. But I know their shock is warranted. It’s rare I give two shits about a woman’s voice.
“We’re just messing with you. Really, are you going to ask her out? There’s not much time.”
I get up from the table and cross to the window.
“I already did. We’re going to dinner tonight.”
Our conversation is interrupted by the sound of my parents returning. There’s a short exchange at the door between my mother and David, my father’s personal guard. He and Asis will stay at their post outside the suite. Footsteps approach the dining room and my brothers and I exchange looks in anticipation of what we might be about to hear.
“Morning, boys,” my father says as he enters the room. It’s his usual greeting, but somehow sounds fake, lacks authenticity. And he’s not making eye contact.
Shit.
“Morning, Father,” Tarik answers.
“How’d everything go? Did you get the blood results?” Kwai asks.
My mother gets busy doing nothing. She moves the salt and pepper shakers from one place to another and picks up a few crumbs.
“I’m stable. No change.”
Bullshit. The tears welling in my mother’s eyes says it all. Not one of us wants to bring attention to it though.
“What time is Ms. Banks coming?” she says.
“Three. You sure you still want to do an interview, Dad?”
He looks at me with clear intention. I recognize the expression I’ve seen since that first day we met. When his mind is made up there’s no chance for change. He doesn’t have to say a word. But my mother weighs in.
“Let her come. Your father’s mind is made. He wants Tarik to take the lead. You two make sure not to step on Tarik’s debut. Kwai, I’m talking to you,” she says without tiptoeing around her point.
She gets a blank stare from him for her effort.
