Page 45 of Mr. Delicious
I didn’t like the way he said that. As if I was just like him, always with one woman or another.Cheating.
“What’s up, Dad?” I felt it was best to avoid the question.
“What’s up? Adam, don’t act like you don’t know what’s up. I thought you and Marc were dealing with Jordin Estates. I didn’t expect you to piss off and fly across the world.”
“Dad, I can’t work with Marc. I’ve told you before I hate it, and I’m putting my foot down now. Grandfather willed the estate to both of us and Marc is going behind my back doing shit without my permission. I’m not signing.”
“Adam, you’re being offered a billion dollars.”
“Dad. Did he tell you that the tenants reached out about buying their homes?” I knew Marc hadn’t told him that part.
“No, Marc didn’t tell me that.” His voiced toned down a notch.
“Put together, we stand to make several million. I haven’t done the math yet, but I want to do that. When we make business decisions we have to think of the effects in a holistic way. Think about how we would look if we turn families out of their homes. Most of which have been there all their lives. A lot of them are elderly and would never be able to go down the route of getting a mortgage the normal way.”
He was listening. I could tell.
Dad sighed. “Your brother won’t care about that.”
“Then I’ll take him to court on it, but I’m not signing. Dad you know this is the time you should get involved.”
The estate was willed to Marc and me but Grandfather put a default clause in his will that allowed Dad to intervene as an mediator if there were any grievous disagreements. As the main executor his word superseded ours as the beneficiaries.
“I hate taking sides when it comes to you boys. But I’ll think about it. In the mean time I have a job for you.”
My interest peaked. “What job’s this?’
“A vineyard in Rome with vines that date back to the time of Christ.”
My jaw dropped. “How’d we come by that?”
“Won it in a bet.”
“Dad, that sounds ridiculous.” But, then again, stranger things had happened. “You won a vineyard in a bet?”
“Yes, my boy. People should know better than to enter such arrangements with me. How long are you in Paris for? Can you go check it out tomorrow?”
“No can do.” My answer was reaffirmed when Wren walked across the corridor and back into the room.
The strapless dress she wore was grass green and looked like it was made just for her. It was the green I liked, and the dress I’d used as an example when I made the arrangements with the personal shopper to get her some clothes. I was glad I’d selected that dress now. It really did look beautiful on her, and that gorgeous hair just made me want to devour her all over again. She looked over at me and smiled when she saw me watching. Dad was saying something to me, but I wasn’t paying attention.
“Son, can you hear me?”
“Um… what?” I was still looking at her.
“When can you go?”
“I’m going to be busy for the rest of the week.Really busy.” I moved over to her and gave her a kiss on her forehead.
“Okay, wow. A whole week in Paris. You must really like her.”
“Yes, Dad, I doreallylike her.”
She gasped when I said that and was about to say something, but I silenced her with a little kiss.
Dad laughed. “Okay. Check Rome out for me next week then?”
“Rome. Next week,” I agreed. “Talk later.” I hung up, threw the phone on the bed and took hold of my woman. Kissing her, I absorbed her sweetness.
