Page 59 of Baran
“This room is breathtaking. I mean, it’s perfect, especially in the winter. Did you design this?” Baran asked.
“Yes, I did. Most of it was financed by our generous donors.”
“You do so much good for the gay community.”
“Thank you for saying that.”
“So many come in broken from the abuse on the outside, besides needing a roof over their head.”
Darien’s phone buzzed.
“That reminds me! I need to call Mr. Fletcher. He left me a message to call about the scholarship.”
“Wow! That’s great news,” Darien replied then read his message.
Benjamin Moore:Call me ASAP.
He wondered what was so important that his father would message him. He must have an issue with something he had done or said.
“I need to make a personal call. I’m going to my office. Miss Archer’s old office is now your office, so call Mr. Fletcher in there.”
They went to their respective offices. As soon as Darien entered his office, he pulled a bottle of water from the mini refrigerator and took it to his desk. He sat down, pulled out his phone, then punched in his father’s number.
“Darien, what the hell is going on?” his father asked.
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re fucking around with one of our top donors.” His father had turned over the business to him, but he closely monitored what he was doing. The only time his father had something to say was when he had disapproved of an action Darien had taken.
“Which top donor?”
“Mr. Marat Aslan. He lives near me. We’ve been friends for a long time.”
“I never knew you were friends with Mr. Aslan. What’s the problem with him?”
“Don’t tell me you don’t know. Why were you getting into his personal decisions with his son?”
“The young man I’m bringing to Christmas is his son.”
“His son Baran from Turkey?”
“Yes, that’s right. Your so-called friend sent Baran a ticket to New York City, then disowned him. He left him without money in a foreign country.”
“And when did Baran become your business?”
“He came to the shelter. And he’s mybusinessbecause I love him.”
“For Marat to ring my doorbell at night, I can tell you he was furious.”
“What did he want from you?”
“For you to stay away from his son and mind your own business. I told him I would discuss it with you.”
“And you’re just calling me now?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“There’s nothing to discuss. We’ll see you Christmas Day. I’ve got to go.” Darien ended the call.
