Page 9 of Claiming His Wife
“You’ll never move here now, will you?” His mom laughed gleefully. He knew what she meant. His family had lived in Montréal before moving to Ottawa, where his stepfather opened up more of his fast food franchises. The plan had always been for him to finish school in Montréal and then join them.
“What do you mean?” He feigned ignorance.
“I’m your mother and I know you. I see how you look at Kalilah. You won’t leave her.” His mom’s conclusions were true. He had no plans to move to Ottawa while Kalilah lived in Montréal.
“I love her, Mom,” he had confessed. She had smiled, cupped his face and told him to take good care of Kalilah. He readily agreed, knowing that she meant more to him than the air he breathed.
That trip had been difficult for him as well; he abstained from having sex with Kalilah, but she didn’t make it easy for him. The little minx had enticed him with her movements and skimpy outfits. All they had cared about was each other. His desire to claim her fully kept mounting, and he decided that he would ask her to be his wife. Before he even got to it, Richard had cornered him and asked him about his interest in his daughter.
“I know you’re seeing my daughter,” Richard said matter-of-factly, while they were in his office discussing their latest condo development. Finn was surprised. He and Kalilah had tried very hard to keep their relationship under wraps, and apart from Kaiya – Kalilah’s younger sister – no one else knew. But what was also surprising to him, was that he didn’t feel fear that Richard knew they were together. He didn’t care who knew. He loved Kalilah and he would be with her, even if it meant losing his job.
“I love your daughter with my entire being, and I intend to propose to her soon. I apologize for dating her behind your back, but I won’t ever apologize for loving her or wanting to make her my wife. If you want to fire…” Richard cut him off.
“I started this company years ago as a means to support my family and elevate our position in this country and in the world.” Finn was unsure of where the conversation was headed but he listened. “As you know, I’m getting older, and I have two daughters who show little interest in this company; one is only interested in making the world a happier place through dance, and the other only wants to help every lost soul she comes across,” the man scoffed, and Finn sat there patiently, attentively waiting for the older man to make his point, “and it would be such a waste if this company didn’t remain in the hands of family…”
Before he knew it, Richard had cajoled him into proposing sooner that he’d planned and offered to promote him to the COO Chief Operating Officer position of the company on the day after the wedding. He figured since he’d already planned to ask for her hand in marriage, that it didn’t matter when he proposed, or what her father did. He saw it solely as a means to provide for them after they got married.
No, they were not the same; he had married the woman he cared deeply about. One touch from her and he was set ablaze. He got the position in the company as an added bonus, not that she saw it that way or would see it that way. She believed he played her to get what he wanted.
“Tabarnak,” he muttered to himself.
She had overheard the end of his conversation with her father. He saw the look of betrayal on her face and the tears that glistened in her eyes the moment he had left her father’s home office. Finn tried to explain to her, but the cold stare she fixed on him made him regret ever having that conversation. Finn turned his chair towards his desk again and picked up his cellphone. He needed information and he knew just the man for the job.
“Hey, Lucien.” His voice was deliberately upbeat for the benefit of his friend.
“Hey, Chief,” his friend of twelve years thundered down the phone.
Lucien had been a special unit army member until he had retired to open his own private investigations business. It had taken off with a bang, even if he bitched on the amount of spousal cheating cases he had to pursue daily.
“You’ve not forgotten my name, have you?” Finn called out.
“When pigs fly!” Came the loud retort over the phone.
They talked a bit more about what had been happening in their lives, until Finn told him about Kalilah and the ridiculous demands she placed on him.
“That burns; you want me to come over?” The offer of support shored him up just enough to go on.
“No, but I need something from you.”
“Anything.”
“I want everything you can find on this guy Kalilah has been dating. I don’t remember his name anymore but I’m sure that’s not going to prevent you from getting results,” he flattered.
“His name is Jonathan, and I know when you’re buttering me up.”
The shock seized his vocal cords for a few seconds before he blurted out.
“How did you know?”
“Currently on his Facebook page and he has many pictures of the two of them on his page, but she doesn’t have any of him on hers. Looks like she barely posts anything,” Lucien informed him in a preoccupied voice.
“Facebook?”
“For a multimillionaire, you’re so behind the times; you’re prehistoric.” Sound of keys tapping in the background filled the line.
“I know what Facebook is,” Finn ground out.
“Congratulations. So, all the information on one Jonathan Sawyer coming up. If it helps, he looks like a wimp.” Lucien informed him.
