Chapter 7 The Deal is Done #5
Despite how they met, Midas loved each of us and not just because we were Nev’s friends.
Teegan worked for his corporation and he recruited her based on her area of expertise.
We both studied the mind but she was into healing it while I focused more on the root causes that turned people bad.
Criminology versus psychology but my bestie was gifted in helping people become better.
I didn’t have the patience but she was now the staff psychologist for Warren Enterprises because of her talents.
“Why are you so resolute about this?”
“Because all of us know how Asha is. If it were something stupid or not well thought out, she wouldn’t be doing it.
Out of all of us, she’s the most risk-averse, so this has to have a solid plan behind it.
Besides, Midas wasn’t attempting to get her out of the country or trying to put a hit out on someone so the man must be good people. ”
“I still can’t believe I work for fucking Mr. And Mrs. Smith.”
“Don’t insult me like that, Tee. Those two worked for the government. Midas and I would never debase ourselves by being pawns.”
All of us were struck silent because… she wasn’t wrong. But it also gave us another slight insight into what they did and it was just as crazy as what we assumed.
“I… I don’t even know what to say about that.” Teegan sounded just as confused as we felt but Nev just shrugged and smiled.
“I said nothing that wasn’t true.”
“And that’s exactly the problem. That it’s your reality. And now, apparently, mine at least adjacently.” Teegan was damn near gnawing at her lip and it seemed an overreaction to the situation. If I knew Nev and Midas nothing could come back to bite her so she was worried for nothing.
“It would be more than adjacent if you would actually want to meet with some people we know.” The look Nev was giving the screen was directed solely at Tee and I had to wonder if Midas was the only one playing matchmaker.
“Girl, I can appreciate that you found a diamond in the rough—”
“—My husband is not gotdamn Aladdin, Teegan—” Nev was cracking up right along with us.
“But you know how I feel about rich people. You felt the same way about rich people, which is why you dated regular niggas so often.”
“And I ended up with a fucking scammer who kidnapped my ass while pregnant to get me to sell my mine rights.”
Sasha grimaced at the screen, “Gotta say, Teeg, not the best example.”
“Shut up, Sasha! All I’m saying is she lucked up with Midas. I highly doubt that he’s surrounded with decent human beings who aren’t on bullshit.”
“Well, I know that to be wrong in its entirety.” I wasn’t surprised that Nev was going to bat for her husband and his people but I had to press her on why she felt that.
“Why do you say that?”
“Because his cousin absolutely adores his girl. In fact, Xerxes practically stalked her and kept pursuing her until she gave in.”
“Gotta take a point away from you, Nev. That sounds like bloody Stockholm syndrome.” I took another drink and Sasha nodded her head in agreement.
Nev frowned at us and the warmth the wine gave me put a lazy smile on my face. “Not the twins twinning again. Asha this entire conversation was supposed to be about you yet somehow we got off topic.”
“I should’ve kept my mouth shut.” My bottle did little to hide my frown and I truly didn’t care if they saw it. This situation, talking about this situation and having other people talk to me about this situation frustrated me endlessly.
“But you didn’t so here we are. Who is this man?”
“He’s an FBI agent.”
Nev scoffed and shook her head at me. “Oh, that can’t be right.”
“What do you mean that can’t be right? The man works for the FBI.
” I left out the part about me working with him since I didn’t think I was supposed to share that information.
Giving them that inch would lead to them asking about the case and then Midas offering to use his connections and I knew that would probably piss Ori off. But if they knew each other…
“Nobody that Midas likes works for the government. That must be some type of cover or something.”
“He’s Ori Nakoa.”
“The shipping magnate?”
“Nev, who don’t you know?” Teegan’s head snapped up and she stared at the screen in disbelief.
“You seem to forget I have been around these men for four years. And it looks like you and I will have even more in common now than we did before if you’re going to be a part of their inner circle.
” Her face lit up with glee happy that there was going to be someone else she could talk to about whatever it was these people were into.
“Why does this sound like some spy, espionage shit?” I rubbed my temple with my free hand because the headache that had been a dull ache was increasing in intensity.
“Told you. Mr. and Mrs. Smith.” Teegan looked vindicated when she spoke like now I would be on her side since I would be in the middle of the madness too.
Nev only rolled her eyes but there was something to what Teegan was saying. “It’s nothing like that. But Ori is a good man. Never talks but he definitely makes an impression on a person.”
“I wish your husband were here to hear you say that.”
Nev waved us off. “Please. Midas knows I love him endlessly but I have two eyes for a reason.”
“Wait, what does this Ori look like?”
“A fucking god.”
Sasha rolled her eyes before looking back at the screen. “Now who’s being dramatic, Nev?”
Nevaeh laughed at my sister, and I could feel the heat rising in my face. I wanted to blame it on the Malbec but I knew that wasn’t the reason.
“Asha, you want to do the honors of confirming or refuting my statement?”
They were all looking at me with faces filled with anticipation and I sat my bottle down before nodding.
“She’s not wrong.”
Immediately the three of them started speaking over one another and I picked up my bottle and took another swig.
“Is she swigging out of the bottle? She's gotta be lying about this man.”
Nev was laughing as she settled into the corner of her sofa. “She’s not, Tee. He’s about six-six, buff, deep tan skin that’s got a golden red undertone, curly hair—”
“Damn, are you marrying him or is she?”
“I can hype him up because I’m happy for my girl. It’s as simple as that.”
“Asha, are you happy?” I could tell by how she asked that Teegan had put her professional hat on.
I didn’t blame her because it was hard not to psychoanalyze people when it was what you did every day.
I was thankful that I knew my friends wanted the best for me and that her question was coming from a place of care and not wanting to use this situation as the basis of a social experiment.
“I’m content. I’ve made peace with it and it’s not like he’s a complete stranger. We’re working on a case together right now so that gives us more time to get to know one another.”
“That’s actually perfect. Long engagement, see if it will work—”
“The wedding will be before the end of the year.”
Sasha sat up straight the fury in her eyes clear that she was about to jump on her soapbox. “Asha, it’s April. Do you truly believe that we have enough time to plan the social event of the season, long distance mind you, when you haven’t given us enough time?”
“Well, if you need a venue all I need is your date. There are enough Warren properties all over the country that we should have something available. Especially if you do something that is borderline winter time.” Nev was being messy and helpful in giving me free rein of their venue.
“Oh, that would be so pretty! You like the color blue anyway so we could have a winter wonderland theme.”
“Apparently that has been done in their circle once before.”
“How do you know that?”
“Oh, you’re right. I heard about JJ’s wedding. Definitely can’t do that again.” Tee was nodding and now I wondered just how many of these people she knew.
“And whom, pray tell, is JJ?” My sister was frowning at the camera because she hated not to have information on people.
She was like the Spider from Game of Thrones.
She had plenty of intel on just about every major power broker there was.
Her not having any information on Ori had me thinking he was just that good at covering his tracks.
That made me feel better about the life he led.
At least his name wasn’t being circulated out and about for all to see.
“I have searched every iteration of the name Ori Nakoa and I can’t find a single photo of him. So again, let me stop while I’m behind because this is feeling like more spy shit.”
Teegan closed her laptop and folded her arms across her chest, protecting herself from whatever we had going on.
“Okay, well now we need a picture of the groom so that I can determine if our genetics would blend well.” Sasha was looking at her screen and instinctively I knew she was waiting for me to do exactly what she was asking.
“Sasha, you’re not the bride.”
“Do you honestly think that Asha is gonna give a damn about anything that’s going on with this wedding?”
Two sets of brows rose in understanding and I just giggled as I continued to sip out of my bottle of wine.
“You’re not going to impede progress are you?” My twin knew me better than anyone so her question was valid.
“Nope. I’m here for the long haul. But they have someone who does a lot of their wedding planning.”
Nev nodded and I was sure she knew who the planner was. “Oh, Jada. Yeah, she does beautiful work.”
“What are her qualifications? I know that you’re saying things as if they’re absolutes but I need you to remember that our mother will do her best to make your life hell if every detail isn’t perfect.
Not that I think you give a damn about what she thinks, but the last thing I want is for this time for you to be terrible.
It might not be magical, but I don’t want it to be miserable either. ”