Do Overs #4
“Keeping my son on a tight leash is about the only way I can handle things as they stand. I don’t think he’s a bad person and that’s not paternal delusion speaking; it’s fact.
He knows that his actions have ruined his chances to run things but I feel as though he’s going to still try to make a play.
It’s better to have him close by and working within our company than on the outside and vengeful.
I raised a brow at his explanation, since it was the first stupid thing I’d heard this man say. “You’ve stripped away his pathway to success but kept him within the organization. I wouldn’t think that was the smartest idea. It can breed resentment.”
“Not to be disrespectful but isn’t that what your organization did to your mother’s family?
I know very little but the Nakoas were not the original family yet you all have clearly stepped up and into those positions .
Your grandfather was the one who negotiated, not someone from the bloodline I would think helped originate all of this.
If you’re chiding me for keeping my potential enemies close, maybe you need to follow your own advice, Ori. ”
I knew he was right but that didn’t provide me with the clarity about what my next move should be so there was no need to speak on it.
“Things are under control.”
“Glad to hear it because as much as you realize that I’m entrusting you with almost everything I hold dear, I hope you realize that my regard extends to you as well.”
“You don’t know me.”
His smile was filled with pride as he thought about his girls.
“That’s true. But Asha is one of the most precious things to me as well as her sister.
The man who marries one will always carry the weight of the other because although two separate people they love each other without bounds.
I’ve seen them gang up on Sasha’s exes and then go to bat for that same woman I spoke to you about when they felt it was necessary.
It was a conversation that Asha had with her that made me look into the issues. ”
“Semira and Asmarina will always be safe with me. On that, you have my word. They were already under one umbrella of protection because of their association with Nevaeh, it has just been extended and strengthened.”
“I hope you don’t mind me hangin around until the wedding. I don’t want you to think I’m hovering—”
It was funny how he was trying to lie to me. “But you are.”
He shrugged and it was clear he didn’t give a fuck how I felt.
“But not for the reasons you think. Despite being successful, there’s still work to be done.
I might not court investors or others to help make them money but I need to oversee what is going on.
Asha is too busy with everything for me to assign her the task and my son can’t be trusted.
Sasha has no love for business, besides the way she’s turned herself into an international brand. So I’m it for now.”
“You’re very proud of your girls.” I had wondered if Sasha was being left out in the mix of all the sibling troubles.
Her mother doted on her to spite Asha so I was sure their relationship was strained.
And William never hid the pride he had for his youngest child.
But hearing how he sounded when he said Sasha was a business, it was clear he didn’t discount her success just because it wasn’t traditional.
“I am. I’m hoping one day I can say the same for my namesake.”
To me that nigga was a lost cause but I guess parental love made you delusional. Damn, is this what Faith was feeling at lunch?
“You understand that the consequences will be grave if he crosses a line that he shouldn’t.”
I didn’t bat an eye about threatening this man’s son to his face. Much better to do so to his face so that he understood the risk of not keeping him in check. I respected Mr. Avery but I wouldn’t lose any sleep if I had to eliminate his son.
With a nod of understanding, William picked up his glass and took a sip.
“I would be disappointed in you if they weren’t.”
“What do you get out of all of this?”
“I’m a revolutionary at heart. The way our country has fallen has irritated me to no end. Things are getting better but we are facing years of needing help before we can even begin to reach our maximum potential.”
“Still not hearing anything that rings true.”
“I do not want to be in politics. The idea of a life even more stifling than the one I currently lead would have me escaping this mortal coil.”
“Again, these are just words.”
“Our family has always held political power within the region. It is the reason I fought. The reason I was willing to die on the battlefield.”
“So what is this for?”
His eyes were lowered in shame. “Because of my cowardice. I left a friend behind to earn money to fund a revolution that was being defiled from the inside. The fight was already over because the fix was in. My brother in arms died, his daughter stolen as his wife betrayed him. I owe him a life’s debt.
His daughter has since been found and his traitorous wife has been sent to hell on earth thanks to Shah Afshin. ”
Now I was even more intrigued because rarely did I ever hear anyone address Afshin by his Persian title. Being Xerxes’ uncle made him someone under our protection. He was now the King of Persia and I wondered why he was handling things for William Avery. “Wait, how do you know Afshin?”
“My friend the cause of my shame, his daughter now goes by Diana Bailey. She is the wife of—”
It clicked immediately and I wondered why I hadn’t thought of it before.
“Adam Hartison. Which means you asked Midas for a favor and Afshin delivered on the strength of his nephew. Small world indeed.”
He smiled his agreement and I was sure he was even more comfortable now with the situation.
“We have kept in touch and he knew of my issues in Eritrea. I knew nothing of how he got rid of my previous problem but I have had no problems. He must have felt he owed me because when I spoke of needing help he gave nothing away. But apparently someone was put in contact with someone else and the elders agreed to speak to me. That is how all of this came about.”
“You repaying a debt to a friend.”
He nodded again almost as surprised as I was at our connections that went back years before we realized.
“All we wanted was to see our home freed. The UCAA do not feel as though we are worth the risk because of the lack of consistency. We have natural resources but we lack the amounts and the willingness to allow outside interests to come in and treat our people as slaves. Eritrea currently imports more than it exports so we aren’t nearly as self-sufficient as we need to be.
These investments will allow innovation to flourish without having to hand it over to the government. ”
“And again, you feel like money is the answer.”
“Only for this problem. The idea of funding a kind that is no longer only getting the minimum of food so they can go forth and be better for our country is my reward. He would’ve stayed and fought and if I do this—”
“You’ll no longer feel the unnecessary shame of having left him behind.” It weighed heavily on him despite how confident he seemed.
“It’s a burden that will never leave despite the kindness of your words. I know some things could’ve been different and I hate they weren’t.”
“Fair enough.”
“So, have I met with your approval or do you have further questions for me?” He smiled unbothered by the paces I’d put him through. The sign of a man with nothing to hide.
“We should be good for now.”
“For what it’s worth I appreciate your concern. It shows the type of man that you are and I’m grateful that you’re the one who will be the person Semira will have to lean on.”
“If you think your daughter would ever need to lean on me you must not know her well enough.”
William finished his drink quickly and grimaced at the burn. “And if you think I haven’t seen every facet of that fiery personality to know what it is I speak of, then you’ve underestimated me.”
“Only time will tell.”
“Perhaps. But that time is drawing much nearer than you think. We will be flying in and staying at the venue. The last thing I want is for my wife to irritate Asha before the nuptials. I’ll do my best to keep her out of your hair.”