Chapter 11 Adrian #2
I didn’t think I was quite at that point with Delilah, but the point remained. At some point, time would run out, even if I was “winning.” And when that happened, if I hadn’t taken her, I never would.
“Now then, you wanted to talk about some business concerns?” Dante said, folding his arms.
“I would, when Cassius gets here,” I said. “I don’t know why the fucking CEO is prioritizing love over business.”
“Who said anything about that?”
Cassius.
Somehow, he’d slipped in without making much of a sound.
He was well dressed, in a black suit and pants with no tie, ever with the icy stare that he’d just as quickly affix on one of us as on an employee who slacked on the job.
People said he had the most intense stare of all of us; I wasn’t sure if that was fair, but he certainly had the coldest, most stoic of all.
“I did,” I said, taking a step toward him. “You've found the love of your life. Good for you. Have you forgotten that you are the Chief. Executive. Officer. Of our empire?”
“Relax,” Cassius said, holding out a downward hand.
God, that irritated me. How the fuck was I to relax?
“I have not forgotten, and I assure you that when it is time for me to be the CEO, I am as good as I have ever been. If anything, I would argue I am even better than before. I simply also make time for my fiance.”
“If you insist,” I growled.
“Now, explain what you wanted to.”
Begrudgingly, I went over the details of the possible embezzlement and the petty crime. Begrudgingly, because it seemed like my frustration with Cassius was being brushed off.
Did that make me the wrong one? Or were Cassius in denial and Dante and Lucas in stupidity?
Who the fuck cared? I had a job as CFO and King of Diamonds. I would step in if need be.
But still. I was pissed off.
“The petty crime, unfortunately, is part of the deal,” Cassius said.
“It’s been with us long before the name Morril ever meant anything.
Dante, investigate as you wish, but take no action unless necessary.
And for fuck’s sake, do not contact any of the Black Reapers about this.
We tried that once already. I think the only way they’re getting involved is if one of their women gets hurt. ”
Dante snorted but said nothing. His lack of reaction concerned me. Dante was just crazy enough to kidnap one of the Black Reapers’ wives as a bargaining chip for something with the Morrils. That was also a fast way to get shot in the back of the skull one evening.
As for me? The Reapers were not my cup of tea.
I knew they existed, and I knew Cassius and Dante were enamored with them, no matter what Cassius said.
But diamonds and bikers and CFO money and illegal trade money didn’t exactly mix.
If I saw one in the bar, I’d be mindful of them, perhaps even respectful.
But I’d be damned if I ever fucking called a man named Satan or Phoenix for help about a media image. That’d be like calling someone in Alcoholics Anonymous for the best way to shoot a beer commercial.
“The embezzlement, however, concerns me,” Cassius said.
Finally, something’s getting fucking serious here.
“It may only be a few thousand dollars right now, but left unchecked, it will grow. And at some point, they’ll take enough that they know they’ve gone too far.
They’ll run, but they’ll have the money, and we won’t have any way to track it.
So, yes, let’s monitor it. Adrian, I leave it up to you to do as you wish. ”
I tried not to read Cassius as being lazy in that one. Even if Sarah never existed, as CFO, I was tasked with handling all things financial. It was unlikely six months ago, Cassius would have gotten involved.
It was easier said than done, though.
“Is there anything else?”
No one said anything. I’d said my bit. Dante and Lucas had given me shit about Delilah. I’d gotten a little bit of good out of it with the embezzlement investigation, but for what was supposed to be an unwind and recharge meeting, it hadn’t exactly gone that way.
“Then let’s call it an evening. Dante, Lucas, will you give the two of us a moment?”
What?
“It’s been a bit since Adrian and I spoke alone.”
Well, this was going to be fucking interesting. Dante and Lucas didn’t say a word as they left. It was only when the elevator doors shut that Cassius turned to me.
“You’ve been agitated recently,” he said. “Which I feel like is an understatement for what you are going through. But what’s going on?”
I sighed. Fuck. Really?
“Are you sure you are doing what you need to do?” I said. “Are you sure that Sarah has not taken away from your job as CEO?”
Cassius showed no overt reaction, but a flicker of a smile came across his face. He suppressed it quickly, and someone less knowing of him might not have picked up on it, but he noticed it.
“I’m going to tell you something that you will not believe, but I’ll say it because it’s true. Sarah makes me better as a CEO. Before you react, allow me to explain.”
It was a damn good thing he preempted me, because he was right, I did not believe it.
“Adrian, whatever you are feeling, I felt, or at least something similar to it. Sarah and I, we had our problems, our fights. Our conflicts. But once we got past that? Once we gave up the bullshit? It was empowering. I don’t have to wonder in the back of my mind if I’ll ever get married or who I can trust. I don’t need anyone else but the three of you and her.
And with a more settled mind, I can focus on what matters. ”
Maybe.
But I still didn’t buy it, even if that fed right into what Cassius said.
To me, he’d been at his best when he was seeking to control Sarah; as soon as he’d given that up and just been with her, a part of him softened.
I could admit it was not as overwrought a sentiment as I felt at my worst, but it was still real. Of that, I had no doubt.
“What about you?” he said. “What’s going on with Delilah?”
“What does it matter?”
Cassius opened his mouth, paused, and then cleared his throat.
“Never mind that,” he said. “I got pissed when you all pressed me on Sarah, and I won’t do the same to you.
I will say, however, be very careful not to make the same mistakes I did.
Do not mistake being an asshole and being a king for the same thing.
And do not insist on having it all—because you will not.
You will either control everything and no one, you will think you control everyone but actually nothing, or you can accept you can control yourself, a lot of things, and no one.
It’s the last one that you want, no matter what you think. ”
“Alright, Aristotle,” I groused. “Can you leave now?”
Cassius nodded. He heeled without another word, even as I expected him to, and eventually made his way to the elevator. The doors shut.
And I was left alone to ponder Cassius’ words.
And I had to say, even if he had gone soft, even if I did think he wasn’t great for the business…
He did ultimately achieve with Sarah what I wanted with Delilah.
Perhaps there was something worth listening to in there.
Perhaps.