CHAPTER TWELVE
SAINT
Behind me, a wrought-iron gate flanked by obsidian pillars opens into a driveway lined with rows of cypress trees. The floodlights of my car light the long tar-paved driveway. At the end of the drive, the mansion rises like a fortress, with balconies overseen by elaborate ironwork.
Bernard parks the car in front of the house. I step down from the vehicle and stride toward the double oak doors. Stepping inside, marble floors stretch wide, veined in gold and silver, catching light from a massive crystal chandelier suspended in the air.
Commissioned portraits of past family leaders line the walls. The scent of polished wood, aged leather, and something darker lingers in the air. Dark velvet furniture sits in the space with a fireplace carved from black marble, flames dancing behind the glass, adding warmth to the house.
Floor-to-ceiling windows flank private gardens and fountains, creating a sense of tranquility. Behind the expansive living room, a staircase leads upstairs, its black railing gleaming.
I’m here.
Home.
Father had set up a family breakfast with my bride-to-be’s parents, so I had to check in with the family before I drove to the office.
Since that night, since he took me into the bathroom and held my hand over that sink, I have never been the same.
Keeping my distance is the best way I can curb this feeling inside of me. Besides, I couldn’t fire him because I had already dismissed Kurt, and I didn’t want my father asking questions I didn’t have answers to.
As I step through the dining hall’s door, everyone’s already sitting around the table.
“Saint.” My sister, Livy, smiles, remaining seated beside my father. She’s a carbon copy of our late mother. My brothers, Cross and Virgil, look up mechanically from their seats. I walk around the polished table, taking in the two unfamiliar faces before I sit with everyone.
Father’s gaze flickers up to mine, lethal and cutting, but he doesn’t speak.
I’m late.
I turn to the other man sitting directly opposite my father with his daughter at his right-hand side. “Good morning, sir.” I offer the greeting. He nods sternly before my eyes drop to the gorgeous lady wrapped in a velvet purple dress.
“Hello.” I smile at her.
“Hi.” She says.
“Saint, you’re here.” He finally acknowledges my presence. His hand wraps around a glass of wine, and he lifts it to his lips.
Tobias King. He’s a tower of authority. Tall and broad-shouldered.
Skin, a dark brown shade. Eyes sharp and calculating.
He’s bald, but gray stubble marks his jaw.
His hands are large, strong, and capable.
Black tailored suit matches his spry frame with gold cufflinks engraved with the family crest.
“Hello, Father.” I smile at him.
“I was just telling Mr. Okoro how you’ve taken charge of the company and brought it to its greatest heights.” Father declares across the room.
“Yes, it has been a wonderful experience to continue to build what you immensely contributed to,” I look at the radiant young lady opposite me.
“That is exceptional.” Mr. Okoro says. “This is my daughter, Adanna.” He points to her, and she raises her glass and smiles.
“Hello again, Adanna.” I lift my glass.
“It’s nice to see you in person, Saint. I have heard great things about you.”
“Likewise.”
She smirks.
“The marriage between you two will form strong bonds between us.” Tobias nods.
“No rush here.” Mr. Okoro counters, and my father’s demeanor slightly changes, but he smiles through it. “But yes, indeed, I believe they will take a liking to each other.” The other man finishes.
Breakfast slowly passes by, and my father and Mr. Okoro go back and forth as they discuss business. I look at Adanna and gesture toward the exit. We both rise, chairs scuffing against the marble floor. “We will take a walk.”
“Of course.” Father smiles, face masked with an impression.
Adanna and I leave the dining room, walking side by side in silence until we exit the building.
The air sweeps through the premises, settling on my skin like velvet as we both head down the gravel path together.
Above us, the sky-blue cloud is bright with the spill of the rising morning sun.
“I’m sorry you went through the trouble of being here,” I mutter.
“Oh, no trouble. I’ve been in the city for weeks now, and I thought, let’s get this over with already.” She declares.
“You are stunning.” I pause, sliding my hands into my pocket with a smile.
“Thank you.” She says as we continue to walk down the path.
“What are your favorite flowers?” I ask as we both walk by the family garden. Cross used to tend to it before I moved out of the family house to his own place, but that was years ago. Now Father hires gardeners to look after it.
“Lilies.” She says simply. “They are elegant. I’m making a dress inspired by lilies.”
“That’s wonderful.”
I look at her one more time and see the light in her eyes.
I don’t want this. But I’m not new to a world where rich and influential families set up their children together to build even greater wealth.
An arranged marriage with a powerful and influential billionaire family that has made a name in the fashion industry will establish a new alliance for my family.
“You still here?” She snaps her fingers in my face.
“Yes, I am. I just get lost in my thoughts sometimes.”
“I can imagine.” She says with a wide smile.
“What’s it like running the Royal Empire?”
“Pretty simple. I love it. I intend to take over as the CEO before the year ends.” She maintains. “You know your father is pushing this marriage, but I don’t want it. I have far too many things to focus on other than standing behind a man or birthing babies.” She stops, facing me as she confesses.
For some unknown reason, a breath of relief spills through my nostrils. “I think you’ll be phenomenal as CEO.”
“What do you think of this marriage?” She asks.
“I’m not sure what I want yet.”
“See, I think it’s best if we don’t waste each other’s time. Better to go after what we want than this.” Adanna explains confidently.
“I agree.” I shrug.
“Thank you, Saint.” She smiles and steps back to my side.
We walk the rest of the path in silence, then turn back to the house in time to meet her father and mine standing by the stairs and shaking their heads.
“There she is.” Mr. Okoro gestures toward her daughter. “Adanna, we should head back to the city.”
“Alright, Father,” Adanna waves at me. “I will see you at your cousin’s wedding.”
“Of course, I’ll be there.”
“Alright.” She smiles whilst I lead her to the car and hold the door open for her.
“Thank you.” She hums. Her father joins her, and their valet puts the car in ignition and follows the drive out of the premises.
“Saint, my office now.” Tobias barks and pivots to the entrance, heading inside with his cane.
Cross pulls me aside before I return to the house.
“Um, I have news about the boys that burned down our warehouse.” He adjusts the pair of glasses resting on the bridge of his nose.
Cross was the youngest of us all and the smartest. He was really good at finding information about people, so I trust he’ll deliver.
“And?”
“They’re dead. Virgil and I met a massacre, but I pulled up footage from the street cameras, and I’m looking into our guy.” He explains as we both head into the house.
“Alright, send me everything when it’s ready.”
“Of course.”
When we step into Father’s office, the air changes into something darker. Virgil’s already there.
Father stands in front of the open window with a glass of rum in his hand.
His office is exactly as I recall.
A massive mahogany desk centers the room, with a throne behind it. Father loves to call it the fortress of his kingship. One day, I will sit on that throne. His throne.
Rare books and financial ledgers line the walls, neatly arranged on shelves. Behind one shelf is a hidden compartment, concealing weapons and documents that could ruin this family. Soft light from gold-trimmed sconces creates shadows that accentuate the dark charge that stirs in the room.
“Cross leave us.” Father taps his foot against the floor before he turns to us. Cross and I exchange glances, his demeanor neutral as he makes a turn and heads out of the office.
Father moves to his throne and sits. He gestures toward the straight-backed leather chairs in front of him, and Virgil and I settle down. “Update me.” He says, eyes on me.
“Father, we have been taking care of it. I swear we’ll get rid of this…
” Virgil explains out of nowhere. When it comes to Tobias King, even tough nuts like Virgil stumble over their own words.
Somehow, Father had ingrained fear into us while he raised us.
And, unknowingly, Virgil just crossed a line.
“Virgil,” he says evenly. “Come here.” Virgil rises and circles the desk to him.
“Place your hand on the desk.” Virgil’s large hand rests against the polished surface.
The air crackles with razor-thin tension.
Then Father strikes. His hand moves so swiftly, glass shattering against his palm with brutal force.
Virgil doesn’t make a sound. He doesn’t flinch.
“Get out of my sight!” He barks, and Virgil leaves his office.
“These kids never listen. Don’t speak unless you’re spoken to.
” He murmurs under his breath. I wait, heart thudding against my chest, just as a worker runs into the office to clean up the mess. “Saint?” He nods at me.
“Father, we have a lead. If this is our rival, we will fish them out.”
“What happens to our shipment? One of our warehouse got burned down. Our enemies will see us as weak.”
“Our shipment will go out soon. I have spoken to our associates, and they’ve given us grace.”
“There’s no grace in this business. We could lose them.” He grunts. “What do you intend to do? If this continues, I have to find those culprits myself.”
“I have a plan.”
“Do tell.”
“A decoy.” I lay out the plan to him whilst he listens.
The darkness in his eyes retreat, replaced by admiration.
As long as everything works in our favor and our associates are patient, the shipment will arrive at their docks in two or three weeks.
But my father isn’t a man who holds patience as a virtue, so I keep the true time frame part to myself.
He nods, a smile of approval on his face. “We have a wedding to attend in seven weeks.” It’s been quite a long time since I saw him smile. I thought since he was dying, he’d try to leave more, but he’s still the same man I’ve known my whole life.
“Yes, I believe you told me.”
“Right. I have heard rumors,” he pours himself another drink with disgust burning in his eyes. “Thank God, none of my children are those things.” His words burn. Discomfort sears through my chest, and I clench my fists at my sides.
“What do you think about Adanna?” he takes a sip. “And don’t even whine about work. You are thirty-eight,” he holds the glass to his lips and watches me. “Unless you are one of those things?” His brow lifts suspiciously.
I breathe.
One. Two. Three.
I don’t respond. Not because I don’t know what to say. But because I’ll lie. I don’t seem to have any other choice. His gaze darkens, almost as if he can see right through my very soul. Like he can see me fucking Mason. And every other man I’ve fucked before him.
“No, I am not a homosexual.” Those words taste like ash in my mouth. “And Adanna is pretty and smart. She’ll make a perfect partner.”
“Wife.” He corrects. “We need their alliance, son!”
“Of course.” I smile.
He pauses and grunts. “You may go.”
I rise from the chair and head to the exit, but the weight of the conversation presses against my chest like a fully loaded semi-truck. As I step outside the office, I shut the door and lean against it.
I know who I am and the things my body desires. I don’t see myself as a sinner for wanting to keep my sickness at bay. I do it because of him. Because he taught me that nothing else matters except family, and I’ve carried that truth my whole life.
I even ended my contract with Mason because I couldn’t stand how he makes me feel. Because he’s trying to worm his way into my heart and disarm every defense I’ve built up for the past twenty-one years.
And I can’t let him.
My driver waits outside the house when I appear through the door. “Take me to the office, Bernard,” I tell him as I step into the car.