Chapter 2
Yosiah
“Our stock is up fifteen percent from last month and we’re on the verge of signing five new contracts, one being government,” Marcus, the overseer of operations, informed the group inside the conference room.
It was time for a quarterly meeting to look over numbers and ensure business was running how it should be. At the rectangle table sat me at the head, my VP, and the managers of each department that helped keep things in order.
A lot of things had changed since I’d started Blue Shield Innovative.
After accepting the money from Erik, I was able to get up and running.
It took me less than a year to turn a profit and start paying back the loan.
He was a silent partner until I could buy him out and pay him back in full.
Since I already had clients from previous work I’d done before officially being up and running, it didn’t take long for my name to spread and more people to reach out.
At first I started with cybersecurity and that quickly elevated into what Blue Shield Innovative was today.
A multimillion-dollar tech company that handled everything from cybersecurity, mobile security, apps, software and network development, IT work, and data and digital analysis.
The biggest resources over the years have been the government contracts we’d secured and managed.
My goal was for Blue Shield to turn into a monopoly and dominate the tech world. Having our hands in multiple baskets and leading the cyber market as the reason we’d been so profitable and grew as much as we had in the past five years.
“And the issues with the broken NDA?” I turned to one of the lawyers that handled our legal matters.
“Documents have been filed and are in the process of being sent out,” she explained.
Nodding, I folded my hands on the table as my jaw tightened. “Good, make sure you keep me updated.”
“Yes sir.” She typed on her keyboard swiftly.
One thing I didn’t play about was leaked information and clauses being broken.
When signed to my company, a strict contract was always presented and enforced.
We handled a lot of important and sensitive information that couldn’t get leaked.
It didn’t happen often, but every once in a while, someone would lose their job and rebel against the company and the contract they signed.
“Good, now who’s next?”
The meeting continued until all the department heads gave their reviews of the quarter.
Some people might have said I was an overbearing boss or too hands on, but if I learned nothing else five years ago with my dad, it was to keep my eyes open and make sure I stayed up to date with everything.
My company might be large and have multiple departments and employees, but I made sure to always stay informed.
After the meeting, I dismissed everyone to their department floors and offices.
I unlocked my phone and noticed Xylina had called multiple times.
My brows furrowed. She knew not to bother me at work, so I wasn’t sure why she kept calling.
Just as I was about to lock the phone, her name popped up on my screen again.
Pushing out a deep breath, I hit the side button to lock the phone before turning to Gloria, my personal lawyer.
If it was an emergency, she would send a text.
Even after all these years, Xylina was still as persistent as when I’d first met her.
“Are things moving along?”
“Yes, I have the status reports and forms here.” She clicked her keyboard a couple times before the projector lit up with the information.
I hit a button next to me and the privacy shade covered the large three windows that displayed the hallway. I could still see out but no one could see in.
Tucking my phone away, I listened to Gloria as she went over the latest reports. She was thorough at her job and one of the best her firm had. I knew if there was anything I needed handled, she would make sure it was, without me having to worry.
Once I finished up things with Gloria, I headed for my office on the top floor.
Blue Shield was ten stories high, located in West Hills.
My office was the only private point that not just anyone could access.
If you didn’t have a key card, the button in the elevator alerted me to approve access to my floor.
“Any calls I need to address right away?” I asked my secretary, Iris, as I loosened my tie.
“Your wife called five times demanding to speak to you.” Dropping my head, I shook it and sighed. “Anyone else?”
Iris went over the messages she’d collected while I was stuck in meetings. “Oh and the photographers and her team confirmed they’ll be here by four.”
“Photographers?” I questioned.
“Visionary Focus is coming to get photos for the article they’re writing about you being honored and winning the Under Fifty Leadership and Success award.”
“Fuck,” I gritted, dragging my hand down my face before checking my watch.
It was a half an hour till four. I had forgotten all about this shoot.
I didn’t even want to do it, but the head of my PR team damn near bit my head off when I tried to get out of it.
“I was supposed to get my suit delivered from the dry cleaners for that.”
“Already taken care of. It’s been delivered and is waiting for you in your office.” The phone rang just as she finished.
“You’re a lifesaver, Iris. I know you’ve taken on more since Seymone went on maternity leave and I promise you’ll be compensated generously for it.”
Iris grinned. “It’s no problem, boss man.” She nodded and reached for the phone.
Iris was a couple years older than me at thirty-seven, but her and Seymone, my personal assistant, kept me from running around like a chicken with my head cut off.
“If that’s my wife, tell her I’m busy. If it’s an emergency, leave a message or else stop calling,” I informed her before heading into my office.
Closing the door behind myself, I headed straight for the large couch off to the side, plopped down, tossed my head back, and closed my eyes, taking a couple seconds to gather myself before this shoot.
The Black Excellence Foundation was honoring me for my success and rapid growth.
They were a well-known foundation that always highlighted businesses and people making a huge impact in the world.
The leadership awards they held every year was a big deal and highly talked about.
Not only did they showcase new and growing businesses and people, but they also made sure to honor one individual whose name was ringing bells.
By the time I pulled into my large circular driveway, it was going on ten at night. Long days had become a norm for me. The weather was nice for early spring and I ended up going to the mountains for some cycling before retiring for the night.
Cutting my car off, I lifted my attention to the large, three floor, seven bedroom, ten bathroom mansion in front of me.
With over seven acres of land and forty square feet of it occupied, it had become something I was proud of.
When I first invested to get the house built, I didn’t plan on it being this large, but as my money grew, the plans for the house did as well.
Instead of remodeling, I had the original house demolished and built from scratch.
This was the home I’d planned to start a family in and eventually pass down to my kids.
It was equipped with a double staircase, two elevators, two living rooms, dining room, breakfast room, kitchen with two large islands, a library, my office, my cigar room, a wet bar and wine cellar, gym, indoor and outdoor pool, and a sauna.
Along with all that, the patio came with a full grill kitchen and sitting area, laundry room, and of course the rooms Xylina currently deemed as hers.
It was a long way from my condo. After being forced to move into the house purchased by Phillip Fox, I made it my mission to show him I didn’t need him or his money.
He was used to people bending to his will and having control, but he learned quickly I wasn’t the man who was going to allow anyone to walk all over him, no matter how this so-called marriage happened.
Grabbing my briefcase, I climbed out my Bentley and started toward my front door. Xylina’s light pink G-Wagon was parked a few feet away, indicating she was home, unless she’d driven her convertible today since it was nice out. I hoped for the latter.
When I got to the front door I entered the code on the keypad to unlock it then pushed it open. Soon as I opened the door and stepped into the foyer, my hopes were short-lived. I could hear music in the distance, meaning Xylina was on the first floor and close.
Just as I closed the door, I heard the sound of paws padding down the marble flooring. Before she reached me, Princess released a bark and stopped in front of me while wagging her tail wildly.
“Hi, girl.” I leaned down to pet her head, causing her to bark again.
“Princess, sometimes I believe you like your daddy more than me.” Standing straight again, I lifted my eyes and watched as Xylina made her way toward us.
There was a pout on her full lips. She paused a few steps away from me and crossed her arms, popping her hip out.
The sheer nude robe she wore left nothing to the imagination and was partly open, showing her cleavage perfectly.