Dominico
“Next month?!” Zadok screamed, almost damaging my eardrums. “How did you do it? You both went from not talking to getting married.” He stared at me with awe. “I need to take lessons from you dude…like what the f**k?” He scooted closer to me, eager to hear more. “Tell me, how did you convince her? You threatened her didn’t you? That’s the only language you understand.”
Smirking, I lifted my glass, offering a toast to myself for a job well done. “Getting married quickly wasn’t my suggestion, it was all her.” He blinked rapidly, eager for more. “I returned home, we argued and made them, then out of the blue, she said she wants to get married quickly.”
“Wow!” He tilted his head. “I’m sure it’s the silent treatment. You said it was going to work and it did. I’m do proud of you bro.” He pulled me into a hug and I pushed him away which made him snicker. “Guess I have best man duties to prepare for.”
When I traveled for to Thailand for business, I was tempted to give my men order not to let Jayden into my house but then that will only make me look weak and threatened. That was how I came up with the idea of making her miss me. “Did he agree with the job offer?” I really want to get that man out of our lives.
“Jayden? Not yet.” He smiled against his glass. “But he will in due time.” The wicked glint in his eyes proved that he’s up to something. “The only reason he’s rejecting the job offer is because he still gets little change from street purchase. From that, he is able pay his bills.” He smiled at me. “I’m planning on taking that away from him.”
“Why do you hate him?” I rasped, studying the amber liquid in my glass. “Are you doing all these because I told you she’s interested in Josephine?”
He smiled tightly at me. “An enemy of my brother is my enemy. It’s a brother code.” He relaxed back and drummed on his knees with his fingers.
Leaning back, I crossed my fingers and scrutinized him. “Are you done?” He slowly turned, his brows tucked with a confused frown. “No bullshit this time Zadok, why are you after him like this?”
“Do you disapprove?” I maintained unblinking eye contact with him. “Fine,” he huffed “There is something about him that makes me uncomfortable.” I calmly waited for him to elaborate further. “Don’t you feel it too? That he’ll be a problem in the future.”
“I’m usually the paranoid one, but you seem to be taking that position lately. First with Josephine’s parents, now with her best friend. Where is that young man who always sees good in people?”
His eyes hardened at what he considers his weakness. “He’s dead with his mother, I guess.” Pinching his nose, he tried to put his emotion on check. “Have you told father? He’ll finally sleep peacefully at night.”
No, he won’t. He won’t sleep peacefully until that research book is in our possession. “You’re his favorite, perhaps you should share the news with him.”
“How about I share a news with you?”
I sipped my wine. “Mhmm.”
His smile widened. “Sophia is coming home.” I choked on my wine and he tumbled in laughter, almost falling off the sofa. “And that was the reaction I was hoping for. Damn! I’ll give anything to see that face again.” He patted my back as I tried to regularize my breathing.
“Where did you hear such news?” I opted for water instead.
“I spoke to her earlier today.” He waggled his brows at me. “She sounded happy to come home. Guess you gotta get ready for her.”
Sophia is my favorite cousin, but at the same she’s a pain in my ass. The last time Sophia visited, she f****d six of my men, caused an enmity between them which made me fire their ass. As if that wasn’t enough, she slept with the mayor’s son, took drugs with him and he died that night in their hotel room. I had to send her back to her parents after facing a huge loss for the death of that young man.
“You’re still in contact with her?” I ceased every form of contact with her so she wouldn’t have any reason to return here, but I guess Zadok enjoys her craziness.
“Yes, I am.” Her snickered. “Aren’t you? Isn’t she suppose to be your favorite?”
“She was my favorite.” I corrected. “That young lady almost drove me insane with her craziness.” I have enough on my plate as it is. “She isn’t staying here Zadok, I don’t need her around Josephine.”
“A little craziness from the both of them will definitely be a sight.” Shrugging, he scratched his beards. “She can stay with me, I don’t really mind; although I think she bought a place of her own, so you shouldn’t worry about her staying with you.”
Frowning , I tried to make meaning of his words. “What do you mean by she bought a place of her own? How long is she planning on staying?” Living alone in New York after all the enemies she made the last time she was here isn’t a very good idea. “Did you try to talk her out of buying a place? I can make one of my penthouses available for her.”
“I thought you said she isn’t your favorite? Why are you worried about her?” Zadok mocked. “Besides, you know Sophia, once she sets her heart to do something, there is no changing her mind.”
I’ve always been able to make her reconsider her decisions. “Maybe I should speak with her. I need to stop this madness and foreseen disaster before it escalates.”
“How about you take a chill pill.” Zadok suggested. “I’ve been in touch with her for two years, I can tell you that she has grown into a more responsible young lady, and she can take care of herself.” That isn’t enough assurance. “Her father assumed some men to keep guard over her. You have nothing to worry about Dominico.”
I hope so too. “What exactly is she planning on doing here in News York? Vacation?”
“I think she came home to take over her father’s business here.” He understood my unspoken question about her brothers. “They are handling the business at Vegas, I believe New York is just a way to keep her busy.”
“Well I hope it keeps her busy enough to stay out of trouble.” I grabbed the packet of cigarette on the table and placed it in my breast pocket. “Any news on Santiago?”
“He’s back, but he seems to be minding his business.”
He better do. I rose to my feet. “I have to pay the Eluta’s a meeting. Someone needs to share the news about the wedding to them, and also remind them to keep to their end of the bargain.” I’m getting married to her and we already have a child coming. That to me looks like I’m done with everything from my side.
He stood up as well. “Me too, I have few errands to run in town today. If you need me, just hit me up.” He gave me a hug before walking out of my office.
*************
Flickering the lighter, I walked past sculptures which looks real. I must say, Daniel Eluta has a welcome taste…after all, he is a fashion designer, having eyes for lovely things is one of the job descriptions.
I followed the housekeeper and she led me straight to Daniel’s office. Dressed in a black suit, Daniel rose to his feet when he saw me. “Mr Lopez, always a pleasure to see you.” I offered myself a seat. “To what do I owe this visit?”
“Your daughter is pregnant with my child.” I announced.
He frowned at the news “So I’ve heard. Did you come all the way to tell me that you’ve added my daughter to the family without even getting married to her?”
“I came to inform you that the wedding will happen next month.” Visibly relaxed, he smiled. “I came to remind you that after the baby comes, you’re expected to have a chat with your daughter and give me what I want. I’d hate to force answers from her.”
“That is not necessary.” He assured me, his assurance did not to clear my doubts. The few weeks I’ve lived with Josephine, I’ve come to realize that she isn’t someone you can force into submission. She has her own mind, and she likes to follow it.
“Are you sure about that?” I questioned him with slightly raised brows. “You didn’t even know about your daughter’s pregnancy until people started whispering about it.”
He feigned indifference. “What’s your point?”
Rotating the ring on my thumb, I watched him unblinkingly. “My point is that if your daughter wasn’t comfortable enough to discuss her pregnancy with you, you think she’s going to discuss the codes with you?”
“She knows nothing about the codes.” Convinced of his words, he looked at me with confidence. “All I’m going to ask for is that she help me out with some information on that locket.”
When I look at this man, I realize that even fools grow old. Not every elder is filled with wisdom. “Why?” He frowned at my question. “Why do you need grandpa’s locket?”
“You know why.” He replied through clenched teeth, finding my question annoying and frustrating.
“No, I don’t.” I deadpanned. Standing to my feet, I walked to the window, opened the curtain and looked out. “I am Josephine right now, and I wish to know why you’re keen on knowing the information on grandpa’s locket.”
“I…uhh…I…” I watched him struggle with his words. It amused me, not because I find it funny, but because I actually thought he was smart enough to pull this through.
“Are you trying to tell me that you didn’t prepare yourself for questions like this?” He swallowed audibly. I huffed at his incompetency. “You know what? Forget it. I’ll handle things my way from now on. Do not get involved Daniel, I’d hate to make an example of you.”
Turning red, Daniel jumped to his feet. “You can’t tell me not to be involved in Josephine’s affair! She’s my daughter!”
“Raise your voice at me again, and I promise you, you’ll be in coma while I do my thing.” He rolled sweat from his forehead. “You claim Josephine is your daughter; news flash, she’s now my wife and I have every right to decide those who will meddle in her life.”
“You aren’t married to her yet, don’t ever forget that.”
Smiling deviously at him, I ambled towards him. “I’m not the enemy here Daniel, but don’t think I will hesitate to crush you if you come between Josephine and I.” Someone knocked on the door. “Plaster a smile on your face for your guest.”
Clearing his throat, he did as instructed. “Come in.”
The door opened and Josephine walked in. We stared at each over with a confused expression. “What are you doing here Dominico?”
Aksara