Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 112056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 560(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 374(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 560(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 374(@300wpm)
His new clients were courteous and kind and ensured I was included in conversation while Elder was asked about delivery time-frames, budgets, and recommendations on what he believed would best suit their needs.
Elder might’ve stolen a colossal amount of wealth, but he’d made his own through hard work, great vision, and determination.
By the time desserts were finished and after-dinner coffees sipped, Elder had secured three new commissions with a price tag of a hundred million dollars each.
As we left the restaurant, he slapped Selix on the back. “It’s official, Selix. A few more instalments to my debt and all of this is ours.”
“Yours, not ours,” Selix immediately responded.
Elder chuckled, stalking forward to open the car door for me. “Ours. I’ve already had the necessary paperwork drawn up. The moment that final instalment is paid, I’m signing over fifty percent of my company to you.”
Selix slammed to a stop. “Is this your way of telling me to fuck off? That you don’t want me sailing with you anymore?” His eyes flickered to mine, mirroring my uncertainty.
Elder laughed again. “Hell no, you’re family as much as Pim is. I never want you to leave, but I also don’t want you to keep up this employee act.” Elder waved at the car. “I can drive myself, you know. I have staff capable.”
Selix huffed. “You know why I do what I do, Prest.” Pain shadowed his features, sending messages and stories that I didn’t understand. All I knew was Selix had suffered heartbreak in his past, and perhaps looking after Elder was his way of soothing those wounds.
“I know, and you can continue doing so if you wish.” Elder lowered his voice. “But the company wouldn’t exist without you. I wouldn’t exist without you. It’s time you had your own piece of what we created together.”
“We’ll see about that.” Selix huffed again and slid into the driver’s seat. “Let’s go home.”
“On second thought.” Grabbing my hand, Elder pulled me from the car then laughed at his old friend as he growled in annoyance. “We’ll take a walk in Central Park before we leave. Consider this your night off, Selix. Go be reckless.”
Before Selix could argue, Elder slammed the door and strode off with me in his grip.
I trotted beside him, looking back as Selix gripped the steering wheel looking entirely pissed off.
“Was that wise?” I asked, wincing as Selix flipped us the bird as we crossed the road to the park.
Elder chuckled. “It’s time he learns.”
The farther we moved away from streetlights and Selix, the more nerves filled me at walking on our own. After being hunted by the Chinmoku and being kidnapped, my wariness wasn’t exactly on the lowest setting.
Considering Elder had come to New York to find closure with his mother, the week here had been good for him. He’d shared tales of his life living on the streets. He’d pointed out stores where he pilfered a hot dog after not eating for two days. He regaled me with stories of snatching wallets from prams as new mothers strolled past.
He wasn’t proud, but he was honest, and New York was more than just a city to visit but a ghost town full of past choices.
Stepping into the night-shrouded park, I tensed even as pretty path lights shooed away the darkness and the occasional dog walker or jogger made it a welcoming place.
Elder noticed my nervousness, raising my hand to kiss my knuckles. “Don’t worry, Pim. I’ll take care of you.”
“It’s not just that,” I whispered. “It’s just…it’s hard to believe it’s all over.”
“I know. I’m struggling to believe it, too.” He looked over his shoulder. “Even now, I feel like we’re being watched even though I know it’s just paranoia.”
I copied him, glancing into the shadows and the manicured paths and hedges. My skin prickled as if eyes were on us.
Someone is watching.
A twig snapped, sending me closer to Elder’s comforting bulk. “Are you sure we’re safe?”
He narrowed his gaze into the gloom. “It’s just the park.”
“The park?”
He strode forward. His body relaxed, but his eyes never lost their sniper glare on everything around us. “The trees have a way of making you feel like you’re being watched.” He flashed me a half-smile. “Living on the streets, you constantly feel like you’re being stalked. Central Park is no different.” He laughed under his breath. “In fact, I met a guy here on my second year living rough. A guy called Penn Everett. I was good at stealing things, but he was great at staying hidden even in plain sight.”
Moving under the moon with skeleton trees and tiny leaves creating stencils on the pavement, I asked, “What happened to him?”
“No idea. He vanished one night and never came back.”
Ideas that he’d been murdered or arrested filled my mind. I hated to think so many people had it rough and not all of them ended with happy endings like mine.