Dad rubbed his chin and squinted his eyes before speaking again. “Are York’s kids involved with sports in the community?”
“Yes, his son just started this year,” remarks Shelby in between sips of coffee. “My son’s team played against them a couple of times. I met his pretty wife at one of the games. I talked to them and that’s how we made a business connection. They’re decent people.”
“Good to hear,” says Dad. “My wife has friends that say the same thing about them. A good reputation cannot stay suppressed for as long as my mother always used to say.”
“Yes, I would apply that to the Yorks,” says Shelby. “Alan York has paid his dues in a short amount of time. He worked from the ground up to take his company to the top. He doesn’t brag about it or make a pretentious show of himself. He’s a real person and he talks to everybody in the same way. He does provide well for his family because he believes they deserve it. ‘They earned it putting up with me’ he always says.”
“I guess that’s why Mrs. York could afford to go off with her family on a trip to New Zealand for months at a time,” said Kaye.
“Of course, her parents always supported whatever York wanted to do, like marrying their daughter before he made his rise to the top of the tech world. I think I should drop by and pay my respects when they get back in town. Do you all think it is the right thing to do now? Or would it be rude?”
“At this point, just showing up would be appreciated,” I say wiping my mouth with a cloth napkin. “Offer your help with anything they may need.”
“That’s what we would want if anything happened to Dad,” I say nudging my father in the arm.
“Hmm,” Dad says with a huff.
“Thank you, I’ll stop by then,” says Shelby sitting back in his chair. “Yes, I’ll let Mrs. York know how much I enjoyed working for her husband and she can call me if she needs any assistance. Sounds good?”
“You’re on the right path,” I respond.
CHAPTER TWENTY
LOWELL
Aslice of this girl is heaven to me. When I saw her on the first day of school, I had to get my hands on her. I love her peach bottom, pink fleshy mounds, and cinched in waist.
I keep my eyes on her working her way around the tables in the café. Cleaning up after these pigs. She cares so much about doing her servant’s work right, she doesn’t even take the time to eat with her best friend, the Giraffe.
With me, she can have a better set of friends. She’ll learn who to give her time to and who to ignore.
I can do so much better for her, but it’s her fault. She put herself in this situation, but I can get her out of it if she follows along with the plan.
If she remains on the right path, I’ll help her keep her family out of jail. Together, we can take out my Dad’s obstacles and design a life she never dreamed of in her public school daydreams.
We have to take the first step today.
I can see Mark Marion of the Mark Up app seated in his new coastal office made of modern glass speaking with his assistant when his receptionist informs him that I and my ‘girlfriend’ are here to speak with him.
Mark cocks his head to the side, but he motions for her to allow us to come to his office. He tells his assistant to come back later for them to continue their briefing.
“Hello, Mr. Marion.” I greet him leading the way into his office with Aleta not far behind. “We know you’re a busy man and you don’t want to waste your time with intrusions from young people like us. I promise you we will not take up much of your time, but I will warn you, one question can lead to another in no time.”
“I am happy to meet the both of you, Lowell and?” says Mark standing up and extending his hand over the desk to shake both of our hands, then motions for us to sit down in the two high back leather chairs in front of his desk. “Please have a seat.”
“Thank you,” we say in unison.
Maybe we do think alike.
“This is God…Leta.”
Nope, I’m not giving him her full name. He doesn’t need to know all of that.
“I haven’t heard about you having a new girlfriend, Lowell. Will she be by your side when you take over the company?” asks Mark sitting back down in his chair.
What kind of fucking stupid question is that?
It’s none of your business, moron, but you will pay for that one.
“She is quite the looker, don’t you think, Mark?”
“Oh yes, sir.”
“I better keep her safe and hidden from these other guys, I think.”
I can see Aleta side-eyeing me. I know she wants to speak but I told her to keep her fucking mouth shut until I give her the signal.
“Is there anything I can offer to the both of you? Would you like a drink from my bar?”
She leans back with a shocked expression on her face. Mark ignores it because he knows better.
“We appreciate it, Mark, but I shouldn’t drink when I’m on the job for my father because it wouldn’t look good,” I state crossing my arms in front of me.
“Well, what can I do for the both of you today?”
“We came by to see you today for a couple of reasons.”
“My mother is the one pushing me to do this. I wanted to make our purpose clear to you first. She’s a respectful and caring woman, but she doesn’t understand how you tech people work. She doesn’t know anything about your drive, your ambition, and your sparksof creativity that come out unfiltered and just
