Chapter 99 Chapter 99
They were an easy family. Wealthy or not, they were pretty much like everyone else.
“Ahh, I see your father; excuse me,” Damion said, walking away.
“How does he know, Dad?”
“Ahh, see, your father-in-law dragged your father to meet his brothers, and they have been spending a lot of time doing lord knows what. It is good.” Aunt Tina said.
“Heads up, trouble,” Damon said.
“Good lord, Tessa sweetie, please don't take anything those five say to heart.” Aunt Rosetta said.
I saw the five people in mention. Dahlia leaned in close. “That’s our aunt and uncle, Charles and Suzie. Their spawns of the devil, Naya, Drew, Carrie, and Lizzie.” Dahlia said with a whisper, and I nodded.
“So the Zaiel family married.” The guy said.
“I am your uncle-in-law Charles, and this is your aunt-in-law Suzie.” Charles said, and I nodded.
“Hello.”
“That is it? Can't you greet your elders properly?” Suzie said, and I smiled.
“I’m sorry I could not bow to you when you came over; my dress and my back do not prohibit bowing.” I said with a smile. Michelle made a sound, Dahlia turned around, and everyone else was suddenly interested in their drinks.
“So rude,” one of the girls said.
I saw Alina coming over. "Charles, welcome," she said with a smile.
“Alina, your daughter-in-law is rude and does not know how to greet her elders.” Charles said.
“Mom, I wasn't being rude; I just told Uncle Charles that my back and my dress do not prohibit me from bowing.” I said, making a face. She took my hand in hers.
“Oh sweetie, I know.” She said, patting my hands, and turned and looked at Charles.
“Dinner is ready; let’s go,” she said, leading us away.
“You’re my new favorite person.” Shea said.
We sat down to dinner. On the other end of the table, Anthony sat at the head, Alina at his right, and my father at his left. We were on the other end. Zaiel was at the head, I was on the right, and Daliah was on his left. The cousins flanked me. Avani was in the middle along with Hannah.
“So are you working?” Michelle asked.
I heard Hannah make a sound, and I looked at her, but she was looking down at her plate.
“Actually, I work as an SEO analyst at Rhyland Global.”
“Damn, you could have been a manager. What the hell, dude?” Damon said, looking at Zaiel.
“She wanted to do that on her own; besides, no one knew she was my wife, only the HR head,” he said.
“That’s good. Hey, Zaiel, why don’t you let her come work for me?” Dahlia asked.
“No,” he said.
On the other side of the table they were discussing business, politics, and golf. I looked at my father and saw that he was relaxed; Anthony had taken him under his wing. They didn't look at him differently because he had been incarcerated, and I smiled. Maybe, just maybe, we could have a peaceful life.
“Michelle, can you help Tessa find a house?” Zaiel asked, and her entire face lit up. Oh shit. She looked too excited.
“We’ll make it a weekend thing next weekend." Shea said.
By the time I left, I had all their numbers, my father was almost drunk, and I was halfway there. After dinner, the cousins dragged me out back to drink. They told me stories of Zaiel when he was younger, and he tried shutting them up. When we got to the Tower, I was tired. My father left us, and we went to his apartment; after a shower, I was out the minute my head hit the pillow.
When I woke up, I woke up alone. The other side of the bed was almost cold; I sat up. It was eight. When I walked out of the room, he was sitting in the living room talking to someone on his phone, and his laptop was open.
“Get rid of it, Joe,” he said, ending the call.
When he looked up and saw me, I saw the look in his eyes and knew something bad had happened.
“Tell me.”
He let out a frustrated sigh. “Someone posted online about your father’s past,” he said, and I sat down in the chair opposite him.
“Joe is looking into the source,” he said.
“So who would post it?”
“My parents know, my aunts and uncles except Uncle Charles and Suzie, and my aunts and uncles wouldn’t say anything. Neither will my cousins. But Charles and his children—I wouldn't trust them. But if they look, they could find it. I have Joe looking into Avani and Hannah also. He already suppressed a few of the posts, and he’s trying to have your father’s records classified.” he said,
“If he… If Dad finds out, he’ll. He… He won't want to go out in public again. Now everyone will question your choice of a wife.”
KAI
I looked at her face; she was worried about her father. Last night she fell asleep as soon as we got home. I woke up at three when Joe called me to tell me about the social media post. It was just one, then it became two, then six, then ten; it kept multiplying. I had one company pull their investment because of it, so I had the PR department put out a statement that if anyone decides to pull their investment, there would be no going back.
I couldn't let her know it had affected the company, or she would probably lose her shit. She made a cup of coffee and brought it over to me. She sat down beside me.
“Will this affect your business?” she asked.
“Even if it does, you’re not going anywhere. I’ll handle it.”
“Kai…”
“No, I don't want to hear anything. Our wedding is in two weeks. You’ll continue to prepare for the wedding.”
“Fine. I’ll go make breakfast,” she said, walking out of the living room.
During breakfast I saw it in her eyes; she was doubting whether she could actually do this. I didn't need her bothered with this. I pulled my phone out and texted them. They replied in one hour.
After breakfast she left, saying she was going to see her father. My parent called to ask what was going on, and I explained. I told them I was working on getting it removed. Joe called twenty minutes after she left.
“Boss, it just keeps popping up,” he said.
“Well then. If we can't get rid of them, we sue everyone that is posting it. Have the legal team meet me at the office; it’s time to clean house.”
“Yes, Boss,” he replied, ending the call.
I had just finished dressing when she came in. “He knows; he already saw it. He wants to leave,” she said quietly as she sat down on the couch.
I made my way over to her and kissed her forehead. “I’ll handle it, I promise you. By the end of the day it won’t be mentioned or posted anywhere.”
“Okay,” she said quietly.