David
“I’d like something with a talking cat. Cats are huge, right? At least that’s what I’ve heard. Then if we could make something wild happen, like have some old guy playing the tuba and then shoot the cat off his roof with a rocket or something, that would be fucking lit, man.” Dax Scott had made his millions developing apps, and in his latest venture, he’d decided to go hard and heavy with a Super Bowl spot.
The kid was nineteen years old with more neck tattoos than neck and enough piercings to magnetize him to a wall, not that there was anything wrong with that. His hot pink mohawk had proven to be a distraction for Greyson who hadn’t stopped staring at it since we’d entered the boardroom an hour ago.
It was time for me to reason with him. “Might I recommend we come up with a few ideas, using some of your concepts and we’ll see what works best.” I tapped my pen on the desk and wished like hell the meeting would end.
Greyson cleared his throat. “Yeah, right now I think we’re working with a bit too much. The everything and the kitchen sink approach went out a few years ago, and now we’re finding it’s best to keep it simple. We can still do the crazy outrageous in your face, but focusing on one punchline instead of thirty will make a bigger impact.”
“Considering you’re working with one of the shorter spots, I’d agree with Greyson.”
Dax grimaced. “I want a cat, and the old man, and some explosions. Make it happen.” The guy flashed his smile which spelled out DAX across his gold front teeth.
After saying our goodbyes, the kid and his posse left the boardroom. I closed my eyes and tried to relax.
Greyson leaned back in his chair. “Can you believe that guy? He’s got more money than sense, that one.”
“I’m sure someone has said that about me at least once, so I’ll keep my opinions to myself, but having said that, I totally agree.”
Greyson’s laugh stopped abruptly, and I looked over to see him staring at the table in front of him at a strange angle. “Is that a lip print? Hands?” He tilted his head as my eyes widened knowing exactly what he was seeing.
I leaned back, seeing the clear indication of my wife’s handprints where I’d had her tits down on the boardroom table. There were ass prints on the edge and her lipstick where she’d been face down.
“Damn, looks like someone went ass up over the table.” He looked over and belted a laugh. “You’ve got no poker face, man.”
“What?”
“All I want to know is that it was Allison, and you’re not banging some fucking intern.”
“It was Thanksgiving, and remind me to fire the cleaning staff.”
“In all fairness, this room wasn’t used much in the past few weeks. Well, for its intended purposes. I guess I know why you two were late for dinner. Didn’t your text say you were just stopping by here to get her ring?”
“Yes, and I did. But we haven’t had much time alone lately. I’m going to be in trouble if I don’t start giving her some private time, but it’s so hard with Sierra needing my attention. I’ve got to make up for lost time, you know?” Allison had been wonderful about giving me and Sierra space, but since we’d decided to try and have another baby, she’d been reminding me constantly that we don’t get enough time together. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to spend time with my wife, the truth was, I craved it, but I felt like there wasn’t enough of me to go around and not enough hours in the day.
“Don’t let the embers die, man. You’ll regret it.”
“Yeah, not likely. We’re trying to make another baby.”
He glanced back down at the desk. “Looks like you’re well on your way. When’s the wedding date?”
“See, that’s another rub. I’ve asked her to pick the date, and she’s yet to give me one. I don’t know what she’s waiting for. I proposed hoping to get the ball rolling. I hated her changing her name back to Beall, and I can’t wait to make her a DeVant. She doesn’t even have the same name as her daughter.”
“Wow, that’s weird. I’d feel left out.”
“Left out? I don’t make her feel left out.” Did I? I had been really focused on my daughter, and since moving back to my childhood home, which I’d affectionately named DeVant House, I’d given her more than her fair share of attention.
I was tired of talking about me and Allison. “So, what’s going on with you and Katrina?”
“Katrina?” He made a face as if he had no idea what I was talking about.
“Don’t give me that look. You know exactly what I mean. You spent the entire time at Missy’s Thanksgiving dinner talking to her, and I know you’ve talked on the phone a few times.”
“She’s my business partner, is all. Thanks to your soon-to-be wife and her, they talked me into a pretty sound investment. I just want to make sure things are going smoothly.”
“Yeah, smooth is a word I’d use. I’m sure you’re putting some moves on her. Maybe these are her handprints?”
He gave me a sly grin. “Nah, ass prints would be more my style. I like to look them in the eyes, so they know who owns that pussy.”
“So, you have owned it?” I folded my arms and gave him a hard look.
He chuckled. “No, not hardly. I’m just saying that’s more my style.” He shrugged. “Don’t get me wrong; she’s a gorgeous woman. I’ve always been partial to redheads with attitude, and I don’t even mind her crazy personality, but I’m not sure I can mix business and pleasure. I should have met her before I signed my life over to the café, but I think I made the smarter investment.”
“Well, it’s probably for the best. She’s a bit too much like you.”
“Like me?”
“Yeah. From what Allison’s told me, she’s just as crazy.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” He got up from the table and leaned over to wipe the lipstick stain onto his finger. He studied it a moment.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“Making sure it’s Allison’s shade.”
“You know me better.”
“I do, but it’s fun to bust your balls. I mean, if anyone strays in these situations, it’s the neglected wife, right?” Allison would never, and I had just about had enough of Greyson’s ribbing. He gave me a nudge. “You know I’m kidding, man. Damn.”
I looked down to see my hand was balled into a fist. “Call the cleaning crew. Tell them the boardroom needs attention.” I walked out and went down the hall to my office. There wasn’t but a few minutes left in my day and I walked over to the window where the sun was going down on the horizon.
I let out a deep breath as I thought about my father. He’d wanted me to work like he had, until the day I died, right there in that office, with the same view and the same old desk. But I knew it wasn’t for me. We weren’t the same person. While he’d been inclined to leave his daughter to raise his family, I wanted to spend all the time I could with my daughter and Allison too. My little family was going to be my main purpose, and while I owed my father a debt of gratitude for making it all possible, I shouldn’t have to live to please a dead man.
As the sun dipped down below the horizon, I gathered my things and headed home to be with my girls. I had a promise to keep with Allison, and I’d show her just how much I loved her and how important she was in my life. With any luck, we’d make a baby. I’d missed out on so much of Sierra’s childhood that I wanted that experience, and even though I loved my little girl, I really wanted a son to carry on my family name.