CHAPTER 11
Joshua
The view from the top floor of the hotel is breathtaking, but the best view isn’t the one to the side of me…the one out the glass window. It’s the one in front of me.
Her.
She’s got on a little black dress that’s elegant and beautiful. It’s also just small enough that it’s so sexy I’ve already had to go into the bathroom once and splash cold water on my face.
And the best part is I’m not even sure she noticed. When I step away from the table Diana and Brianna are talking a mile a minute. I almost wonder if I left for the night if they’d even recognize I was gone.
But I’m definitely here all right. I feel so alive just being around her. My focus is so much sharper. The food tastes so much better. And I feel so much more relaxed seeing Brianna so happy. It’s like she’s a brand new kid, with a whole new lease on life.
This is too perfect. How did I get so lucky?
Easy.
Everything leads back to her.
And tonight I want her to know it. Show her what a life with Brianna and I could be like. Give her a taste and hope she’ll want the whole entrée.
Now that I sold my Bitcoin and the computer hardware that was used to digitally mine additional coins, a huge burden has been removed from my shoulders. And a huge number has been added to my bank account.
In a few days I’ll set up Brianna’s trust. The rest can be used to spoil my two girls.
Diana might not be mine yet, but she will be.
I’ll show her how much I want her to be the center of my world. She already is when I stop and think about it. She’s the oil the got this broken down ride fixed up, and she’s the gas that will make me go. She’s the glue that repaired all the broken pieces, and the same connector that now holds everything together and running smoothly. And now she’s going to be the queen in the castle we’ll build together.
“How’s you beef tartar?”
“Good. Thank you.”
“How’s your steak?”
“I didn’t know steak could taste this good.”
She tried to order a salad at first, but I insisted. She was trying to be polite, and keep the check low. I could tell. She’s thoughtful. But tonight every thought I have is about her, and I want to spoil her. Nothing is off limits.
I ordered their best bottle of wine, without looking at the wine list. I didn’t want to make a fuss about it, or hear a no from her, so I requested it when I went to splash water on my face.
I just want everything tonight to flow, and to be perfect.
And it is. Until now…
“Joshua. Fancy bumping into you here.”
“Winston. Good to see you,” I say. But it’s anything but.
Winston’s the mayor and he was up for reelection a couple years back. He was snooping around my warehouse all during the campaign trying to figure out exactly what it is that I do.
Bitcoin by its nature is a private thing. It’s no secret how it works, though. It just raises a lot of eyebrows when people hear about a half a million dollar electric bill…per month.
That’s what it costs when you have an organization like mine. And it’s all legit and above board. As a matter of fact, the city’s coffers are going to be stuffed once I pay the taxes on the sale. Winston, the guy who went snooping on me, will look like a hero when he spends my money left, right and center on the city…and probably on himself as well.
“Good to see you too. You remember my wife?”
“How could I forget? Great to see you, Samantha.” And it is great to see her. I have no idea how a dud like Winston wound up with a woman like that. She’s a gem.
“Great to see you too, Joshua.”
“And who might your guests be?” Winston says, as he looks Diana’s way. “Aren’t you Dave’s daughter?”
Snooping…Winston’s specialty.
“I am. Nice to meet you Mister Mayor.”
“Are you two…together?”
“We’re enjoying a nice meal,” I say.
“But you’re…” Winston says. The thought hangs as his eyes dart from Diana to me and then back, as he’s making the connection. He doesn’t even seem to notice Brianna. I guess children don’t count in his world. They can’t vote, so they’re no use to him. Jerk.
“And you’re going,” I say to Winston. “Nice to see you, Samantha.”
Samantha replies and grabs Winston by the arm, leading him away. His body may be going one direction, but his eyes are clearly still on us.
“Who was that, Joshua?” Brianna asks.
“That’s a child that never grew up.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“You’re right, honey. No it doesn’t.” I pause to take a drink. “And you’re more of an adult than he’ll ever be.”
I put my hand on Brianna’s shoulder and look into those eyes of hers. My troubles don’t need to become her troubles, but I also don’t want to hide anything from her. If there’s one thing I know about kids, it’s that they’re aware of a lot more than we adults sometimes give them credit for.
No use in trying to sugar coat anything or pull the wool over her eyes. I want to build trust with her, and the easiest way to do that is through honesty and transparency.
“Time for dessert?” I say, wanting to get us back to enjoying our evening.
“Yes, please!” Brianna says.
The good thing about being a kid is how quickly your mind shifts gears when you hear the magic word…dessert. Our interruption is quickly forgotten.
But one person who won’t be forgetting is Winston. I can imagine he’ll be blabbing his mouth soon enough, if he hasn’t started already.
But it’s not me I’m worried about. I don’t want Diana or Brianna dealing with any gossip nonsense.
I need a plan.