A Storm Is Coming (13 page)

Maurice responded, “Yes sir.”

Shaking her head Braylee continued to walk over to her father, “Hi daddy.”

He grunted something that sounded like hello. Mr. Robert James Hinsdale had once been a handsome, strong and healthy looking man. But the years of drinking had taken its toll. He looked much older than his years…especially his eyes. They were tired. The salt and pepper hair was now more salt than pepper. His Hershey’s colored skin had a jaundiced look to it. Although, much thinner, his arms still held a hint of the muscle tone he’d once had. The drinking had aged him. But, there was still a trace of the beautiful man he’d once been; even as he sat in denim jeans and a flannel button up shirt drinking that Johnny Walker and clicking away with the remote.

It was his smile. Stephanie had his smile. Though it was rarely seen, it could lighten up any room. Braylee was sure that had to have been what attracted her mother to him.

Maurice’s irritating voice intruded on Braylee’s thoughts, “So…what are we a piece of furniture? You don’t see us sitting here?”

Braylee couldn’t stand Maurice. Stephanie could do so much better than him. It was almost scary how much he was like their father. To talk to him, it was as if he knew everything. He was an expert at everything but a master of nothing.

Maurice was also too old to dress like a teenager, but there he sat in a pair of MJ’s latest and greatest, the baggy jeans, and wearing a black hoodie pull over. How in the hell did Stephanie end up with him? Braylee didn’t send her sister to college for her to come back with a want to be Bob Marley.

Stephanie was sitting on the love seat next to Maurice with her feet underneath her reading a bridal magazine. She elbowed him in his side and gave him a dirty look.

Coolly Braylee spoke, “I just walked into the room,” Exercising superhuman self-control and emphasizing her words, “Hello Maurice. Hey, Stephanie.”

Maurice wasn’t physically ugly…just his attitude. His darkened complexion reminded Braylee of licorice. Given his skin tone it was unusual to have those hazel eyes that were more grayish than anything. And, he kept his dreads neat so that was something. But, as soon as he opened his mouth, if she’d been Stephanie, she would have run for the hills.

He snidely returned her greeting, “Hello…Braylee.”

If this was going to be a dinner she made it through, it was best for her to ignore him. Her mask was on and in place. Even the crackling sound of the plastic, as she sat down on the sofa, couldn’t remove it.

“So, Braylee did you get my e-mail?”

“Mmmhmm.”

“Well, did you read it?”

“Yes.”

Stephanie rolled her eyes, “Well…what did you think?”

“I think…it’s expensive.”

“I knew you’d say that, so I found someone who can recreate that look for a good price.”

Braylee hadn’t sat down for five minutes before someone had their hands in her pocket. Calmly she spoke, “Stephanie, you do realize that the five thousand dollar down payment on the decorator that you had to have is non-refundable right?”

“Right…since she is only going to charge me ten-thousand and the decorator I have now is charging fifteen, it will still come out about the same if we lose the deposit. So, I hoped since it’s my special day….”

Braylee closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. She counted to ten before opening them, “Stephanie…”

However, before Braylee could finish her thoughts, Mrs. Hinsdale came into the room to tell everyone it was time to eat. “Dinner’s ready.”

*****

Everyone was seated around the table. Stephanie and her mother were both chattering away. No one else needed to say much when those two were together.

Mrs. Hinsdale turned her nose up at something Stephanie said about a distant cousin, “Yeah, she called because she didn’t get an invitation to the wedding.”

“You girls have never been close, so I don’t understand why she would even want one.”

Mr. Hinsdale, who'd been quiet for most of dinner, spoke, “I don’t understand why you’re wasting so much money on this wedding. You’ve already invited too many people that you barely even speak to.”

Braylee agreed whole heartedly with him on that one.

Stephanie scrunched up her face, “Daddy, it’s my wedding!”

Maurice chimed in, “Yeah Pops, I want Stephanie’s day to be everything she’s always dreamed about.”

Braylee had been drinking a glass of water when he uttered those words, and she spit some of it out onto her plate. She used a napkin to wipe around her mouth.

Maurice narrowed his eyes and directed his comments toward Braylee, “Why you always got to be messy Braylee?”

Braylee opened her mouth to say something but closed it. She didn’t want to ruin dinner.

Maurice kept pushing, “What…what you’ve got to say?”

She put her glass down, “How much money have you or Stephanie spent on your wedding? Fifty…a hundred dollars? Anything?”

He turned to look at Stephanie, “See…that’s what I’m talking about right there? Your sister is always tripping over money. She thinks she’s all that because she’s got a little money.”

Stephanie turned to Braylee, “Braylee! You know we’re saving for a house. If we could, we would pay for our wedding.”

Mr. Hinsdale spoke, “Now, that’s a good investment. What y’all should be doing is taking the money Braylee is shelling out for this wedding and using that for a house. Y’all been living with us for two years and still broke. Y’all ain’t babies no more. You’re grown.”

Her father was right and on a roll today.

Her mother snapped, “Robert…stay out of the girls business. Braylee is the oldest. If Braylee wants to pay for this wedding, then let her pay. Lord knows it’ll probably be the only one we’ll have in this family.”

The pain of those words was a direct hit. Braylee’s throat closed up. Her mask almost slipped.

Maurice laughed, “You’re right about that Mother Hinsdale.”

Stephanie hit him on the arm, “Would you stop?”

Clearing her throat, Braylee threw her napkin on the table before she spoke, “The point I was trying to make was that I don’t mind helping Stephanie with her wedding. Hell, I don’t even mind paying for it.”

Mrs. Hinsdale almost choked on her dinner, “Watch your mouth girl! Don’t use that kind of language in in this house.”

“Sorry mama but this needs to be said.” Getting angrier, she put her elbows on the table and linked her fingers. “I work hard for my money, and I don’t like being taken advantage of whether I can afford it or not. Maurice, you haven’t spent not one red dime on this wedding, but I’ve noticed you have a new pair of J’s. And, Stephanie, you’re twenty-seven years old, you’re too old not to be doing more to take care of yourself. I am not a bank! I can’t believe you would even fixed your lips to ask me to just throw away five thousand dollars because you’ve changed your mind. You must be crazy. As a matter of fact, I’ve spent all I’m going to spend on this wedding. I mean it. I’ll pay for what I’ve committed to but not another penny. I’m done. Whatever else you need…you and Maurice here had better figure it out!”

Braylee got up and walked around the table to kiss her father on the forehead, “I’ve got a lot of work to do tonight so, I’m going to leave a little bit early.”

She then walked over to her mother, ignored her frown, and kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll talk to you later mama.”

As soon as she stepped outside of the house, the anxiety she’d been feeling didn’t completely disappear but it wasn’t as heavy.

Chapter 18

Alexandro stood in front of the mirror in a Tom Ford dark gray suit with the Jacquard stitching and a starched white shirt adjusting his pewter gray tie.

It was almost time. The determined look was hard to miss as those steely dark eyes were reflected back at him. He’d been waiting for this moment since the night his brother was killed. It was time to put those bastards on notice…he was coming after them.

Their independent investigation revealed that Luciano had indeed been murdered. And, the defective electrical switch that was the focus of the lawsuit all came from the same lot manufactured in an irregular production line.

Braylee and her team had been fantastic. He now understood why she was in such high demand. She was the reason behind them getting their hands on the video of that particular production day along with the paperwork with the name of who ordered it. Her forensics team needed to be on his payroll. His people had come up empty. They’d been told the video and paperwork were accidentally destroyed.

Alex was getting closer to finding out who was really behind this scheme and ultimately who killed his brother.

Someone wanted his company for pennies on the dollar and senselessly killed his brother for it. He’d had to fight back two hostile take-over attempts. However, based on the information they’d received from their investigations into those companies, neither of them seemed to have knowledge of his new technology. That ruled them out as conspirators.

Alex was grateful for Braylee’s connections in Congress too. Her network was much deeper than his own…and his were pretty extensive. Those connections led to finding out that there was another shell company who’d been quietly inquiring about his patent requests. He knew in his gut that if they could find out who owned that company…he would find the answers to all of his questions.

Today was also the day that he was going to see her. It had been awhile. Alex was more nervous about that than the upcoming press conference. He had prepared for the press conference but how in the hell did he prepare for Braylee? The few times they’d been in the same room, it was as if that one night never happened. She’d put him on ice and rebuked any attempt for anything outside the scope of her job.

Underneath that cool exterior, Alex knew there was a lioness. He’d seen it first-hand and would be lying to himself if he didn’t admit he wanted her. And, had never stopped.

If it were possible to go back to their one night, he would have handled things differently.

It was time to put those thoughts out of his head. He was about to release a shit storm and needed to focus one hundred percent on that.

There was a soft knock on the door. He answered, “Yes?”

The housekeeper, Claudia, slowly opened the door, “Mr. Manchetti…Mr. LePezzia, Ms. Stone, Mr. Ling and Ms. Willows are all down stairs waiting for you.”

“And Fabi?”

“He decided to take his own car.”

Thank you, Claudia, I’ll be right down.” Alex finished up with his tie and put on his watch. It was show time.

*****

Braylee and Gail were in her office going over the final details for the press conference. They were just finishing up when Nate came on over the intercom, “Braylee, Lisa is here.”

She lifted her brow because she wasn’t expecting her today. “Okay…send her on in.”

Before even getting the words out, Lisa barged into her office.

“Hello, ladies.”

“Hey…what are you doing here?” Braylee turned to Gail, “Gail Hindz, this is my best friend, Lisa Lampinelli.” After introductions had been made, she turned back to Lisa, “You know we have that press conference in a couple of hours.”

“Yes, I wanted to be there for you and Alex.”

“Did you ask him?”

“I figured I’d ask once he arrived.”

Braylee shook her head, “I don’t know if that’s a good idea. He needs to be focused.”

“I promise, I’ll sit in the back and not say a word.” Lisa laughed, “I even wore my power suit for this.”

“I see. You do look great.” Braylee had to admit she was impressed. Lisa was dressed smartly instead of her carefree flower child wear. Wearing a tailored black Armani suit and matching pumps with kitten heels. She’d also worn small hoop earrings and a simple gold watch keeping her makeup to a minimum. Her hair was piled high up on her head. “I’m fine with it, but you’ll seriously have to clear it with Alexandro.”

Braylee couldn’t contain that little voice in her head saying that it might help to have Lisa around as a buffer.

“I’m sure he’ll be fine with it.” Lisa walked over to the windows, “I just hope this weather holds out until we’re finished. I hate this time of year. One minute it’s warm and the next it’s cold.”

Gail chimed in, “Yes, it’s perfect tornado weather.”

Braylee walked over and gazed out of the window too, “It’s Chicago ladies. We all know there are only two seasons…winter and summer.”

Nate’s voice came over the intercom again, “Mr. Manchetti and Mr. LaPezzia are here.”

Braylee walked away from the window but first made sure The Mask was in place. “Please show them in.”

Her heart rate accelerated, and her palms were a little clammy. Trying nonchalantly to run her hands down the front of her suit while Lisa watched her like a hawk. She couldn’t hide much from her. However, there was no way Braylee would let Alex shake a sweaty palm either.

The door opened, and she almost stopped breathing. Why did the most beautiful man she’d ever seen just walk into her office? Alexandro Manchetti stood there…in person. It’s not like she hadn’t seen him in person over the past few months. But…today…was it the focused fire in his eyes? The firm set of his jaw? Braylee wasn’t sure, but he was even more delicious looking than the night she’d ran her hands and tongue all over his naked body.

His eyes connected to hers the moment he entered the room. Time stood still. She wasn’t sure how long they held each other’s gazes but was thankful Lisa was there. She went to him and kissed him on the cheek. It gave Braylee a little bit of time to recover.

She cupped his chin into her hand, “Hi my friend. How are you holding up?”

Somehow Alex managed to tear his eyes away from Braylee to greet Lisa. He turned his head into her hand and kissed it. “Hello, Lisa. It’s good to see you. But, what are you doing here?”

“Where else would I be? There was no way I was going to let my two best friends do something as important as this and not be here.”

“Thank you for your support.”