Wow the aroma is coming out nicely, let me taste, here putting some in my hand for me to taste he smiled at me and I smiled back,
Wow how long have you been practicing? I asked, ever since the last time I cooked for you, I now make sure everything I eat is homemade,
So you're saying I made you start learning cooking? Well I can always cook for you, maybe I might actually be the first man to cook for you, I laughed so hard, come on stop that, my late dad has cooked for me, and Uncle Gideon always cooks for me, so you see? I watched him looked disappointed at first but then burst out in joy, that being said, am the first man after your family to cook for you, wow that's more than enough for me, I smiled watching him get busy, after cooking, eating and doing the dishes, he hugged me, saying calm, please Ari be my girlfriend, my woman, he kicked open a door in front of us, and all I saw was a room full of gifts, I can possibly use this to open a shop you know, I teased, I know you like everything in your life private so I decided to ask you ask here and present the gift here,
I know when I want a particular person by my side so I wasted no time to accept and listen to him shower me with sweet nothing words,
Ari I want to meet with your uncle and ask for his permission also, I agreed with him,
That night went I got home I saw Dad in the sitting room busy with his laptop I know he was waiting for me to return before he clock in,
Hi Dad, I greeted him with a peck, welcome sunshine,
Dad I need to talk to you about something I said.
She looked at me—open, trusting.
The words died in herthroat.
"Later," I said
She nodded.
Later has a cost so I added if is about Ben meeting me, then is accepted let him book am appointment with my secretary, I nodded with a smile, go shower and sleep you look tired, I told her, goodnight dad, goodnight sunshine,
Succession
I drafted the documents quietly.
Assets. Shares, transfers of ownership, next in command ,Shells. Legitimate fronts etc
Everything clean.
Everything hers.
Ari Lock would inherit influence—not blood.
Why I Don't Ask
I know when people hide things.
I learned that at seven.
Ben wasn't lying.
He was protecting her
That made it sweeter.
I let him.
The Arrest That set another example
He arrested Seth
Not for murder.
For embezzlement.
Men like him fall sideways first.
As they cuffed him, he laughed.
"You think you're done?" he spat.
I didn't answer.
I thought of Ari.
The Clock Turns
Seth arrest accelerated everything.
Good.
Ari will soon face her past.
And when she does—
She can live as peaceful as she ever wanted,
She'll be ready to choose her own ending