Chapter 76
I had set up my laptop in the dining room. I refused to let Hana give back my office. She needed it more than I did and since she was taking calls it wasn’t an option to share. I was more than happy to work from the dining table. I had not used this table once since I moved into the apartment, and now it was put into ose regularly. Just another sign of Hana’s influence in my life. I got a test on my phone from Jason
I: It has hit the news
I sighed and made my way to the local news online. Local businessman arrested for human trafficking and selling of drugs, the headline said.
A twenty–eight–year–old local businessman was arrested yesterday at the home of his girlfriend. The prominent businessman, with ties to one of the city’s most lucrative developers and a top end security business, was arrested on suspicions on human trafficking and handling and selling drugs. Allegedly, the man used an import business as the front for his illegal activities. The police had declined to comment on the case and refuses to answer if this will be prosecuted as a federal
CASE.”
I sighed again. At least it was a short article, but the fact that they already knew about my connection to Simon showed the worse was yet to come. He called Jason.
“It could have been worse,” Jason said.
“Hello to you too. It could have been. But It won’t be the end of it,” Hunter told him.
“Of course not. The case have everything that makes a top selling story. Rich bad guy, sexy women, beautiful victims, drugs, ties to the mafla. Fuck, it may end up as a daytime dram or something,” he agreed.
“And they have already found my ties to him.”
“Sure, you’re his father. It’s not like it takes some deep digging to make the connection.
“Do you think it’s best that I take a step back from the business for now?” I asked.
“What the fuck are you talking about? That is the equivalent of us releasing a statement that you have something to do with this shit show. Not going to happen. You and I built this company together. I’m not going to dump your ass because of your son. I mean, you’re old, but I can’t let you retire just yet,” fason told me.
“I’m not fucking old, you idiot,” I huffed. But I was grateful for his support.
“We all stand
with you, and with Hana. You know she is going to create distance to protect everyone, don’t you?”
“I know. I’m not going to let her,” I said.
“Fucking right. She’s the best thing that has happened to you. Well, except for meeting me. Let me know if there is something the two of you needs. If we need to get ahead of the story, we have people for that.”
“I will remember that. I do appreciate this. You are a good friend,” I told him.
“Yeah, yeah. If you want to thank me, you can handle the Williams account.” We hung up and I looked at the time, it was still an hour until lunch. I texted Hana,
Me: The local news have covered Simon’s arrest. Nothing bad, nothing about you. Love you.
I put my phone away and got back to work. Five minutes later I got a reply.
H: Thank you for letting me know. Love you too.
I smiled as I continued working. As always, work sucked me in and I was deep into a report when I heard someone clearing their throat. I looked up and saw Hana standing in the doorway.
“Hi, sweetness,” I said.
“Hello there. We should eat lunch,” she said. I frowned. Surely it was too soon for that. I looked at the time and saw it was ten past twelve.
“Sounds good.” I stood up and walked over to her and gave her a kiss.
“You haven’t taken a break today, have you?” she asked.
“Of course, I have,” I told her. She looked at me as we started pulling leftovers out of the fridge. “I took a break and called Jason,” I said.
Chapter 76
“Good. I’m proud of you,” she told me and kissed my cheek as we waited for the food the heat.
“Did you read it?” I asked.
“I did. It’s not too bad. Will it cause an issue for you? There aren’t that many high end security companies in the city,” she pointed out
“That is true, but it’s not an issue. Jason and I will keep an eye on things and if we need to set things straight, we will” She nodded. “That applies to you too. Jason asked me to tell you that there is no need to protect us from anything. I agree with him,” I added. Hana smiled at me.
“Thank you. I will try to remember that.” We had lunch and tried to keep away from talking about Simon. I had always known Simon would have a place in our relationship, but lately, he took far too much space for my liking. After lunch we went to our separate work spaces. Two hours later, I got a message,
H: Time to take your break.
I chuckled and stood up. I took a lap around the apartment and it felt nice to move around, I made coffee and added milk to one mug and slipped into my office to deliver it to Hana. She wasn’t in a call and I got a kiss for my trouble. I was beginning to see the advantages of these breaks. The rest of the afternoon, I focused on my work until Denny called.
“He got out on bond. He’s on a tether, he needs to stay at his girlfriend’s house when he isn’t expected in court. No drugs, alcohol or guns, you know, the usual. No contacting the victims. Nothing strange or scandalous,” he told me.
“Thanks for letting me know. No limitation in contacting Hana?”” I asked,
“No, should there be?” Denny asked.
“It doesn’t matter, she is safe at my place.”
“Your place!” I could hear the amusement in his voice.
“Is that a problem?” I asked. Not that I cared if it
“No, no. I just find it interesting. Last time you lived with a woman was… when you were eighteen? Maybe I need to ce there when the prosecutor want to talk to her.
“Fuck, when is that?”
“I don’t know. They don’t tell me that much. My men won’t be there,” he told me.
“She doesn’t do good with men she doesn’t know. Do you think I could sit in?”
“No, I doubt it. You are Simon’s father. I don’t think they will let you sit in on their interview. In fact, if anyone would have an issue with her living at your place, it’s going to be them,” Denny said. I grunted.
“It can’t be helped. I will make sure she has Seymore with her,” I told him, ignoring the rest of his statement.
“You are a stubborn sun of a bitch, so I won’t tell you what I think you should do. Besides, you sound happy. Don’t know if I have heard that before. Don’t get me wrong, you still sound grumpy as fuck, but happily grumpy.”
“Fuck off. But I am.” We hung up and 1 shut down my laptop and walked out into the kitchen. One of the few things I knew how to make without it coming out of a package of some kind was tomato soup with grilled cheese. It was my turn to make dinner. I had lost count of how many times Hana had fed me. I was in the middle of cutting the tomatoes and bell peppers when Hana came walking.
“Did you have a good day?” she asked and gave me a kiss.
“I did.”
“What are you making?“.
*Tomato soup, and no, you can’t help,” I told her. “I will make dinner today, why don’t you do something that relaxes you?”
“Um, sure, I have had an idea for a new cookie recipe in my mind all day, I will do some research on that,” she said.
“Before I do. I have some news about the situation with Simon. Do you want me to tell you now, later or not at all?” I asked. She looked to be thinking about it.
“How about we make it a rule that if nothing out of the ordinary happens, all talk about Simon, the trial and all of that takes place between breakfast and dinner,
Chap 76
After dinner and before breakfast we make Simon–free?” she suggested. I smiled at her. That was brilliant. We needed to talk about these things, but that way we also had time that we could enjoy without having Simon in the middle.
“think that is brilliant,” I told her, and as I continued to p
prep for dinner, I told her what Denny and I had talked about.
“Thank you for telling me and for thinking about me,” she said.
“Of course. And don’t worry about the interview. I’ll make sure you won’t be alone.”
“I know. But I think it will be okay either way. As long as I know what is consing, I should be fine,” she said,
“I don’t doubt it. B But I would feel better knowing you are not alone.”
“I will accept any help, she agreed. She then went to curl up on the couch with her iPad while I continued with dinner.
Chapter Comments
Drah Grantham
think this is a repost of chapter
