Page 37 of Emergence and Ascendance

"That child is determined to break something before his father comes to get him." She groaned, watching him for a few seconds longer before she focused on me.

"Did I miss something? I hope I didn't double book."

Jhorie walked over to me and gave me a hug. I hugged her back and dropped my eyes to hers when we separated. "You haven't missed anything. My visit isn't planned. I'm here to ask a favor."

"Shit, good. I swear pregnancy brain was supposed to be over once I had him. E'siah is a toddler and I still can't pull my life together."

"That bad?" I chuckled and glanced at him.

"You have no idea." She glanced at her son who had her complete face with very few traces of his father then turned her eyes back to me. "And favor? You sure you have the right Omari?"

Jhorie arched her brow and I nodded. "Yes, right Omari. Ezekiel can't do shit with this but I'm hoping you can."

"Oh…" She frowned. "I'm afraid to hear this."

I chuckled and followed Jhorie across the room where she began picking up a scatter of toys. "Don't be. I just need access."

"Access?" She clutched a plastic truck and frowned my way.

"Yes, you're meeting with Scotlyn Whitney this morning. I want to join the meeting."

"I can't help you with that. It's not my meeting. I'm just offering a space. You need to ask Samiya or Zoree."

"You're a member…"

"Member. They're President and VP."

"You're a respected member and I need in on that meeting. If you cosign me being there, no one will disagree with you."

She studied my face for a minute then shook her head. "No."

"Why not?"

"Because Scotlyn requested the meeting to ask for our support with a property acquisition. If you're here trying to sit in on that meeting, I'm going to assume she either has something you want or is trying to take something you want. We're not getting in the middle of that."

She definitely has something I want but it is no longer that damn property.

"I know better than to ask a group of very relevant and powerful women to take my side over another very relevant and powerful woman." When I smiled smugly, she rolled her eyes.

"The answer is still no. I can't help you."

"I know good and damn well you're not in here asking my wife for favors, Christian. That shit goes through me."

I grinned at the sound of Ezekiel's voice behind me. "Dada."

I turned and watched as E'siah took off toward his father and Ezekiel met him halfway, grabbing him at the waist then launching his son in the air. E'siah squealed and laughed, hugging his father's neck after he was securely in his arms. Unlike when I had him, he didn't attempt to escape.

Ezekiel then moved beside Jhorie and dropped a kiss on her. She grinned and I had both of their attention while he stood protectively at his wife's side. A side effect of the way he loved her, not a concern from fear that he needed to protect her from me.

"The fuck you want with my wife, Christian?"

"Access to the meeting she's having here today."

"The meeting with Scotlyn." Christian smiled smugly and nodded. "Damn, she's got your ass calling in favors. Did you really let a woman outmaneuver you?"

"Excuse you?" Jhorie asserted and he grinned but kissed her cheek.

"Relax, I'm just giving him shit." He turned to me, adjusting E'siah in his arms. The kid was squirming but not exerting any effort to get down. He was perfectly content in his father's arms and that shit twisted in my gut because Aja cheated me of that type of connection. "I'm guessing she outbid you."

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