Page 131 of Massacre Monday
It’s time to make my move to get her appointed to the right person. And as I’m thinking of a particular judge she may pair well with, I feel Aiden’s stare on the side of my face. Ignoring him, I continue. “There’s someone I want you to meet. Can you not hand off the duties to your vice president for an evening?”
“I…” She hesitates.
“Xavier, drop it,” Marissa warns. There’s something my daughter’s hiding…
Aiden leans in and murmurs, “Are you going to tell Ryan?”
“Of course. After we eat.”
“Alone?”
“I think it involves you and Henry, too. Penelope can learn about it from her fiancé.”
Aiden sits back and glances at his brother. “Why hasn’t he proposed?”
“Likely waiting for some spontaneous time.”
My middle son rolls his blue eyes and shakes his head with disgust. “Fool.”
A smirk cuts across my face. He really is my son. “You would plan it all out well in advance?”
“Of course. Speaking of, I need Mom’s tenth anniversary diamond ring.”
“Hmm?”
“You promised me that one. You said that Ryan gets Grandma’s and I would get her tenth anniversary ring.”
Henry overhears us at the wrong moment. “What do I get?”
“Nothing,” we both say.
He makes a sad face.
“You’ll get something. Just not sure what it is yet,” I assure him.
Once dinner is finished, my boys follow me into the office. Ryan looks content. I know he’s been really struggling for years with everything the society has demanded. It’s not a life I wanted for him. He’s too free to be obedient to an arbitrary Board.
“Cardell Enterprises is ordered to be given to Ryan Xavier Cardell upon his second-year post-graduation, at which point, I would retire.”
The bright-eyed look he has dims slightly as I make the announcement.
“Or itwas…” I continue.
“What do you mean?” He leans forward and places his elbows on his knees.
Aiden smirks, knowing what’s coming already, while Henry paces at the back of the room, half paying attention.
“It’s time to divvy it up. There will be one conglomerate, of which I will be in charge, but three separate divisions expandingover the course of the next ten years as you all graduate from Northview.”
Ryan’s head tilts as he settles into this novel information.
“The first subsidiary will be focused on a new business venture for Cardell Enterprises… Sports management.”
“Are you serious? But-but is thisallowed?” he asks, his jaw dropping.
“I think that’s the first time you’ve ever asked that question. Already approved with the Board and the President himself. He’s been pleased with your work this year. With turning over the evidence on Senator Frances, I believe it’s earned you some favor.” And by that, I mean, we can all breathe easier, knowing my son is likely out of danger for a while.
“Wow! I can’t believe this…” He searches the floor for an answer to an unspoken question, then asks, “What does it entail?”
