Chapter 85
Chapter 85
“And who’s to say you’re not still hung up on that girl, your own daughter, no less! By the way, did you sort out the meeting with Mr. Lynch for tomorrow? Can Qemal and Cheryl attend?” Sherah inquired.
Yafe sighed, his head drooping with resignation. “Dad’s made up his mind. Tomorrow, my brother, Sawyer, and I will head out. Cheryl’s tagging along with Mr. Abbott, while Qemal will just stay home and rest.”
“What? Qemal isn’t going? No way! He’s our only son. He can’t miss out on something this big!” Sherah shot up in alarm. She sprang to her feet, jabbing a finger at Yafe. “You’ve got to care more about your son, Yafe! Qemal’s your boy, and your father’s always so distant to him. You need to stand up for him!”
Yafe felt trapped but kept nodding. “I get it, but it’s a big deal, and his call is final. Besides, Qemal’s hand is pretty banged up. He’s better off resting. There’ll be other chances.”
Sherah backed off, knowing that she had made her point. Yafe was usually a pushover for her, but only to a point. Deep down, she knew there were lines she could not cross with him.
The following day, Liam popped into Celena’s room with excitement in his voice. “Celena, I’ve got it all set up with a buddy of mine. We’re going to meet Mr. Lynch today and maybe even talk shop about a partnership!”
Celena’s eyes went wide with astonishment. “Mr. Lynch? Are we actually going to see him?”
“Yeah, so hop out of bed and get ready. We’re heading out soon!”
Liam did not waste time explaining. He yanked Celena out of bed and
was decked out in a sleek black suit, they headed to Malcolm’s company in Drunham City, the newly minted Max Group, set up to sort out the Walker family’s estate.
As they approached the Max Group building, it was clear they were not the only visitors. The entrance was jam-packed with luxury cars, and the lobby buzzed with representatives from the city’s elite
families, all clutching fancy gift boxes.
The sight nearly bowled Celena over. There they were, hands empty, amidst a sea of lavish presents. “Liam, look at this crowd! Are we
even going to get a chance to see him?” she asked, gripping Liam’s arm with worry. Spotting a golden brocade box in someone’s grip, she fretted, “They’ve all brought something. Won’t we look bad showing up like this?”
It was only then that Celena realized the Walker family’s assets were in the hands of Mr. Lynch. Meeting the mayor was a difficult thing for the city’s most influential, let alone for her and Liam, who came bearing nothing.
Catching on to her anxiety, Liam squeezed her hand reassuringly and said, “Don’t sweat it. I’ve got a buddy at Max Group. We just need to walk in. Everything’s been arranged.
“Alright, let’s just go in and give it a shot, success or not!”
Celena inhaled deeply, pushing down the rising tide of worry and fear within her. A resolute spark ignited in her gaze. She had to get back to the Stone family, for Liam and Jovie’s sake. It was time to brave the unknown and step inside!