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1552 Words
It was almost time. Time to see her again. He had wondered if she looked older, what she filled her time with since she was in the real world. She wasn’t some sixteen year old high school student, she was a sixteen year old adult in a way. She had gained all of the knowledge necessary but she was mentally not ready to play adult games.
The invitation that he had received from her a week ago, had ponies on it. While it was retro looking, it made his butler raise an eyebrow when he handed it to him. The memory made Grayson chuckle. He opened the card and went on the website in the card and RSVP’d. The card wasn’t even for a large birthday party. She wanted him to meet her parents so that they could start hanging out. He understood that.
The informalness of the card made him wonder how middle class her family was. Reeza seemed too down to earth to be some boujee rich kid. He dressed in khaki pants, a white button down shirt, and light green v neck cashmere sweater. He would be driving his orange and black ferrari to the restaurant. While he didn’t know where her family stood in society, he wanted to make sure they understood where he stood.
He didn’t mind continuing to be friends if she was only middle class but there was no way he could marry her in the future. He hurried to his vehicle once it was pulled around to the entrance of his home still deep in thought. He really wanted her to be a prospective wife. From her name, Reeza Lionel, she was no one special.
The restaurant they were meeting at for her seventeenth birthday was expensive. It was definitely a once in a lifetime feat to eat there as someone of a middle class bloodline. He wondered if they were taking advantage of his wealth. At the end of the night, he would be paying for everything. The thought made him angry. He would have to revert back to his gangster ways if that was the case.
He pulled up to the restaurant and valeted his car. The host looked at his rsvp confirmation and smiled large. [What was that about?] Her smile made him even more anxious. It almost looked like, “Oh so he’s paying for them.” He rolled his eyes and continued to follow her to the VIP tables. [And they are in the VIP section. The audacity.]
When he turned the corner and saw Reeza's petite body stand up, his heart fluttered. Then it sank. Levi stood up and put his hand out. Grayson could not believe who was sitting at their table.
“Sir. uhm. Master Hindrick. What brings you here?” Grayson stuttered. He had met Levi Hindrick before at a conference with his father. While he was the wealthiest man on the planet, he didn’t have bodyguards. In fact he didn’t seem to fear anybody or anything. Some believed that the systems that he built all around Lagos and the world protected him. Even if someone tried to kill him, the bullets never made it to him and the assailant was killed in response. The theories were so wild that not even the mafia cared to test them.
“And you are?” Levi forward and demanded.
“Oh s**t sorry. I am Grayson Lucias of the Lucias Hotel chain here in Lagos.”
“Have a seat and then we will get down to business.”
Reeza rolled her eyes at how formal he was being but she knew he had to verify that the disclosures were signed and witnessed.
Levi’s attorney joined the table, sliding a document in front of Grayson.
“By signing this document, you agree not to repeat any information provided to you by Levi Hindrick. If any information from the aforementioned conversation is leaked you and your family will be held accountable to the fullest extent.”
“Of the law?” Grayson completed his sentence.
The attorney smiled and said, “If that makes you feel comfortable.” His words sounded like something his uncle would say. He understood. Levi was the law. He could slit Grayson’s throat where he sat and go home without a care in the world.
Grayson quickly signed the papers and the attorney stamped them then excused himself.
“Shall we continue?”
Grayson nodded. Through the whole ordeal Reeza had the cutest ignorant smile on her face. [Must be nice.]
“We’ve basically skipped formalities so I apologize for the repetition. Grayson, this is my father Levi Hindrick and my mother Marcy Lionel. I am the heir to Hindrick enterprises. Which is why you had to sign the disclosures.”
Grayson was frozen to his core. His friend had gotten the daughter of the richest man alive, drunk. And he let her sleep in his bed. The amount of hell that could’ve broken loose because of that one night was weighing heavily on him at that very moment.
“The Lucias family is diverse in its standing with the good people and the underbelly of Lagos. I know your history. Written and unwritten.” Levi said then paused and glared at Grayson.
He had no doubt that this man probably gave his parents his blessing to marry, even though they are the same age. He probably knew the name of the first person he had s*x with down to the first time he commited petty theft. Grayson could feel his skin crawling. He mentally had one foot out the door . This was more overwhelming than being around his violent uncle.
“I only allowed you to sit down because you refused to date my daughter when she was sixteen and then required my approval to date her at seventeen. You graduated with a degree in physics which is odd for someone that is an heir to a hotel empire.” Levi continued to interview Grayson without his replies. Grayson was sure that no answer was the right answer at this point.
“Levi. Can we just eat?” Reeza pleaded. Marcy continued to focus on her phone.
“No. Everyone you encounter and date in your life will affect your cash flow. Your reputation is everything.”
Grayson watched Levi carve up his steak and take his time eating while he was still frozen like a deer in headlights.
“Grayson. Calm down and eat.” Levi said without looking up.
Grayson picked up his knife and began to cut into his meal. If he could be by her side he could be a physicist and not a businessman. He could live his dreams and not care if his father disowns him.
“My apologies Master Hindricks. I just can’t believe I am having dinner with you and your lovely family. I don’t know if Reeza and I are a perfect match but I knew that I wanted to get to know her the day we met. And that's the honest truth. I even started weighing my father’s response to our relationship if she had been a middle class woman.”
Levi continued to watch him with a stern look on his face.
“With your background , I don’t have to explain the implications of you hurting my daughter physically or mentally, with the exception of ending your relationship. “
“No, you don't, Sir.” Grayson nodded slowly then put a piece of meat in his mouth. He finally had the confidence to return Reeza’s warmth. He smiled at her and his heart skipped a beat. She was growing into a beautiful woman. Her breasts were larger. The depth of the blue of her eyes seemed deeper. He thought she was alluring before but now he was a little nervous.
“Can I go another year without caressing this woman?” He thought to himself.
“You look like you are already in love?” Levi interjected.
“Sir. I don’t know what love is. Since you know my history, you know that I don’t have much of a history with love. I know I care about her. Something within me wanted to protect her with all my being. Logically those feelings would be fleeting right? So they can’t be associated with love.”
Levi started to laugh as he sipped his red wine. “Very interesting take. I’ve never met a gangster who was an undercover genius. I will allow you to have morning dates with my daughter then we will reassess when she turns eighteen.”
“If that is what she wants, I graciously accept the gift.” Grayson said then turned to Reeza. “Since we only met once, I didn’t quite know what to get for your birthday and now I’m not confident that you will like it.”
He handed her a small rectangular box and whispered, “Happy Birthday.” Reeza opened the box then giggled. “Oh I see why. I love it regardless.” Out of the corner of her eye she saw her dad smile then lean over and kiss her mom on the temple.
He had bought her a top of the line pen from her father's company
- Writer
