Chantel walked towards the door.  She placed her hand on the doorknob, then paused before opening it.  Her brother was a catch and for years he’d avoided any talk that hinted of marriage.  Yet, here he was, considering a woman that he couldn’t have.

She said...

“Is she worth disappointing our parents?  Mom and dad haven’t mentioned anything directly to you, but they are deeply concerned.  We all are.”

Lucien spoke decisively, when he said...

“Whatever happens between me and Ona Zelle is a private matter.  I will be tactful, and respectful of her beliefs but her religion will not deter me.  I won’t curb my interest in her to assuage either of our families.  If my advances are unwanted; Ona will have to tell me to stop, using her own words to personally communicate her discontent.  At this point, I won’t settle for anything less.  I won’t allow her family to tell me that I can’t see her.  I did that once, but never again.”

**********

Chapter 12

Family matters.

“What are you doing here?  I thought you had an all important job, working with Eliza Pendleton.”

Bolden muttered a curse.  Of all the people in the world that he didn’t want to see; Fawn’s name topped his list.  After their last run in, he’d sworn that he wouldn’t be goaded into another confrontation.  He scanned the large entry way, avoiding her angry gaze, then his thoughts flipped into reverse.  This morning, he’d been in Dubois, Idaho with Eliza, expanding his horizon’s on another one of her scavenger hunts.  Bolden had sat in a private hanger inhaling jet fumes, while Eliza boarded an Eclipse 550 without him.  The plane had been there waiting before they arrived.  His head had ached and he’d blamed his anguish on combustable vapors.  While he endured the pain, he’d wondered what was so got-damn secret that this meeting couldn’t be conducted in an office.  An hour later, Eliza stepped off the plane, then they boarded their private jet.  Before the pilot had reached cruising altitude, Eliza had leaned across his seat, surprising him with an unexpected kiss.  She’d pressed his lips with hers, seducing him until he’d opened his mouth, then she teased him by stroking her tongue along the inner softness of his cheek.  Her enticement had been beyond anything he could resist; so he’d given in.  They made love  in the cabin, while the pilot flew at about thirty-five thousand feet.  When their passion had been sated, they zipped and buttoned their clothes, then Eliza settled in her seat and delivered a message.  She told him when the plane landed, she would disembark and he was to remain on board because their destinations weren’t the same.  When he questioned this, she explained that she was returning to the hub and he’d been called home on a family emergency and she didn’t have anything further to add.  The message had been vague, devoid of specifics.  During the past few months, he’d learn to expect the unexpected where Eliza was concerned; but there was something telling in her remark.  He’d never known Eliza to be without answers.  He’d suspended his thought, then he pulled out his phone.  He started first by dialing his mother.  When her voicemail answered, he thumbed out a hasty text.  His mother had always been the center of his world, and he would die if something happened to her.  When she responded, texting back that she was well; in those few minutes, Bolden felt like his world had tilted off its axis.  It was then that Eliza realized her mistake, and she quickly corrected it by telling him that the message had come from his father’s office.  And now, here he was standing in his fathers sprawling Maine estate.  Morpheus owned homes all around the world, but Bolden couldn’t recall ever coming here in the past.  If he’d been alone, he would have studied the entryway further, but his examination was cut short by the whining tenor of his sisters voice.

She was heading down a long hallway, where the walls were adorned with works of art.

She was moving at a steady pace when she blurted out

“Are you coming?  I don’t have all day to be here--and with you stalling, I’ll never get out of here on time.”

Bolden had a a snide retort, but he recalled his promise.  No tit for tat.  No giving just to get even for what he’d got.

He followed her and the enormity of the house overwhelmed him completely.  He’d lived away from his father for so long, Bolden had forgotten how insanely wealthy his father was.

Fawn had crossed through an archway, leading into a richly decorated dining room that was so huge it could double as a soccer field.  There were groupings of chairs, and sofa’s strategically positioned throughout the room.  The floor plan had been thoughtfully arranged and it was  perfect for intimate gatherings.  In a room like this, people could kickback, not fearing that they’d broken rules that define decorum and proper etiquette.  He was just about to admire the fireplace when his eyes caught sight of Raal, Morpheus and his mother.  What in the hell was going on here?  Where was the emergency?

“Bolden.  Son.  Come join us.  I was just explaining to your Uncle Raal, that you’ve recently taken a position at the governors office.”

Governor indeed; that was a crock.  The more he learned about his job, the more he didn’t want to know; and if it weren’t for Eliza he would have left months ago.  Bolden flipped the thought around in his head.  Promises, promises; he replayed his declaration of peace.  Bolden had an unhealthy dislike of his father and his New Year’s resolution required him to be amicable when negative emotions rose to the surface.

Bolden payed close attention to his mother, studying her for cues or suggestions that might aid him.  He crossed the room to join them, and he didn’t notice that Fawn was out of sight.  Raal extended his hand in greeting...

“Nice to see you Bolden.  Twice in one year.”  He laughed.

“Yes...and we’re just four months into the year.”  Bolden spoke, asserting a calm presence.

Mikita said...

“Bolden...  Did you meet Kyle at the New Year’s Day party?  He and your uncle are planning to marry at the end of the year.”

He considered her question but on reflection, so much had occurred on that day.  However, he did recall seeing his uncle standing with a group of people and a young dark haired man had been closest to him.  Had that been Kyle?  He couldn’t say for sure--but what did it matter.  For all he knew, he might not see Raal for another ten years.

Bolden forced a smile when he addressed his uncle; a man he knew so little about.

“Congratulations Uncle Raal.  I wish you well.”

Raal nodded, then he said...

“So...what’s it like working for Eliza?”

Bolden had been prepared to rattle off one of his stock phrases, but there was something in his uncles wording that unnerved him.  His uncle didn’t say ‘working with Eliza‘; he’d said ‘working for Eliza’.  He didn’t want to be overly paranoid, mainly because the wording could have been a slip or a grammatical error.

He said...

“I’m learning a lot and she keeps me pretty busy.”

“She’s the best.”

Mikita knew her son, and by his expression, it was obvious to her that he’d been rattled by Raal’s comment.  She was pretty sure that he would let the remark slide, but she didn’t want to take a chance.  She smiled at Raal when she asked...

“So...does Kyle get along with your kids?”

Raal smirked, and she could see parts of Morpheus in him, when he said...

“Kyle loves my kids...it’s their mother’s that he has the problem with?”

Raal laughed, then he turned his attention to Morpheus.

“Enough about me and my love life.  Now that Bolden is here...what’s the big emergency?  And it had better not be Will talk.  You know how much I hate talking about death and estate planning.”