The Upward Ripple

Chapter 12

After such a glorious dinner on Thursday evening, Nate felt that he owed it to Cynthia to let her sleep in. She’d done so much to make sure their engagement dinner was perfect. He had no idea how long it had taken her to table such a feast, but he had an idea that she had been on her feet for the better part of the afternoon. He had ensured that Lola got the weekend off so that he and Cynthia can get a valued staycation with Leon and Deloris. He made his way to the kitchen and got started on breakfast. Him being in the kitchen was not something new. He had gotten quite good at preparing meals while he was a member of The Outlaws. For a long time when he first got started at the club, his duties were mostly preparing meals for the members. So, a small breakfast was a piece of cake.

Nate settled on a simple English breakfast. Eggs, baked beans, bacon, sausage and some mushrooms. The brewing coffee must have been what brought everyone to the kitchen.

“Something smells delicious,” Leon said as he and Deloris walked in.

“Yeah, breakfast,” Nate announced proudly.

“Oh, come on, you are spoiling us. We would have been happy to help,” Deloris said, and Nate shook his head.

“This weekend is on us,” he replied just as Cynthia walked in. “Speaking of my best half. Good morning.”

“Good morning.”

Cynthia walked up to where he was and kissed him.

“Surprise me much?” she asked as she looked at the fully set table.

“Yeah.”

“But the table is only set for three though,” Leon pointed out.” What’s up with that?”

“Yeah about that.” Nate looked at Cynthia. “I have to rush to the office. I thought this piece of business could wait but I can’t enjoy the rest of this weekend if I don’t put this matter to rest.”

“Need me to come with you?” Leon asked.

“No, not at all. It is just a simple in and out. A dissolution of business… just putting my John Hancock down and that’s done,” Nate said before he kissed Cynthia’s cheek. “I will be back before you are done with breakfast. An hour tops.”

“Well, I don’t know about anyone else, but I am hungry, and this looks too good,” Deloris said as she sat down.

Nate and Leon exchanged a knowing glance before he walked to the elevator. He had shared his plans for that morning with Leon: to get out of business with Alistair Vale. He could not handle that sleaze working with him any longer than he had to, and, in his opinion, he really did not have to do it much longer. He had shared with Leon that in a bid to provide for her grandmother, Cynthia had joined an escort service and that move had not gone very well thanks to Alistair Vale. Leon had told Nate that he did have every reason to get out of business with Vale Securities.

“First off, there are a whole lot of other financial investment firms you can work with and secondly, it is not like a couple of hundred million dollars are going to get you broke. You made, what? Twice that amount in the time you took to tell me all about this?” Leon said and Nate forced out a laugh.

“Actually, I have made a tenth of that amount, but I get your point.”

After that conversation, all he could think about was his meeting with Alistair. The commute to his office seemed a lot shorter than morning. He walked into his office and sat at his desk, patiently waiting for Alistair to arrive. His talking points had already been carefully mapped out in his mind. All Alistair had to do was walk in and Nate would tell him why they could no longer be business partners and amicably part ways. At least, that was what he planned. What happened was an entirely different thing.

                                                            *****

Nate took a long, deep breath when his assistant told him that Alistair Vale had arrived at his office. He closed his eyes and made a fist so tight that his knuckles almost looked like they were about to pop out of his skin.

“Mr. Duncan?” the assistant’s voice came through the intercom when Nate failed to answer.

“Send him in,” Nate said in the calmest voice he could master.

He pushed his chair back and stood up just as Alistair walked into his office.

“I was beginning to think you were never going to call me,” Alistair said as Nate walked to the couch. He forced a smile as Alistair walked towards him.

“I had quite a few loose ends to tie up before I got around to new business.” Nate shook his hand before they both sat down.

“So, I hope that everything that was keeping you engaged is finally over and done with,” Alistair said, and Nate shrugged.

“Well, I should hope so. Otherwise, I spent two months up and down this country for no reason at all.”

Nate forced out an insincere laugh to go with Alistair’s equally insincere one.

“Is your dress code something just for the day or do you always come to the office in sweatpants?” Alistair asked and Nate shook his head.

“Actually, I was not supposed to work today. I only came in for this meeting. My fiancé and I are entertaining, our guests, who are staying over the weekend.”

Alistair raised an eyebrow over the other.

“Fiancé? Congratulations.”

Nate smiled.

“Why thank you very much. You are actually one of the first people to know about the engagement.”

“Oh, I am honored. I should send you a bottle of wine to celebrate or better still, have you for dinner one of these evenings.”

Nate smiled.

“I wouldn’t want you to go out of your way.”

“Oh, please. It is no problem at all.” Alistair grinned. “After all, things between me and your stepmother are going awfully fast. We might even have a double wedding if the ladies allow it.”

Nate clenched his fist again. It was all he could do not to punch him right in the face.

“So, are you ready to talk business?” Alistair asked and Nate nodded.

“Yes.”