Chapter Eighty
Kelley smirked to himself as he felt that familiar feeling of imminent success. JenCorp had been a four-year plan and his patience had paid off. Sending that file would start a domino effect of tumblings in the business world. It gave him a few days to execute the plan to perfection and he dialed Charles’s number from his normal phone. He still needed to play his part.
“I’ve been expecting your call, Kelley.”
“What the hell do you think you’re doing? Expanding the hotels without my input?”
Charles chuckled. “It’s to all our benefit.”
“You’ve failed to discuss costs with me, not to mention the timeframe it will take to get this thing off the ground. I’m not happy about this!”
“Oh, Kelley, you don’t really have a say now, do you? I’m the acting CEO and you’re only a shareholder at this point. Get over it, boy, and smile when you check your bank account.”
Kelley grinned despite his earlier words. “We’ll see about that, Charles. You might want to cover your ass because I know exactly why this boutique hotel is being built in Montoya. You need a new playground that’s not so easy to access.”
“My ass is always covered.”
“You might be unseated before you know it. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“You know, Kelley, for all your ranting and empty promises you’re still just a boy. You proclaim Yorkdare Bay your kingdom yet word on the street is that a new player named Basilio is taking over where you’ve failed to invest.”
“Excuse me?” Charles had played right into Kelley's hands. The fact that he knew Basilio's name at all, told Kelley just how corrupt the Elites were since Basilio's name was buried under paperwork and behind shelf companies.
“Perhaps you should cover your ass, Kelley.”
With that Charles ended the phone call and Kelley smiled victoriously. It was almost too easy. He was in a good mood as he called Mason and his chuckle told Mason everything he needed to know.
“Am I buying some stocks?”
“It’s a go, Mason, buy the stocks.”
“Pressing the button now. I take it Charles thinks his kingdom is expanding.”
“Apparently I need to cover my ass better.”
Mason laughed and then the phone was muffled before he came back on the line. “Carey asks when she’s properly meeting Milana.”
“You know she could actually help her. Milana needs a better wardrobe, especially for the functions side.”
“Carey says she’ll stop by on Monday.”
“Listen, Mase, how’s Lee doing?”
Mason was quiet for a few seconds and he heard a door close. “He’s not in a good place, Kelley. He drinks every night, he’s angry at the world. He keeps it together at work but at night at home … I hear him roaming the halls at night, he’s going to walk a path in my Persian carpet soon.”
“He’s being an idiot. He loves her and she loves him.”
“Yeah, but you also know there’s no getting through to Lee when he’s dead set on something. Remember that time we went to the Summer Opens and that guy stole his parking spot?”
Kelley laughed as he thought back to that day. “Yeah, I do remember. We need to lock those two in a room until they’ve sorted through their shit.”
“Make sure there are no breakables in the room because Lee will beat the shit out of you afterward.”
“I’ll check in with him.”
“Before you run, Kelley, how’s married life?”
“It’s been two days, Mase.”
Mason laughed. “That good huh?”
“Asshole.”
Kelley ended the call but he was still smiling. He had actually expected more ribbing from them but given Lee’s own situation, he could understand it. Mason on the other hand needed to get laid and he sent that message to him on a text to which he replied with a picture of his middle finger.
Kelley ate dinner in his study and about an hour after that another knock fell on his door. “Come in.”
The door creaked open and Kelley looked up to see Milana walking in with a steaming cup of coffee. “Colleen said you like coffee after dinner.”
Kelley eyed the cup in her hand. “Thank you.”
Milana placed the cup down on the coaster and looked expectantly at him. He looked at the coffee and then at her. He couldn’t place her expression. “It’s not poisoned.” She picked the cup up and took a deep sip from it, placing it down again and looking at him.
“Sorry, bad habit.”
“Do you always work so late?” Milana had her back to him now looking over the titles in his bookcase.
“I always have a lot to do.”
She skimmed her finger over one title and Kelley recognized it as a Philosophy title he hadn’t read in five years. Kelley watched her as she explored his study and he wondered for a moment how he would ever get to know her or if it was even worth it.
“Mason’s mother, Carey, is coming over on Monday to take you shopping. We have a fundraiser on Friday night. It’s black tie.”
Milana smiled timidly and looked up at him. “I won’t embarrass you, I promise.”
“I wasn’t worried that you would.”
Milana smiled timidly again and walked to the open door. “Well, goodnight then.”
Kelley sat staring at the closed door for a long time, wondering how this would all play out. Milana didn't seem like the type to spy for Ernesto but unfortunately, he'd learned that not everyone seemed to be who they said they were. Life had kicked him in the balls enough and it wouldn't be the first time a woman pretended to be something she wasn't just in order to get close to him.
Charles had sent a few his way, some had been excellent actresses and others were very obvious. Kelley played the game well and he'd seen through them all. He knew Charles would never stop and that marrying Milana Romano had been a necessary evil, but he didn't have to trust her or like her and he knew sooner rather than later, the truth would come out.
