CHAPTER 13: Delivering bad news...

Ricco
"Well, today's the day," I told the heirs about today's meeting at dinner last night. I have to admit, I'm not looking forward to this. I'm sure all the heirs are going to put up some resistance, but Celeste is the one I'm most worried about. It isn't just because she's my daughter. It's not that her feelings are the most important in the group because I'm biased. It's her temper that I'm worried about. I'll be lucky if she doesn't throw chairs around the room. Oh well, I'll just have to deal with whatever comes up. This has to be done. Now. They have to have time to prepare to take their positions. Better get some coffee before this meeting.
I head down to the kitchen to get some coffee, and Celeste is there pouring herself a cup already. "Well, good morning, sweetheart. Getting some coffee before we head to the conference room?"
"Morning, Daddy. Yeah, I need caffeine if I'm going to make it all the way through a council meeting without a nap."
"Oh, ha ha, very funny. Would it be too much to ask for you to pour your dad a cup, too?" I love that little - girl giggle she always
gives me. She will always be my baby.
"Why, of course, Daddy! It's been a long time since I could take care of you, for a change."
"Good Lord, Celeste. You make me sound like some old man, with one foot in the nursing home."
"Hahah. Of course, you aren't. In fact, I think the nurses on my floor have the hots for you. Ugh. Sounds gross when I say it out loud."
"I'm pretty sure you're a liar, but it makes me feel better so I'll let it slide." Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, little girl. "You ready to get to this meeting now?"
"Yep! Let's do it."
We make our way into the conference room, coffee in hand. I sit at the head of the table with Celeste to my right. Eventually, everyone else trickles in and sits in kind. I have gone over this in my head time and time again. Better to just get it over with, quick like ripping off a Band - Aid. Anthony must have noticed the nerves on my face, because he shoots me a wink, as if trying to calm me down. All right, Ricco, let's get this over with. "Thanks for coming, everyone. Let's go ahead and get started. I know the heirs are wondering why they have been requested at this retreat." I look around, and steel myself before continuing. "The time has come for you to start thinking about stepping into the members' seats. In one year's time, you will inherit this council."
"One year?" I hear in scream form, from my right side. "Are you kidding me, Daddy?"
"Calm down, Celeste. We will be joining you in every decision and action for a year after you all take over." I brace myself for the fight that is about to ensue.
Sigh. "Okay, Daddy. I'm prepared to hear you out, but I can't speak for the other heirs." I just look around in stunned silence at the other heirs. They all nod for me to continue. Okay, I am totally unprepared to not have to fight Celeste on this. To be honest, the other current council members look just as surprised as me. I need to capitalize on this, though, before she changes her mind.
"Umm, okay. Let me start by explaining what this change will entail." I spend the better part of an hour going through various details of the changeover. I see most of the heirs taking notes and listening intently. When it looks like their brains are about to explode, I say, "I know this is a lot to take in at one time. Allow it to sink in, and then if you have any questions, I'm sure any of the council members will be happy to help you. One last thing, and then you can all go until dinner. I have given the current council members a dossier of a group that is causing trouble for the paranormal community. With how well today's news was received, I believe you can be trusted with this information. I am leaving it up to each council member to brief their own heir. So if there's nothing else, I'll leave you all to it." Ugh! I am emotionally exhausted. "Celeste, if you'll come with me, we'll go over the file I mentioned before." She gets up and follows me up to my room.
When we get inside, she walks straight to my bed, turns around, and falls directly back on it. "Daddy, you could have warned me."
"I'm sorry, sweetheart. I wanted to be fair, and tell everyone at the same time."
"Jeez. Why do you have to be such a wise and fair ruler?"
"Hahah. Sorry, I'll try to come back as a cruel tyrant in my next life."
"Fine." She sits up suddenly. "What's going on with this group that's causing problems?"
I bring the file over to where she's sitting and start to go through it. I explain each page in detail. She listens closely, asking questions when necessary. I can tell that the farther we get through the file, the angrier Celeste gets. Her face is slowly turning that telltale shade of brick red that comes with her full - blown rage mode. "Daddy, I swear to you that we will find these people." That's all she says to me as she grabs the file and stomps out the door.

Celeste
I walk out of my father's room, and I am fuming. I cannot believe there are enough of these prejudiced idiots to form a group this large. I'm looking through the pictures in the file when I see Ryu and his father walking toward me. "Mr. Yamaguchi. Ryu. Can you believe this?"
Ryu shakes his head slightly. "This is insane. What would provoke someone to do this?"
"I don't know, but I intend to find out. We can't let our parents deal with this alone. We are this council's future leaders. We have an obligation to protect the paranormal community. We need to get all the heirs together and discuss this." I feel my face burning, and about the time I do, I look up to see Mr. Yamaguchi smiling and Ryu with a look of shock. "I'm sorry, Mr. Yamaguchi, I get a little agitated when some moron decides to wipe out an entire population, for no reason."
"Hahah. It's okay, Celeste. We all had the same reaction. I am actually very proud to know that we will have such passionate members succeeding us. It bodes well for paranormals everywhere." Mr. Yamaguchi smiles as he says this reassuringly.
"Thank you. Can I possibly borrow Ryu for a while, sir?"
"Of course. I'll leave you two here then. Bye."
"Thank you, Mr. Yamaguchi."
I hear a chuckle from beside me, and I turn toward it with my hands on my hips. "Ugh! I know! Embarrassing."
"Not at all. I'm just laughing because I've never seen my dad impressed with anyone enough to actually compliment them." Whoa! I never noticed how beautiful Ryu's eyes are before. They're the color of jade and flecks of gold scattered throughout them. "Celeste? Are you okay?"
"Huh? Oh yeah. Sorry. Just lost in thought for a moment." Oh, nice save, Celeste, not. Pull it together! "Ryu, can you help me gather all the heirs? We need to talk about this CPE monstrosity. Let's say, what, 1:00 p.m.? Conference room?"
Ryu nods. "That should give everyone time to get some lunch first too."
"Great. I'll go this way, if you could go that way, we should be able to let everyone know pretty quickly." "No problem. I'll go get started now, and I'll see you at 1:00 p.m." Ryu turns to start down his end of the hall.
"Oh wait, Ryu!"
"What's up?"
"Thanks for your help. Also, thanks for not thinking I'm crazy."
He walks back to me and puts his, larger than I'd previously thought, hands on my arms, "You're not crazy, Celeste. You're amazing. You instantly jumped at the chance to help people you've never even met. There are very few people left in the world who help even those they're close to. The fact that you do it with no provocation and no hesitation, well, that means you're special. Not crazy." "Wow," I say, wide - eyed, "I didn't expect you to say such nice things about a hothead like me. I'm a little flustered right now, to be honest."
Ryu chuckles. Oh my god, what a sexy, deep voice he has. That one chuckle made my toes curl. "Well, I meant every word, Celeste. I'll flatter you more later, you know, after we save the world." He smiles, squeezes my arms a little, and walks off.
Good grief. Okay, self, must move feet. Time to get down to business.