I nod quietly.
“Did you know when we sent you to Gigi’s apartment that you had feelings for her?”
“No, sir.”
“These feelings are new?”
This feels like a trick question.
“At first I thought they were new, but I’m starting to come under the self-realization that perhaps I’ve always loved Gigi.”
“Loved?” He cringes a little. “Loved like a sister, you mean?”
“No, sir. I don’t think I’ve ever looked at Gigi as my sister.”
“You two fought all the time.”
“Exactly, sir.”
Uncle Cam stares me down for a moment, but then his body relaxes back in the chair.
“I ain’t going to lie, Knox, I was hoping Gigi would marry a doctor or a lawyer.”
Another trick question to test my sincerity.
“But instead, she’d be marrying the man who will protect the legacy that you and my father spent your lives building,” I tell him.
A reserved look of interest appears on Uncle Camden’s face.
“You would take over Masterson and Associates one day? That’s what you want to do?”
“It is.”
“And what about Miami?”
“She’s your only daughter. I would never take her away from you.”
Uncle Cam sighs contemplatively. “I don’t think she wants this life, Son. God knows we didn’t want it for her. You’d be involving her in things that she’s not built for.”
“She’s stronger than you think, Uncle Cam, and I’m going to steer this company into the future not take it back twenty years. The long-term goal is to acquire assets and build wealth, not work as a service-for-hire forever.”
“You’ve got this all worked out, huh?”
“Not exactly, but I’m willing to work it all out if she’ll let me.”
“You can’t let her run all over you, Knox. You kept things from us because you’re being led by your nose. That whole thing with Jake could have gone really south and we wouldn’t have known anything about it. If you’re going to truly be the man that loves her and keeps her safe, you’re going to have to be stronger than that.”
“She doesn’t run over me. We make decisions together.”
Okay, that’s basically a lie, but I feel like I’ve got a fighting chance right now, so I don’t want to fuck it up.
“Have you spoken to her since the shit went down with Jake?”
“No, sir, my father asked me not to until I spoke with you.”
“And you abided by that?”
“Yes.”
