“That depends. What do you want with him?” I don't like this woman.
“I have a business deal to discuss with him. Is he home or not?”
She licks her lips, and I fight the urge to snarl at her. “Caleb, someone is here to see you?”
She shouts it so loud I’m certain the neighbors heard. I hear movement in the background, but take a step back when she yells again.
“Caleb! Oh, there you are. This man says he’s here to talk to you about something or other.”
“Larry Snow?” I nod, and he takes my hand in a friendly shake. “Come on in. We’ll go to the back and get started.”
Larry Snow is a name I go by when I want to do undercover work of my own, usually when I try to buy or sell businesses but I’ve also been known to use it so I don’t have to tell anyone where I’m at. It’s much easier to get a full night’s sleep when youare Larry Snow rather than Luka Frost, someone everyone wants something from.
But not my little elf. She doesn’t want anything from me. And ironically, I want to give her everything.
As I walk through the house, I look for pictures or something with Lumi in it but there’s only pictures of Caleb and his wife. “You have a lovely home.”
“Thank you.” I look over at the wife who has taken it upon herself to come with us into his back office. “I decorated it myself.”
“Ah.” I give her a lukewarm smile as she goes to sit on the arm of Caleb’s chair while we speak. I lied. The whole place looks like something vile vomited in it and it says a lot that she takes credit for it.
I’ve never been one of those men who believed women have no place in business. My mom and my sister are very involved in my company, and I often go to them if I have a large problem I need advice on. This woman, however, doesn’t seem to have anything to offer other than being Caleb’s window dressing.
She asks no questions, offers no insights and when I catch her out of the corner of my eyes, she’s twirling her hair and looking bored. Maybe Caleb thinks she’s good luck. If his finances are anything to go on, he is wrong. His business is about to go under, and he’s over-extended himself. When I offered to meet him to buy into his business, he was more than happy to meet with me.
“So, you see, the company makes a tidy profit.”
Maybe two years ago it did. “Indeed.”
He offers me a drink and has her go get lemonade when I turn down the alcohol.
“Your wife is pretty young.” I see him tense up. “She can’t be much older than my own wife.”
This puts him at ease again and he gives me a big chuckle. “Yes, she’s pretty amazing, isn’t she. Fifteen year age difference between us.”
And if that’s true, I’d eat the fucking desk between us. Me and Lumi are probably closer to that fifteen-year age gap more so than he is with his wife.
“Where did the two of you meet?”
This has him stiffening up again. He suddenly won’t meet my eyes anymore and deceit drips from him. What is this guy hiding?
“My wife and I met while picking out Christmas trees.” I give him half-truths to make him more comfortable.
“My daughter introduced us.”
“You have a daughter?” I fake my surprise and bide my time.
“Yes. My wife roomed with her for a little while in college.” Interesting.
“My wife paused college to have our baby.”
“Good man! I’m hoping me and Kristy will have one soon.” What about the one you already have, you old fool?
“You must be very grateful to her.”
“Kristy? Yes, I am.” He can not be this stupid, can he?
“No, your daughter. For introducing you two.”
