Severo rubbed their noses together, chuckling. “As it should be.”
Preston stared,waiting for the punchline of the joke. “You’re lying…”
“I’m not. It’s all gone. The board removed you. All your bank accounts have been frozen. And your company is being broken apart after a hostile takeover… There’s nothing left… As it is, you can’t afford me…so this will be my last day.”
“YOU’RE LYING!” he roared, lunging for the man. He cried out as the chains on his wrist suddenly restricted, pinning his arms to the table. The sores where the metal touched his skin started oozing blood. “You’re lying! TELL ME THAT YOU ARE LYING!”
The man stood. “I’m not. You’ll see the truth once the news goes live tomorrow. Goodbye, Mr. Chanway.” He nodded and walked away.
“GET BACK HERE!” he bellowed. “GET BACK HERE! I OWN YOU! I PAID FOR YOU! I CAN BURY YOU!!!!”
“You got everything?” Seri’s mother asked him as she handed over a cloth bag full of three boxed lunches—two big, one small.
“Yes!” Seri giggled. “You just gave me all that I planned to bring.”
Avery frowned. “Oh, but surely you’ll bring some things for Skya.”
“Correction—you gave me everything, except the diaper bag.”
She smacked him lightly on the chest. “Oh, you. Well, say hello to my son-in-law for me, and ask him what he wants for dinner.”
“You are acting like you didn’t see him this morning. You need to stop gushing so much over him, Mom. It’s going to go to his head.”
His mother laughed. “Well, I can’t help it! I have a perfect son-in-law, and a perfect son, and a perfect granddaughter! How can I not gush a little?”
“We aren’t married.”
She waved her hand. “Soon enough.”
Seri shook his head, but he couldn’t deny that if Severo asked, he’d maybe say yes. Okay…he’d say yes. Probably embarrassingly quickly too. But he didn’t need marriage to be fulfilled. He was free, finally free.
He wasn’t sure what favors Severo pulled, but his lawsuit against Preston went through the courts at lightning speed. He had more money than he knew what to do with. So he sort of let Severo help him hire the guy he uses, so he wouldn’t have to worry about it.
Which was interesting, because while Seri had grown rich, Preston’s empire…had collapsed. The morning he’d woken up to news filled with the man’s financial downfall, was the moment a dark shadow, he hadn’t even realized was there, had lifted off of him. Mentally, knowing that even if Preston got out, he wouldn’t have the resources to come after him, was world changing.
And after six months of intensive therapy—which he was still doing—Seri had finally gone back to college. Between starting back at school a few weeks ago, and volunteering part time at the Bureau, along with raising Skya, not to mention Severo now fully working his new job, he honestly wasn’t sure when they’d be able to fit in a wedding. And knowing Severo's family, he’d not be able to get away without having one.
No court house weddings for them, for sure. At least, when he did finally have one, he’d have enough money to make it as big and grand as he wanted. Not that Severo’s parents would ever let him pay for it. Actually, there would likely be a fight between Severo and them on who would pay.
Seri eyed his mother who was wiping the counter off. Avery Gray looked happy. It always amazed him how she could remain so positive about marriage after the one she experienced. He’d been so elated to be there by her side as her divorce was finalized a few months ago. She honestly seemed worlds happier than the woman he met seven months ago in the hospital. As for Robert, the man was still locked up, his trial date pending.
“A bite!” Skya giggled, running around beneath them. “A bite!”
The little girl, at one and a half years old now, was more energetic than ever, and getting into everything. Her cyan curls were down to her shoulders, and she was currently dressed like a red gummy bear. The onesie was shiny and jelly looking, somehow fully capturing the appearance of a gummy. Seri had bought it specially for today.
“Yes, yes, Skya,” he laughed, looking down at her. “We are going to have a bite with Papa.”
At his mother’s startled gasp, he couldn’t keep the grin off his face. “You are having her call him Papa?!”
“PAW PAW!” Skya squealed, jumping up and down.
“From today on.” Seri smirked. “Think he will be surprised?”
“Oh, you naughty Nymph.” His mother tsked, hands on her hips. “You are going to make that poor man cry in front of his students.”
Seri giggled evilly. “That’s the plan.” He scooped Skya up. “Come on, my dewdrop. Let’s go see Papa.”
Severo glaredat the sad sacks of shits that made up the bulk of his students at the moment. The room was pitch black, due to them doing an exercise on pursuing assailants at night, but being what he was, he could see them clearly.
