"I am."
David huffed, eyeing Othello. "Word on the street is your company deals in unsavory business."
Othello chuckled. "Well, we can't all be as ethical as you, Doctor Ellington. Who else knows what other skeletons are hiding in your closet?"
"I've committed no crime, not like some people," David countered, then turned to Des. "You idiot boy have no idea who you're sleeping with."
"Unlike you, I have no evidence against me," Othello said smoothly. "And Des knows exactly who I am. I am the CEO of Romano Construction. No job too big or small is our motto."
Des would have laughed, seeing the sneer on his father's face. "You bas?—"
"David, that is enough!" Ava growled, which shut his father up completely. "First, let me apologize to you, Mister Moor. My husband is under a lot of strain, and well, his mouth gets the better of him."
"I don't need you to apologize for me," his father growled.
"Second," she continued as if her husband had not spoken. "Desmond, we wanted to see you because your father needs your help. We need the money your grandfather left you. We..."
"No," Des said before she could go any further.
"Don't you want to hear why we need it?"
"Nope. Whatever you two are involved in has nothing to do with me."
"But we're your parents," she shouted.
"And I was your son who you've ignored, seen as a disgusting disappointment, only to be called upon when you needsomething. I'm no longer the kid who yearns for your affection and approval."
"But your father might go to prison. Don't you have any feelings about that?" Ava asked.
Des stood, and so did Othello, following his lead. "If he broke the law" —he looked directly at his father— "he should rot in jail for his crimes. Don't ever call me again. As far as we're concerned, you are strangers to me."
His mother gasped, clutching her expensive pearls. "You don't mean that," she said, a slight tremor in her voice.
"If you've never taken me seriously before today, I suggest you do it now."
Des was about to make a grand exit, but Othello pulled him back, hugging his waist. "Maybe the person you should have apologized to wasn't me," he said, "but to your son. If you had shown him some courtesy, you might have gotten what you wanted."
After he said his piece, they walked out of the diner, holding hands and remaining silent until they were in the car driving down the highway.
"Are you okay?" Othello asked.
"Yeah," he sighed. "They never cared about me."
"Your father is a piece of work, but your mom is different. I don't think things are as harmonious as they appear."
"What do you mean?"
"I feel like she's going along with your father to keep the peace between them. Your mother loves you, Tesoro. If I were to guess,I’d say she regrets how the relationship between you both turned out."
"I don't know about that. My mom has always taken my father's side."
Des had no one to defend him growing up except for Nanny Cee. When his parents found out, Nanny Cee was fired, and they left him alone while his parents did whatever they wanted.
"Promise me you won't let them come between us," he said, looking at Othello.
Othello smiled. "The only one who can ruin what we have is us, Tesoro." He reached over and grabbed Des's closest hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing the back of it without taking his eyes off the road. "Remember, I am yours to use. And I'll stay by your side for however long you need me."
"Thank you," Des said, squeezing Othello's hand.
