Page 53 of Terms of the Flight

“So when did we get a grant, Myheir?” he asked, pointing down at the packet in front of him.

I didn’t see the point in pretending. If he was asking me, he already knew the answer.

“You already know the answer to that, so there’s no need to play around. What do you want to know? Isn’t this what you wanted me to do? I’ve been showing initiative when it comes to the bank.”

My pops chuckled, then pointed in my direction.

“I told yo’ knucklehead ass that you better not hurt my wife’s feelings. She really likes that damn girl. Do you? Or was this all some ploy to look like you’re ready for something you’re not.”

I rubbed the bridge of my nose. The steel I’d tried to have on my nerves was quickly dissolving.

“I’m getting tired of everyone telling me what I am or what I deserve. How do you know I’m not ready for her?” I asked.

He leaned forward and poked his finger into the stack of folders.

“By the way you handled this situation. You think this woman is going to believe you when you tell her you fucked around and forgot you had an agenda?”

I frowned. I hated how right he was, and he didn’t even know the details of the situation.

“You went about all of this all wrong. That woman deserves more than this. Does this have anything to do with that gold digger you wanted to marry before?”

I stood from the couch and paced before stopping to look in his direction.

“It started out that way, but it’s not that anymore. When I met Khaleya, she was my flight attendant before my meeting with Jace. She was so passionate about her business and had so many plans but no backing. I thought about her constantly while I was in that meeting. Initially, I just wanted to help her. But something else made me want to be around her for more. Then Jace brought up the fact that Mia was coming with the dude she left me for to the wedding. I didn’t want to look like a sorry case. I didn’t want to be worth nothing, like she’d told me?—”

I got choked up on that last sentence. It was a lot for me to come to terms with, and especially in front of my pops. He stayed silent, allowing me a moment to get my shit together and continue. I released a breath and continued.

“I figured she would benefit from this just as much as I would. When I initially thought of it, I’d talked myself out of it. That was until she showed up at Blackwell Bank for the loan. I happened to be there handling meetings, and that same hope in her eyes I’d seen on the plane was present. Our agent was getting ready to send her on her way?—”

“Rightfully so, she doesn’t have any capital or assets worth the amount she was wanting to get. But carry on,” my pops interrupted.

I shook my head and continued.

“Which I knew, and I told her the same thing. But I also wanted to help her while also helping the bank create a giving brand. It wasn’t just about me and what I needed. Granted, I’m not a complete saint. I wanted her, and I needed her to agree to my terms, so I sweetened it a little.”

“Clearly,” my pops said beneath his breath.

“But I don’t want this anymore. I want her, and I’ve made that clear to her.”

My pops turned and tilted his head to the side, then shook his head.

“I need a drink. I think we dropped you on your head too many damn times.”

I frowned and followed him over to the bar to listen.

“This is the one problem with the way you grew up, and shit, even how I’ve grown up. We don’t realize the ins and outs of real people’s problems. That girl is probably fighting the hell out of herself over this. She definitely feels the same as you, but fifty thousand isn’t easy to give up when it would take you years to make that.”

I nodded. I hadn’t thought about that. I just wanted her, which is how all of this got started—because of what I wanted.

“You think I should tell her I don’t want to break the contract, so she doesn’t feel guilty about not wanting to turn down the money for me?” I asked.

My pops stopped moving with his glass almost to his lips. Then he groaned before throwing the drink back like it was a shot.

“I brought you in here to get in your ass about using the bank for your personal shenanigans, not to give you fucking dating advice. But I like Julia, and I really think she is good for you.”

I smirked and ran my hand over my face.

“You do know her name isn’t Julia, right? You got one more time to call my girl a prostitute,” I said in a flat tone, trying to hide my smirk because the shit was still hilarious.