Disclaimer: I do not own anything you recognize.
Chapter 7
"What is it?" Luke asks. Randy. He had written.
"Kyra?" Luke asks again in a voice that says he had better get an answer.
"Wait a minute." I tear the envelope and gave the signature a quick glance, which confirms the letter is not from Randy. But excitement grew as I read it.
"I've been invited by the director of human resources of Orton Resorts and Spa to fly to Miami to view Orton Place and have an interview to be the exclusive broker." I instantly thought about when I discussed my qualifications with Randy over dinner.
"No!" Jarell spats out.
"No way." Trent agrees. Luke and Matt remain quiet, but I didn't like the look they are giving me.
"How were you selected?" Luke asks. As a FBI agent, he never misses details.
"I applied." I answer
"When?" Matt asks
"After he came here and I read about the possibility of a new venture."
"Two months ago…and it just happen to be picked now." Luke says mildly. "Doesn't add up to me."
"Me neither." Matt leans across the table.
"Care to fill us in on the missing piece?" Matt is a top defense attorney and could interrogate with the best of them.
I sigh, "I met Randy when we were in Tampa." You could hear a pin drop. Then Destiny says, "Randy is a friend of mine and I introduce them. He is wonderful." Jarell groans.
"Kyra hasn't said if she's even going." Portia says, always the voice of calm and reason, probably because she is a psychologist.
"But she's thinking about it." From Trent's voice, he didn't like it one bit. Everyone stared at me until Trent says, "I bet Randy was behind Dave's $24,000 bid at the auction."
Then, I see my mother walking through the restaurant and groan.
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"Kyra, are you considering going because of me? If so, I'll stop putting prospective husbands on you immediately." My mother, Julia Morgan promise. She remains beautiful and slim in her sixties and loves her children unconditionally.
Sitting by my mother on the sofa in Jarell and Destiny's penthouse on the top floor of their hotel, my mother has always put family first. She had left her family in New York after the death of her husband and traveled to Atlanta to teach at the University of Georgia (AN: Let's says it is in Atlanta instead of Athens) because the University offers free tuition to the children of the professors .
"It is a wonderful opportunity." I say
"I see your father in each of you. He would be so proud of you." My daddy died in a plane crash he captained. There is silence. "You're going to have a lot to take care of before then. You'd better get to it."
"Thank you."
"You'll go with my blessing and my love."
I hug her. "I'll be fine. I promise."
My mother straightens and stares at me, her eye as sharp as a dagger, "If not, he will have me to deal with."
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After hanging up with Kyra Morgan, I quickly dial a number I rarely use.
"Orton."
"Mr. Orton, Ms. Morgan and the other candidates will arrive in Miami on April 8th, I will arrive on the 7th to ensure that all goes well."
"Thank you, John." He says and the phone disconnects.
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After I hung up I stare out the window on the 29th floor of Orton Resorts and Spas in St. Louis.
"You're sure about this?" Dave, my friend for over 20 years and head of security for me, is sprawl in the cushioned chair in front of my desk. The position is deceptive, Dave never relaxes, but today he has good cause.
"No." Comes my slow answer. I have never been less sure of anything, but I'm not able to stop myself. For years nothing except business had held my attention…until Kyra.
"Just checking. Everything is in place."
Dave comes to his feet. "The chopper is ready to take us to the airport, and then we take the jet to Mexico."
"Let's go." I turn sharply and head toward the door. Work always helped me push everything else from my mind. I hope it would again.
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