Hey guys, here is another chapter! I am sorry it's been a minute. I have been working on my website and novels on Kindle Vella, and it's summer break, so my time isn't mine—it's the boys, lol. But I have a few updates for you and Kesh, and I have a few dribbles for you, too. So I hope you enjoy!
Sam Evans downed another shot as he stewed in his VIP booth at Club Hexis. It was one of the places his family owned, and he frequented it with his friends. The club had everything: a hookah lounge on the bottom floor and an oxygen bar next to it.
His favorite part was the VIP area right above the dance floor; it gave him the best view in the house and allowed him to set the lay of the land for whom he would be taking home at night. Though now, he supposed, that would have to change now that a bomb had been dropped on his life.
He ran his shaky fingers through his long, sandy blonde locks. His father hated his hair, but it was the one thing he felt he could control in his life. So he grew it out past his shoulders and wore it as his badge of defiance. Unfortunately, it didn't matter; his father just pushed forward.
Sam had known for some time that his father desired to marry him off to a family that would strengthen Evans' Empire. He had heard rumors that the Joneses and Evans had some kind of agreement that fell apart when Julien Jones lost his first wife.
The deal was that the two oldest children would marry and unite the families. Sam, for one, was glad when that fell through.
As the oldest child of Dwight and Mary Evans, they expected a lot of him, and not being married at thirty-four was failing in their eyes. He groaned, slamming his shot glass down as he thought about the conversation he had with his father.
FOUR HOURS AGO
Sam sat in his office reviewing the week's numbers when there was a knock at his door. Sam looked up, scratching at his beard, as he sat back in his chair.
"Come in."
Dwight walked in, right over to Sam's top-shelf whiskey, and poured himself a glass. The six-foot-two man heaved a sigh as he downed the drink and poured himself another one.
Sam watched his father; considering his age, he was in far better shape than most men in their fifties. Being so, he proudly wore his salt-and-pepper hair, letting all his competitors know that he had knowledge and an edge over them.
Sitting across from Sam, he placed his glass down and looked at his son. "Sam, it's time."
"Time for what? There are a thousand things that could mean."
"I am getting old, and your mother wants to travel before I am too old to walk around and enjoy it. So we want you to take over."
Sam smiled; it was about damn time.
Sam worked hard to ensure that he was the number one choice to take over when his father was ready to step down. "That's great, Dad. I am ready for the big office."
Dwight nodded. "I know, and I think you will be great."
Sam looked at his father and frowned. "What am I missing? I know retiring is hard, but this is a good thing. I won't let you down."
"I am not worried about that, but this job can be stressful; you need to be focused and have a strong support system."
"Don't I have that with you and Stevie?" Sam asked.
"Sam, I am just going to come out and say it. We have an opportunity to collaborate with Jones Media again ."
Sam's eyes widened. While his family dealt with properties and land, Jones Media had its hand in all the big and small media stations, anything related to TV, music, or even movies. Combining the two would help them reach a new market, and their connections would open the door to a lot more money for the Evans.
"That's great! Getting them onboard to partner with us is a huge thing."
"I know," Dwight said. And that is where you come in. As CEO of Evans Empire, it's up to you to maintain the relationship, which shouldn't be hard since you will be Julien Jones' son-in-law."
Sam looked at his father, confused. "I'm sorry, I am going to be his what?"
"In order to make this deal, you and Mercedes Jones will be getting married."
Sam stared at his father, trying to determine if he was serious. "So are you telling me the only way I can take my rightful spot as CEO is if I marry some spoiled rich girl?"
Dwight sighed. "I don't know about spoiled and all that, but she is an heiress who was just appointed CEO of Jones Media."
Sam laughed. "So she came out of nowhere and was just given the position to marry me?"
Dwight shook his head. "From what her father told me, she was away in Africa doing something or another and is finally back so that we can make this deal."
Sam removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "So I have no say in this?"
Dwight grabbed his glass. "You have a choice, but if you say no, I will stay on until Stevie graduates, and then I will offer him the deal."
Sam groaned; he knew his father was serious. "How long?"
"How long, what, Sam?" Dwight asked, clearly confused.
"How long have you and the Jones' been planning this?"
Dwight smirked, leaning forward. "Fine, cards on the table. When you and his daughter were in diapers, we toyed with the thought, but after his wife passed out of respect, I pulled back. He approached me again when you went to Berkeley, and she went to Stanford."
"I'm sorry, she actually went to college?" Sam laughed. "What was her major? Fashion?" He stood going to his bar and grabbing his glass of whiskey.
"Actually, she has her Master's in Business and Finance and speaks a few languages, I think. We can learn more at your engagement party…tomorrow."
Sam was in mid-sip when he heard his father. He coughed back his shock as he turned towards him. "Excuse me? My, what is tomorrow?"
"Your engagement party, well first its lunch, and then it's your engagement party. We want this marriage to happen as soon as possible. Your mother and her stepmother will plan the wedding that is to happen within the next two months."
Sam laughed in disbelief. "You are serious?"
"Yes, and I want to make myself clear: you know how we feel about family; this will be a real marriage; you are going to be a good husband, a faithful husband."
"This is unbelievable. You are blackmailing me."
Dwight shrugged. "I don't see it that way. This is how business is done. …we will be on a whole new level, Sam, Evans Empire, and Jones Media combined. As CEO, even you can see the benefit here."
Sam knew his father was right. Honestly, Jones Media was a Multi-Million dollar company, and with his family's company being worth the same, they could quickly become billionaires within the year. "How long do I have to be in this farce of a marriage?"
"Long enough to give me a grandchild."
Sam blinked, backing away from his father. "Wait, now not only do you want to force me into marriage, you are forcing my hand with a child?"
"Sam, you are thirty-four and have no plans to settle down. This is a chance to give your mother a chance to see you get married, give us a grandchild, and then you can do what you want. This is a small price to pay to take over."
Sam moved back to his desk and thought over what his father said. "How soon would I take over?"
"As soon as you get engaged, you will become acting CEO, though I will still be in the background. The moment you get married, you will become the permanent CEO. And to sweeten the deal, if you and your bride get pregnant within the year, giving us a grandchild and heir, then I will give you majority shares in the company."
Sam's brows shot up. "Majority Shares?"
"Yes, and just to put that in perspective, Julien has agreed to give you ten percent of Jones Media; his daughter has forty. And I have agreed to give her ten percent of Evans Empire. This means you two will be a power couple, and as I told you, she's not some dumb, ditzy woman."
Having majority shares meant complete control over Evans Empire, and if his so-called bride owned a significant piece of Jones Media, that could hold much weight for the other families around town. Sam was finally seeing the genius behind his father's plan. His father was setting him up for success.
"So this is about taking over more companies? If I have majority shares here, and my wife has them at Jones Media, that means …I will be unstoppable."
Dwight smirked. "Damn close to it. So, what do you say?"
Sam grabbed his glasses and put them back on. "I don't have a choice; CEO is my birthright."
"Good, now, you are going to give your wife this office and take mine since it is right next door."
"Wait, why is she here?"
Dwight smiled. "I convinced Julien to leave their small building and join us here. I mean, we have empty space on level fifteen, so they can take over that floor, and since you two will be in charge, essentially, you both should be on the top floor."
"You've thought of everything, haven't you?"
Dwight stood. "You will soon understand that you leave nothing to chance. We are heading to the Jones residence tomorrow at one to hammer out the details, and then you and his daughter shall arrive at the venue for your engagement party together. Take the time to get to know her and find common ground. Your mother is cleaning and resizing Nana's ring for you to give her."
Sam stopped his movements. "Nana's ring? No, I can just grab something."
"Sam, this is a real marriage. Everyone in the family will know something is up if she isn't wearing that ring. You will give it to her." Dwight said, walking to the door.
Sam watched his father walk to the door before he stopped. "Oh, and Sam."
"Yes, Dad?" Sam asked, leaning back in his chair.
"Please get a haircut before stepping on the Jones property."
Sam ran his hands through his hair. "Seriously? I grew it out to fight back against your rule," he said, knowing he would annoy his father.
"Sucks to be you…isn't that what you kids say?" Dwight said, walking out of the room and leaving Sam to take in all that was said.
BACK TO PRESENT
"This is bullshit, and you know it, Mike!" Sam said, taking a breath to try to regain his thoughts. "I have earned my spot at Evans Empire! I have my Ph.D. in Business and my BA in foreign affairs. I am ready to take over, but he pulls this dumbass move on me?"
Mike laughed, downing his own shot. "And you are surprised? Your father has not been quiet about wanting you to settle down. If you wanna know what surprised me, it took him this long to arrange your marriage."
"What can I say? He likes to pull the rug out from under you to maintain his dominance." Sam said bitterly.
The waitress walked over to him, leaning down, giving him a sultry smile as she pressed her breast against him. "Anything else Sammy?"
Sam smiled. "Not right now, Penny, thanks."
"You know I get off in about an hour…"
Sam laughed. "We will see if I don't find anything better by then,"
She rolled her eyes. "We both know you won't. Wait for me. I'll show you a really good time."
Sam watched her walk away before looking back to Mike. "See, getting married will screw all that up."
Jake sat down and slapped Sam on the back. "No, it won't. Wait…what won't? Catch me up."
"Us!" Artie said, scooting into the booth. "Catch us up."
Mike smiled. "Sammy boy is getting married."
"To whom?" Artie asked.
Sam scratched at his beard. "Some woman my father has chosen for me.."
Jake smirked. "Oh? Who is this chick?"
"The oldest Jones daughter," Mike said.
"Jones?" Jake said, frowning. "As in Julien Jones?"
Sam laughed, taking his last shot. "Yeah."
"I don't know them personally…but I heard some things about the Jones kids if you wanna know." Artie said.
Sam chuckled. Artie Abrams knew everyone, either by name or in person. It was his gift. "Sure, tell me what you know."
"There are three. Jacob or JJ is the baby at twenty-two, and Nyla is twenty-four. She is the oldest of Rebecca and Julien. They are both married; Jacob works as the Interactive Producer for Jones Media. His wife is the daughter of Marlin Yates of Yate Construction. Nyla doesn't work, but her husband is the CFO of Jones Media. Then there is Mercedes."
Sam raised an eyebrow. "And why did you say it like that?"
"Because she is an enigma."
Mike smirked. "Yeah, she is basically a heiress for a multi-million dollar company."
"And that is why she is an enigma. The woman has her Master's in Business and Finance and can speak four languages, but she teaches music to middle schoolers. She is thirty-five and, from what I hear, fiery; she isn't one to screw with, but all the men I have talked to who know her wish they could screw her. As I said, an enigma."
Sam shook his head. "What do you mean they wish they could screw her?"
"Hold on," Artie said, going through his phone. He FaceTimed a friend and waited patiently for him to answer.
"Artie! My man! Did you go to the club without me again? I am about to take all this stuff seriously now."
Artie shrugged. "It was a last-minute bachelor party thing anyway. I am calling to ask about that Mercedes woman you went out with."
Anthony laughed. "Went out with? My mom and her dad tried to arrange a date. Now, don't get me wrong, that woman is all kinds of sexy, but then she opened her mouth."
Sam laughed. "A real daddy's girl/princess type?"
Anthony shook his head. "I wish. That I could handle. That I would have welcomed! No, she was a know-it-all. And when I suggested we go back to my place, she cut me down so fast I still got scars. She is a prude. She wouldn't even let me kiss her. It was a waste. The woman has a body built for sin but a nun mentality. She told me she was saving it til she got married. Who got time for all that."
Artie thanked him, and Sam frowned. "No, see, I don't do virgins."
Jake shrugged. "What does it matter? You are not hurting for women."
"I am not allowed to step out, it's in the contract my father wrote up, and besides that, I haven't gotten married for this reason and this reason alone. I don't want to be with just one woman right now."
Jake shrugged. "What no one knows won't hurt them."
"I wouldn't put it past my father to have spies. If I screw up, I won't take over, and I don't have a choice."
Mike smiled. "Then how about you have one last hurrah? Penny seemed very eager."
Sam shook his head, "Nah, been there, done that, many times. No, if this is my last time, I want to make it count. I want someone who will make all this worth it."
Artie sighed, looking around. "Lucky for you, it's ladies' night. So let's find you the perfect lady to end your night with."
Sam smiled until he received a text from his little sister.
Stace: Where are you? Emergency!
Sam: At the club, what's up?
Stace: Figured. I am coming. Order me a drink.
Sam: What?
He looked down at his phone and frowned as she didn't reply. "I am gonna grab Stacey a drink, guess my plans for tonight are over."
Artie laughed. "Damn, you better hope your wifey wants you, considering the hoe you are, on the inside." He teased.
"Shut up!" Sam said, walking down to the bar.