Lorenzo walked into Kellie's office at the self-defense studio.
"Hi Uncle Lo," Kellie said, "This is a surprise."
"I had something I wanted to discuss with you," Lorenzo said, "Johnny said you were doing some paperwork here before teaching a class today, so I thought I'd stop by."
"Should I be concerned?" Kellie asked as Lorenzo sat down in the chair opposite her.
"No," Lorenzo said, "Actually, I'm hoping you'll have less concerns after this conversation."
Kellie looked at Lorenzo confused and somewhat suspiciously.
"I came to talk to you about the shipping company," Lorenzo said, "I know we discussed Pikeman and how we've never done business with them. But none of it sits well with me, especially after Sonny was shot at on the docks not too long ago. The longer this goes on, the more I worry Pikeman might reconsider pushing you to be involved in delivering their shipments especially if Sonny can't."
"I don't like it either," Kellie said, "But we still need the company as leverage."
"Yes, but I'd like to revisit the arrangement," Lorenzo said.
"So you want to make your stake in the company public knowledge?" Kellie asked.
"Not exactly," Lorenzo said, "I was thinking more like I'd retain full control of the company again. Then you wouldn't be at risk if Pikeman decides to explore other options. I'd leverage the company for you if needed."
"But then you'd be at risk," Kellie said.
"I'd still be at risk if Pikeman wanted to use our company," Lorenzo said, "But I could at least keep you out of it."
"Uncle Lo," Kellie said as if she was about to disagree.
"Kellie, it has never been your job to make sure that I'm not at risk," Lorenzo continued, "But as your uncle, it is mine to make sure you aren't. Sometimes, I don't know that I've done as well at that I should have."
"You couldn't exactly have stopped me sometimes if you disagreed," Kellie said.
"Believe, I know," Lorenzo said, "It's always been a balancing act to not just tell you not to do something and understanding why that move was necessary. But Pikeman is also something else entirely, I just can't sit back and leave you to take that hit."
"This isn't a request is it," Kellie said.
"No, it's not," Lorenzo said, "I um…"
"You want to invoke the clause you think you snuck into the contract without me knowing that you could take back control from me at your discretion," Kellie said, standing up and walking out from behind the desk. She stopped, avoiding looking at Lorenzo.
"When did you figure that out?" Lorenzo asked.
"I found it before we signed the contract," Kellie said as Lorenzo stood behind her, "I wasn't happy about it. But I didn't say anything or push because I didn't want you to call off the deal."
"And what about now?" Lorenzo said, "I think we both know you wouldn't have gone into shipping as a career choice if not for the mob and the threats against your family. I still mostly run the company like I did when it just me."
"What about Crossing Into Dawn?" Kellie said, "The foundation board wasn't going to let me run it when I married Jason and with the threats from Garrett at the time. If you're known as the public owner of this company, they might do the same to you and I just can't stand the idea of not having someone I trust running the foundation. Especially after Shiloh, Calvin, and Garrett were embezzling funds and ousting you, me, and Charles."
"The board can't really say anything," Lorenzo said, "Considering that company was previously disclosed to them along with other holdings I have as part of the transparency you and I implemented for the board and others to be reassured given our backgrounds."
"What about Alexis?" Kellie said, "I can't imagine she'd be thrilled."
"She's not," Lorenzo said, "But she understands I'm at risk whether you're involved in the company or not."
Kellie turned to face Lorenzo and gave him a slightly annoyed look.
"And you're running out of arguments," Lorenzo said.
"I'm sure I can come up with something," Kellie said.
"Just let me do this," Lorenzo said, "Granted I can just do it, but it would still be easier if you're on board with it."
"You just don't want me to be mad at you," Kellie said.
"Well, are you?" Lorenzo replied.
"I kind of want to be," Kellie said, "But you also make it really hard when I know you just….."
Kellie shrugged.
"I just want to protect you when I can," Lorenzo said, "If anything should happen to me, the shipping company will go to you. Will that make you feel better about this."
"Maybe a little," Kellie said, "And thanks for talking to me about it and not just doing it."
"That would have definitely put me on your bad side," Lorenzo said as they were interrupted by Spencer storming into the office.
"Kellie, please tell me you have something on Esme for me," Spencer said, realizing Lorenzo was there, "Oh, sorry. I'll um wait out here until you're done."
Spencer ducked out of the office.
"Do I even want to know?" Lorenzo asked, "Other than I'm guessing it has to do with him wanting custody of his brother."
"Nope," Kellie said, "I doubt he'll be thrilled with anything I have to say."
"It's a messy situation," Lorenzo said shaking his head, "and an unjust one."
"Unless the previous charges against Esme are revisited or she does something now," Kellie said, "I hate what Trina went through. I wish I'd been aware earlier of what was going on and I could have done been looking into things when the situation first happened."
"If I recall you were recovering from a gunshot wound," Lorenzo said, "and hiding on the island with your kids."
"Right," Kellie said.
"All you can do now is try to rein in Spencer's dramatics," Lorenzo said, "I will wish you luck and I'll be in touch about transferring your share of the shipping company back to me."
"I'm not entirely sure how to respond to this whole conversation," Kellie said.
"You just don't like feeling outmaneuvered," Lorenzo said.
"At least it was you doing the outmaneuvering," Kellie replied.