Wilson's Hard Lesson (82 page)

Chapter Fifteen

Leila walked down the aisle in Bob’s arm. Susan had
gracefully agreed to loan Leila her husband to walk her down the aisle. Through
her veil she smiled at familiar faces of people she had worked with and friends
from California. Most of the crowd though was made up of Jack’s huge family.

She thought of her parents and wished that they were here.
Her father would have been so proud to walk her down the aisle. As for her
mother, Leila knew she would have been in tears throughout and missed the whole
ceremony. Feeling low, she pushed the memories of her parents to the side with
the comforting thought that they were watching her from heaven.

She admired the Christmas decorations on the sides of the
church pews. It was crazy getting married on Christmas day but it had been the
only time where all Jack’s relatives would be gathered in the same place. For
Leila it was perfect. The perfect Christmas.  The perfect Christmas present and
one she would always cherish.

Finally, she got close to the altar and she looked at Jack.
He looked stunning in a white tuxedo and so did Aaron, his best man. Susan was
Leila’s maid of honor, and Helen, Jack’s sister, was a bridesmaid too. As she
passed his parents, they smiled at her warmly and she returned the smile. They
were good decent people and she felt honored to be part of the family and to be
accepted by them.

Jack took her hand from Bob’s and his eyes told her exactly
what he felt about her. Leila had never thought that this day would come. After
that disastrous dinner at Jack’s parent’s house, they had returned to the house
where Clarissa had gone on to throw tantrums and issue more threats. Jack had
stood his ground and when she realized that he would not back down, she had
flounced upstairs, packed her bags ad announced that she was leaving. She had
waited at the door for Jack to go after her and when she realized he had meant
it, she had left but not before giving Leila one last nasty look.

Leila just felt sympathy for her. She seriously doubted her
claims and women like Clarissa could not be trusted. Whichever way it turned
out, Leila had dealt with it in her mind. Of course she would have loved to be
the one to give Jack a child. In the meantime, if Clarissa allowed she would be
happy to play a part in the baby’s life.

They had not heard a peep from her since then, though Leila
knew she would talk when the baby came. She and Jack had spoken about the issue
at length. Leila had told him that she had no problem with the baby being part
of their lives. In fact, she preferred the child to grow up knowing his father.
Jack had turned to her in relief, happy that she was willing to have the child
in their house.

The preacher went through the ceremony and then at last,
they said their vows. Facing Jack, Leila gave a silent murmur of thanks. She
was glad that she had signed up for the online mail order bride agency. Who
knew how fate worked or anything really, she was glad that she and Jack had
found each other.

She said her vows and slipped the ring onto his finger. She
had promised herself that she would not cry but now she found her eyes filling
up. Jack reached out to her and wiped her cheeks with his hand, gently rubbing
the tears away. He looked as though he was in tears too.

Jack repeated his vows and the preacher declared them man
and wife. He invited Jack to kiss his bride. Leila winked at him. They had
practiced the previous night and each time Jack kissed her she had erupted into
giggle and pushed him away.

“You can’t kiss like that in church and in front of people
Jack. Let’s do it properly,” Leila had told him.

Again he had kissed her with so much passion that they had
ended up in bed. Jack winked back at her and Leila stifled a giggle. He brought
his mouth to hers and gave her a soft lingering kiss that left her in no doubt
how he felt, but it wasn’t too much as to make Leila uncomfortable.

“Mr. and Mrs. Farley, ladies and gentlemen,” the preacher’s
voice boomed and Leila grinned at Jack and squeezed his hand.

As they walked out into the Texan sunshine, Leila felt at peace
and sure in the knowledge that they would face whatever lay ahead as long as
they were together.

By: Kylie James

A Quickie Next Door

© Kylie James, 2016 – All rights
reserved

Published by Steamy Reads4U

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any
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publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles
or reviews.

This is a work of fiction.  Names, characters, businesses,
places, events, and incidents are either the product of the author’s
imagination or used in a fictitious manner.  Any resemblance to actual persons,
living or dead, or actual events are purely coincidental.  This book is
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Warning

This book contains graphic content intended for readers 18+
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If you are under 18 years old, or are not comfortable with adult
content, please close this book now.

“Dave?” a voice sounded behind David Marshalls’ office door
before opening. David looked up and furrowed his brow in slight irritation. He
hated when Daniel, David’s younger brother, just opened the door without
waiting for his reply. The younger man of twenty-nine casually walked through
the doors and made his way towards his brother’s desk.

“Why do you refuse to wait till I’ve responded before
walking into my office?” David asked his brother. David saved the spreadsheet
that he’d been working on to ensure that it didn’t somehow mysteriously get
erased.

“Because you’re not in here doing anything,” Daniel said and
smiled revealing pearly whites and one dimple in his left cheek. The two
brothers were handsome, Daniel stood at six-feet tall and it was apparent that
he trained his body well. Even though he was wearing a dress shirt, his muscles
rippled underneath the loose fabric. His tanned skin matched the color of his
honey eyes and his unruly hair added to his adorable features.

“You are such a pain sometimes, you know that right?” David
ran his hands through his jet black hair. The brothers were similar looking,
but the accountant had a more “refined” look to him. David spent much of his
time indoors so it wasn’t a surprise that his skin was a little more on the
paler side. The thirty-two-year-old stood at six-foot-two and though he was
slimmer than his younger brother, he still had a muscular build. His chiseled
jaw clenched and his dark brown eyes narrowed as he waited for his brother to
tell him the meaning behind his intrusion.

“Whatever, if I would have knocked and you found out that it
was me, you would have brushed me off and told me that you were busy.”

“I am busy,” David said and folded his arms. Daniel mirrored
his movements and folded his arms as well.

“I wouldn’t call staring at your computer to be busy,”
Daniel said. He knew his brother was probably doing some type of spreadsheet
that looks over his father’s business’ finance, but sometimes he just enjoyed
getting under David’s skin. David could be too serious at times; he needed to
liven up a little. “Anyways, dad’s calling us in for a quick meeting. He didn’t
tell me what for.” David raised his eyebrow in curiosity and then stood up. David
fixed his suit, brushed away lint that only he could see, and then made his way
towards the door.

 “He’s probably calling us in to discuss some type of bad
news,” David said. His father, Jeffery Marshalls, only called a meeting when
things were going south. David felt his brother’s body stiffen next to him and
he couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face. “Probably a mistake you
made,” David said and Daniel grunted.

 “Why do you automatically assume me? This could be about an
error that you've done.”

  “Unlikely,” David brushed off what Daniel had just said.
David did his work exceptionally well and he never made mistakes, he was just
that good at his job. David believed that Daniel, on the other hand, could do
his job a little better. David and Daniel both worked on their father’s cattle
ranch that made Jeffery Marshall’s a billionaire. There were many cattle
ranches in Texas, but Jeffery’s ranch had all of them beat in profits and
production. As David and Daniel grew up, Jeffery slowly started to implement
his two sons in his business. He made David his Accountant and Budget Manager
because of his Master’s degree in Accountancy and made Daniel the supervisor of
several men. Daniel had a Bachelor’s in Business Administration which is why
Jeffery felt that Daniel was fit for that job.

“Tsk… you know there’s a fine line between arrogance and
confidence.” Daniel said eyeing David sideways. David shrugged his shoulders
and knocked on his father’s office door.

“That ‘line’ is only for ordinary people. Men with power
have a fair amount of both.” David cockily said. Daniel didn’t have enough time
to offer a response before they heard their father’s voice.

 “Come in” The two men opened the door to find their father
standing by his bar pouring himself a glass of what appeared to be whiskey. 

“A little too early for whiskey, old man,” David said and
took a seat on the sofa directly across from the bar. Raising the glass to his
lips, Jeffery eyed David, then Daniel, and then David again.

 “I always need a drink when I know you’re coming, David.”
Jeffery placed the glass back on the table and looked at Daniel again. “Your
brother made himself comfortable; you might as well do the same.” Daniel nodded
his head and sat on the opposite end of David.

“Thank you,” Daniel said appreciatively. Even though Daniel
bothered David on the occasion, he was very kind-hearted and respectful. David
was the absolute opposite of Daniel. David was intelligent and career minded,
but he could be a disrespectful, arrogant jerk who only did things that
benefited him. If something wouldn’t have a positive outcome for David, then he
would not do it. Daniel has never met another person as selfish as his older
brother. “How are you, dad?”

“I’ve been better, but I’ve also been worst. Old age is
starting to creep up on me.” Daniel looked at his father with concerned.

“You’re not sick are you?” Shaking his head slowly Jeffery
sat on the sofa in front of his sons.

“No, I’m just not able to move around like I use to. I’m
getting slower.” Daniel frowned. At seventy-three years old, his father was
definitely not a young stud anymore, but his father kept himself together and
he barely looked over the age of fifty. Sighing irritably, David waved his hand
in the air.

“I didn’t leave my desk to talk about how we are feeling.
What’s with the meeting? What went wrong?” David asked and Daniel sighed as
well. Why does his brother have to act like an impatient bastard?

“I see your ma didn’t teach you any matters before she left
us,” Jeffery said and David looked back at the older man unfazed. David and
Daniels mother, Jeffery’s wife, passed on when they were young from a heart
attack. Though Jeffery was a busy man running his billion dollar cattle ranch,
he made an effort to fill the void that their mother left in his children’s
hearts.

“Dave, stop being an ass,” Daniel warned the other man and
David only sat back in his seat and looked at his father bored. Jeffery looked
over at David one last time just in case he had something else smart to say,
when he concluded that David didn’t, he went straight to business.

“I’m not getting any younger and I know that my age is going
to eventually catch up with me. You two are my sons who I believe grew up to be
responsible young men.” Jeffery paused as a cough took over his body. When
Daniel stood up and extended his arm out to steady his father, Jeffery shook
his head. “No… I’m alright.” After his fit had subsided, Jeffery continued. “I
build this billion dollar industry and I don’t want it to end when I die.”

“C’mon dad,” David chimed in again. “Look, I have a boatload
of paperwork to sift through and all of it has to do with me balancing out this
billion dollar company. Please get to the point.”

“And you call me annoying?” Daniel said looking at his
brother. For a thirty-two-year-old man, David hadn’t learned the ‘whole respect
your elders and your parents’ saying. Jeffery squeezed the bridge of his nose.

“You really are something, David,” Jeffery said and looked
at the two men again. “Long story short, whoever marries first and grant me a
grandchild will inherit the ranch.” As soon as this sentence fell from
Jeffery’s lips, David gave his father his undivided attention.

“What kind of ploy is this?” David asked and stood up. He
thought it was absurd for his father to drop that bomb on them like that. David
knew for a very long time that he wasn’t the marrying type. He loved women,
more specifically he loved what he could do to women, but he wasn’t trying to
let anyone tie him down. He especially wasn’t trying to haul around a little
brat either.

“What’s wrong with having a business ran by a family? I
built my business from the love and support from my wife and children. I want
this company to grow to a higher level with you, your wife, and kids.”

“I’m alright with getting married and all of that,” Daniel
started. He wasn’t like David; Daniel wanted a woman with a lot of kids to
spoil. “However, why can’t we both inherit it if you think it’s a family
business?”

“Let me be more specific,” Jeffery started to elaborate. “I
want one of you to run the whole thing as the boss. You both can still work
here; it’s just that there needs to be one boss.”

“So you mean to tell me whoever the winner is, the other one
works for them?” David asked raising an eyebrow. Daniel looked over at his
brother and frowned, that shouldn’t even matter.

“To put it plainly, yes,” David looked down at his brother
and Daniel’s honey eyes looked back at David.  David was pissed that his father
wouldn’t just offer the business to him since he was the oldest. David loved
Daniel, but he thought the man was weak and that he wouldn’t be able to run
this business since he can barely supervise his men now. On so many levels their
father’s scheme pissed David off; however, it did ignite the competitive flame
in David. He couldn’t and he wouldn’t let Daniel inherit the ranch.

“Fine, I’ll play this little game. Married and a kid, huh,
I’ve done harder things before in my life.” David said and made his way towards
the door without a second look.

“That arrogance of yours will be your downfall,” Daniel
called out after his brother. He saw the look in David’s eyes just now. Daniel
knew that the look that David had in his eyes was his way of telling Daniel
that he’d do anything in his power to win. Daniel hated that look, and he hated
his brother’s greed.

“Dad, why do you fuel him like that? You know he’ll do
anything and everything to win, no matter how awful it might be.” Daniel would
be lying if he said that he didn’t want the inheritance because he did, but
Daniel wanted to marry for the right reason, not for money. Jeffery looked down
at his younger son. He knew that Daniel was right, David would probably try to
win by any means necessary and to be honest, that was precisely the
determination that the company needed. David’s need for power and strength
could keep their ranch the best ranch in Texas, but Jeffery also knew that
Daniel’s kindness and compassion could also cause the company to flourish as
well. Jeffery only wished that Daniel was more assertive with the way he acted,
but for now, Jeffery will sit back and watch his children with interest.

*****

“Mr. Marshall” Daniel stopped and turned towards the sound
of a man’s voice. He hated when the workers on the ranch called him Mr.
Marshall, he wasn’t his father, he supervised them, but it was his dad who
called the shots to who stays employed there or not.

“Jordan, how many times do I have to tell you to call me
Daniel? You don’t have to be some formal with me, I’m not uptight like my
brother.” Jordan had to laugh at that. Jordan agreed that David walked around
like he had a stick up his ass, but he wasn’t going to point that out. Jordan
learned early on that Daniel was a good guy, David, on the other hand, was
something else.

“Sorry, I just saw your brother storm by here. He insists
that we call him ‘Mr. Marshalls’ so I sometimes forget that you prefer Daniel.”
Daniel sighed. Even though his brother was in his thirties and Jordan was in
his early twenties, that still shouldn’t mean that Jordan should have to call
David ‘Mr.’ anything.

“Excuse my brother; he thinks he’s bigger and better than
everyone.” The younger man could see the irritation in his supervisor’s eyes.
He could tell that Daniel and his brother didn’t exactly get along and Jordan
knew that the reason for that was David. Daniel was a good guy, never
disrespected anyone and saw everyone as his equal. Jordan initially thought
that Daniel was going to be stuck up just because his father is the boss, but
he was happy to learn that Daniel was laid back and he cared for other people.
Meanwhile, his accountant brother was the stereotypical wealthy father's son.

“It’s alright, as long as everyone keeps their distance from
him, I think we would be alright.” Daniel cracked a quick smile at that and
then he got straight to business.

“How’s everything going outside?”

“Everything is going well. The cattle just got fed, and a
guy was inquiring about purchasing one of them. He’s starting his own ranch and
he’s going around asking for tips from others.” Daniel frowned at this. He was
well aware that his father had people wanting to follow in his footsteps.
Daniel respected these types of individuals, but he knew that his father wouldn’t
give anyone any of his animals, and Jeffery wasn’t willing to give out any
tips. Jeffery Marshalls was a good man; however, he’s a businessman and Jeffery
wanted to always have the upper hand. He’d be flattered that people looked up
to him and wanted to be like him, but there was no way in hell that he would
offer any advice to individuals who might become his rival.

“I’ll let my father know about this. Can you write up a
letter explaining everything that transpired with this person and hand it back to
me by the end of the day?” Daniel knew Jordan would be wasting his time doing
that, but Daniel still needed to follow the proper procedures.

“Sure, I can manage that. By the way, I’m not trying to be
in your business or anything like that, but are you alright? You look like you
just ate something sour.” Jordan asked looking over his supervisor’s apparent
displeased demeanor. Daniel scratched his chin for a quick moment contemplating
how he wanted to respond to that. He wasn’t the type of person who would be
walking around visibly pissed and tell someone that he was perfectly fine.
Daniel honestly could not understand why people did that.

“I’ve just got some rather shocking news from my father.
It’s not something that you have to worry about.” Then again, is it something
that his people should worry about? If David inherited the company, he would
have the full power to do whatever he wanted. The question running around in
Daniel’s head was if David was to acquire the company, would he rehire new
employees and get rid of the old ones? Would David consider replacing Daniel as
well and find someone that he feels is a better fit to supervise the people?
The longer he thought about it, the more anxiety started to take over him.
“Sorry, I remembered something important that I need to get done. Come by my
office later and deliver the letter.” 

“Sure, talk to you later.” Jordan gave his boss a quick nod
and made his way back outside. Daniel hustled to his office and shut his door
and locked it. Leaning against the door with his eyes closed Daniel finally put
more thought into his father’s conditions for inheriting the ranch.

“Will David fire us all if he gets married and have a kid
before I do?”