Can't Let You Go

***LIAM***

Unfortunately, as I was leaving the gala, I was spotted by people who recognized me. Using a burner phone I'd bought, I call Dragon Lady early the next morning to calm her temper with a cover story. Someone else answers on her end, handing it over only after informing her that her son is calling.

"You're calling from a local number, I assume you are in Alaris." She's formal and cold, but I'm not surprised.

"That is correct."

"Come to the townhouse tonight at five." Unexpectedly, she disconnects the call without further questions. This may not be a good thing.

When I arrive at the townhouse, where my whole family lives, I am led into her private sitting room.

"You're late," she snips at me from behind a book.

"It's one minute 'til five by my clock."

"If you're not early, you're late, but that's not what I mean." Setting her book down, she looks me over.

I'm wearing a navy suit and a green tie - a combo I know she favors on me.

"We agreed that you'd come back before you turned thirty to learn how to run the business so you can take it over one day."

"That was not precisely the agreement. It goes something like, 'If after the age of thirty, I have not established a stable and profitable company of my own, I agree to join the family business.' I'm still thirty. If you're unhappy with the timeline, you can always cut me off like you said you would."

"Let's not go that far. Yet." She holds her hand out to me in an invitation to sit next to her. "I'll give you a chance to make it up to me." She pats my knee. Being affectionate is a sure sign she's up to something.

"What would you like me to do?"

"You need to start looking for a wife." Reaching into a leather bag beside her, she pulls out a folio. "Here's the list of women I want you to meet."

"You only found out I was here this morning. How did you get this prepared so quickly?"

"I've kept it updated on a monthly basis since your twenty-seventh birthday."

"Mother, seriously. This is too much." I flip through the pages of photos and basic details of about a dozen or so women.

"Actually, it's at least one too few. The heir to Savis Group has returned. Although, I suppose her inheritance will be cut so the illegitimate little boy will have something."

"What are you talking about?"

"I can't tell if you're playing dumb or if you're serious." She narrows her eyes at me for a moment. "I've already been informed of your appearance at the Savis Holiday Gala last night. Do you expect me to believe you don't know anything about them?"

"If you hadn't hung up so hastily, you could have heard about that directly from me. Yes, I was there. I came towards the end after they stopped manning the entry, but you'd already left. As for the drama between so-called legitimate and illegitimate heirs, you know I've never paid attention to that stuff. Besides, I haven't been to a Savis party since I was a small boy."

"Fine, I'll fill you in. Surely you're familiar with Savis."

I nod.

"Jacob Cohen had two children. Quillon, who died six or seven years ago, and Honey, whom I'm sure you saw last night. Then four or five years ago Jacob's mistress gave birth to another son. That odious woman had the gall to name him Jacob Arthur Cohen, Junior. After Quillon's death, Jacob's wife disappeared and after that boy's birth, Honey disappeared. She was a lovely, quiet little girl. Athena, that's Jacob's wife's name, never said much about her so I always assumed she wasn't very talented or bright, but when you're a Savis heir, that hardly matters."