MAYA 2 - A Hidden KEY-

Chapter 23

48 hours prior...

They say never to mix business and pleasure.
If this is true, why is my father's workspace bottled to the brim with Jack Daniels?
I let my small intrusive thoughts crystallize into larger ones, my legs kick the elements making the large swivel chair my legs pirouette around this underground rough.

I mean it looks like a rough..dad calls it an office.
Some office.
I've rarely been inside, I've even less rarely wondered what happens inside.
I wonder why.
My eyes cycle up and down the custard walls.
Damn.
It's ironic how a place of work can simultaneously act as a boy's dream man cave.
Just look at the state of this place!
So many Ballpoint pens and contracts stomached in dumb translucent boxes, while his favorite horseshoe magnets dribble down the pin board I bought him for Christmas.
It was supposed to be for crazy eureka-type moments he has that you just have to write down before they're lost.

But now it's his own vision board of equestrian merchandise. Touché.My dad's always prided himself on having many British things. He has a very weird, almost American fascination with England, which is where he and I just don't mix. I may be rich and I may be privileged but at least I still know where I come from. No amount of trust funds or private Hamptons beach houses is going to make me forget that.

And then there's his little brewery decked at the back.
I eye the glasses and they eye me.
Each is significant to a different stock, woman, or lawsuit my dad has won. Sticking to one goal was never his forte might I add.

How do I know all this? The maids have their unethical ways. But I am the enabler of their gossip, it lets me unravel the next chase my father pursues before the press release confirms my theories.
I waltz from corner to corner nestled in my many entertaining questions.
What woman is he dating
What children does he have?

'What possessed you to mess up a fifteen hundred dollar armrest?'

I stop my chair dance. Retreat Jonah. I repeat. Retreat!!

Dad smacks the side of my head with his checkbook. 'Get up kid.'

A string bean has never been pulled more upright than I just was by those words.

'Yes bro-sir' What did i just nearly call him?
'Cut the formalities and sit down.'
My Father's spectacles were on and his hat came down. His cufflinks were pushed up his arms. I could spot his long hair visibly running down his back in auburn waves.
I could smell his aftershave now too.
He just naturally looks like a well-groomed horse.
There's no other way to say it.

'Jonah, I'm going to ask you a question and I want you to be clear with me.'

why do I feel like I've done something wrong even though God knows I've never offended a fly? eh... that's not exactly true either. I've had my fair share of Messups. Who hasn't?

'Uhh, sure?'

'If someone looks like a rat, smells like a rat, acts like a rat...given your deductive skills, what would that be?'

Your fiance.

'A rat.' I answer humidly.

'No, YOU!' He thrusts his fist toward me accusingly. I stared at the fist with a facade of confusion. Then with a pleading face, he began to howl. 'You scheduled an evening dinner with my brother! Do you hate me? Do you want me dead?! How did you even get to my PA-?'

'But I thought you were fond of Lev?' I blanked innocently, evading his questions with my life. 'Didn't you say he hasn't contacted you in months since Junior Graduation?'

My father's face morphed into a neutral state of irritation and confusion. I was trying not to smirk. He's confused now, he can't fully remember what I'm talking about, but while trying to remember it, he's forgetting what he was just speaking about. He's in a limbo situation, it's always been hard for him to multitask. No wonder he has so many pinboards.

Best to lay off Jack Daniels.

'Er...sure.' He blinks shaking his head. He looks like a slot machine that's losing storage space. Sweet.

Now assuring myself I'm on enough safe ground to kiss him on the cheek, I take out my diary. 'Oh and remember, we're meeting them at 6 pm tomorrow, so please don't suit up dad, it's unbecoming when it's family.'

My Dad gruffed back an appreciative yes. 'But I'm only doing this 'cause I like that boy.' He warned, leaning deeper into his chair. 'Nothing else gon make me do it.'

'You're the boss.' I jeer back grabbing my things. 'I'll be in my room if you need me.'

SLAM !

Slipping my phone out my pocket, i decided against my goodwill and called an old friend.

Me: Are you free tomorrow?

Anonymous: Why... what are you going to do?

Me: Ahh, Nothing Shakespeare couldn't turn into a really good play. You in?

Anonymous: ....What's in it for me?

Me: Your safety if you follow what I ask. Remember, I can always give out where u are at any given moment.

I slide my phone back where it came from. Popping my AirPods in my ears, I let Lexie Liu's Manta slowly wash into my brain. I'll let that thought melt on their mind a little.

Besides.

I better see fire burn tomorrow.

A/N: I don't know why I felt the need to give Jonah more spotlight but hey! She's a baddie, y not.Also hiii.