It Goes On - Book l

Desperate Approval

"You know, Phil, I was beginning to think this day would never happen." Tokala sighed, watching at Phil willingly signed the contract he and Tokala agreed upon.

"Consider it one of the best Monday's to date," Phil chuckled. "Wyoming has... certainly left its mark on me."

"I see that," Tokala smirked, taking the pen Phil had handed to him before signing his name on the dotted line. "Bring the check."

"Wow, now I wish a big check like that would fit into my wallet!"

"It's a big day, Phil. For both of us. Grab this end here and I'll grab the other. We'll present it to the press."

"What're we waiting for?"

"Bring them in, please."

Tokala's assistant nodded, her heels clanking against the hardwood floor before opening the office door to four members of the local press, all of them flooding in to get the first photo as well as compete with one another to have their story published. "Our ways of gambling with our future is over," Tokala spoke. "Working together with new partnership only elevates our progress of succeeding."

"To mark a new era for your generation." Phil added.

"And for all of Wyoming."

"Where's our next location after we get the casino and hotel built?" Phil whispered under his breath.

"Kiera Dutton's ranch," Tokala smiled. "One day at a time."

"I'll be here every day of the week."

*

"No, understand that not only is it Monday, but I recall telling you to email me the proposal so I wouldn't have to look at you again, that includes speaking over the phone."

"Look, I just wanted to let you know about another place I found—"

"God, you reek of desperation," Kiera nearly laughed. "How about you do what I told you and fuck off?"

The realtor sighed on the other end of the phone, "I'll be in touch."

"Keep telling yourself that." She scoffed, ending the phone call abruptly before retrieving her vape pen from the drawer in her desk. Although she had quit smoking for almost two years due to her pregnancy and raising her children, there were just some days where she was damn glad to have had one on standby for when she felt she needed it. Exhaling a thick cloud of smoke, she nearly grimaced at the figure hesitating to even walk into her office in the first place.

Dennis.

"Boy, am I sure glad I have nicotine to get rid of the headache you're about to give me," She scoffed. "For a man with such a pea-sized heart, you sure have a lot of balls to face me right now."

"I know it's not a good time—"

"It's never a good time when you come waltzing into my office. What do you want?"

Dennis sighed, "Look, I need you to put aside our differences, Kiera. Please remember one thing: we're family."

"Aren't you entitled," She breathed a laugh. "Suddenly, you're family when you think you have the opportunity to take something that doesn't belong to you? I find it funny because you never came around unless you wanted something."

"I was busy, Kiera—"

"Too busy to not show up to your own father's funeral? What a crock of shit. Or was it because you were too busy meeting your mistress in a hotel an hour out of town because you're too chicken-shit to tell your wife you don't love her anymore?"