Chapter 8
Anthony made the first real mistake.
He waited until dessert.
Then said:
“Some children have to learn more than others.”
I looked at him.
Sadie was coloring beside me.
Calvin sat across from her.
“What does Calvin need to learn?”
Anthony smiled.
“Responsibility.”
“And Sadie?”
“Restraint.”
I nodded.
Interesting word.
“Restraint from what?”
He looked at Gloria.
She should have stopped him.
She didn’t.
“Expectation.”
I felt cold.
“A three-year-old has too many expectations?”
“When her father teaches her the world moves because she asks.”
I looked at Sadie.
She was trying to draw a horse that looked like a potato.
Dangerous levels of entitlement.
I almost smiled.
Then Anthony continued.
“Calvin understands things are earned.”
I glanced at his grandson’s steak.
“Apparently edible meat is merit-based.”
Pierce coughed to hide a laugh.
Gloria glared at him.
Anthony’s face hardened.
“You make jokes because you don’t want to hear the concern.”
“No.”
I looked at him.
“I make jokes because your concern sounds ridiculous when said plainly.”
Victor leaned forward.
“Donovan.”
I turned.
“If you want something, ask.”
He stared.
The room tightened.
Finally:
“Restore the senior council.”
There it was.
No more indirect pressure.
I smiled faintly.
“No.”
Gloria sighed.
Anthony pushed his chair back.
“You didn’t even consider it.”
“I considered it four years ago.”
“When?”
“When my father died and I dismantled it.”
Silence.
Victor’s face hardened.
I continued.
“It turned every decision into seven old men protecting each other.”
“That’s called balance.”
“No. That was called delay.”
Anthony stood.
“Then don’t complain when the family corrects you.”
Sadie stopped coloring.
Calvin looked frightened.
I hated that.
Children again.
I leaned forward.
“You want to threaten me, do it after they leave.”
Anthony looked toward Sadie.
Then made another mistake.
“She should hear what power costs.”
I stood.
“Bodyguards.”
Two men entered.
“Take both children upstairs.”
Calvin looked at his father.
Anthony started to object.
I raised one hand.
“No.”
Calvin went with Sadie.
That mattered.
Same exit.
Same protection.
No rank.
No comparison.
When the doors closed, I looked at Anthony.
“What happens if I refuse?”
He smiled.
“You already did.”
Then the lights went out.
Not dramatic.
Strategic.
Three seconds.
May you like
When they returned, Victor was gone.
And so was Gloria.
