MAD
"Kolby," Linden called him.
The couple came, smiling.
"Aren't you everywhere?" Spade chuckled. I knew what he meant. "You were at the masquerade ball and later on, at Sawyer Porter's party. And the next morning, your face was all over the internet."
"I wish people knew about the ball rather than the birthday party." I stood up and shook his hand. "How's Lex?"
"Lex is great. We should catch up this weekend. I'll allow you to win." He smirked. Lex always won the golf.
"I'll look into my schedule."
"He's famous," Robyn said, hugging me. "You should try his omelet."
"Yeah. It's the best." Spade looked at Linden. "Make him an omelet and convince him to join the club."
"I'm planning to, without my omelet." He smiled and kissed Robyn on the cheek. "How are you, Robyn?"
"I'm good, thanks." She took her husband's hand. "Let's go, babe. I think they have important matters to talk about."
"See you soon, both of you. Tell your parents I said hi."
Smiling, I nodded at him.
Once the couple left, Linden asked, "So, what's the emergency?"
I sat down to pull the paper from my jacket pocket and give it to him. He hesitated at first before opening it. Without a word, he beamed at me as if he had just hit the jackpot.
"What?" I continued eating. I've met him a couple of times at events and parties. My father, he, and even Moses Braddson knew each other. Since my cousin, London Vanderford, married a Braddson, the circle of friends had expanded.
"How's Clem?" he asked.
"He's fine. Are you gonna tell me why you're smiling?"
"Two months ago, someone approached me to find someone. It's not a coincidence that we're here, giving me a profile of the same woman. Who's she to you?"
"So you know her?" I studied him.
"Personally, no, but I know someone who knows her family." His food arrived, and he started digging in. "And boy, you don't wanna mess with these two families."
"Let's say I'm in the dark with all of this, Linden. Care to spill the tea?"
He paused and looked at me without judgment, but he seemed to have known something more than he let on. "A cup of tea to spill isn't enough."
"Huh." I put my silverware down and sighed. "I'm sure you are aware of my issue."
He smiled knowingly. "You're famous, but your cousin believes you're a good person."
"Come on. What's with the smile? It's creeping me out."
"You're not the first man who approached me with this kind of issue. In fact, I already lost count," he continued to talk in cryptic terms, which hurt my head. "And we've formed a club."
"What?" I stared at him before he barked out laughing. "What club?"
"You'll find out soon enough." He quickly switched the topic. "What do you wanna know?"
"Everything."
"Will she be in good hands? I'm sorry, Shanewood, that I have to ask this. I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt because I know your father and London. I can't vouch for Linus. That old man is still a dick, and I also know you're a good man who wants to have fun before settling down."
"Whoa. I'm paying for your company's service. I just want an extensive background check on Tara Montimer."
"Alessia Hearst came to me two months ago. I know her family," Linden said. Why was this Alessia Hearst so popular?
"What do you know about Alessia Hearst?"
"A lot. She's the half-sister of the current king of Capria. The King of Capria's daughter married my best friend, Rome Langston." I'd heard about Rome Langston.
"What? You're kidding." I stared at him in shock. "The country in Europe? Then what's her connection with Tara Montimer?"
"Good question."
***
"You're trending again." Sawyer's voice echoed in my home office. "I'm sorry, Mad. I shouldn't have invited you."
"You're my best friend. Whether I received an invite or not, it's your birthday, bro. I would still be there. I just have to compromise a little. This issue will die down."
"How's your father holding up?"
"Not good. In fact, he and the board have decided that I should step down or settle down."
"That's harsh. So, are you stepping down or settling down?" He scoffed.
"I don't know. I haven't decided yet."
"Man, that's what got you in trouble in the first place, because you're not ready to settle down. I mean, I know there are millions of women out there who want to have a piece of you and your stake in the company. But the question is, do you have someone in mind?"
At this point, I couldn't tell him knowing that Tara was about to decide, so I said, "No. Since it's my father's idea, then it's his problem to find someone suitable for me."
"You're kidding. First, you're grounded. Now, a contract marriage? That's even worse. What's next? An heir?" He sounded even amused.
"I know, but I worked hard for this position. One or two mistakes can't take the seat away from me. I'll fight for it with everything I have. Let's not even talk about birthright. I'm still a majority shareholder." I blew a breath. "But I'm failing to put things together. Every time I did something good, something blew up that ruined everything I put my effort into. So I agreed, if in the end it will justify the means."
"Hey. Don't be too hard on yourself. Man, you're brilliant. Maybe you should just stay away from the public attention for a while." And then he joked, "And maybe, it's my time to shine, not always behind Mad Shanewood's shadow, right?"
"Hey. What are you talking about?"
"Nothing, bro. I just want to lift you up."
"Thanks, Sawyer. You already have."
"Have you thought about the investment I talked to you about?" He mentioned about me investing in a start-up company while he was drunk on his birthday, I thought he would not remember it the next day.
"I'll check it out."
"Well, if you need anything, I'm just a call away. I'll come and throw a stone at your window."
"You're crazy." I laughed as I hung up the call.
