| |
“What a surprise!” Bin’s laughter arrived in the dining room before she did. The sound gained volume when she confirmed her housekeeper’s news that Fray was there. “Oh sit, sit!” she urged when he would’ve stood to escort her into the room.
“Can I get you anymore?” Bin offered once she approached the long table where Fray sat eating and she dropped a kiss to the top of his head.
“Thanks, but no. Genise already put four servings of this gumbo in my bowl.”
“Mmm and yet you’ve almost scraped the bowl clean.” Binta recognized pretend dismay when she heard it.
“Well,” Fray shrugged. “I didn’t want to hurt her feelings.”
There was laughter and then Bin was wrapping her arms about Fray’s shoulders. “El didn’t say anything about you being back when I had dinner with her and Moira.”
Fray pushed away his empty bowl. “Moy’s back?” Furrows appeared between his brows. “Good thing I left Zy and War back at the hotel. El doesn’t know I’m back yet.”
“And with Zyon and Warwick?” Bin was ecstatic that her other grandnephews were on the island.
“I’ll make sure you see Zy before Moira puts him in his grave,” Fray joined in when Binta laughed.
The woman sobered soon after. “I think Moira will be too concerned about Teller to worry over much else.”
“Concerned about Teller?” Fray sat back and listened to the news that Teller Croix had been found on the outskirts of his property. He had suffered a brutal beating with the most serious blows to his face and head.
“Where was security?”
Bin shook her head on the question. “They didn’t catch a whiff of anything strange on the property. Whoever attacked Teller apparently knocked him out in his home. Security found signs of a struggle there. Then, they took him out to the edge of his yard where they planned to finish the job. Skull fractures put him in a coma, but the doctors don’t think there will be any brain damage.”
“Do they expect him to pull out of it anytime soon?” Fray asked.
“They think he may,” Bin clasped her hands. “That’s giving the family some comfort.”
“And no leads on who's responsible.” It wasn’t a question. Fray was sure that whoever attacked Teller Croix had been careful not to leave behind any clues.
“I’m sure you’re right.” Bin moved to the line of tall windows behind the rectangular dining table. Stopping before one, she took in the riveting scene of tree tops being whipped by strong winds.
Fray let silence carry for a while. “Am I also right about you being the anonymous author of the list demanding the removal of certain top level execs at New Corp in Atlanta?”
Bin smiled, still enjoying the view beyond the windows. “Smart, just like your father,” she sighed. “We had such high hopes for Bron. If only his curiosity about all his great grandfather’s madness hadn’t taken him down the wrong road. When did you know?” She asked Fray.
“When I found out Micha Dunlap worked for a company that had dealings with VanSty.” He smiled when Bin’s rich laughter filled the room.
“Smart like I said,” she turned then, resting back on the tall windows. “You know, I started to put you in charge of Ohio and Georgia too but I wanted to give the others a chance, show them they were trusted-loved.”
Bin shook her head. The gesture seemed solemn, weighted. “I told you boys to stay away from VanSty. Warned you’d faced my wrath if you didn’t. Told you, you’d all regret it if you got in bed with people I didn’t approve of. Told you, you’d never see me coming.”
Fray smiled then, recalling what Ellia said about a woman’s best weapon was in her being underestimated. “How’d you know they’d gotten in bed with them?”
“Oh I have my sources,” Bin extended a hand as though studying her nails. “Our staffing organization for one. They didn’t like being squeezed out of providing staff for jobs, but back then it was Teller who put me on the hunt.”
“Teller.” Again, Fray’s brow furrowed.
“It was just after he came back home- after Russ and the others fired him from Atlanta,” Bin moved on down the row of windows. “I always found it strange that he went to work for the others instead of you, Zy and War. They were the ones who branded Tel and his family...that night.”
Memory flashing, Fray rested his elbows on the table and held his head in his hands.
“Anyway,” Bin turned back to her view, “I assumed he was there for his own benefit- turned out I was right.” Fray’s laughter had her whirling to face him again. “What?”
“Done in by their own arrogance. They never thought anyone would be bold enough to cross them.”
“Well they didn’t welcome him with totally open arms, you know?”
“How so?” Some of Fray’s amusement curbed.
“Tell wouldn’t give me many details, but I got enough to piece it together.”
Fray smiled at Binta’s bad attempt at modesty. Few women could claim a sharper mind than Binta Guthrie.
“He told me your cousins were involved in some secret deal. So secret, the contracts had no names except his. He took it to mean they were drawing him into their confidence. I knew it meant they were setting him up for a fall. His position with the company was secured until he asked who else was involved. Your cousins couldn’t risk him looking into it any deeper.”
“But why fire him? He could’ve just worked to find the anonymous partners on his own, couldn’t he? Why not keep him close-keep an eye on him?” Fray considered.
“I always thought there was a more pressing reason behind that firing anyway.” Bin said. “And so what if he proved anything. It would’ve still been his word against theirs. Teller’s was the only name identified, remember? Your cousins would’ve had plenty of time to cover their tracks and have those numbers link elsewhere if he’d spoken up about what he knew.”
“Covering tracks. Like getting rid of everyone who knew about the deal? Down to the assistant who handled all the paperwork.”
“That poor girl,” Bin muttered over Fray’s words as she fidgeted with the navy suede edge of the pearl drapes adorning the tall windows.
“After that talk with Teller, I started looking deeper into your cousins’ business affairs. I told Teller to never mention we talked. It took me a while to make the VanSty connection, but once I did I started making my plans. I still didn’t know what their plan involved, but with VanSty a part of it...I wanted the rest of us as far removed from it as possible.”
“Why didn’t you come to us, Bin? Or at least tell us what you suspected?”
“Because you’re all still too young to be tossing caution to the wind,” Bin’s tone was matter-of-fact. “When you get my age, you’re old enough not to give a damn about burning bridges if it means doing what needs to be done. You’ve been able to get the signatures you need to get the others out, but they still have lots of supporters,” she cautioned. “You’ll need help getting rid of them too.
Now some might see my methods against Russ and the others as a tad harsh, but they won’t argue with me. That might be a different story for you boys.”
“Why do you hate ‘em so much, Bin? VanSty?”
“You mean besides the rumors of them not paying their workers in a timely manner or at all sometime?” Still not ready to sit, Bin went to lean against the long table while she pondered Fray’s question.
“I had to dig a bit to uncover that tidbit and I still haven’t been able to find an employee to validate the rumor. Hmph...Evan and Rusty Clydes living up to their family’s shameful name. Apple doesn’t fall far.
I know the Clydes family quite well. Their ancestors were slaves of another Charleston family, but they didn’t fare as well. Fare as well...Lord...” Bin put her face in her hands and sighed deeply.
“They were brutalized according to the stories I heard from my elders. The Clydes were known to hold their auctions right on the plantation once a year and they made a big to-do of it. Had their slaves prepare big-time- cooking, cleaning, all for a celebration where the entertainment would be members of their own families being sold. Children as young as three...taken and that was among the milder of the horrors they endured.
Bin hugged herself, staring past the window as she spoke. “During and after the war, many of them left and never came back. The ones who did were a pitiful sight. They took refuge here on the island and earned their keep by sharing what they knew about shipbuilding. The Clydes made their money in that industry. The first ferries to New Island were built by the former slaves of that plantation. Given what you found in that cave, I guess it didn’t take my grandfather long to find a new way to exploit their talents. When he decided to sell his own people, I’m sure he got the Clydes to build the boats for transport. As I recall, they were very supportive of the branding ritual.
When Grampy died, those who were left, moved on. Some years later they started Clyde Shipping. As the years went by, the company diversified- new projects, services...but to those of us who really knew them and their history, they were no more than a family of black slavers. Our family already has so much to answer for...” Looking weary, Bin studied her hands. “We can’t afford to take on the weight of anyone else’s sins.”
Fray didn’t know what else to say, so he let his actions speak. Pushing up from the table, he tugged Bin into a snug, lingering embrace.
***
Binta Guthrie’s birthday celebration events began during the week of Halloween with the remainder of the get togethers taking place during the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas.
A formal cocktail party at The Taylor got things underway that evening. The dress code called for elegance and the guests didn’t disappoint as they mingled in crisp tuxedoes or stunning gowns. The steady rain of the past several days had ramped up to furious. The temps had taken a steady plunge that, in no way, discouraged some from wearing their most accessible outfits. Conversation was as much about the night’s festivities as it was about the designers responsible for all the top tier attire. Such topics, popular as they were, held no interest for the couple tucked away in a small nook on the other end of the hotel’s wide front desk.
If Frayzer had any interest in the topic of clothing that evening, it was how to get Ellia out of hers.
“What’s wrong?” She asked when his third curse stirred the air between them.
“How the hell do I get you out of this thing?”
For a moment, El couldn’t think, too breathless from the throaty kiss she’d been subjected to long enough to have her thoughts blur.
“Zipper’s under my arm,” she managed eventually.
Fray took her mouth again, clearly opposed to anything that disturbed their kiss. Still, he appreciated the clue to relieving her of the gold-toned gown that conformed to her lithe, slender frame.
El’s habitual whimpers resumed during the kiss and she was fully absorbed in it. No great feat, as much as she’d missed him. She almost forgot where they were when he hoisted her high against the wall of the cozy, dark nook. Fray broke their kiss to ravage her neck while smoothing a hand up her side to locate the zipper tab.
“Fray we can’t,” she whispered, following up with shushing him when he groaned and let his forehead drop to her shoulder.
“I can’t be away from you again, Elli. Next trip, you’re with me. No argument.”
“Okay.”
Kissing resumed, greedy, lustily.
“You’re easy,” he murmured in the midst of devouring her mouth.
“Sure...when I’m doing what I want to.”
He broke the kiss suddenly to fix her with a look. “So your ‘okays’ come easy when you’re doing what you want?”
“Mmm...”
He nodded at her response, lashes fluttering as a wave of gratitude overtook him. He thanked God for allowing him a second chance with the woman he treasured.
“Elli? I need to ask you something.”
“Okay...”
He hoped she’d respond in kind once she heard his question, Fray thought. He didn’t have the chance to share it before she was initiating their next kiss, that one sultrier than the last. He was happy to let his mind cloud, until his hormones again demanded that he add sight to touch. He was working to persuade El from her dress, when they were interrupted by a gasp and then an apology. It was Ted.
“Ellia, Mr. Guthrie I-I’m sorry uh- Ellia there’s a problem with a guest in your office. He’s pretty irate.”
“Irate? You’re sure?” El quickly, subtly tried to fix her clothes. They didn’t get many irate guests especially once the tourists vacated for family.
“It’s a recent checkout. He just realized his wife’s trunks didn’t make it back to the mainland with them- one of them was carrying her diamonds. He won’t talk to anybody but you,” Ted explained. “He says he’s sure one of your...subordinates helped themselves to his wife’s belongings.”
El gave a sigh and then a nod. “Thanks Ted, on my way.”
Once Ted made a quick departure, El returned to snuggle into Fray. “Save me a dance?” she asked.
“All my dances are saved for you,” he promised.
El made a face. “I don’t think the birthday girl will approve.”
“Oh I think she will.”
“In that case,” playful curiosity had El’s eyes narrowing. “I’ll see you soon,” she put another kiss to his jaw and hurried off.
Fray watched her go and then pulled a tiny black box from an inside pocket of his tux. Opening it, he smiled down at the ring he’d bought back with him.
~~~
“I forgot how seriously people take this stuff,” Zyon was telling his cousins as they looked down on the swarm of well-dressed guests from where they stood along The Taylor’s wraparound balcony level. “When’s Bin making her big debut?” He asked Fray.
Fray had been responsible for getting the guest of honor to the party venue. He’d gone to find El earlier once he’d gotten Bin settled in her suite. The room was always especially reserved for the woman whenever she graced the other side of the island with her presence.
Laughing then, Fray took a sip of the drink he’d accepted from a passing waiter. “She’s taking the back way into LaRue’s. Everyone’s gonna be looking for her to make an entrance from the staircase. She’ll surprise them from the balcony above LaRue’s,” he pointed.
“When the party months are done, we should find a way to surprise her,” Zyon said once he and War were done laughing. “Really surprise her.”
“I think I beat you to it,” Fray said.
War and Zy traded curious frowns before turning to their cousin. Fray finished his drink in one easy gulp, set it to the balconies wide stone ledge, reached into his jacket and withdrew the velvet ring box.
“I told Bin before we left the house.”
Zyon and Warwick were clearly stunned, watching Fray open the small square box. Inside, sat a square diamond atop a platinum band.
Zy moved to take a closer look. “El,” he breathed.
War perched on the ledge and stroked his jaw. “You’re serious,” his tone was awe-filled.
“I’m serious,” Fray studied the ring as well.
Silent seconds ticked between the men and then Zyon clapped Fray’s shoulder while War squeezed his forearm. Laughter was in full swing less than half a minute later.
“Is that for my cousin?”
Zyon was first to turn at the sound of the question. Humor fled his striking, honey toned face and was replaced by a look that echoed captivation and uncertainty. “Moy,” his voice carried depth but sounded stricken.
Moira didn’t glance in Zyon’s direction. Her bright gaze was fixed on the ring box Fray held.
“Is it?” She probed, meeting Fray’s eyes for only a moment before she focused in on the diamond once more.
“It is,” with a nod Fray looked to the ring nestled in the gray satin padding. “Moy um...I haven’t had the chance to ask her yet. I hope you won’t-”
“What?” Moira almost laughed the word. “Tell her what you’re planning?” Her voice was almost a hiss then. “That kind of bullshit is the very last thing she’d ever hear from me.”
“Moira I love her.”
“And she loves you.” Moira’s tone was matter-of-fact. Briefly, she raised her hands in a show of acknowledgement. Then, she was stalking forward- a finger stabbing Fray’s chest.
“She loves you, but I know you.” Quickly, she regarded Warwick and then Zyon in the same scathing manner she had their cousin. She looked back to Fray.
“I know you all. Don’t give her a reason to lose faith in you again, Guthrie. Do that and I’ll see to it you don’t get another chance-not with El. Not with anyone.”
The men watched Moira until she’d disappeared into the lively crowd. Fray moved close to Zyon and squeezed his shoulder.
“Still sure you can win her back?” Fray asked.
Zyon’s gaze continued to follow Moira through the crowd. “Absolutely,” he said.