“Bid on me Nicky,” Jessica yelped.
“No Nicky, bid on me,” Mallory whined, twirling around in a circle, rocking that beautiful ass to one side with her elbow on her hip, then quickly to the other side. She pirouetted back around to the front, winking at me.
I was at a loss for words as I seductively eyed them both. I sipped my champagne slowly, wondering how I was going to save myself from an impossible choice. I wanted to bow down to the Gods of I’m Willing and Able, pay homage, lay my cards on the table, and make love to these two damn beautiful bodies at the same time. Oh boy. I was going to have to write another big check with itty bitty zeros.
Before I could mouth a word, Lucia rolled her eyes at me, walking away headed toward Stephen’s direction at the same time Big Daddy walked over, grabbing both girls by their waists.
“Now ladies, let’s don’t fight,” Big Daddy said in his deep, husky, in-control voice. “Money is no object for the two most beautiful creatures in the room. I think I’ll take them both,” Big Daddy said, positioning himself in the middle of the both of them, kissing Mallory on the cheek first, then kissing Jessica on the cheek next.
“Hello Father,” I said, straightening my back.
“Nicky, this is your father?” Mallory and Jessica asked, screaming, jumping up and down, clapping their hands like two starry-eyed kids in a candy store.
“Father, may I introduce Mallory Morgan and Jessica Leonard.”
Big Daddy turned his natural charm on full force, all the way up the Richter scale, fat cigar and all.
“You ladies look so lovely. Perhaps my son will let me hold The Julianna so the three of us can make a hop, skip, and a jump to the French Rivera. We can sprawl out on the deck in St. Tropez, drink champagne, bubble and bathe.”
Mallory and Jessica giggled like two school girls who had hit the jackpot.
“You lovelies are strikingly stunning. I feel like giving all my money away tonight. Good God, dollars, and Pradas. I think I might give away a million bucks,” Big Daddy chuckled, looking both ladies up and down while admiring their striking figures.
Oh no he didn’t say that. What the fuck was in that cigar Big Daddy was smoking? I know he did not say he wanted to take my two-hundred foot yacht, The Julianna, any-fucking-where to go on some enticing venture in St. Tropez with Mallory and Jessica. I could not believe my lying ears. I was going to be low man on the totem pole if Mallory and Jessica got pulled in by Big Daddy’s shenanigans. It wouldn’t take those gold diggers long to sniff out the fact that Big Daddy’s green was as long as his reach.
“Oh Mr. Becker,” the gals screamed. They were jumping up and down, shaking those luscious booties, their breasts desiring to escape those teeny weenie bras, all while eye-googling Big Daddy.
“My friends call me “Big Daddy,” my father said huskily, yanking both of them closer to himself by their waists, grinning from ear to ear.
I rolled my eyes. I wasn’t sure how long I could bear this scene. I scanned the room, hoping to pick Lucia out of the crowd. She was across the room with Stephen. Her eyes locked onto mine like radar. She shook her head at me as if I were losing my touch, lifting her glass up acknowledging that she had her eye on me. I wondered if she realized I was being out-manned by my own damn father. I lifted my glass back at her, nodding through clenched teeth in a fake smile.
Mallory and Jessica were flirting, kissing, and hugging my father, completely enamored. Mackenzie Rhodes moved our direction with her long-lensed Nikon camera in tow.
“How about a picture, Nicholas?” Mackenzie said with a wicked gleam in her eye.
“Come Nicky, let’s all take a picture with Big Daddy,” Mallory spouted, bubbling over with excitement.
“Yes, let’s all take a picture,” Jessica said, pulling me into the frame with her, Mallory, and Big Daddy.
Big Daddy and the ladies smiled ear to ear. I feigned enjoyment for the camera, figuring MacKenzie was pulling this stunt, taking my picture on purpose so she could have some evidence against me to slide under Harper’s nose. I had no idea how Big Daddy expected me to be able to meet his expectations of wooing a woman or a wife under these conditions.
When the fight for Joduku Plastics got underway with Harper, it was going to be rough going all around. It was bad enough Harper made me dig deep to win that piece of artwork I wanted, knowing all the time she was forcing me to overpay. I made a mental note to seriously school that woman. The mere thinking about that art bidding stunt she pulled made me vacillate between wanting to take her over my knee and spank her, and wanting to wrap her in my arms and kiss her. I was a ball of mixed emotions and confusion.
One thing for sure, Harper was going to be angry all over again when she saw tonight’s pictures. I wondered what tabloid god I was going to have to pray to or pay to keep myself off the front pages with these two hot tens and Big Daddy.
“Well if you ladies will excuse me, I’d like to have a moment in private with my son Nicholas here,” Big Daddy said. “Don’t worry ladies, I’ll be careful to make sure my boy here doesn’t outbid me tonight,” Big Daddy laughed heartily.
“Not at all, we still have more money to raise,” Mallory purred in Big Daddy’s ear, flashing her seductive smile, licking her tinted pink lips with her tongue. “C’mon Jessica.”
Mallory grabbed Jessica’s hand and off they swished to the other side of the room to shake down some of the other rich patrons into parting with their money.
“Bye Nicky, Bye Big Daddy,” Jessica said, turning her back, flicking her hips, and burning a path of heat as she turned walked away, leaving me and Big Daddy in shreds in her wake.
“Good God, boy,” Big Daddy said. “Let’s go to the VIP area with the big dog donors and talk in private. It’s time for you to stop your monkey business with these sirens and start thinking about your future,” he said calmly, walking us into the VIP area, and propping us both in a red velvet–lined booth, raising his hand to get the server’s attention.
“He’ll have a vodka,” Big Daddy growled, pointing his cigar laden hand at me. I’ll have a Jack Daniels double, neat.”
Big Daddy was all over Mallory and Jessica, yet he stood here accusing me of being the one engaged in monkey business tonight. He was souring what little good mood I had left.
“I want some grandsons Nicky. Your brother Three seems to only shoot gal sperm. We’ve got the girls and now we need the boys. Your mother and I talked about our having granddaughters and grandsons, God bless her soul. We need some boys, son,” Big Daddy said.
I swigged my vodka down in one large gulp, forcing myself to sit through this conversation in peace.
“Your Mother had no doubt that you and Three would have some boys. Now I want some grandsons, Nicky.”
“Maybe you should think about making your own,” I said, knowing I was crazy to be challenging my father, maybe even taking my life in my own hands. Literally. As soon as I let those words roll off my tongue I knew that was the wrong thing to say to Big Daddy.
“I’m only going to have this conversation with you once Nicholas,” Big Daddy said sternly, his eyes narrowing as he let out an exasperated sigh. “You get with the program. Becker Foods has a legacy to protect. Stop horsing around with these beauty queens. Dating, playing, and fucking are fine for a while, boy, but a man needs a family. Family keeps a man grounded,” Big Daddy said in his husky voice. “You’re running out of excuses to not settle down. You’re getting too old to be running around like some overgrown playboy.”
“I know this may surprise you, Father, but I actually spend most of my days and nights working, contrary to popular opinion.”
I kept my gaze on Big Daddy intense just in case he thought I was going to back down from him.
“Okay. So you’ve done well with that little company of yours,” Big Daddy growled back at me. “Milk Money—even your company name sounds like child’s play, Nicholas. You, Julianna, and Three are heirs to Becker Foods. You’re a well-educated graduate of
Annapolis. You’re handsome. You’ve got enough money to last through your kids and their kids.”
“Child’s play?” I interrupted, before asking the server for another drink. “That little company you call “child’s play” has a net worth of six hundred million dollars,” I frowned, thinking that this conversation was turning into a painful gut-wrenching experience.
Big Daddy shrugged his head, nodding in agreement like I had a legitimate point.
“Six hundred million dollars hardly sounds like child’s play, even by your standards, Father,” I said. “Don’t you think I’m getting a bit old for you to be telling me how to live my life? You’re always trying to dictate my life,” I shot back.
“I’m making a point here, Nicky.”
“Bad enough you’ve got me all tangled up in buying a plastics company for Becker Foods,” I said, shaking my head in disbelief. “I’ve done everything you’ve ever asked me to do. Enough is enough,” I said, pounding my fist on the table.
I knew my words were going to be the shot heard around the world. I pondered how long it was going to take Big Daddy to spiral out of control on me.
“You are going to settle down and marry, son. You’re a Becker. You’re going to act like one. You’re going to be the gift that keeps on giving, because I fucking said so,” Big Daddy snapped hard back at me.
I wasn’t surprised my words had unleashed the beast. This was going to escalate into a tirade. Big Daddy was the type of man that what he said, happened. There was no room for compromise. Three always gave into our father too easily as far as I was concerned. Julianna was a daddy’s girl who never had to battle him. Me, I rarely won these battles with Big Daddy—but not for lack of putting up a good fight. He respected the fact that I pushed back on him. I refused to wimp out with him on matters I found to be compromising my principals. They were non-negotiable, but Big Daddy was the type of man who was going to turn the screws hard to test your mettle. He relished seeing if his gene pool could hold its own. This conversation was going to be tough, but oh well. Game on.
“I’m still the head of this family, and goddammit, I’m not dead yet. Until then, you’ll do as you’re told. I promised your mother on her deathbed that I would see to it that you would get married, have a family, and settle down. I plan to keep my promise if I have to hog-tie you down myself, Nicky.”
“I’m a grown man, father. You’re no longer in charge of me,” I said, tempering my words, reining back my outburst so as not to make a scene.
“Are you trying to break your mother’s heart, really?” Big Daddy said, registering curiosity on his face as he ordered another Jack Daniels. “I need to be able to sleep at night in peace, knowing I’ve kept my word to your mother, boy,” Big Daddy growled.
Oh God. Big Daddy was pulling out all the stops. Playing the guilt card with my deceased mother was a low blow. I would never do anything to displease my mother, nor her memory. My mother, Julianna Becker, was my rock in a storm. She died giving birth to my little sister, her mid-life baby and namesake, Julianna. Big Daddy knew how much I loved pleasing my mother and making her happy. Big Daddy never ever played fair. He was pulling out his big guns. This was the same man that minutes ago was cuddling up with two hot twenty-something babes, talking about taking them in my yacht to fuck around on the French Rivera playground.
Take your own fucking yacht.
“Ever since you and Harper Montgomery broke up, you’ve been flitting around sulking like a lost puppy dog, Nicholas,” Big Daddy glared at me. “You’ve sown your oats. Now it’s time to man up. Get on with a more settled lifestyle.”
For whatever reason, it was important to Big Daddy that he still felt in control of the family now that mother was gone. Mother insisted Big Daddy was the head of the family. She relied on him to run a tight ship when it came to her kids. She claimed she didn’t want all the money and lifestyle to spoil us or wreck our values. I was going to have to either get with Big Daddy’s program or this was going to turn into a long war that I would battle with every day, years from now.
I would never admit this. But I wasn’t as opposed to the idea of marriage and settling down as Big Daddy might have imagined. Maybe on some level Big Daddy knew that about me. I have just never found anyone to love since the loss of my relationship with Harper. Hell, I’d slept with, wined, and dined many of the most beautiful women in the world. But none of them were Harper Montgomery. She was the queen of my heart. She was also the battle-royal-all-around-pain-in-my-ass. But I loved her. She owned me.
“Father, you need to understand that Harper Montgomery and I have a complicated relationship. This company you have me bidding on, Joduku Plastics, for Becker Foods—she’s the competition,” I snapped. “Fighting with each other over a company is not the greatest recipe for building a foundation for love and harmony, or don’t you realize that?” I growled back at him.
Big Daddy looked at me and laughed in his chair, looking at me as if my words came out of the mouth of a juvenile. He drew heavily on his cigar.
What the fuck was his problem? He was annoying the hell out of me.
“Nicky, you’ve been running around with these brainless beauties so long, you’re lost in knowing how to woo a strong-minded woman with an impeccable brain for business and body to die for,” Big Daddy said with authority. “You need to come up to speed quick, son, because that is the kind of woman you will need to hold your attention for the long haul. One that can share your dreams, maintain your interests, and make you some babies. Some male babies,” Big Daddy snapped.
Big Daddy was serious as a heart attack. No way I was going to win this round. Even I decided he was freaking me out a bit with his tenacity.
“And while I’m on the subject of business, make sure you get that plastics company, Nicky,” Big Daddy said, leaning his body forward out of his chair to make his point.
Just as Big Daddy put the exclamation on his point to me, Elizabeth Montgomery strolled over to our table in the VIP area. Big Daddy and I both stood to acknowledge her.
“Blake, darling, it’s so good to see you,” she said, kissing Big Daddy on his cheek. “And Nicky, you’re looking handsome as ever,” Elizabeth smiled. “I’m so glad you both could make it.”
“For you, Lizzy, we wouldn’t miss this event for the world. You’re looking lovely as ever,” Big Daddy said, reaching up, grabbing her hand, and kissing it.
“Nicholas has a small donation for you tonight, isn’t that right Nicholas?” Big Daddy bit out.
Since when is fifty thousand dollars to some damn Democrats a small donation? Not necessarily chump change. Okay so maybe it was chump change by my standards. But to give away good money to some Democrats? Seriously, Father?
I reached in my pocket and Elizabeth a check for fifty thousand dollars.
“Oh thank you, thank you, Nicholas. Clayton and I are most appreciative,” Elizabeth sounded genuinely thankful.
“Our family is happy to contribute to yours. Isn’t that right, Father?” I said, feigning happiness for having to make a political contribution to the Democrats.
“Yes indeed, Elizabeth. It’s mere milk money,” Big Daddy laughed heartily.
Oh no, my father did not just steal my line. He thought this was a joke. He always made sure he looked like the winner, despite the fact that this was my money and the joke was on me.
“Oh Blake you’re such a character,” Elizabeth smiled. She giggled, deciding to sit and join us.
“So how’s that beautiful daughter of yours? I haven’t seen her tonight,” Big Daddy said, his eyes momentarily scanning the room.
My antennas went up listening passively to Big Daddy and Elizabeth’s conversation while nursing my vodka. I grabbed a champagne for Elizabeth, minding my manners. Big Daddy and Elizabeth had been friends for ages, their alliance in the food manufacturing business as strong as ever. They chatted about almost everything, treating each other like family. There were times when Big Daddy was in the presence of women and
he shoveled shit. But I never saw him do that with Elizabeth. With Elizabeth, He was different. He was . . . honest.
“She’s as beautiful as her mother,” Big Daddy said, looking at Elizabeth as if the sun rose and shined in her face.
“Oh she’s close by. I expect her to arrive any moment now,” Elizabeth said, smiling, looking at me with a reassuring smile much like a mother would for a son.
“We had such a huge crowd tonight. With those Tea Party protestors outside, the NYPD has had extra security tonight which has slowed the traffic. I understand from Malcom that her limousine should be arriving very soon,” she said. “I’m so worried about Harper these days. Do you know, Blake, she’s gone all ‘modernist feminist woman’ now, talking crazy. She claims her biological clock is ticking. That she wants to go to one of those fertility clinics and have a sperm donor baby? That’s like having a baby with an unidentified father. I’m so beside myself. The mere thought of it is breaking my heart. Surely she can’t be serious, Blake,” Elizabeth said studying Big Daddy’s face and searching for answers.
“Oh I’m sure this is just a phase, Liz. She’s out of her element right now. She’s not thinking clearly. She needs a good man in her life, and all that crazy talk will stop,” Big Daddy said. “I don’t want you worrying your pretty little head about such matters.” He grabbed her hand, holding it and tucking it inside of his own. “This will work out fine,” Big Daddy said, comforting Elizabeth, and honing his glare on me.
Wait a minute. Wow. Did somebody say Harper, baby, and sperm donor in the same sentence? No way my baby maker was going to be making any deals with the devil, having a baby by some unknown seed-dropper-for-money stranger. Oh hell no. This was pure stupidity. She was taking matters way too far now. She was truly starting to spiral out of control. Harper was getting way out of my reach. I could feel my anger rising. Yup. She was definitely going to pay for this stupid idea of hers. This was so wrong on a lot of levels.
“Oh fuck no,” I said, not realizing I had actually spoken out loud, cocking my head to the side, choking on my vodka.
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