Without another word, I turned to leave my dad’s office. “Yosiah!” Dad called out. I paused but kept my back to him. “Don’t tell your mother about this. I don’t want her to worry.”
Grinding my teeth, I continued to the door, yanking it open and storming out.
“It was good seeing you again, Yosiah!” Madaline, my dad’s secretary, called out after me. Ignoring her, I walked to the elevator that led to the lobby.
Dad’s office was four stories in the center of West Hills in West Pier. The top floor was his, the second contained a few offices that housed his workers, the first level was the lobby, and the final level was the underground garage.
When outside, I inhaled a deep breath of the crisp fall air. Since it was midday, the streets of West Pier were busy. I pulled my hoodie up and started toward my car parked on the street in front of the building.
Once in my car, I turned it on to warm it up then pulled my phone out. Going to the internet I typed in Xylina Fox. It didn’t take long to be flooded with articles about her. Some from gossip sites, other news articles. I clicked on the link that led to her InstaFlik profile. It was full of pictures of her, food, shopping bags, trip pictures, purses, a brown dog, and more of her. It was clear what was important to her.
Exiting the app, I went back to the search and typed in her dad’s name. Tons of articles popped up. Mostly business articles about recent deals and expansions of his company. I knew there was more than what met the eye. Once I got home I would be able to look further.
Feeling my headache starting to grow, I closed my phone and tossed it onto the passenger seat. I turned up the latest Jrue track and made sure to check behind myself before throwing my gear into reverse and pulling away from the building.
I needed to clear my head so I started toward my house in West Valley to change. The best way to relax and decompress was feeling the cool air on my face, burning in my legs, and the open sky around me.
Breathing heavily, I used the back of my hand to wipe sweat from my forehead, enjoying the breeze against my heated body. The trail had been clear, giving me the chance to bike in peace. I grabbed my water bottle from the holder on my handlebars and took a large drink as my heart pounded. My blood flowed like a raging river, yet all the tension and frustration I felt leaving my dad’s office seemed to melt off me with each mile I rode.
Lifting my arm, I checked my watch. I’d biked for almost two hours and had done a little over five miles. Today I took a rougher route compared to the trails near my house. Driving out near Lake Cashmere Ranch was just what I needed. Between the mountains and ranch was a range of different terrains to choose from and I chose a loose one over hardpacked.
I had taken up mountain biking my sophomore year. Sports were something I enjoyed watching but never cared to play. Until my teenage years, I was an average-sized, slightly pudgy kid. When puberty hit, my height came and my parents always insisted I rode my bike when I wanted to go somewhere within walking distance. Eventually it became a way for me to get into shape.
Just as I was about to do one more mile before calling it a day, my phone rang. My music paused in my Bluetooth headphones and my best friend Roman’s name rang through. Tapping my right earbud, I waited for the call to connect.
“Wassup?” I answered.
“Where you at?”
“Biking. Needed to clear my head.” I placed my water bottle back and grabbed my towel to wipe my face.
“I’m on my way to your house. Did you forget we had business to handle?” Furrowing my brows, I checked my watch again, noting the time.
“Shit, I didn’t realize how late it’s gotten. I’m ’bout to head back that way and I’ll meet you at my house.”
“Bet. See you soon.”
Ending the call, I finished wiping my face before preparing to head back to my truck. One thing I couldn’t afford was to fall behind in my business with Roman and his family. I didn’t want to rely on my dad’s finances too much while working to get my future started. Now that I knew he was having issues, I was glad I’d decided to make a way on my own.
“A’right either the world is ending or you got some heavy shit on your mind,” Roman commented before shoving food into his mouth.
Never breaking my attention from my laptop screen, I furrowed my brows. “What are you talking about?” My fingers moved swiftly across my keyboard.
“You’re unfocused, which is completely unlike you. My dad will have both of our asses if anything goes wrong with this next job. So whatever is going on?—”
Pausing, I lifted my eyes from the AIS system I was currently tracking and eyed my friend since kindergarten.
We were currently in the dining room of my three bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom condo near the Marina.
I cut him off, expressing, “I’m always efficient in my job.”
I had been working alongside Roman and his family for the past three years. Their family owned the largest custom jewelry store in the area. They were known for having luxury, unique,and one of a kind pieces. While I helped them maintain a good security system for their computers and such, that wasn’t the main role of my dealings with them.
“I know you are, but it’s clear something’s on your mind.”
Dragging my tongues across my bottom lip, I pushed my reading glasses up and pinched the bridge of my nose. Normally I kept things close to my chest, but the weight of my dad’s business future being on my shoulders kept coming to the forefront of my mind.
“My dad got himself in some shit and he needs my help to get him out of it.”