Page 1 of Calculated Kisses with a Scorpio (BLP Signs of Love #10)

“When we go in here, let me do all the talking, and keep your head. No matter what is said or how they say it, . . . let me handle it.”

I looked at my father upside his head with pinched brows.

The only reason I nodded instead of telling him I wouldn’t let anyone talk to me any kind of way was because of the apprehension on his face.

He knew his son, and getting to me before anyone else could was for their benefit, not mine.

Pops relaxed some, but he still looked like he was ready to toss his breakfast.

His retirement was in six months, and he should have been more relaxed.

“I got you, but you’re not helping your case, looking so uptight. We have these meetings once a quarter, Pops. Why you acting like they’re about to take you in front of the firing squad?”

He let out a dry chuckle.

“During this meeting, the board is discussing the progress of my successor. Your ducks are in a row except for one thing.” Pops looked at me square in the eyes and his left eyebrow rose. “I really just need you to sit back and let me talk.”

“Aight, old man. I heard you.”

Pops blew out a breath and then opened the doors to the conference room.

The conference room was filled with my father’s staff and the board of directors.

Every three months we discussed budget, marketing, and everything related to Diamonds & Moore.

Six months ago, I was elected as the new owner and CEO of Diamonds & Moore, so I went from hearing about the meetings from my father to sitting in on them.

They only lasted until early afternoon, but they were draining.

My father and I took our seats, and the meeting commenced.

“Good morning, everyone. We have four items to discuss this morning. First up is the retirement rollout. This is where we begin transitioning the website to reflect your upcoming departure, and the welcoming of Kairo. Second, we have to schedule a time for Kane to meet with the party planner for the retirement party. We are behind on this, but six months should still be enough time for you to have the event you want.” Several of us chuckled.

“Okay, let’s see . . . Oh, third up is Kairo.

We need a list of names of who you want to take over the physical locations you currently oversee.

Also, we need to know if there will be any changes to the current COO, CFO, CMO staffing.

Lastly, Kairo, wedding details. I’ve checked my calendar but still didn’t see it added.

Have you and your misses not picked a date? ”

It seemed like every eye in the room was on me. There was no misses, and the only people in this room that knew that were my father and me. I sat up, cut my eyes at him, and blew out a breath.

“Unfortunately—”

“That’s my fault. I thought I had Yvonne update everyone’s calendar to reflect the upcoming nuptials.

The wedding is in ninety days.” My head snapped to the right, but Pops kept his attention on Guy, the person heading the meeting.

“We’re all excited, so my apologies for letting that slip through the cracks. ”

I had six months before I needed to take my father’s place, and he chose ninety days as the best date to lie about?

Right now, I was as single as a dollar bill, so I didn’t see how I could be getting married in three months.

I wanted to strangle the man who, up until this moment, had been my best friend.

Kane Moore was the opps right now, and I needed to tell his wife she should be sleeping with one eye open.

The meeting continued, but I wasn’t there.

My mind was on the fact that I had three months to find a partner and convince her ass to be my wife.

Pops was about to have me out here looking just as crazy as him.

Steven, my hating ass archnemesis, tapped his pen on the table.

“Before we head out, I think we should have a backup plan in case things don’t work out for Kairo and this .

. . young lady. The bylaws stipulate that if the nominated candidate cannot fulfill his marital obligation, then there needs to be a second option.

By our next meeting, if Kairo and his fiancée have not tied the knot, please have the names ready for his replacement. ”

I sat up and leaned on the table.

“Bit—”

My father placed his hand on my arm.

“Steven, if you feel that is necessary, then by all means, put that on the docket for next quarter. Should Kairo Moore not be married by our next board meeting, then we will take a vote with a new list of names.”

Steven Ford had always been a hater, and his comments spoke to that truth.

Since he had been brought on as the chief financial officer, he had been on my father and the board about bringing in what he considered new blood .

Steven didn’t believe that just because I had the last name Moore that I should be the next owner and CEO of Diamonds & Moore.

In his mind, it took more than my great-grandfather being the founder to head the company.

He wasn’t wrong, which was why from the age of seventeen I had been fully immersed in all things Diamonds & Moore.

“See. I just want to make sure we keep things fair?—”

“Nah, you just want your son to take over when he don’t know shit about Diamonds & Moore! You?—”

“Kairo.” My father hissed, and I snapped my mouth shut. “No matter what he wants to happen, know that you’re holding up your end of the bargain. That’s all that matters, right?”

I rolled my tongue over my teeth then nodded.

Steven smirked, but it faltered when I grinned right back.

He knew I was pissed, and he probably didn’t understand why I smiled.

I had ninety days to find a wife and marry her, and I would just to shut him up.

This was my legacy, and I wouldn’t have some random running my great-grandfather’s business.

After all his hardships in 1940 to even have this business, he’d probably turn over in his grave if a white man took over our company.

“I want to put his face through a wall. Why he always fuckin’ with me, Pops?”

He laughed as we walked toward his office.

“Because you let him. Everything doesn’t require a response. I swear you have your grandfather’s attitude, because had Kai Moore been at that meeting, Steven would have been put to sleep.”

“My kind of man. I need to call him.”

Pops scoffed and closed the door behind us when we made it into his office.

He was right about my temper, but there were only certain people who saw that side of me.

Tolerating disrespect would never be something I did.

It didn’t matter who you were. Steven liked to hide behind his position in our company, but if he wanted to keep his job, then he needed to ease up.

My intention wasn’t to change anything when I took over, but if he kept at me, he would be out of a job.

No way could I have anyone on my team who felt like I didn’t deserve my spot.

I sat on the sofa and waited for him to join me.

“Here.” He handed me a manilla folder, and I frowned.

“What’s this?” I opened it and my head jerked back. “Are these escorts? You cheating on my mama? We cool, but you should never be this comfortable with me. I love you, but it’ll always be her over you. Are you crazy?”

I stood, paced, and thought of ways I could kill this man without my mama finding out what he had done.

“Would you sit your dramatic ass down.” He hissed through clenched teeth.

“I am not cheating on my wife. I would rather skin myself alive than break her heart like that. I see your dramatics came from your grandfather too.” Pops sighed and massaged his forehead.

“Your mother found and vetted a few women for you to date, get to know, and potentially marry. She already knew about the timeline I would give and wanted to give you a head start.” He looked at me and frowned.

“I should knock you in yo’ shit for thinking I’d cheat on my woman and then come to you about it. ”

I smirked because Kane Moore was very serious about hitting me.

My parents met in high school and had been in love ever since. My father was the main reason I hadn’t found a woman I liked enough to settle down. The way he loved on my mother showed me how I should be as a husband, but not once had I run into a woman worth mirroring his actions.

They shouldn’t have been such good role models for their children.

“Calm down, old man. I had to be sure. Now tell your wife I don’t need her setting me up. I got this.”

“You don’t because, if you did, I would have a daughter-in-law right now.

” He looked at me and smirked. “I’ll give you thirty days to find someone on your own.

If that date comes and you haven’t found someone you can deal with for at least the next thirty years, then you’ll pick from one of those eight women.

You are the last Moore, and we can’t lose our family’s business.

This is the only thing that’s holding us up, Kairo.

Find a woman on your own, or your mother and I will step in . . . Thirty days, Kairo.”

“Aight, thirty days.”

Although my face didn’t show my apprehension, I was sweating bullets.

It wasn’t a lot of time, but I couldn’t have my parents picking my partner.

My father and I talked a little bit more before our conversation shifted to the Diamonds & Moore locations.

I was the district manager over the three here in Rushin Springs, and finding someone to take my place would be a task.

My brother, Karter, made it clear that he wasn’t interested in the family business, but our little sister, Kashia, had decided that she was ready.

My only problem was I didn’t know if she was ready to head three separate locations.

“Your mother wants me to cook tonight, so find your way to the house for dinner.”

“Cool. I’ll make sure I eat before I come. I ain’t trying to go to the upper room tonight.” I jumped up when he swung, cracking up.

Pops shook his head and pointed at his office door.