Chapter 38

Zeke held out his hand, palm up.

“Hand back the expense card, Marko.”

While he didn’t wish to part with it, the look on Zeke’s face assured Marko that Zeke would cancel it before they left orbit. It irked him that the boy just assumed that he had the card.

Just to be perverse, he countered, “It’s on the ship.”

Zeke raised an eyebrow and replied as he pulled his hand back, “I’ll call Travis Marsh shortly. He will cancel the card and check it wasn’t used for purchases other than those I stated it could be used to buy. You will pay for the discrepancies.”

He smiled at Marko’s pissed expression. “Travis can then work out a deal with you, Marko, so you can pay me what you owe me for the repairs to your ship. I was under the mistaken impression that the girls owned the ship, not you.”

“If you remember, the contract clearly stated that the ship to be repaired had to be owned by Jada and Paula Lorenzo. You three have breached the contracts, so the deal is off. Now get off my ship.”

Zeke stood to leave the table.

“Now wait a damn minute, boy!” yelled Marko, half standing in agitation.

Zeke locked eyes with Marko and snarled, “I’ll be twenty-three in five days. So, I wasn’t born yesterday. I’ve been earning a living since I was fifteen and have completed five academic degrees, two master’s and a Doctorate.”

“I totally own four companies that I built. I control three more and am a significant partner in many other companies. I have ten patents to my name and own eight ships. I am not a little boy, nor am I gullible.”

“You are a very judgemental, selfish man. I get that you have had shit happen to you. But I didn’t do it. You know nothing about me, yet you accuse me of having immoral reasons for employing your daughters.”

“More fool me. I thought I was doing Sofia a favour by helping out her family. I thought I was employing two, independent young ladies who were doing it tough and needed jobs. Apparently, I was wrong.”

“You just wanted me to give you a handout because you think I am rich and can afford it. Sorry, but if you want anything from me, you work for it or pay me for it. If you default on the repayments, I will have the MPs confiscate your ship and arrest you for fraud.”

Zeke strode to the doorway and pointed out through it. “Now, take your sorry arses off my ship, or I will throw you off.”

Reluctantly, they stood and moved towards him. Marko made a show of needing assistance to rise. When Marko got close to Zeke, he sneered, “Oh, so you will beat down on a crippled man because he isn’t impressed by or frightened of you?”

Zeke didn’t seem impressed, but he didn’t react either. So, Marko said theatrically, “You’re just a blowhard, little, rich kid pretending to be a man.”

Zeke laughed, “You are as crippled as my arse is purple.”

Paula quipped, “It must be very purple. Dad hasn’t been able to walk unassisted for two and a half years. Jada and I have to do everything for him.”

Zeke rocked his head from side to side. “While I agree that Baraz did a number on your father. He can walk just fine. He just puts it on for sympathy, the pension he is paid, and to keep you girls waiting on him.”

“That’s why he came up with the scam to cheat me and make sure you girls went home with him after he couldn’t talk you out of coming here. He wants to rile me enough to hit him, so he can claim compensation and not have to pay me. Sorry to disappoint.”

Zeke looked over his shoulder and out the doorway, “Raul, would you and Sofia like to see your family off my ship. If you wish them to visit longer, get them to dock with your ship. Freya and Louisa will be off limits as long as the three of them are here.”

Raul and a heartbroken Sofia stepped into view.

Raul said, “See, Boss. We are not too happy with them, either. They make you doubt us. We are sorry to disappoint you.”

“Raul, you haven’t lost my trust. We all like to believe our family are good people. Unfortunately, that isn’t always how it works. I should know; I have a shitty stepfather, remember.”

“Thank you, Boss. We are still sorry.”

Raul turned to Marko.

“You are not welcome here, Uncle. Come, I’ll take you to your ship.”

“What if I don’t want to go? How are you going to force me?” Marko challenged.

Raul walked up to Marko. He wrapped his hand around the back of Marko’s neck and pulled his face down closer to his. He looked deep into Marko’s green-flecked, brown eyes.

“You are bad man. I know things you may not wish your daughters or other people to know. If you leave now, I will not send a particular message to some not-so-nice friends of yours. Comprende?”

Raul let go of Marko and stepped back. He grinned maliciously. “You might want to tell your friends that Minister Yarram Vance has been arrested.”

Marko went white. “Did he talk?” he asked with alarm.

“The Carmichaels have him,” Raul replied with satisfaction.

“Girls! Get in the damn ship. We have to go,” Marko cried in a panic.

He spun and started striding down the hall, the cane swinging in his hand. Both girls gasped as they watched him.