grayson astor

If it was up to me, my father would be locked away at the most hidden prison in Honduras.

When I had taken Amelia and Kalani home from Barcelona, I knew I had to act quick. The same resources I used to track Kalani down would be the same ones he used to follow through with his threats.

My father is a powerful man. But with him slowly handing over his workload to me over the years, he's underestimated the connections he now lacks. I've always been a cautious person and people have always taken it as paranoia. But I've never fully trusted anyone. Especially not my father and over the years I've kept records for every illegal thing he's done—embezzlement; wire and mail fraud; and money laundering. As soon as the police were informed, he was arrested and sent to jail with no bail. His trial wasn't scheduled until sometime in July, but I had no doubt in my mind he would be getting a minimum sentence of fifty years with no parole.

Lucky for me, Kalani had many conversations with a woman at her society meetings—Bridget Noble. Bridget's mother happens to be the judge appointed onto my father's case and with the slightest whisper in the right direction, my father would be nothing but rotten bones by the time his sentence is over.

Astor Incorporation was in need of a CEO and with me being COO, the board of directors quickly voted me into the position. To ensure Astor Incorporations didn't suffer for my father's actions, I made it known to the public Astor Incorporation has detached itself from Blake Astor and we have absolutely no ties to his crimes.

Somehow everything had worked out perfectly. I was CEO, I had a beautiful healthy daughter, and I was about to marry the love of my life in less than three hours.

We had travelled to Cedar Lake Estate the day prior to the wedding for the rehearsal dinner. Today Kalani had woken before me to take Amelia outside. The weather today was perfect. It wasn't too sunny and Kalani seemed excited for the photos.

Standing by the window, I opened the blinds to watch the two of them. The farmhouse we stayed in was right by the lake. They were seated on the dock playing with a few of Amelia's baby toys.

Before them, I didn't know I was capable of loving anyone other than myself. I didn't know it was possible for me to ever take my attention and passion away from Astor Incorporations. But they made it easy. These two girls became my new obsession and I don't even remember what my life was like before them. I was sad and miserable and I didn't even know it.

I turned when I saw the front door of the house opened. Paige came inside with a pyjama set with her name written on it.

"I'm here to take away the bride to be. It's time for her hair and makeup," Paige sang with this excruciating high pitched voice. But today I wasn't going to let it bother me. Kalani wants a happy day, so I'm going to be happy. As happy as I can be.

"I'll go get her," I stopped Paige from going out the back door. I went outside after putting on these ridiculous water shoes Kalani bought me. They're made completely out of rubber? If I remember correctly, they're called Crocs and I thought they were a stupid joke until I saw half of her family wearing the same shoes but in different colours. Are water shoes some weird trend I don't understand?

"Look, a duck," Kalani gasped, pointing to a duck out on the lake. Amelia screamed, clapping her hands as she jumped up and down. I'm afraid Amelia might one day grow up to be an animal lover. If her and Kalani team up on me to get a pet, I don't know what I would do. If Kalani knew I could never say no to anything she asks of me, this would be a dangerous world.

Hearing my footsteps, Amelia turned around and squealed as she attempted to run over to me. She made it most of the way until she tripped on her own foot and almost fell forward. I grabbed her arm, quickly picking her up before she could touch the ground.

"Hi, angel," I kissed her face. She was in nothing but her diaper since lately she's hated wearing all types of clothing. Getting her to keep her dress on for today was going to be a challenge. "Paige is here to come get you," I told Kalani who took Amelia's toy off the ground before standing up.

"How did you sleep?" Kalani asked, knowing this past month has been just as crazy for me as it was for her. It's been navigating this CEO position, working alongside the police to provide them with everything they need to ensure my father stays locked away, and helping Kalani with anything she deems necessary.

Her hand went to his torso, stroking her thumb along my chest. She got her hair braided again and she looks absolutely amazing.

"Good," I leaned to kiss her forehead before putting my lips at her ear. "I'm so excited to marry you." She smiled as she pulled away, looking up at me with those pretty brown eyes.

"Me too," she squeezed my arm before walking away. I watched her not walk to the farmhouse we were staying in, but into the cottage where she would be getting ready for the ceremony. Letting out an exasperated breath, I looked at Amelia who was looking at me like she actually understood anything we said.

"Your mother is...very sexy. Don't tell her I told you that," I walked back to the farmhouse now containing a number of people. They were my groomsmen and the two people here to make sure my suit was alright. "I can't get ready now. I have to give her a bath."

"I'll do it," Matthew offered like he was even an option I would ever consider. The day I let my brother care for my child is the day I go mad. "I'm your brother," he said like it made a difference.

"Who can't keep a goldfish alive," I snapped.

"I was twelve!" He defended himself and I looked around the room, finding my assistant in the kitchen preparing the snacks.

"Tracey," I called her over and she immediately rushed my way. "I need you to give her a bath. Her rubber toys are in the bathroom. She won't bathe without them. Make sure when you're done, she's completely dry or she'll get a rash. Then apply lotion. Her dress is in the spare bedroom."

"Me?" Tracey looked at me in shock. There's a handful of people I even allow to hold Amelia. Although Tracey wouldn't be my first choice, she's someone I do trust. She's stuck by me and shows no sign of leaving anytime soon.

"Yes," I carefully handed her Amelia who gave me no hassle.

Putting my suit on and making sure everything was perfect didn't take long. All I could think about was Kalani and her dress. I know she had gone shopping a while back for one, but she never vocalized anything of what it might look like. My imagination was running wild, but so were my nerves and I needed a drink to calm myself down.

"I don't think I've ever seen you with shaky hands before," Matthew commented when he noticed me pouring my drink into the glass. I slammed the glass down, staring at him with infuriated eyes. This wasn't the day to annoy me and he was doing it quite easily. But when I opened my mouth to say a smart remark, I couldn't.

"Kalani says I should try being more...expressive and kinder towards those I care for," I told him. He gave an enlightened look, paired with a smirk.

"That was your way of telling me you care about me? Wow. That was terrible. Kalani still has a whole lot to teach you. But we'll get there," he patted my back and I immediately wanted to say I take back what I said. But his statement is true. I still have a lot to learn in life and Kalani has this odd way of teaching me how to actually live life and how to be a better person.

When I waited at the alter, I counted every second until I saw her. I thought she might've changed her mind and I would have to hunt her down again. But she finally arrived and the same feeling I got when I met Amelia for the first time was the same feeling I had when seeing Kalani. She was angelic with her dress looking like it was made from crystals. It was firm fitting and shaped her body perfectly. The train was long and dragged along the white carpet. I had to remind myself to breathe because my chest felt like it was closing in. A day will never go by where I don't think Kalani is the most divine woman in this world.

Her father smiled at me, handing her off to me. Kalani's face was covered by a sheer veil made of these shimmery crystals. And when I removed the veil from her face, words could not describe the way looking at her made me feel. I couldn't help but question how I deserve someone so beautiful and kind and selfless. The simple fact that she was choosing me, made me want to do better.

"Hi," she uttered quietly while I took in her face. Her smile was wide and I wanted to plaster my lips all over her body. "Are you okay?" She kept her voice quiet, sliding her thumb along my cheek. There was something wet on my cheek and I was going to happily blame it on the nonexistent rain because I won't admit to anyone that I cried.

"Yeah. I just...I really love you, Lani." I've seen many magnificent women, but none could ever compare to the woman right in front of me

She removed her hand from my face to hold both my hands. "I love you too, Grayson."

The reception had more dancing than I had expected. At first the dance floor was fully consumed by Kalani's guests and mine were nothing but fascinated. I allowed Kalani to deal with the DJ and they were playing songs I've never heard of. Eventually, my guests were taking up just as much of the dance floor. They copied her family's dance moves despite not knowing any of the songs.

This one song came on and it had me readjusting my pants all because of Kalani. She sang every single lyric while her family cheered her on in a circle. Something about 'I never fucked Wayne, I never fucked Drake' and 'big titties, big butt too.' Whoever the fuck Drake and Wayne are. All I did was stand on the sidelines, watching Kalani's every move while some woman beside me yelled that this song was a 'cultural reset.' As someone who graduated Columbia as valedictorian, I felt completely clueless on what any of them were saying.

"Grayson, get over here man!" Matthew gestured for me to come join them. I glared, letting him know with just my face I was uninterested.

"You fuck with the Woo, right?" Yadiel asked and I looked at Kalani for some sort of support because surely I wasn't so tipsy that I no longer understood English. But what is a Woo?

"Of course Grayson fucks with Mr. Smoke," Paige winked at me. Was this lingo for people who smoke?

"I don't smoke," I clarified before they all burst into laughter. I shook my head.

"Guys, don't be mean," Kalani's arms went around my torso while she looked up at me. I set my drink down, fixing one of her braids which was out of place.

"What's a cultural reset?" I quietly asked her out of embarrassment. I'm never showing up to another one of her family's functions unprepared.

She laughed, poking my nose and giving my chin a quick kiss. "Come dance."

"I don't dance," I leaned down to whisper, "I prefer a different mode of physical activity." I let my fingers run down her spine, feeling her back being completely exposed because of her backless dress. I was resisting every urge to pull her away from everyone so I could finally fuck her. But I wanted her to enjoy the night while she still could because tomorrow she wasn't going to walk. Not with all the plans I had for her tonight.