Kale didn''t quite catch what Drake said.

    "Boss, what were you saying?" he asked.

    "Pretty boy," Michael said from not far away.

    Kale understood the situation and knew better than to say anything.

    Drake hissed, "Don''t speak when I''m working."

    "Yes, Boss." Kale bent back down to his paperwork.

    Outside, Debra spoke. "We''ve got Edgar under control. Go see him if you want." She handed him a key with an address tag. Oscar stared at the key, silent.

    Since childhood, his mother had fantasized about his father taking them back to Flesta. She had broomed him to be the heir to the Odom family and drilled into him that he was born with noble blood, destined to inherit his father''s fortune.

    Even at the cost of selling blood and taking loans, she sent him to elite schools to cultivate his manners.

    Before Debra appeared, Oscar thought he''d spend his life repaying crushing debt. He never imagined he''d be the head of the Odom family.

    He handed the key back. "There is no need to see him."

    had

    Edged every means to ruin Shim.  blood. Now Edgar was

    lost all faith in their

    stranger to him. Content

    "Figured you''d say that," Debra replied, pocketing the key. "Edgar''s rotten, but he never really hurt- anyone. Now that he''s got nothing left, let him loose and face the cruelty of society."

    "Won''t his creditors kill him?"

    "He overstretched himself and deserved the heat. But guess what? I''m his creditor. I''ll let it slide because I yed dirty too. Consider the money as your ascension fee.

    You''ll pay me back someday."

    "I know. The Odom family will always be your rock. If you''re ever in trouble,e

    to Flesta."

    "Deal."

    Just then, another voice came. "The office is quite lively tonight."

    Theda and Robert approached.

    Debra turned. "Ms. Buchan."

    Theda joked, "With this crowd, shouldn''t you treat us to a reunion dinner?"

    "Sure. Eight tonight."

    "That won''t work."