A Lover's Mask by Altonya Washington Page A

what’s up? Why’d you want to see me?”
    â€œDamn man, what’s the hurry?”
    â€œYou mean besides all the work on my desk?” Fernando challenged sarcastically. In truth, his thoughts were only focused on a particular box of files which he’d avoided going through since acquiring it two months earlier.
    â€œWell, I’ll get right to it then,” Stef sighed, coming to perch on the edge of his desk. “You got any new ideas for the Contessa House deal?”
    Frowning now, Fernando strolled past the doorway. “What do you mean, new ideas?”
    Stef’s look was innocent. “Clearly the owner’s tough on the subject of selling. It’s gonna take a lot to convince her. The deal is a very good one and she’s still holding out. Perhaps we can come up with a few, um, creative ways to be more persuasive? ” he suggested, knowing Fernando was not pleased by his insinuation. Still, he had to know just how against the deal he was.
    â€œI want all negotiations ceased against that House,” Fernando simply and firmly instructed.
    â€œWhoa, Fern now maybe you’ve forgotten how lucrative—”
    â€œI mean it Stef. Let it go.”
    â€œWhat made you change your mind all of a sudden?”
    Fernando’s caramel-toned face was rigid in the wake of a rising temper. “I changed my mind a long time ago,” he shared.
    Stef stroked his jaw and asked why.
    â€œShe doesn’t want to sell,” Fernando told his partner, sounding as though the fact was apparent.
    Stefan was not convinced. “And?” he retorted, focusing on a spot at the end of his silk cobalt tie. “Never stopped you before.”
    â€œThat was before.”
    â€œFern—”
    â€œStef, drop it.”
    Observing his partner and conceding the unspoken fact that Fernando’s word was final, Stef decided to let it go. For the time. “So then tell me about this trip, man.”
    â€œIt was a trip, man,” Fernando whispered, his tone signifying more details would not be included.
    Stef’s brows rose and he decided to let the subject slide as well. “So what about your schedule for today or is that off-limits, too?”
    The question took Fernando’s thoughts back to the box that sat waiting for him in his office. “I got some digging around to do. It’s about my father.”
    Stef was heading back behind his desk. “Helping him out?” he figured.
    â€œInvestigating him.”
    â€œWhat?” Stef asked, his eyes locking with Fernando’s. “Investigating your own father? Since when? Why?”
    Fernando rubbed his fingers through his crop of brown curls and shook his head. “I can’t believe it either, but it has to be done.”
    â€œWhy man?” Stef asked again, bracing both hands upon his desktop as he leaned forward.
    â€œYou know about my uncle Houston?” he asked, watching his friend nod. “Well, the fact that we only suspect my pops of helping to keep him out of sight is only the tip of the iceberg. We think he’s done much worse. Somethin’ has to be done to get him away from the family—before anything more comes out,” he added, easing one hand into the pocket of his blackberry trousers as he watched the view past the windows.
    â€œYou sure there’s more?” Stef asked, fixing Fernando with a wary stare.
    â€œI’m sure of it,” he answered without hesitation. “I just hope I’m about to get some answers.”
    Stef waited a moment, and then walked over and clapped Fernando’s shoulder. “You’re a brave man, kid. I wouldn’t have the nerve to dig into my father’s business.”
    Fernando acknowledged silently that he didn’t have the nerve, either. Unfortunately, this had waited for too long.

Chapter 7
    â€œH ow long do you think you’ll be able to hide him?” Cufi Muhammad asked his