The Compromise

Chapter Three

"But what is his deal anyway? Why would he ask for something like this?" Mrs. Tamson pondered with arms akimbo.

"You were the one who kept insisting we asked for his help. I have heard a lot about that dog. Well enough to know that once he lends you his hand, he'll take your whole body as interest." Mr. Tamson said.

"So what next?"

"I think we should give him what he wants," Mr. Tamson said with a grim look.

"What nonsense are you sputtering? There is no way I'll let my daughter get married to that crippled man, no sane eyes have ever beheld!" She barked.

"Hold your horses, my love." He said, sipping on a glass of Chardonnay. His wife could decipher that her cunning husband sure had something up his sleeves.

"You seem to have something on your mind; let me in on it."

Suddenly falling quiet, Mr. Tamson dropped the now empty glass on the table and turned to his wife with that grim look still on his face.

"Don't you think this is the best way to get rid of Kira?" He said, with a sly grin.

"What do you mean?"

"She'll marry Daniel Peterside in place of Flora. He said he wanted to marry my daughter. He didn't say he wanted to get married to Flora Tamson."

"My world! I never even thought of it. This is a way to get rid of your concubine's daughter and still put her in abject misery. You sure are one deadly, sly man that I love so much!"His wife said in awe.

"Yeah, Yeah. But the problem now is how to make Kira accept this."

"What do you mean, make her accept this? You are her father. Give her the order, and she'll carry it out."

"Oh, Tina. You know I have been everything but a father to Kira. After what I just did to her, I doubt she'll even consider me a relative anymore." Tamson said, with the utmost regret.

"You sure do things without thinking. But I know she'll come around. By the way, why did you have to do that anyway?"

"I don't know. I got so angry and frustrated with the way she kept pestering me for money regarding Beatrice's treatment."

"There you have it! That is it!"

"That is what?" Tamson asked.

"The key to have her at our beck and call." She screamed with excitement.

"What are you talking about?"

"Since she wants the money, you'll agree to give it to her on the condition that she does your bidding." She said, with enthusiasm in her eyes.

"That is a great idea. But there is still a little problem."

"And what would that be?"

"The world doesn't know Kira as my daughter. You know we never take her on any of our outings. Also, everyone on the internet knows Flora Tamson as the only daughter of the wealthy Tamson family. I mean, she makes it quite obvious every day." He said this, rolling his eyes.

"I guess it's time to play the heiress-protection card then" His wife said, giving it a deep thought.

"What do you mean heiress-protection card?" Her bewildered husband asked.

"You'll tell anyone who cares to listen that Kira is your first child and heir to all we have and that we hid her from the world for her own safety."

"What? What are you saying?" Tamson couldn't believe this was his wife talking. How was it possible that she was ready to admit that Beatrice had her child before she did?

This was something he knew quite well, but he had shut his eyes to the truth to keep his family in one piece.

"That is how it's going to be for now. At least until they get married. First of all, we need to get Kira to do a DNA test, just in case Daniel doubts us."

"Whoa, slow down, please. Goodness! This is happening too fast. How come you came up with all these so fast? Did you have it at the back of your mind already?" He asked, getting a bit scared of his wife.

"Just say it's fast thinking. Now, you call her tomorrow. Tell her you are ready to give her the money she requested, but you'll need to see her in the house. Regarding the DNA, leave that to me." She said it with a smile and hugged her perplexed husband from behind.

"Jeez, Tina. You keep giving me chills with the way you act sometimes."

"What is that supposed to mean?".

"Your thoughts at times, your strategies—they all amaze me. I'll be so lost without you."

"Yes, I know. But you sure almost ruined it when you cheated on me with that dirty Chinese maid of ours." She said, letting go of him.

"Oh, come on, Tina. Beatrice was a mistake. I've told you countless times." He said planting a peck on her cheek.

"Yeah, right. A mistake that gave birth to another mistake."

"Well, that mistake is about to save our asses now." He said, as he pulled his wife to himself.

"Right." She said, with a smile.

"But I just hope this works as planned. You know, Daniel Peterside is not one to be messed with. If he finds out that I only gave Kira to him because she means nothing to me, he'll ruin me completely.

"But why do you speak so highly of him? I mean, why is he feared?"

"Oh, darling. That young man is a beast in the business world. I can tell you of ten business tycoons that he has sent to the streets.

" Really?"

"Really. And if we mess this up, we'll be number eleven."

" Never. That can never happen. Not on my watch". She said with some sort of surety.

"But honey, why didn't you just ask for help from your parents?" Tamson asked. His wife pulled away from him, knowing where all this coziness was headed. Being married to the slyest man there is, for almost twenty-five years, taught her to never trust his whims.

"Are you growing cold feet already?"

"Not at all, love. Not at all."

His being all defensive gave her the answer she needed.

"You of all people know how hard it has been for my parents since they got scammed. I can't ask for their help. At least not now. Moreso, doing that will only make my bitter sisters have more than enough to gossip about."

"That's fine, then. You know what? I'll go call Kira now."