The girls' light bickering flitted over to where the two men were standing. Samuel gave a shadow of a smile when Reina waved her hands and Kahlo shook her head. The unicorn argument had merged into whether green beans or corn were a better vegetable.

Jackson stepped away, moving towards the glass stairs and away from the two nine-year-olds. Samuel glanced at him, then at the two girls. 

"Sir," He softly called, hastily walking behind him. "May I ask you something in private?"

Jackson paused on the step, hand resting on the metal railing. He slowly turned, blue eyes glaring down at the man. After a moment, he nodded and resumed climbing the stairs. Samuel exhaled a sigh of relief, following his boss and casting one last glance at the girls splashing in the indoor fountain. 

The hallway leading to Jackson's office seemed longer than it usually was. A familiar ding of the elevator rang out, sliding the doors open. Glazed wooden walls lined the carpeted tunnel, red, orange and brown all swirled into exotic patterns and floral designs. The thin man pushed open his office door, going to sit behind a black desk piled high with papers and files. A single painting of an animal barn hung on warm grey walls. Black curtains hid large windows and blocked the sunlight. 

Jackson looked up, shutting a file and sliding it underneath another pile. "Sit down." He told his associate, gesturing to the white chair opposite of him. Samuel pulled it out, sliding into the seat too small for his size.

There was a very long moment of silence before Jackson cleared his throat and gave a pointed look at the black man. The brown eye never rose, staring instead at the files resting on the desk. "How many do you have?" He whispered.

Jackson raised an eyebrow. "None of your concern." He leaned forward, forcing Samuel to meet his gaze. "I hope you're not quitting on me, Cullens. I can't have loose ends." He sat back, crossing his arms. "Any loose ends."

Samuel shook his head. "My loyalties lie with you, Mr. Daniels. You have nothing to fear from that."

"Then what did you want to consult me about, Mr. Cullens?" The blue eyes narrowed, meeting the steady brown one. 

"Your daughter."

Jackson cocked his head, leaning back in the chair. "What about my daughter."

Samuel lowered his head, staring at the files again. For a moment, he saw a name flash before his eye, scarring him again. Sucking in a shuttering breath, he stared at Jackson, tipping his chin up. "I am concerned about your decision to take your daughter away from a school."

"You mean you're questioning my ability to school her?"

Samuel hastily shook his head. "No, sir, nothing of the sort. I-"

"Then she is of no concern," Jackson reached over, pulling out a file and opening it.

Samuel stared ahead blankly, ignoring the obvious dismissal. Glancing to the side, he glared at the desk lamp. The rich, bronze base flowed up, curling to hold the floral, blue glass shade. A bulb was lit, casting bright reflections and making blue, green and pink glass almost transparent. "Sir, I'm wondering if she'd like it better with my Kahlo."

Jackson looked up, almost in surprise as if he had forgotten the man was there. "Kahlo? Your...daughter? What about her?"

Samuel gave a sheepish shrug, staring at the black shelving overflowing with paperwork a few hanging lamps, then snapped his gaze to Jackson's, "Sir, if Reina would go to the school with Kahlo, then you'd have more free time. Schooling a child would take most of your day-"

"Are you bribing me, Samuel?" Jackson asked in disdain, sitting back with a bored expression. 

"No, sir, I'm stating facts."

"I am very capable of schooling my own child."

Samuel curled his fists. "I understand, but you must see-"

"I am not the one with a blind eye, Samuel!" Jackson shouted, slamming his open palm down on the desk. "Remember who gave that to you? Your contract? I own you for another twenty years." He glared at the man, sitting back down; the floor lightly vibrating at his tapping foot. "You better have a good reason other than trying to take my child away from me and wasting my time, or I'll drag you down to the Rooms and make your worthless corpse useful."

Samuel tipped his chin up, then lowered his eyes in submission. "I'm sorry, sir, I just thought it'd be easier if she and Kahlo were schooled together. It'd give you a better name too, having the daughter of one of the highest businessmen-"

"Enough with the flattery, Mr. Cullens." Jackson snapped. "Get out."

Samuel rose, staring at the floor. "Yes, Mr. Daniels." Pushing the hard metal chair back in, he traced his steps back to the door. Gripping the brass handle, he glanced over his shoulder. Jackson was bent over, studying the one folder out of hundreds.    

He never meant to go in that room. Rows and rows of cabinets stretched out before him like a mocking parade. Overflow piled at the top of the metal shelving, here of there some had slid off and lay scattered over the floor. A large form moved around the maze of metal and paper in the ease that told of familiarity, the man ruffling the organized papers and hurrying through the alphabetical sections. 

Samuel stopped, staring at a drawer. Trembling, black hands reached out to slide it open, the raspy screech echoing in the silent room. Harsh breathing sounded, mixing with the wail of metal and creating an odd song. Samuel gently lifted out a folder, took a deep breath and opened it.