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Her lips curve up. “So worth it. I can’t wait to see all the things you’ll accomplish.”
“Thank you.” I lean down to kiss her forehead. “Having you by my side will make all the backlash and resistance we face more tolerable. There are a lot of people who aren’t happy my dad left the country before anyone could ask him any questions, and now, they just want someone to blame.”
Although I’d love to give my dad a piece of my mind, I’m glad he disappeared. I don’t know if he’ll ever return, but I’ve never felt this at peace than without his presence in my life. The fact that my mom left with him annoys me, but when Holden asked me if I wanted him to search for them, I told him not to bother. They made their choices, and I’m making mine.
Sometimes, life is better without certain people in it, even if they’re your own flesh and blood. And I know Eve feels the same way, having cut ties with her parents once she was ready to face them. Even my presence didn’t deter her father from throwing threats her way, and that was before I told him that any deals between Caldwell & Company and Montgomery Enterprises are terminated.
It was bittersweet when Holden and our team looked into Tyler’s allegations and discovered he had actually told the truth. The company was supposed to go to me once I had my college degree, something my father had purposefully hidden from me since he wanted the company all to himself for as long as possible. Once power hungry, always power hungry.
We also uncovered that my father fired anyone who didn’t agree with his often aggressive or illegal ways of conducting business.
Thankfully, many of them have agreed to return to help dig up the poison my father spread within the company and beyond, so we can rebuild it the right way as soon as possible.
Eve presses her lips to mine in a soft kiss. “You’ll do amazing. I don’t have a single doubt about that.”
I sigh. “I’m just glad I don’t have to do it alone.”
Enter Holden. He’s been the most significant resource I’ve ever encountered, especially in all things security. While I was at the hospital, he assembled a team to tear apart Tyler’s apartment and everything he owned. Holden said Tyler—my half brother—had footage of my dad, me, Eve, and dozens of other people, dating back to when he moved to New York. Including blackmail material for Ben Rodgersthat was way worse than what he took the fall for. On top of that, he had a ton of audio recordings that were definitely illegally obtained and what Holden called a very obsessive trail of miscellaneous documents and items. It seems like Tyler was on his A game when it came to blackmailing people. Holden almost sounded impressed.
“Do not attempt to understand why a dysfunctional person does what they do. There’s no logic behind it.”
Who would have thought therapy could be so insightful?
What started as a joke has quickly turned into reality where the three of us—Holden, Eve, and I—keep a therapist busy full time. Sort of. While we didn’t hire anyone full time, we see someone several times a week. Sometimes alone, other times together, depending on the topics and issues. I have felt oddly relieved and energized as a result. It’s nice to finally talk to someone about everything I, and we, have gone through.
Eve drags her fingernails over my arm, and I sigh.
“That feels so good.”
She presses a kiss to my chest. “You have a great team, which will only grow over time.”
My mind returns to our conversation about work, and I clear my throat. “Speaking of great team, there was something else I was thinking about.”
“Oh yeah, what’s that?”
I swallow. “I want to talk to the board and see how they feel about someone else taking over, or at the very least, share my responsibilities.”
A slight crease forms between Eve’s brows. “But . . . you’ve always wanted to be CEO.”
“I used to . . . before. But my priorities have changed.” Igrasp her hand, playing with the wedding ring on her finger. “Not only do I want to focus more on the foundation and expand our work, but I also want to travel the world with you and be there when you play your concerts. I can’t do that if I’m stuck behind a desk for twelve-plus hours most days. And to be honest, I’ve realized I’m not really that interested in the company anymore anyway. I’d much rather make a difference in the world in a way that’s meaningful to me. And I want to do it with you by my side. You’re my priority now.”
Her lower lip quivers as she nods at me. “I just want you to be happy.”
“I’m happy when I’m with you, Angel. Everything else is just a bonus.”
She clears her throat. “You know, I’ve done some thinking too. Working with you on the foundation has been more fun than I ever could have imagined it would be, and now that this nightmare is finally over, I’d like to be more involved. I was actually wondering if maybe there's a way to get Doreen on board, and together, we can find a way to combine the women’s shelter and the teen safe house. You were talking about getting a large property anyway, so there’d be enough room for everyone, and maybe they could help each other.”
“I like the sound of that.” I pause for a moment, still mulling over what she just said. “But what about your dreams of traveling the world and playing your music?”
“I’ve talked to Dr. Johnson about this, and I realized a part of me had those dreams because I wanted to escape my life here. We both know I was never truly a part of my family, at least not where my parents and brother were concerned.Now that we’ve mostly cut ties, all of that pressure and impulse to flee has gone away with it.”
I study her closely, glad when her features stay relaxed. In a twisted way of fate, a lot of good has come from our messed-up situation.
She continues, “I’d still like to travel, and maybe do a performance every once in a while, but I’d also like to try my hand at other things. Explore studio work some more, maybe film music, collaborations with other artists, compose a bunch of different songs and upload them online, that sort of thing. Work that will fulfill me but will also allow me a lot of flexibility. For the first time, I’m content and excited to see what the future will bring. With you by my side, because you make everything better.”
There’s a lightness in her face I’ve never seen before. True happiness. I want to wake up to this spark in her eyes for the rest of my life. “You amaze me.”
She gives me a watery smile. “I love you.”