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After our mid-month board meeting, I follow Weston and my father to the large corner office, the one that will be mine if a miracle happens.
“Welcome back,” my dad tells me as I sit opposite him and beside my brother. My father’s hair is grayer than I remember, and he looks tired. “Apologies for not having the chance to welcome you home yet.”
I look past him out the window, enjoying the view of the Empire State Building. I can see tiny specks of people walkingaround the top, viewing the city from above. It’s the perfect time of day because, in the late afternoon, the sun and sky reflect off the windows of the surrounding buildings, casting rays of silver and gold. There’s nothing like it.
In moments like this, I want to pull out my notebook and sketch, but I don’t.
“Any updates I should be aware of?”
I return my attention back to my father.
I know what he’s asking—if I’ve found a potential bride—and I don’t know how to deliver the disappointing news. After six months of traveling around the world, I’m still painfully single. I’ve given women chances, but not one lasted past the fourteen-day mark. I’ve tried.
“Not yet,” Weston says. “He’ll figure it out.”
“I can talk,” I snap out with frustration.
When I was younger, if I hesitated too long like I must've done, my brother would speak for me, to protect me however he can. When I’ve needed him the most, he’s been there. I have his back, and he has mine, no matter what.
But right now, I need to use my voice. Otherwise, I’ll be in a loveless marriage, just like the ones every man in this room has gotten himself into.
“Son, the lawyers reviewed the contract your grandfather created. The requirements are clear, with zero loopholes. It’s locked tight.”
I lean across the desk. “Don’t you find this ridiculous? I was born to run this company. I’m the best there is.”
“Well, thesecondbest.” Weston laughs.
“Not now,” I tell him. I’m not in the mood.
Dad glares at me. “If youaren’tmarried before your fortieth birthday, I’ll have no choice but to promote Derrick to CEO when I retire. You have thirty-seven days, son.”
My brother tenses beside me. “Thatcannotfucking happen. He’s not family.”
“Doyouwant to step up?”
My father stares him down and the room grows frigid. The tension is so thick; I could cut it with a knife.
Weston has enough experience to take over the company, and he would be incredible. But last year, he was promoted to the chief operating officer. Finding a replacement for him would be nearly impossible. He’s thebestthere is, and he can charm asnake, which is why he was married to one.
“That’s what I thought,” my father says, unamused. He’s stern. Always has been.
“It was never my dream. You know that,” Weston tells him.
Since we were children, we were encouraged and trained to take on these roles.
CEO ismine. He wouldn’t take that from me.
Weston interlocks his fingers. “If Derrick takes over, you will receive my resignation.”
Our dad stares him down, but Weston doesn’t flinch. He can be a bigger asshole than me when he wants. Most people don’t realize he’sjustlike me.
I clear my throat. “Father, there has to be some?—”
Before I can continue, the door swings open, and it’s Derrick, the man who has been my father’s shadow since we were teenagers. He’s tall with jet-black hair and a permanent scowl, and he has a voice like he’s smoked a pack a day for the last twenty years. Weston and I are convinced he has a Death Eater tattoo on his arm because he’s pureSlytherin.
While he does have executive experience and the board of directors respects him, he’s aterriblechoice, and he makes awful business decisions. I’ve never liked him because he puts profit over people. He can disrespectfully get fucked.
“Apologies for being late,” Derrick says, sliding into the chair on the other side of Weston.