Page 139 of Broken Brothers

Now I couldn’t help my glare to Morgan. He’d told Edwin what we were planning to do?

“You…”

Left unsaid was traitor, but that did not feel like a strong enough word. Nothing could really encapsulate the rage and bitterness I felt toward Morgan right now. Nothing could properly describe the treachery, the betrayal, the Benedict Arnold-type action that Morgan had just committed.

“But, I understand you, Chance. You don’t like me and, frankly, I don’t like you. But I know a thing or two about you. For one, you’re a man of many words, but you’re not a man of your word.”

“Why the hell am I here?” I growled. “This is not going to be a fucking roast of me.”

“Would you let me finish?”

Edwin seemed deliberately comfortable and unfazed by what was going on, which led me to believe that he had a strong upper hand here I could not fight. I began to see it so clearly now. Just as Layla was a mole, now Morgan was a mole.

But… why? What did Morgan gain by joining me in business, watching me grow angry at Edwin Hunt, and then reporting it all to him? Nearly two decades of brotherhood and friendship had never produced anything worse than competition for the same girl; it wasn’t like I had killed his favorite pet one day and he’d vowed revenge.

Something wasn’t adding up. But in this moment, there sure was a lot of pressure and fear adding up quickly.

“See, Chance, you’re not a man of your word. But you are a man whose words persuade many. The fact that you were able to beat me for Virtual Realty is no small feat, and I may add, I’m still a bit annoyed by that. Perhaps if I were younger, I could have better related to that Indian boy over there.”

“Andrew?” I said, growling.

“Yeah, whatever his name was.”

No wonder he didn’t invest in you. You probably got his name mixed up or just assumed it was something so cliche you didn’t bother to learn anything specific about him.

“However, I am aware that Virtual Realty has not made any more sales since you took over, or at least not an uptick over what they did before. Seems to me that if you’re offering them any advice, it is not working.”

“Oh—”

I went silent again, but this game of silence and nearly talking would not last forever. Sooner or later, I was going to crack.

“But, like I said, I see you have the gift of gab and charm,” Edwin said. “So, let me explain something to you here very clearly. I have made this offer before, and I will make it again. You may think me crazy or ignorant of your past, but let me give you some things to consider before you outright reject me.”

I gulped. Here it came.

“First of all, Morgan has agreed to come back to Hunt Industries and give me his shares of Morgan & Chance Holdings, effective in three months, in return for a seven figure salary.”

“You bastard!”

I didn’t yell at Edwin but at Morgan, who still could not look me in the face. What in the actual fuck was wrong with him? He had $50 million in the bank and he sold out for a salary two percent of that? He gave our company to his father?

What the actual fuck…

“This means that in three months time, you and I will be equal partners at the company, Chance,” he said. “And frankly, I don’t like to operate businesses that aren’t turning a profit. So I may just shut the thing down.”

If I could have killed a man with my stare, I would have done so for Morgan.

“Second, it has come to my attention that your rent is currently being paid for by my wife and my son. If you do not accept a real working job—with benefits, six figure pay, and opportunity for advancement—I will take it you are not interested in working and will have to kick you out so you can figure it out on your own.”

“Fuck this,” I said, finally cracking. “I’ve been trying to figure it out on my own this whole damn time. Morgan, you’re a sellout. Edwin…”

I almost said so many things, but the fear I was being recorded and watched prevented me from saying more. It did not stop me, however, from standing up and preparing to leave.

“Chance, before you go—”

“What, what could you possibly tell me?”

“I am here to tell you you need to consider all factors,” Edwin said, smiling. “I haven’t told you everything yet.”