Page 89 of Broken Brothers

“I can do that,” I said. “You just let me know if there’s anything else that needs to be done.”

“Well, actually, want to come by the office here in 30?”

Did I?

Oh, did I ever.

We we re about to need a whole lot more pizzas.

“You know it. I will head over there right now.”

“Great. Thank you so much, Chance.”

I hung up and immediately dialed Morgan’s phone number. It went to voicemail, which I wasn’t that surprised by since he still would have been in the office, but I just assumed that he would call back in short time. I quickly left the hotel room, packing my stuff for my flight home later that day, and began making my way down the stairs.

Just as I exited the hotel, my phone buzzed. I looked down and saw Morgan’s name. Quickly, I picked it up.

“Guess what?”

“I know what, you little fucking prick.”

My face dropped as I heard Edwin Hunt’s voice on the other side.

“You boys think you’re so clever, pulling a fast one on me.”

“Where’s Morgan?” I said, suddenly beginning to suspect an awful lot of terrible things.

“Oh, he’s here. I confronted him five minutes ago. The boy broke so easily, I’m starting to wonder what Mrs. Hunt did to make him so soft.”

So much of me wanted to reach through that phone and strangle the old man. What had he ever done to deserve being called my father? How could he possibly be surprised that his own son would rebel against him when he treated him less as a son and more as a business intern? How fucking clueless could Edwin Hunt be?

“I’ve got Morgan right here, Chance, and I’m going to put you on speaker phone so that the two of you can here me loud and clear,” he said. “I will admit to being infuriated beyond all measure that you would persuade my only son to join you on this endeavor.”

“Dad, it was—”

“Shut up!” Edwin shouted. My face only grew redder by the second. Not only did Edwin deserve to be smacked around, he needed a lesson in reality. But to him, if reality didn’t bend to his will, then it wasn’t real. Morgan didn’t come up with the idea, no matter how much he said so. I did.

Fucking idiot.

“Neither of you boys will speak until I allow it,” Edwin said. I was half a second away from telling him to fuck off—the only reason I didn’t was out of concern for Morgan. “Now, you boyshave made a real ass out of yourselves. Your business reputation can be ruined in a matter of minutes if you defy me, and don’t think I won’t pull the trigger. I’ve fucked over many people before who dared to fight me, and I’m not about to let you two be the first to get away with it.”

He cleared his throat.

“But, I will admit, I am impressed with what you did. We sure as hell don’t have any business analysts your age acquiring deals like you did on companies worth eight figures. Most especially in a company that has the future of home purchases. I am enraged, but I am not a fool.”

Debatable.

“I have offered you many times before, Chance, a role in my company. For some stupid reason, you seem to think you don’t need me. I do not understand your line of reasoning, boy, but I will allow it to immaturity and the stupidity of youth. However, understand this. I will give you a job for seven figures a year, right this instance. I will provide you every type of benefit you could ever think of. You want a plane ride anywhere in the globe? Hunt Industries has you covered. You need help with the law? Hunt Industries knows who to cover. You need to pay someone off? Hunt Industries has that taken care of to.”

I already knew where this was going. We were wasting time, especially since Virtual Realty’s office was now in sight.

“You just need to let me take control of that investment that you just agreed to,” Edwin said, putting on a fake charming voice. “I know you boys have skill in negotiating. But the skill to follow through on that offer is not an easy one—in fact, it’s very, very different. So tell me, Chance, Morgan. You boys have the chance to do the right thing. What’s it going to be?”

“Morgan?”

I didn’t want to put him on the spot. But I knew my answer already, and it was not without expletives and swears at the old man. If I spoke for the group, I would have sunk both of us.

But I couldn’t speak for Morgan. I had no idea if he was in his father’s office or in some other location. Only he knew what consequences he would be facing for the decision we had made and the fallout. Only he could face them and handle them. I would just remain in the same spot I always had—as an outsider who got by on the graces of Mrs. Hunt and Morgan.