Page 35 of Parker

Chapter twenty-eight

The Boardroom, Parker Fashion

Joel

Parker Merger Wipes Out Worth Legacy.

Power Couple No More: Parker CEO Divorced Amid Expansion.

Two days. Two headlines. Parker Industries is winning. No one cares that I’m bleeding on the inside.

The first article dissected our hostile takeover of the Worth empire, calling it a ‘strategic absorption’ and speculating whether I’d made Reginald Worth an offer or issued a threat.

The second? A full spread on the finalization of my divorce from Nicky. Apparently, the rise of my business came at the cost of my marriage. Winning in the boardroom has meant losing behind closed doors.

Our fairytale romance, ending as abruptly as it began, fed tabloids for months. They lapped it up. If I so much as looked at another woman, the papers plastered my face across their pages the next day. Speculation after speculation. What had I done to make her leave? Or worse—what had she done?

Those headlines were harder to stomach.

The media had been taking pot-shots at my family my entire life. I was used to having every decision dissected and dragged into the daylight. But Nicky wasn’t. She wasn’t strong enough to handle that kind of cruelty. She shouldn’t have to.

When we married, Ebony controlled the narrative. She downplayed Nicky’s past, buried what needed burying. Somehow, we made it six years with nothing more than a few obscure mentions of her time in prison.

But our divorce? That was different.

They tore her apart. Full-length articles on her past—how she’d killed her father and left his girlfriend permanently disabled. Not one of them mentioned the affair. Not one acknowledged what he’d done to her. It was all portrayed as her fault.

I begged Ebony to step in. She refused saying public sympathy had run dry. If Nicky wanted privacy, she should leave the city. Marrying into a family like mine meant you had to be prepared to face the paparazzi. Her mental health was her responsibility, not ours.

I tried to calm the chaos myself, but every statement I gave only poured fuel on the fire. Each word triggered another article, another theory. In the end, I gave up.

Now, in the boardroom, I’m surrounded by my team. They want progress. Today, I know they will be demanding answers. A plan.

Ebony sits to my left, poised and polished as ever. She taps a pen against her notepad, watching me too closely. My mother flips through the briefing document. Boyd leans against the far wall, arms crossed, his eyes on the exit. And Drayton. He scowls as if this meeting is a waste of his time.

My leadership isn’t in question. My emotional state is.

Ebony is the first to break the silence.

“You’ve said nothing publicly,” she says, calm but cutting. “Not about the merger. Not about the divorce. That works for a day. Maybe two. But people are talking, Joel.”

Imelda nods. “Investors are nervous. The merger brought strength, but it also brought blood. And the press are implying you’re... unstable.”

“It was unexpected,” Boyd adds, attempting to soften my mother’s words. “Enemies don’t merge easily. People are asking questions.”

Ebony slides a glossy folder across the table toward me. “We’ve had two gala invites and three press appearances this week. We’ve declined everything for months. I think it’s time you accept one. A public appearance would be helpful.” I don’t look at the folder.

“Help who?” I ask, my voice low.

“You,” Ebony says, her eyes narrowing. “Right now, you’re the heartbroken CEO living in the shadows. People need to see you’re all right after…”

She rolls her eyes as if bored with having the same conversation. My jaw ticks, pissed she’s going to bring up my divorce… again. It’s constant, no matter what the predicament is. According to Ebony, every issue we face in the business is down to my ex-wife.

“After what?”

“You fucking know what?” Ebony slams her pen on the table. “Wallow all you like at home, but you need to be seen. Not just as a CEO, but a man in control. Our clients need to know you’ve moved on.”

I glance toward Drayton, who lets out a quiet huff. Ebony pretends not to notice, but I do. There’s a flicker of something between them. Understanding, maybe. Alliance. That makes me uncomfortable. Both have a ruthless streak that is beneficial when they’re on your side. Deadly if not.

“No,” I say simply, and rise from my chair. “The company will speak through its performance. Not through carefully staged photographs.”

“I’ll go with you to the gala,” my mother suggests. She reaches for my hand, squeezing it gently. “Moral support.”

“No,” I repeat. “I will not compromise on this. Being seen in public just gives them more ammunition. If I stay home, they can make up whatever fucking stories they want. I don’t care what anyone says or how many notes of concern they’ve had. I won’t be traipsing around Glasgow to save face.”

The deal is done. The Worth empire is ours. They can speculate all they want.

It was a Wednesday afternoon in summer when my phone buzzed.

“Sir,” Louise said, “Mr. Worth is requesting to speak to you. Should I let him in?”

My skin prickled with annoyance at being interrupted, especially by a man I hate. Though, I was interested enough to want to know why he was here. “Yes, let him in.”

Moving to my window, I watched the low black limo enter through the gates to Parker Fashion and stop outside the front door.

The driver stepped out and opened the rear door for his boss.

He was looking older, I noticed, with graying hair and slowness to his movements.

As the two men made their way up the steps, I retreated from the window, knowing they would be at my door soon enough.

Moments later, Louise knocked softly on the wood and pushed the door open. “Mr. Worth to see you, Mr. Parker,” she announced.

“Thank you, Louise. Please, can you get us some tea? I assume you’d like a refreshment, Reginald?” He narrowed his eyes, presumably at my use of his Christian name. But in these recent months, my leadership had become stronger, and I was feeling more secure in my position.

Louise scurried away.

“Your goon can stay outside too,” I said, glancing at the brute now blocking my door.

“I think we’re both gentlemen enough to discuss this amicably.

” Worth nodded, and the mountain of a man left.

“Please, take a seat,” I offered, pointing to the two leather sofas facing each other, one in the corner.

Louise appeared and placed a tray holding a teapot, cups, and biscuits on the coffee table between them. She prepared two cups, then left.

He settled himself on the couch against the wall. His instinct to protect himself was obviously ingrained ― it gave him a full view of the room. I sat opposite him and lifted my cup, taking a sip before replacing it on the saucer.

“So,” I said, “to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?” His eyebrows drew together. “I’m assuming this is to do with the old bank?”

He nodded, muttering, “Yes, that was Worth territory, and you stole it from under me.”

“Reginald, I made a more competitive offer than you. The seller accepted it. I didn’t even know you were interested in the property. Both you and I know neither of us has territory in the city center,” I stated, my voice hard.

“Your men gunned down two of mine last night, unprovoked,” he said, changing the subject.

“Again, you and I both know that’s bullshit. Every night, there’s another fight or disagreement between our men. The past six months have been difficult for both sides. We’ve both overstepped the mark.” He shrugged. “Until we call a truce, the men will keep fighting for their sides.”

“This started when you broke my daughter’s heart on her wedding day,” he barked.

“Left her at the altar to be laughed at and mocked, while you ran off with your cheap tart. And she’s not even here.

” My mood darkened instantly. “Then your bastard security breaks my son’s leg.

Pardon me for not being overly forgiving. ”

“For fuck’s sake, Worth,” I snapped. “Eliza knew I wouldn’t be there. It wasn’t a surprise. And your son got handsy with one of my girls. He was treated the way any patron would be after overstepping the mark. His injury was unfortunate.”

“Unfortunate?” he repeated back to me, then laughed, taking me by surprise. “A lot of things are unfortunate about Lorenzo.” His fingers drummed on his thigh as he paused, as if pondering his next words.

“Joel,” he said, his tone softening. “I need to level with you. Our families were once close. Your father and I saw each other as comrades, not enemies. These past years have made our relationship difficult.”

Now, that’s an understatement if ever I heard one.

“But I’m a sick man.” His honesty surprised me. “The doctors have given me only months to live, and my son cannot run my family business. I have a proposition for you.”

“I’m listening,” I told him as I settled back in my chair. What I wanted to say was no fucking chance, you old bastard. You killed my child and attacked my wife. But I’ve learned to keep my cool until I have all the facts. I’ll never forget or forgive, but I’ll bide my time for revenge.

“My children are not the kind of people you are. Eliza is married and settled now. I’ve provided her with enough to see her safely through her years.

Lorenzo is as much of a predicament as he’s always been.

He needs strong leadership to ensure he doesn’t get himself killed.

None of my other family is in contact.” I nodded.