Page 472 of The Morally Grey Billionaires Boxset

Edward

"Why are you not with your wife?" Arthur frowns.

"Because I didn’t want to miss poker night." I focus on my cards, while well aware of the suspicion in his eyes.

I’m not doing a good job of playing the newly-married husband desperately in love with his bride. In fact, I’m screwing up my role so badly, even my grandfather believes something is wrong.

"For a man enjoying post marital bliss, you seem strung tightly," Knox drawls.

Asswipe is trying to get another response from me, and this time, I will not give in to him.

I accompanied Belle to the door of the townhouse, made sure she was in safely, then instructed my housekeeper to cook dinner for her.

I had no interest in the poker game, but I did want to see my grandfather face-to-face.

He still hasn’t confirmed me as CEO, even though I'm in charge of all the key decisions of the company.

I'm not going to bring it up with him, of course. I'm more strategic than that.

It’s why I asked Sinclair to invite Arthur and Knox for his weekly poker night.

Our mutual friends who’d normally attend are out of town.

It's the perfect opportunity to get facetime with the old man, without asking for a meeting.

As for inviting Knox? It's a chance to demonstrate I don't hold a grudge.

I hoped to get a reading on my grandfather. But from what I’m seeing, he’s not very happy with me.

"I’m taking my wife on our honeymoon over Christmas," I declare.

"You are?" Arthur looks up from his cards.

"I have a property in Cornwall. Very picturesque and isolated…and romantic. The perfect way to spend Christmas."

Arthur’s features relax. "That sounds like the ideal getaway."

"It is."

"I’m pleased you’re taking your duties as a husband seriously. If the wife’s happy, everything else in your life will fall in order." He nods.

I incline my head to show I agree with him.

"I assume you’ll do this properly and not work while you’re away?" Knox murmurs in a casual tone. Which doesn’t fool me at all. Motherfucker will try any which way to take control of the company.

"Oh, I’ll make sure I’m connected to the internet while I’m gone. Remote working and—"

"Absolutely not. You need to focus on your wife and your marriage completely while you’re gone. It’s very important you make it your priority."

"Oh, I can still attend meetings. The takeover we spoke about in conjunction with the 7A company—"

"Will be taken care of," Arthur declares.

I glance at Sinclair, but his expression indicates he has no idea what Arthur is talking about.

"The takeover is in a delicate phase." Sinclair looks up from his cards. "We’ll probably sign the deal during the last week of December, and as the main signatory, it makes sense for Edward to be on the calls and—"

"—it’s not right to disturb the man, no matter how important he is, on his honeymoon."

"But he's the key decision maker," Sinclair points out.

"Which is why I’m bringing in someone else with signing powers."

I stiffen. There it is, then. The old man never did intend to hand over the running of the company to me. He may have made me CEO, but he was never going to let me have veto power.

Knox throws down his cards. "Now, that’s what I'm talkin' about." He leans back in his seat. "You’ve made the right choice, Gramps. I won’t let you down."

"Of course, not." Arthur’s eyes gleam. He’s hiding something, all right.

He reaches over and scratches Tiny behind his ears.

The Great Dane yawns. He welcomed me like an old friend when I walked in today, then abandoned me to take Arthur’s side.

There’s a bond between the two of them which Arthur clearly relishes.

When Tiny decided to stay with Arthur, I was worried about the mutt being shuttled around between homes, but I’m realizing Tiny has a mind of his own.

He decides who’s going to be his dog parent, and right now, he’s adopted my grandfather as the adult in his life.

He’s softening up the old coot too, going by how Arthur smiles at the group.

Come to think of it, he’s not the only one thawing. First, Tiny; then, Belle. Between the two of them, my life has been turned upside down.

Footsteps sound, then a man walks into the room.

He’s tall—as tall as me, six feet three inches, at least—broad shouldered, muscled in a way that hints at time spent doing physical work, and not just the gym kind.

This man spends time working with his hands.

He’s wearing a black suit, which stretches over his physique and indicates its tailor made for his dimensions.

His dark hair is peppered with grey at the temples.

I take in all of this, but what holds my attention are his features. They are so familiar. So like Knox’s and like my grandfather’s. He’s… Nope, can’t be.

"Arthur." The new guy nods in my grandad’s direction.

"You don’t mind, I invited Nathan here to join your poker night, Sterling?" Arthur phrases it as a question to Sinclair, but his tone makes it clear, he isn’t asking for permission so much as informing.

If Sin is surprised, he hides it well.

"Of course." Sinclair rises to his feet, pulls up a chair, and slides it into the space between him and me.

"Thank you." Nathan slides into the seat, then jerks his chin at Knox, who’s been glowering at him from across the table.

"You must be Knox," Nathan murmurs.

"The fuck are you?"

"I’m your oldest half-brother."

"What the fuck?" Knox throws his cards down on the table. "Is this a joke, Arthur?" He turns to our grandfather. "Because if it is—"

I scan Nathan’s features and see the truth in his eyes. "It’s not a joke, Knox."

"I want to hear it from Arthur," Knox says without taking his gaze off of our grandfather.

Arthur pets Tiny one more time, then turns to face Knox. "This is Nathan Davenport, my oldest grandson.”

“I thought he was your oldest grandson.” Knox jerks his chin in my direction.

“So did I.” Arthur looks at me with an apologetic expression. “I found out about him at the same time as Edward. I reached out to Nathan and Edward at the same time, but Nathan never replied.”

“I was traveling.” Nathan shrugs.

“And now, you’re conveniently here, in time to claim a part of the family fortune?” Knox growls.

“I’m independently wealthy.” Nathan’s lips twist, “I’m here because—”

“I asked him to come,” Arthur interjects. “Turns out, before your father met Edward’s mother, he had a son with his childhood sweetheart. She was sixteen when Nathan was born. Your father refused to step up to his responsibilities.”

“What a surprise.” Knox snorts.

“Greta paid off Nathan’s mother, so she could leave with him and bring him up far away from us.”

Nathan’s jaw tics, but he doesn’t comment.

“Apparently, your father knew if he came clean to me, I’d disinherit him. Greta didn’t want that for him either. The two kept this a secret, but Greta wanted me to do right by Nathan.”

“How did you find him?”

“His mother didn’t keep her promise. She couldn’t help but name your father on his birth-certificate.” Arthur glances around the table. “Nathan grew up with the Davenport surname.”

“A name I never wanted to be associated with. A name I should have gotten rid of the first chance I had,” he says in a matter-of-fact voice.

“But you didn’t.” Arthur turns to him. “Family ties, dear grandson, can’t be broken that easily.”

“You trying to convince yourself or me?” Nathan drawls.

“You’re here, aren’t you?” Arthur puffs on his cigar.

“Grandma sure kept a lot of secrets from you.” Knox lowers his chin to his chest.

Arthur’s shoulders tense, then he seems to get a hold of himself. “And she wanted to make amends for it.

“By asking you to split the family fortune amongst those who don’t deserve it?”

“You will apologize to your brother,” Arthur booms.

“That’s half-brother, and I will not,” Knox shoots back.

Arthur sighs. “When you reach my age, you’ll realize, family is all that matters.”

“Good thing I’m not your age yet,” Knox sneers.

Nathan looks like he’s about to say something, then firms his lips.

“Any other long-lost relations we need to know about?” Knox tips up his chin in Arthur’s direction, “Any other ‘grandsons’"—he makes air-quotes—"lurking in the background with whom we’ll need to split control of the company?"

“No grandsons,” Arthur murmurs.

“But there are others?” I ask.

“My oldest son is Edward’s adoptive father. And you’re aware of my middle son, your biological father." He directs this statement at me and Knox before looking around the table. " The one you haven’t met is my youngest,” he murmurs.

“I knew it.” Knox slaps his hand on the table with such force, the cards jump.

Arthur purses his lips. “We, uh…had a falling out, which caused him to leave home. It also resulted in me wiping all traces of him from my home, which is why you didn’t know of his existence. I’m sorry to say, I hurt your grandmother deeply with that.” The old man swallows.

“You’re hurting us with these revelations,” Knox points out.

“I promised Greta, on her deathbed, I’d reunite my family.” He sets his jaw.

“More like, you’re setting us up for a fight with all these new entrants,” Knox mutters under his breath.

“And where is this long-lost uncle?” I ask slowly.

“I haven’t been able to track him down. Maybe, he wants to stay hidden.” Arthur pats Tiny’s giant head.

“Maybe he should stay hidden.” A nerve throbs at Knox’s temple. “You expect us to accommodate yet another relation—no offense, Edward—”

“None taken.” I shrug.

“— and slice up the family fortune because you’ve decided to make up for your sins in your old age?”

There’s silence, then Arthur blows out a breath.

“I understand how difficult all of this must be for you, especially when you were groomed to be my heir-apparent. Your father was a loser. The only good thing he did was sire you boys. I thought long and hard before bringing in first, Edward and now, Nathan, but it’s for your own good, Knox. ”

Knox snorts.