Page 17 of The Oath We Give

No shit.

I lean back as he sets himself into the leather chair in front of my desk, various papers scattered across the surface that I catch him scanning before he looks up at me.

A cough pulls from his lungs, and he takes a moment to cover his mouth with his hand.

“Do I need to call someone?” I ask, hand already reaching for my phone.

“No.” He waves me off, eyes brows pulled together as he catches his breath. “I’m fine.”

Giving him a second to regain his steely composure, I lean back into my chair, folding my arms in front of my chest.

“Your mother and I didn’t think this would be an issue, seeing as you weren’t supposed to take the reins this quickly.” He uses his thumb and pointer finger to wipe his mouth, releasing a heavy breath. “But unfortunately, the board isn’t willing to budge.”

“On?”

The vote for me taking over isn’t scheduled for months, and I’ve already secured the majority. There is no one else that can take this position—I’m the eldest Hawthorne, and the board hasneverdeviated from that tradition.

Another wave of guilt hits me. Did I do something wrong? I may not love this job, but I like it enough to fight for it. For my father’s sake, at the very least.

“In order to take over as CEO of Hawthorne Technology, you have to be married.”

Since my incorrect diagnosis of schizophrenia, I’d learned quickly how to school my facial expressions, keeping everything I feel or experience below the surface of a monotone face.

It’s always been easier this way, keeping the truth to myself, keeping what I feel inside.But right now, I’m sure the shock I’m experiencing is evident in my features.

Married?

“What fucking year is this?” I find myself asking.

I have always known how strict the board residing over the company is, how disciplined they have been in the past, but this?

“I know, it’s archaic.” He presses a palm to his forehead. “But your great-great-grandfather put the stipulation into place, and they’ve never wavered from it. I have tried reasoning with them, given the circumstances, but they aren’t changing their minds.”

I actually want to laugh at the sick joke the universe has decided to play on me. I’m the never-ending punchline, apparently. I give and give, yet all it wants to do is take.

I gave my voice in exchange for silence. Gave it my peace in exchange for acceptance. And now? The one thing I never, ever wanted to do again, and it’s forcing me?

Fuck off.

“Silas.” My father says my name with a deep sadness in his voice, and I focus my eyes on his. “This is not what I wanted for you. Not ever. I thought you would have plenty of time, thatIwould have more time. This was—”

“I know,” I tell him, because I do.

The only thing either of my parents has ever wanted for me was happiness. That’s all they ever requested from any of their children.

I press my finger into my eye sockets, willing this headache to disappear, and thinking of all the techniques Jennifer taught me in therapy when it comes to handling stress.

But this stress? All of it? Seems a little too much for anyone to handle.

“I’ll figure it out,” I say numbly, not knowing how I’ll be dealing with it but knowing I will. “How long do I have?”

If I could just have enough time to destroy that video, I could worry about finding a wife later. One that’s okay with living in separate homes and signing a prenup.People have wealthy arranged marriages all the time; it’s not taboo. I’ll just have to go through the process of finding someone.

“That’s the thing. I don’t want you to.”

I snap my head up, lifting an eyebrow.

“We are discussing selling Hawthorne Tech. There are a lot of investors—”