Page 141 of The Worst Best Man

Her eyebrows shot up. “So I’m just supposed to say thank you?”

The door to Aiden’s office flew open. Ferris Kilbourn strode in with Oscar hot on his heels.

“I need a word with you,” Ferris announced, zeroing in on Aiden behind the desk.

“Sorry,” Oscar mouthed to Frankie.

“Why in the hell would you get tangled up in a mess like Goffman’s company?” Ferris demanded slapping down a newspaper where Frankie had only minutes earlier dumped her tablet. “You’re not thinking with your brain, son.”

Aiden rose and buttoned his jacket.

Oscar inched out of the room and quietly closed the door.

“If you think I’m going to let you throw away everything this family has built over a girl—”

Frankie cleared her throat and rose from her chair.

“If you have a problem with the way Aiden is running the company, maybe you shouldn’t have dumped it on him,” she snapped.

“Don’t insert yourself in family business, Franchesca,” Ferris said coolly.

“You’ll watch how you speak to her,” Aiden snapped, his voice was cold enough that Frankie shivered.

“You don’t have the luxury of dabbling in pet projects, Aiden. You have a legacy to fulfill. People are counting on you.I’mcounting on you.”

“If you have a problem with my performance as CEO, take it to the board,” Aiden suggested.

Frankie moved to stand next to him. “Or, you could trust your son to do right by you and the business,” Frankie spoke up. “You may not understand or particularly like some of his decisions, butyouput him in this position. Now it’s time to trust him to do what’s best for your family.”

“I know what’s best for the family. And you are not it.”

Frankie crossed her arms. “Said the guy who dumped an empire on his son and said, ‘good luck running it.’ Oh and try to turn your sociopathic half-brother into a contributing adult. I’ll be in the Caribbean.”

“I’ve given this company everything,” Ferris shouted.

“What have you given your son besides an impossible responsibility?” Frankie shouted back. “You owe him more than a job. And you know what? Even if he wasn’t your son, what kind of sense does it make to hand over the reins and then expect him to do everything with one hand tied behind his back? You’re sabotaging him because you’re doubting yourself.”

Ferris glowered at them both and snatched the newspaper off the desk. “You’d better think long and hard about the choices you’re making.” He was speaking to Aiden but pointed the folded paper at Frankie.

The message was clear. Choose family or choose hot mess girlfriend.

She felt Aiden’s hand settle at the small of her back.

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“Well, that was pleasant,” she said dryly after Ferris stormed out. “Are you okay?”

Aiden put his hands on her shoulders and squeezed. “Come on,” he said, nudging her toward the door.

“Where are we going?”

“I want air. And coffee.”

“Air and coffee sound good.” She watched him slide into his long wool coat, admiring the view of tailored suit, strong jaw, and unreadable eyes. “What if we run into your dad in the elevator?”

“Then you can hit him with a tray,” Aiden promised.

Oscar was sitting behind his desk, pretending to be very busy.