Page 1 of I Choose You

1

KADEN

Why did he call us to come over? This Sunday wasn’t a holiday. If Dad had any issues about work, he’d take it up with me at the office. He’d always been particular about keeping personal headaches separate from his business ones, and it paid off. The man was filthy rich and hadn’t gotten there by luck.

When he’d called earlier to ask if I’d come over, I was curious what was up. He’d been so cryptic about it, and curiosity got the better of me. My twin was no exception. Kody had been summoned the same as I had. After a call with him, I realized he was just as clueless.

It can’t be something bad, right?

He hadn’t given anything away in that call, but I expected no less. That man’s poker face was legendary, and he wouldn’t let anything slip into his tone either.

As I pulled up to my father’s estate, my curiosity was split between dread and excitement. Would it be good news or bad?

Kody turned into the long driveway as I set my SUV in park. I seldom drove it in the city, but heading way out here was always a chance to get it out for a good ride. He braked and parked his truck next to me, and as I stepped out, glancing at the estate, I tried to figure out what could be going on.

No other cars waited out front, but that didn’t mean others couldn’t be parked along the side.

“Hey,” I greeted Kody as he got out and nodded at me in acknowledgment. He headed for the tailgate, which he opened. I followed, unsurprised he was pulling a six-pack of beer toward him.

“Have you been here long?” he asked.

I shook my head, taking the bottle he offered me. “You think this is going to be a party?”

Our father never invited people over to the estate. It was his fortress away from real life. The few times he ever had guests, they were for holidays, birthdays, and such.

“No. I just need something to take the edge off.” He tapped his bottle to mine, then took a long drink.

I smirked as I brought my bottle to my lips. His idea of something taking the edge off was more liberal than mine. If Dad asked us here to share bad news, I wanted to be clear-headed. Not shit-faced.

“You seriously don’t have any idea why he invited us to come over?” Kody set his bottle on the opened tailgate and leaned against it.

“No clue.” I shrugged. “He doesn’t invite people over often, and—”

Kody scoffed. “And it’s just the two of us.” He splayed his hand out, emphasizing it was just our two vehicles out here. “I’ve been wondering about it all day.”

I rubbed the back of my neck, nervousness coming in quicker. “Do you think it’s anything about work?”

Kody opened his mouth to reply but then closed it, pausing on his words. “Nah. He wouldn’t call us here for that.”

“He has been stressed lately.”

He dismissed me with a wave. “What, you think he’s stressing about that asshole in HR getting busted sleeping with his secretary? That’ll blow over. Office drama—same old.” His brows raised as he grinned, reaching for his bottle. “I sure as fuck hope Dad called us over for good news. To tell us something he wants us to hear first.”

“Like what?”

“Like he wants to announce his retirement. That we’ll be taking over the company.”

Now it was my turn to grin. Kody and I were set to run our namesake—Wagner Industries—sooner or later. Dad wasn’t quiet about his long-term visions for the company. He’d built it, he’d babied it, and when he’d had enough, it would be ours to manage.

“I’ve got my eye on a few new toys I’d like to get.” Kody took another long drink. His gaze was distant, but he smiled as he lowered the bottle.

“Like you can’t just get them now?”

His reply was a shrug and another long drink.

Money wasn’t an issue for us, not really. Dad had done well with establishing Wagner Industries. We owned a successful world-renowned conglomerate, and when Kody and I took over, we’d grow on those earnings and make it better than before.

“Like you need any more toys,” I muttered.