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"A year or two ago he was in control of everything." He clenches the wooden arms of the chair in his hands. "He's losing control and it's scaring the shit out of him."
Chapter 11
I think I have my act together. I'm never late on my rent or credit card payments. I tuck money into my retirement fund every month and I go see the dentist twice a year to have my teeth cleaned. I don't have a desire to control anything other than my own life. I know it's different for Caleb. It's always been different for him. I've never known him as someone who sits back idly while the world makes choices for him. He takes the bull by the horns and steers it in the direction he wants to go. He's in control of every aspect of not only his own life, but also the lives of the people around him.
"Caleb is a control freak," I spit the words out through a wide smile. "Remember that puppy that Miles and I had when we were kids. Caleb was the one who taught it all those tricks. He's always been in control of everyone and everything."
Asher tugs on the collar of his dress shirt. "He wants to control everyone and everything. He may have been able to do that at one time, but it's not that way anymore. You know that Gabriel hired someone to oversee the European division, right?"
I don't talk business that often with any of the Foster brothers. I pride myself on having a sound business mind, but I have no logical grasp on what it takes to run a clothing conglomerate. Gabriel has always viewed me as the young neighbor girl who followed in his footsteps and went to college to get a business degree. I was actually following in my father's footsteps and when his own plumbing company fell victim to the recession, I had to adjust my focus, which is how I ended up at Corteck.
"I didn't know that," I answer honestly. "Caleb didn’t tell me."
"It's pissing Caleb off." He sucks in a quick breath. "He had a trip to London planned. He thinks he can run everything from his office here but he can't. Gabriel went behind his back to set up our team in Europe."
That partially explains Celeb's attitude lately. He's been harsh, frustrated and preoccupied. I assumed it was because of someone he was seeing. I had no idea that there was that much friction between him and Gabriel.
"He must have been livid." I try not to break a smile. "I'm a little surprised that he didn't call me to complain about it all."
He cocks a dark brow. "I'm surprised too. You're his best friend."
At one point, a year or two ago, I would have taken great comfort in hearing Asher say those words. I've volleyed back and forth between wanting Caleb as a platonic friend to wanting much more with him. I'm not sure if I've ever been in love with him because the only man I know I've loved is Tom and those feelings were so jumbled with resentment over his addiction that they became a hazy mess. I've avoided diving back into anything serious because of that.
"I'm not his best friend," I insist softly. "My best friend wouldn't do some of the shit that he does."
He throws his head back in laughter. "Caleb's let his success go to his head. I don't dispute that but he's still the same guy
you've always known."
"He's not." I hesitate before I continue, "I'm not even sure I want him as a friend anymore. He had you arrested, Asher. You're his brother. You've already been through so much."
"I'm an addict." He leans forward to pull both of my hands into his. "My addictions terrify him. He panicked. He did the only thing he thought would help."
"He was wrong." I look down at my lap. "He knows he was wrong. That's why he made me promise to still be his friend before he told me what happened."
"You're the only constant in my brother's life." His voice is gruff. "You've always been there for him. He needs that. He needs you now more than ever."
***
"You're not working from home today?" I tap my hand lightly on his shoulder.
"Please be wearing that hot little red dress you had on earlier," he says smugly. "Red is my new favorite color."
I try not to grin as he pivots on his heel to look at me. His eyes settle on the neckline of the dress. It's not low cut but it definitely accentuates the limited cleavage that I do have. "I didn't have time to go home to change, Caleb."
"I want you to wear that dress every time you come here to see me." He gestures around the empty boardroom we're standing in. "I have a meeting in ten. What's up?"
I stare at his handsome face. There isn't a remnant of the pain that flashed over his expression earlier when he was in my office and I was berating him over how much he's changed. It's always like that with the two of us. We forgive and forget. We always have. "I want to talk about Asher."
His rubs his index finger over his lips. "What about him?"
"You fired him." I sigh heavily. "Why did you fire him?"
He swallows hard before he answers. "He can't work here if he's in jail or in rehab."
"He's not using anything." I glare at him. "He was upset about something. He feels badly about what he did."
This is the point in the conversation when Caleb should admit that he feels badly about what he did too, namely having his brother arrested. That would involve him swallowing his pride and declaring he was wrong too. Unless hell has frozen over since I walked into this office tower, it's never going to happen.
