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Lex sits at the head of the table and repeats the numbers projected on the screen in front of us. The data on the graphs is nothing unusual given I have my master’s in business and finance.
But today, my attention is elsewhere.
It’s Monday morning, two days since Addison walked away from me and chose my brother over us.
Saturday night resulted in me passing out from the bottle of bourbon I drank. That, in turn, equated to the hangover from hell on Sunday morning. It’s been a long time since I’d drank that much, but what else was I supposed to do to drown my sorrows?
According to my dad—not fuck another woman.
Sunday was even more challenging. I’d slept until Midday, something I never do. I turned off my phone during this time not wanting to be disturbed. In the late afternoon after I’d eaten and gone to the gym, I finally turned it back on. Nothing from Addison, only a blast of messages from Ava.
Ava:We need to talk
Ava:Are you okay?
Ava:I heard what happened
Ava:Sorry, I didn’t hear. I saw.
Ava:Can you please call me? I’m worried about you. Both of you, actually.
I ignored the messages, not wanting to talk about it with anyone. The damage is done, so what is there left to say?
And now, I’m here, forced to listen to a man whose daughter is slowly destroying my self-worth.
Across from me, Dad stares brazenly behind his glasses. I focus back onto Lex, counting down the minutes until I can get the hell out of here.
“Thoughts?” Lex asks, taking a seat at the head of the table. “We can execute this in the next few months.”
“It’s a lot of work,” Dad professes, tapping his fingers against the table. “We’re up against some big players if we offer print-to-demand facilities.”
“You scared, Cooper?” Lex mocks, then glances at me. “Perhaps, I should be looking at the new CEO.”
I keep my expression blank, but inside, I’m trying to fight these demons bringing me to a complete standstill.
“The title is yet to be passed on,” is all I say.
“I think it’s safe to say the title is yours,” Lex states with his head held high.
The emerald green in his eyes is too much of a reminder of her. Fuck, I can’t even say her goddamn name. I swallow hard, trying to suppress the anger lingering.
“Masen,” Mom says in a softer tone. “Everyone in this room agrees that you’re the best person for this role. You’ve worked in this business from the ground up. In the last year, you’ve almost doubled our profits. Plus, despite me not wanting to admit it, your tough management skills ensure we’ve gotten rid of the weak and retained only the best.”
I lower my eyes, fixating on my hands.
“So, what exactly do you all want from me?”
“Well,” Lex begins with, then clears his throat. “Manage the project for the new office building and production facility. I want this up and running within a year which means we need to start moving now.”
What Lex is proposing will force me to move away from LA. The distance between here and San Francisco is too much to commute on a daily basis. If I agree, then I might as well end things with Addison now.
“I guess I can’t say no.”
Lex chuckles. “Since when have you ever backed down from hard work?”
“Perhaps, his personal life might have something to do with it,” Dad sneers.
My eyes snap in his direction. Is he fucking kidding me right now? And in front of Lex of all people. Sure, fucker, tell your best friend I’m fucking his daughter. Tell him how I owned her inside his house while he sat outside and chilled with his friends.
