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“If your guys wanted to take all my people and kill my business and use me for data analysis, then they should have just said that.”
He shakes his head, raising a hand. It strikes me as a gesture that’s not really Finn’s. Like he picked it up from his father and does it in unconscious imitation. Or maybe he wants to seem like Daniel Hughes. “That’s not what’s happening.”
“Yeah, it is.” I put my hands in my pockets. “Do you always go out of your way to misrepresent your company’s intentions?”
“No.” Finn’s palm crashes onto his desk, and what do you know? A cold burst of adrenaline. I’m not afraid of Finn Hughes. He can probably throw a decent punch, but he’s no fighter. Not like I am. I’m not in any danger. My vision sharpens. His face is redder than I expected. He’s pissed, eyes blazing. “I don’t misrepresentanything.We’re abiding by the terms of the contract.”
“That’s what I thought you’d say.”
“Oh,didyou?”
“You’re following the fine print, not the intent. I told Winthrop and Hope that I didn’t want my business torn apart. You can’t maintain the company culture when your people don’t work together.”
Finn’s jaw works. He has shadows under his eyes. This whole thing is strange enough that I want to change tacks and ask him what the hell is going on. He didn’t look like this when I saw him at dinner.
“This might be culture shock for you because you’re used to doing your own thing, but I’m not going to tolerate your bullshit. This is how it works in a company of this size. You don’t get access to our magical resources and still be CEO, understand?”
I raise my eyebrows back at him. Nothing feels more important right now than appearing to be relaxed, though I’m fairly certain he’s not going to jump across the desk and tackle me. “Neither doyou, apparently. You have to answer to your father. What would he think about that?”
Finn lets out a soft laugh. Something happens with his eyes. The words,okay, tell me what’s up with you, because something is obviously wrongleap to the tip of my tongue.“My father has even less interest in your feelings about the merger than I do. The fact is, your business is staying together. It’s intact. And it’s going to continue to run the way it always has, pursuing its original priorities. It’s just going to do it without you.”
“What?”
“Your departments haven’t been dismantled, Will. Mitchell and Greg added appropriate support staff. The rearrangement is an expansion, which is why your people are on different floors in a configuration that makes sense for departments that are twice, and sometimes three times, the size.”
That’s certainly not what I thought was happening. But one thing he says repeats in my mind. “Without me?”
No,I want to snap.It’s mine.
“Your talents will be more useful elsewhere.” Finn folds his hands on his desk. “That’s what companies do. They use people where they can make the most impact. You know something about that, don’t you?”
Finn Hughes doesn’t know a damn thing about the way I just used Bristol for sex, but he’s pushed his knuckles into a guilty spot between my ribs. I’m an asshole. Maybe that’s why it’s not enough guilt to stop me from doing it again.
“Listen.” His tone is level now, with no sharp edges. “I’m serious. I’m not trying to screw anybody over. Especially someone who’s like family.”
“Family?” My body pulls back, toward the door, but I keep my feet planted. First Leo, now Finn, talking about these family webs like they’re a good thing. They’re not. Someone who’s family is someone who needs to be protected from people like me. And you can never be sure of those ties, anyway. They can stroll out the door to buy a gallon of milk and never come back. How the fuck did my brothers and I get mixed up in all this?
“Soon enough.” Finn leans back in his seat. “And we can sit down and talk about this. Could be that Winthrop didn’t present it right, but I think you’ll actually enjoy the work we have for you. Have your secretary email mine, and we’ll have a working lunch.”
It’s okay,that Sinclair voice says, barely audible in the back of my mind.This is a win. Fight’s over.
Another voice, even quieter, pipes up.You don’t know that. You can’t trust him. You have to stay ready, or I’ll make you wish you were dead.
Staying ready, in this case, means accepting victory, like fake-Sin said. I still don’t necessarily want to be Hughes Financial Services’ idea machine, but an invitation to lunch with follow-up from both secretaries is a reasonable next step. I’ll do my damned best not to go into that with a chip on my shoulder. Not a visible one, anyway.
“Let’s do that.” I put out my hand before he can dismiss me. Finn stands and shakes. You wouldn’t know he’d lost control for a second by the confidence in his grip. “My secretary will get in touch.”
“Thanks, Will.”
That guy’s way too gracious. I don’t know that I could have thanked myself after that conversation. Finn didn’t have to bother. He could’ve had his lawyers shove the contract in my face and told me to fuck off. We might be about the same age, but if this really were an NFL team, he wouldn’t be playing on it. He’d own the whole league.
And beyond that, he’s nothing like me and my brothers. Finn was practically born sitting behind that desk, and I was practically born into a locked closet or getting punched in the face. He’s never going to understand what it means to literally fight your way to adulthood, only to find that that’s all you can do.
I get off the elevator a floor early and find an empty employee lounge. I flip the lock on the door and throw myself into one of the plush chairs by the window. Rub both hands over my face.
The meeting’s over, but a large part of me is still braced for the knock-down, drag-out argument I’d expected to have.Hopedto have, if I’m honest. A fight that would end with one of us walking out, ideally me.
I want to be the one to leave first.AndI want to be the one who never backs down.
