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Ezra
Themomentthebusinessdeal goes through, a wave of relief washes over me, but it does little to ease the heartache that gnaws at my chest from my recent breakup with Quinn. The board members, my brothers Dane and Ivan, and I gather in the spacious conference room with its floor-to-ceiling windows, modern artwork, and sleek furniture to celebrate our hard-earned success.
The room is buzzing with energy as we clink our glasses together, the sound of laughter and excited chatter filling the air. However, I can't shake the heaviness in my heart, knowing that Quinn will be gone by the end of the week. Dane's hearty laugh and Ivan's infectious smile do little to lift my spirits.
As the celebration continues, my father enters the room, and my heart sinks even lower. His presence brings a sense of gravity, and I brace myself for another confrontation.
"Ezra, congratulations on this incredible achievement," he says, extending his hand. We shake hands firmly, and although I can see the pride in his eyes, there's a lingering tension between us.
He gestures for us to step into my office, a room adorned with bookshelves filled with technology-related literature, various tech gadgets, and awards I've received throughout my career. We close the door behind us, and in private, my father's demeanor shifts, and I can sense that he has something important to discuss.
"I’m glad you followed my advice and didn’t further pursue things with the nanny.”
My father knows that things between Quinn and me have ended, but he doesn’t know the full details. “It was for the best. It was a good move for the business and the family.”
My stomach knots in anger.
He continues, “All you need now, son, is to re-marry, and Marianne is the perfect woman for you," he suggests, his tone insistent. “The right woman on your arm can take you far, and Marianne is from the right family and has lots of connections.”
"I'm not interested in Marianne in that way. She's a great friend, but nothing more."
“Don’t be a fool and marry down like Dane is doing.”
Anger boils within me. “Katrina is a good woman, and she saved the life of your grandson and Cassidy. Does that mean nothing to you? She’s earned our respect.”
He stiffens but says nothing.
The tension between us grows thicker, and my father narrows his eyes. "Is all of this about the nanny?! You said things were finished between the two of you."
I take a deep breath, hesitating for a moment before admitting the truth. "Her name is Quinn and yes, things are over but my heart…"
My father's face darkens, and he shakes his head in disapproval. "I won’t listen to any more foolish talk about the heart and love. This is about status and wealth. Love has nothing to do with it! You need to choose a partner for the right reason. You're making a huge mistake, Ezra. You need to think about your family, your reputation. Can't you see that this relationship will jeopardize everything you've worked for?"
His words cut deep, and I struggle to maintain my composure. "This conversation is over."
With that, he storms out of my office, leaving me to grapple with the conflict between my heart and my family's expectations. The weight of his disappointment bears down on me, and I'm torn between the expectations of my wealthy elitist parents and my romantic feelings for Quinn.
As I stand there, the cheers and laughter from the conference room feel like a distant echo. I wonder if I'm truly making the right choice, and if I'll ever find a way to mend my broken heart.
As the sun begins to set, casting an orange glow over the city, I find myself at a rooftop bar with my brothers, Dane and Ivan. We've worked on this project for months, and it's finally come to fruition. The deal we've just closed is going to earn us a crazy amount of money, and it should be everything I ever wanted. But all I can think about is Quinn.
My brothers and I sit at a table near the edge of the roof, the wind gently tugging at our clothes. The city skyline stretches out before us, its lights starting to twinkle as the night comes alive. The murmur of conversations and clinking of glasses fill the air, but a sense of unease grips me, making it difficult to enjoy the moment.
Dane, always the perceptive one, notices my mood. "Come on, Ezra. What's wrong? You've been down for weeks. It can't all be about the stress of the project."
Taking a deep breath, I decide to open up. "It's about Quinn," I confess and run my hands through my hair. "We've been seeing each other. I didn’t mean for it to happen, but we were drawn to each other.” I smile as I think of Quinn’s feisty spirit. “She’s amazing and doesn’t back down from a challenge.” I frown. “I wanted to tell the world about us, but it was complicated. She’s my employee, and I was working hard on the deal, and our parents look down on everyone who isn’t rich.”
A server approaches our table, her eyes lingering on my handsome brothers a little too long. She flashes a flirtatious smile, but Dane and Ivan remain focused on our conversation, not encouraging her advances. "Good evening, gentlemen. Can I get you something to drink? Also, tonight's specials are grilled salmon with a lemon-herb sauce and filet mignon with a red wine reduction."
Dane orders a scotch on the rocks, while Ivan opts for a gin and tonic. I choose a bourbon neat. As the server leaves to fetch our drinks, she tries to hide her disappointment that her flirtations didn't land.
I quickly recap the argument we had that led to the breakup. “She's leaving, and I don't know what to do."
Our drinks are dropped off and I take a swig of the bourbon. The strong drink stings my throat.
Ivan and Dane exchange knowing glances before Ivan speaks up. "We had a feeling something was going on between you two. It was obvious in the way you two danced at the engagement party.”
Dane adds, “We saw some of the gossip blog posts, but we didn't want to bring it up until you were ready to talk."
