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“Is this so you can be closer to Jasper?” I asked and then thought:Or farther away from me?
We never discussed Jasper. There wasn’t much we did discuss outside of business, but Jasper had most definitely been the elephant in any room Cole and I were in together, along with all the other secrets we held on to.
“It’s a good business move,” he said. “But I’d be lying if I said Jasper had nothing to do with it. I miss him, and maybe enough time has passed where we can at least be friendly with each other.”
I’d kept tabs on Jasper throughout the years, and I assumed Cole had done so as well. If that were the case, he was well aware that Jasper had recently gotten married. If that news had hurt Cole, he hadn’t shown it. Not to me anyway.
“I didn’t have to tell you this now, but I didn’t want you to feel tricked or blindsided by the news once the final documents were signed.”
I steepled my fingers in front of me as I riffled through my incoming thoughts and concerns, deciding to address the one that held superiority over the others. “And what about Leland? You two have become inseparable.”
“How do you know that?” he asked, his brows pursed.
As far as Cole knew, Leland and I had only met once when he’d accompanied Cole to an office party Robert had organized in honor of Cole’s first big promotion. Cole had briefly introduced us, but seemed more than happy to leave things at that. He’d protectively remained at his friend’s side, likely aware of his discomfort, probably assuming it stemmed from Leland feeling out of place. Leland and I knew the truth, though. It had to have taken a lot for him to agree to attend, knowing I’d be there, and he’d actively avoided direct eye contact with me the entire night.
“You’re never home.” I motioned around us as if my home was his. “And you two are friends. I just assumed that when you aren’t working, you’re with him.”
“I haven’t lived here since…” His words receded, but yet they were somehow still there between us. My home hadn’t been his since Selene died and Jasper left. And although I lived there—if it could be called living—it hadn’t been mine since then either.
“This hasn’t been my home for a long time,” he said instead.
“You’re right. I’m making assumptions about a relationship I know nothing about.” I began drumming my fingers anxiously on my desk.
“Are you okay?” he asked, angling his head at me.
“I’m fine,” I said, hoping he hadn’t gotten too distracted and forgotten about my question. I needed to know about Leland.
“There’s nothing for Leland here. I’m hoping I can convince him to leave,” he said.
“Do you think he’ll go?” I did my best to sound disinterested. Going so far as to sign a document that didn’t require my signature.
“Possibly.” He shrugged as if that possibility wasn’t important to me. “He’s got an old friend there and nothing tying him here. I’m hoping the idea of reconnecting with Noon will sell him on the idea of moving.”
Hearing Noon’s name set my jealousy afire, but I kept an even expression.
“You should rethink this. Our shares may already be headed for a slide once tonight’s announcement goes public. Then you want to add something as big as a cross-country move? This could frighten investors, who, by the way, are already leery of you taking the reins.”
“Which is exactly why it’s the best plan. I need to separate what this company used to be from what it will be. I need to separate it fromyou.I’m decisive, shrewd, and everyone needs to know I’m not afraid to take charge and take chances. I think you know this.”
It made sense when phrased that way, but of all my vital organs, my heart held the least sensibility. It was one thing to not have the best relationship with my son, and to not have a relationship at all with Leland. It was an entirely different story to lose all traces of them.
“What about the hundreds of employees this will affect?” I asked.
“I’ve considered everything,” he said. “Trust me to know what I’m doing.”
I’d ambled over to the window to put some distance between myself and Cole’s expectant stare. It reflected back at me through the pane anyway. I nodded, and the strain around his eyes smoothed away.
“Will Leland be coming tonight?” I couldn’t help but to ask, even if it ran the risk of Cole’s suspicion.
“Took some arm pulling, but yes. Although I’ll be lucky if I can get him to stay long enough for cake.” Done with talks of his best friend, he moved on. “What are your retirement plans?”
“I try not to think that far into the future.”
“Well, that future will be here come morning.”
I hummed in answer. I had no clue what my next steps would be.
“You could always come along,” he said with care. “We could talk to Jasper together. Try and reclaim what family we have left.”
