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“With all due respect, Franklin, he’s got more of a stomach for this than you. Don’t let your cold feet get in the way of your better judgment. His ideas are fresh and honorable. Don’t underestimate him. Notnow,” he said, flicking a hand toward the celebration happening outside.
“I’m not, but did you know he’s planning on uprooting our headquarters to New York?” I hissed, feeling my tether to Leland pulling tight as a bow. The panic was all encompassing and resounding throughout my body.
“NewYork? He’ll lose half the staff if he does that,” he said in a whisper, drawing in closer.
“He says he’s got a plan in place to prevent that, but maybe he’s in over his head.”
Robert dragged a tired hand down his mouth, pushing his suit jacket aside to brace his other hand on his hip. “He’s going to hate you for this,”
“I know,” I said wearily. “But it’s only temporary. I just need more time.” The last part was said under my breath.
“More time for what, exactly?” Robert asked, his sharp ears never missing a thing.
“More time to let go,” I admitted, Robert and I no longer speaking about the same thing. “Just a little more time. He’ll understand.”
“He’ll understand what?” Cole asked from the doorway. Apparently, Robert had left the door ajar.
“I’ll leave you two to talk,” Robert said, head down as he exited.
Cole drew in closer, looking back at the door Robert had dashed through, then back to me questioningly.
“Let’s sit,” I said, motioning for the lounge area.
“No,” he said. “I think I’ll stand for this.”
Chapter 26
Leland
“Hewhat?” I exploded up from the garden bench. I’d been hiding out here while Cole had gone to investigate when the announcement would be made, no doubt picking up on my itch to be anywhere but here but wanting me to at least stay for the most important part.
“He rescinded the deal. He’s no longer turning Nexcom over to me.” Other than the pulsing muscle in his cheek, Cole exuded restraint. “He swears it’s only temporary. The projections and the actuals didn’t align the way he’d hoped this quarter. He said we’ll revisit things at the end of the next quarter.”
“What the fuck does that even mean?” I asked, losing my cool enough for the both of us. Cole had been working so hard for this. His dream of improving the artificial heart had been the main thing driving him these last few years, and he needed the power of Nexcom behind him to do it.
“It means he’s full of shit and I should’ve seen this coming.”
“But you said he was okay with things. You said as early as this morning he seemed okay with things.”
“He did. I don’t know what changed.” Cole exhaled, taking up the seat I’d vacated. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll build my own damn company, and it’ll rival his.”
How achingly familiar that sounded. It was what Franklin had done to his own father. Were the Kincaid’s doomed to perpetually repeat history?
“It’ll take too long to grow it to where you need it to be,” I said, hoping to steer him away from those thoughts. “Maybe it is just for a few more months. You’ve waited this long, right?”
He didn’t answer, and I didn’t blame him. There was a whole fucking ball happening behind us in honor of Cole taking up the mantle. This had to be equally disappointing and embarrassing for him. Franky was a lot of things, but this seemed too cruel even for him, and he hated running Nexcom.So why would he… A terrifying thought came to me. “Did you tell him about New York?” I asked and then hesitantly added, “Did you tell him that I may go with you?”
“Yeah,” he said, eyes shrinking to tiny slits. “You think he did this because of the move?” He didn’t even stop to think that this could be because of me. Of course he wouldn’t, because he trusted me and had no clue how many lies were wedged between us.
“No,” I said, failing to hide the danger in my tone. Cole was too preoccupied with his frustration to notice. “Where is he?”
“I don’t know. Somewhere inside, I’m guessing. Or maybe he went to walk the grounds. He said something about needing to think.”
I immediately knew where I’d find him. “Will you be alright if I leave for a couple hours? I promise I’ll come back.”
“You don’t have to,” he said, standing again. “I know this isn’t your crowd. I’m going to get out of here, myself. I’ll walk with you to valet.”
Less than an hour later I pulled into the driveway of the waterfront home I’d shared with Franky for a summer. Seemed like forever ago and yesterday at the same damn time. Nostalgia triggered the nausea flipping around in my gut, but overriding it was the near-debilitating anger singing through my veins.
