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“My dad said Nicolas was so much like him, does that mean he’s a dick, too?”
I want to give the kid who is only four years younger than me a chance but fuck, what if I’m left with the mini version of my dad?
“Do you think he knows about your dad?”
I shrug my shoulders. “They’ve been in contact for a year, and my dad has bought him a condo in the city. But, I have no idea if he knows our father has been killed. I assume he does, with working for the New York office, but maybe I thought he’d reach out to me. And honestly, I’m not sure if I would’ve preferred that or me being the one that reaches out.”
“Your life sure is one that could be made into a movie, you know?”
I covet his humor and, in his teasing, I turn away and burst into laughter. The worry of my half-brother I’ve yet to meet is a problem for another day. I have less than twelve hours before Clark leaves for the Big Apple and I don’t plan to waste it.
* * *
I hold onto Clark,as he waits for a text alert from his Uber. I’m not wasting a moment of our time together.
“Is this real? You and me?” I’ve lost so much in the past week. My parents and a job I loved. But this with Clark may get me through the hard times.
“Yeah, we’re as real as all the sugar you pour in your coffee every morning.”
I cup his face, staring into his chocolate eyes, so warm and full of love for me. “I don’t know what I would have done if not for you.”
Clark drops his forehead to mine. “I’m here for you.” His words are just a whisper. “Why don’t I fly back here on Friday night? I can help you go through things, if you’re ready for it.”
I don’t know when I can sort through my parents’ stuff. I’ll donate most of it, except for sentimental items like my mother’s pearls she wore every day. Or her favorite serving items.
I’ve attempted to push it out of my forefront, but as much as I’m dreading it, I have to travel to New York to meet my brother. My brother, it’s something I’m unable to process.
“I may fly your way, babe,” I mention. No matter what, I can’t go more than five days without this man in my life. “I need to address the board tomorrow and get some things shored up here, but I’m most likely heading to New York the next week. Because after all, I have to meet my brother.”
“So, I’ll be holding you this coming weekend, one way or another.”
I bury my face in the crook of his neck. I’ve barely had a chance to grieve, and it’s right then that I let loose, and as I cry for the loss I’ll never get over, his grip on me gets tighter and tighter. And it’s when I know I’m forever safe in his arms.
“I’m here, baby. Let it out.” He tugs me over to the couch, pulling me onto his lap, and I hold onto the man. I wake hours later, after crying myself to sleep. My eyes open, and I begin to work backward, where I am, and how I got here. I wasn’t able to say goodbye to Clark and roll over and am met with his large and hard body, asleep next to me, still in his jeans and flannel button-down top. The digital clock near my television reads one a.m. I shift a little, and as I do, he wakes. “Go back to sleep, baby. I switched my flight to five a.m.”
He did this for me because he understood I needed him. Besides my mom, I don’t think I’ve had someone put me first. If I didn’t know before, I know sure as fuck, I love the fuck out of this man.
* * *
Clark left at three a.m.,and he held me as we waited for his Uber. This time, he made it to the airport. I missed him the second his warmth was no longer wrapped around my body.
I never went back to sleep and it’s how I find myself at my father’s desk at five in the morning. One thing I could say about my father, he was organized and he kept records of each transaction, offer, and acquisition that occurred in Lynol Inc. It makes it easier to understand what is needed from me. From an early age, my father would expect me to intern here at the company. Even during the summers while away at college, I had been expected to work here for six to eight weeks. Knowing my role at the highest executive level will make this transition easier, I don’t have to learn the ropes.
The accounts are clear, but I know there’s a place my father hides the not-so-legal parts of this business. I’ve already hired a forensics accountant to unearth that part of the company, but for now, I’ll take this week to begin to use my vice presidents of other departments to do what my father wouldn’t delegate. Keeping an eye on these men is one thing, but I don’t have the energy to micromanage them.
The first order of business is an all-hands meeting. I expect the department heads, first-line managers, and VPs to be in attendance. I send this from my own email, not waiting for my father’s secretary. Most likely, he was banging her on the side, but understanding my father, she felt for her job. I don’t plan to let her go, as long as she can do what is expected of her.
By eight a.m., Nina, my father’s newest secretary, stands at my open door. She has only been with my father for a week, after being moved up from another department. “Mr. Lynol?” I can recognize she fears that I’ll fire her.
“Nina, please come in.” I point to the seat in front of his grand desk, one thing I plan to remedy when I can get the head of purchasing and the head of design in here. I’ll rid this office of any remembrance of my father, except for the picture of my mother on his desk.
“I’ll be blunt with you, Nina.” I understand fear and that emotion flashes through her bright green eyes. “My father went through secretaries fairly fast. For him, it was a way to get what he wanted, along with a pretty face to greet those he was trying to impress. I’m sure my father came on to you, even though you were in his employ for only a week.”
She returns a sad thin-lipped smile but continues to look me in the eyes. “Yes, Mr. Lynol. I knew the rumors, and I was hesitant to take the job because I understood what it meant. I had been offered it several times, but after firing his last secretary, I was told to take it or no longer be employed. And for a week, he was very handsy. I’m a single mother of a three- and five-year-old. I couldn’t afford to lose my job, but I was willing to walk if need be. I moved to the city when my husband and I divorced. I refused to have another man try to control me and was willing to move back home to Milwaukee if need be. But I’m a good worker and reliable. My ex-husband, who was a horrible husband, but a better friend now that we’re not married, works from home and is able to care for the kids if they’re sick. So…”
I cut her off. She’s said enough for me but I can see what my father saw in her. He had a type—tall, long-legged, long, flowing blonde hair, a nice rack, curvy. This was my father’s signature brand, and though it’s not what I gravitate toward, I recognize a beautiful woman. “I’ve heard enough. I wasn’t planning on letting you go, and I judge my employees by the way they do their job. I need someone to work with me and keep me apprised of everything. We may work close but I’ll never step over that line, that my father had. It’s not how I’ll run this business, and I won’t allow for it within the company.”
Her eyes widen. “You mean, I still have a job?”
