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"I assume you’ll do this properly and not work while you’re away?" Knox murmurs in a casual tone. Which doesn’t fool me at all. Motherfucker will try any which way to take control of the company.
"Oh, I’ll make sure I’m connected to the internet while I’m gone. Remote working and—"
"Absolutely not. You need to focus on your wife and your marriage completely while you’re gone. It’s very important you make it your priority."
"Oh, I can still attend meetings. The takeover we spoke about in conjunction with the 7A company—"
"Will be taken care of," Arthur declares.
I glance at Sinclair, but his expression indicates he has no idea what Arthur is talking about.
"The takeover is in a delicate phase." Sinclair looks up from his cards. "We’ll probably sign the deal during the last week of December, and as the main signatory, it makes sense for Edward to be on the calls and—"
"—it’s not right to disturb the man, no matter how important he is, on his honeymoon."
"But he's the key decision maker," Sinclair points out.
"Which is why I’m bringing in someone else with signing powers."
I stiffen. There it is, then. The old man never did intend to hand over the running of the company to me. He may have made me CEO, but he was never going to let me have veto power.
Knox throws down his cards. "Now, that’s what I'm talkin' about." He leans back in his seat. "You’ve made the right choice, Gramps. I won’t let you down."
"Of course, not." Arthur’s eyes gleam. He’s hiding something, all right. He reaches over and scratches Tiny behind his ears. The Great Dane yawns. He welcomed me like an old friend when I walked in today, then abandoned me to take Arthur’s side. There’s a bond between the two of them which Arthur clearly relishes. When Tiny decided to stay with Arthur, I was worried about the mutt being shuttled around between homes, but I’m realizing Tiny has a mind of his own. He decides who’s going to be his dog parent, and right now, he’s adopted my grandfather as the adult in his life. He’s softening up the old coot too, going by how Arthur smiles at the group.
Come to think of it, he’s not the only one thawing. First, Tiny; then, Belle. Between the two of them, my life has been turned upside down.
Footsteps sound, then a man walks into the room. He’s tall—as tall as me, six feet three inches, at least—broad shouldered, muscled in a way that hints at time spent doing physical work, and not just the gym kind. This man spends time working with his hands. He’s wearing a black suit, which stretches over his physique and indicates its tailor made for his dimensions. His dark hair is peppered with grey at the temples.
I take in all of this, but what holds my attention are his features. They are so familiar. So like Knox’s and like my grandfather’s. He’s…Nope, can’t be.
"Arthur." The new guy nods in my grandad’s direction.
"You don’t mind, I invited Nathan here to join your poker night, Sterling?" Arthur phrases it as a question to Sinclair, but his tone makes it clear, he isn’t asking for permission so much as informing.
If Sin is surprised, he hides it well.
"Of course." Sinclair rises to his feet, pulls up a chair, and slides it into the space between him and me.
"Thank you." Nathan slides into the seat, then jerks his chin at Knox, who’s been glowering at him from across the table.
"You must be Knox," Nathan murmurs.
"The fuck are you?"
"I’m your oldest half-brother."
"What the fuck?" Knox throws his cards down on the table. "Is this a joke, Arthur?" He turns to our grandfather. "Because if it is—"
I scan Nathan’s features and see the truth in his eyes. "It’s not a joke, Knox."
"I want to hear it from Arthur," Knox says without taking his gaze off of our grandfather.
Arthur pets Tiny one more time, then turns to face Knox. "This is Nathan Davenport, my oldest grandson.”
“I thoughthewas your oldest grandson.” Knox jerks his chin in my direction.
“So did I.” Arthur looks at me with an apologetic expression. “I found out about him at the same time as Edward. I reached out to Nathan and Edward at the same time, but Nathan never replied.”
