AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He pulled in a puff of air and sat back. I’d never addressed him by his name. I’d always tried to respect my father even when he failed to give me the same courtesy because, as I said, I was nothing like him.
“James, what are you doing here?” he asked.
“I’m finally standing up and showing you who the real boss of this family is, old man. Your time in charge has long passed. I might have given in to your demands over the years, but I’ve always been in control where it counts. I control the purse strings, the connections, and every goddamn thing. So, if you don’t want me to be a heartless bastard like you and cut you off from everything you value, you’d better follow my demands.”
Dad’s face went through a series of emotions from disbelief, to anger, and ultimately resignation. He was an ass, but he wasn’t stupid. He knew the reality. There would be no EcoEnergy Solutions without me. I dedicated my entire life to the family business and made it flourish like neither he, nor Granddad, ever could. If I walked away, the legacy and the empire he held so dear would crumble.
“And what are your demands, son?” he asked softly. He gazed upon me with a shadow of apprehension in his eyes and something akin to respect.
“From now on, you stay out of my affairs—business and my personal life. If you have something you want to suggest business-wise, then you’ll be humble and respectful about it and I might hear you out. It’s time to accept that you’re not in charge anymore.” I planted my palms on his desk and practically snarled. “If you ever involve yourself in my relationships or dare to tell me who I can or can’t be with, then there will be hell to pay.”
I pointed a finger at him. “When I introduce you to Charlotte…” If I could get her back because she wouldn’t even answer my calls. “You’ll welcome her with open arms. Hell, you’ll kiss her goddamn feet if I tell you to. Got it?”
For a moment, there was silence between us. We had a stare-down, something like a battle of wills.
Dad finally understood the gravity of my fury and how done with his shit I was. He exhaled long and hard before nodding. His gaze then shifted to a family picture of him and Mom.
She was heavily pregnant and grinning, and he had a palm placed possessively over her stomach… over me. There was softness and love in his eyes, things I’d never seen. Dad hadn’t always been a cold prick. He loved his wife with his whole heart and that was his only redeeming quality. I couldn’t help feeling bad for what he’d lost.
“James, I…” He swallowed and pain shadowed his face, which was an older, more weathered version of mine. “I was so caught up in grief that I didn’t realize…” He sighed, shook his head, and met my gaze. His eyebrows were deeply furrowed.
I blinked, shocked by what I knew was his version of an apology. The emotions he exhibited made me feel as if Dad and I had a chance of fixing things between us… maybe. Without another word, I nodded in acceptance and walked out.
I stared at the elevator doors, anxiously waiting. Lincoln called and said he was ready to talk. Not just a series of grunts and one-syllable words over the phone… a real conversation. I wasn’t sure if I should be relieved yet because he might very well be coming to tell me that he still hated me and wanted to end our friendship for good. That would be the icing on my crap cake, wouldn't it? Losing my girlfriend and one of my best friends…
When the doors opened and Lincoln and I made eye contact, I exhaled softly, bracing myself for whatever was to come. He stepped into the foyer. I watched him watch me. His expression was unreadable, and I kept mine neutral.
Lincoln looked me up and down and then shook his head. “Jesus. You poor, sad bastard. You look like you forgot to take off your Halloween makeup last night.”
I let out a laugh that sounded a little like a sigh. Lincoln showed up with his humor front and center. We might be alright after all…
“Let’s hit the bar, Winchester. You look like you could use a few strong ones.” He brushed past me, dropped his travel bag, and made my place his like he always did when he visited.
I rocked back on my heels and took a relieved breath. We’d definitely be all right. Joining Lincoln at the bar, I watched him inspect the bottles of liquor. This bar I had in one corner of my massive living room had been a group consensus about five years ago.
“So I guess you know why I look like shit…” I said, taking a seat.
He selected a bottle, picked up two glasses, and nodded. As he poured, he said, “I do. Charlotte broke up with you.”
I snorted. “There wasn’t much breaking up. She just disappeared before I got home. Which one of the guys told you?” I guess we were saving the conversation about our relationship for later.
“None of them. Charlotte told me what happened.”
He pushed a half-filled glass in my direction, and I stopped it. Every muscle in my body tensed as I looked up at him. He wore the tiniest smirk while he sipped his liquor and watched me over his glass.
“You spoke to her?”
“Yeah. I went to see her.”
My fingers tightened around my glass, threatening to shatter it. My jaw was clenched so tightly that it hurt when I bit out, “You saw her, did you? What else did you talk about with her?” With my woman… who wouldn’t even answer my calls.
“There it is.” Lincoln chuckled. “The jealous monster. Man, you really have it bad for her, huh?”
“Lincoln…”
“Relax, Jamie. I went to check on her after you called, sounding frantic about not knowing where she was. I reached out to Pacific Paradise, and they said she was still on vacation. I knew there was one other place she was likely to be.”
“And you couldn’t have told me you were going to see her?” I glowered.
