AllFreeNovel
Share Us
STEFAN
I never expected Angela to show up here, but it’s a pleasant surprise. Maybe I’m just used to figuring things out alone, but having someone else to talk it out with is nice. Hendrix hasn’t bothered to call me since he got out, and I don’t even know what I would say to him if he did. My lawyer seems to think it’s time to buy him out and let the business go another year and then sell, but the guilt of kicking him out of the company he helped build seems asinine. We can’t afford to lose everyone either.
The news story didn’t end up spreading, thank god, but it is really making me consider my options. He has opened my eyes to his blatant disregard to how important our image is to the company succeeding, and I don’t think he cares. Matter of fact, he proved that by not even reaching out to anyone after he was discharged. He still has not grown up.
I have to put the fact that he is my best friend aside, and prioritize Valdon Technologies first. He might get mad at me, but later on when he still has money from the sale, he will thank me. Does he want to be broke? If this blew up, they would have asked me to cut him out completely, and he would get nothing. So, actually I’m being the nice guy here.
Angela has been given free rein to walk around my house and explore until dinner is served. Most people in my industry consider this house small, but I wouldn't tell her that. I needed to make a big purchase before the end of the year, and this house seemed like the best option. I could have went out and bought ten cars, but I’m not really a fancy car guy.
“Are you seriously going to live here forever? I mean, you could have epic birthday parties and adult Halloween parties here. Please tell me you have at least had one?”
Parties aren’t my thing, especially throwing them. I’m more the type that likes my house to be quiet, not blaring with music and people sneaking off into the bedrooms to fornicate. The only bedroom used is mine, and that makes my housekeepers life much easier, too.
The buzzer sounds around the house. Who the heck would be here? I walk to the voice panel on the wall.
“Yes?”
“Dude, let me in. We need to talk,” Hendrix says.
I roll my eyes as I hear his voice, and think about not responding back, but he would just buzz until I let him in, so I just press the button.
My feet take off, yelling her name, but I have no idea where she is. This house is so damn big, and she could be anywhere. I find her in the backyard, admiring the in-ground pool and hot tub.
“You should totally invite me over so I can go swimming in this.”
“Your brother is here. I need you to get your stuff and head upstairs to any of the rooms until I come get you,” I say, grabbing her arm and rushing her inside and to the staircase.
The doorbell goes off, and I’m pushing her up the stairs.
“What is he doing here?” she asks, rolling her eyes.
“Go, Angela, please!”
As soon I hear a door shut upstairs, I open the front door, and he rushes in.
“Listen man, I know I fucked up. Big time. The PR firm says it’s good it didn’t spread through the news outlets, and we should be good.”
He goes directly into the living room and has a seat. I stand in front of the couch, waiting for his big apology, or something, but that’s all I get. Honestly, I didn’t even think he would acknowledge what he did. Part of me thought I would show up to work on Monday and he would be there like nothing ever happened.
“You could’ve killed that family, Hendrix. Maybe it’s time we think about our options. You can’t do this and expect for no consequences. The cops might have let you out, but I’m not letting you jeopardize the company. It’s my whole fucking life.”
Everything I have is in this company, and my whole future is riding on it. Hell, my parent’s future. Once we sell, my plans are to deposit an obscene amount into their account and force them to travel. If they don’t have to worry about their bills, they can be set up to auto-draft, then they can go and enjoy themselves. I want to be able to move back to Grapevine, buy a nice house, and travel most of the year. Volunteering has always been at the top of my list, too. There are so many countries that need help. None of this is achievable unless we sell the company without Hendrix screwing everything up.
“Mine, too. Are you seriously telling me what I think you are? You’re forcing me out?” He stands up off the couch and gets closer to me. “I don’t fucking think so. My face is all over the company materials and interviews. That was the deal. I was the face and you were the brains.”
Do I want to be the one to do interviews and all that bullshit? No, but if it prevents us from going belly up because of one of Hendrix’s fuck ups, then I don’t have a choice. Glaridy would flip if they saw his name in the headlines, and they would pull out on our partnership fast. Hell, we haven’t even signed with each other yet, and he’s worried about showing off his face.
“So, you are more worried about your face being on everything, than the company going under because of your stupidity?”
My hand tightens and knuckles go white. He is just making it easier for me to make this decision. He’s acting like a damn child, and I’m fed up with it. I don’t know why I thought he would try to apologize and make things right. He doesn’t give a shit about anything or anyone. Especially, the company.
“The company isn’t going to go under. Stop being overdramatic. I was just having fun, Stefan. It’s not my fault you have a stick up your ass. You should enjoy yourself, too, but you are so straight and narrow.”
Before I can stop myself, my fist meets his face, and then he punches me back. He knees me in the stomach, and I throw him on the ground. The taste of copper hits my tongue, and I brush my lip to see how bad it is. I haven’t been in a fight since high school. Probably out of practice.
“Why can’t you just grow the fuck up, damnit? The lifestyle you have wouldn’t even be allotted if we didn’t work so damn hard to build the company. What are you going to do when all your money is dried up?” My hands are on his shoulders, holding him down, trying to talk some fucking sense into him. Why won’t he just listen to me? If he would stop being so reckless he wouldn’t have to go anywhere, but the way he is reacting right now, proves he will never grow up. He is going to continue to be a nuisance to the growth of the company, and I can’t fucking have it.
He kicks me off of him, stands up brushing off his clothes, and shoots me a shit-eating grin. “I have plenty of money and no matter what thirty-percent of the sale comes to me. You can’t force me out completely.”
Not at any time did he ask about our friendship or if I was pissed at him, just like everything else, it’s always all about him. I’m sick of it.
“Get the fuck out of my house, Hendrix. I’m done dealing with your immature shit. I’ll call the lawyer in the morning, and then I’ll have your assistant bring you the contents of your office.”
He laughs. “Good luck running things without me. I always knew you would do this. Guess I’m surprised we lasted this long,” he replies, and the front door shuts behind him.
