Guarded King (Empty Kingdom #3)

Chapter 56

CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX

ROMAN

A s I watch the rain trickle down the car window, I can’t help but think the weather matches my fucking mood. It’s been three weeks since Chloe left. No, it’s been three weeks since I sent her away.

Fuck . I rub my hand over my face.

“We’re here,” Phillip says, eyeing me in the rearview mirror. “I’ll pull in under the awning so you don’t get wet.”

“Thanks.” Like it’s been since that day in my office, my tone is hollow. I should be over the fucking moon. I’m about to get everything I’ve spent the last few years working toward. The last thing I should feel right now is empty—yet I do.

Tate and Cole are already here, waiting for me in the lobby.

“Are you ready?” I ask as I approach.

In unison, they turn and the three of us head toward the elevators. As we step up to the elevator bank, the doors of one car open and Haverscombe strides out, a scowl on his face.

He pulls up short when he sees us, and for the first time in days, a surge of satisfaction hits me.

“Sorry to hear your bid was unsuccessful, Roger.” I offer him a smile that does nothing to hide my satisfaction. “Let’s hope your share prices don’t take too big a hit when the news breaks.”

He narrows his eyes. “Playing dirty just like your father, I see.” He’s trying to get under my skin, but it won’t work. He messed with something he should never have messed with, and he better have learned his fucking lesson.

“Playing dirty? You mean like having photos taken of my assistant and me and feeding stories to the tabloids in an attempt to ruin my reputation before our bid? That kind of dirty?”

His nostrils flare.

“I bet Ellis didn’t appreciate your attempts to manipulate his decision.” Tate flicks an imaginary speck of dust off his sleeve. “I can’t imagine it would go well for you if the news were to spread within the industry either.”

I step forward, towering over Roger. “I assume Katherine suggested you use my assistant to get what you want. You should know better than to listen to her. She has her own agenda, and I can guarantee you, it’s to her benefit, not yours.”

Anger darkens his gaze. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t speak about my fiancée that way,” he bites out.

Fiancée? I can’t stop the genuine grin that spreads across my face. “Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials. I can’t think of a better match.” I side-step him and tug on the cuff of one sleeve. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have business to attend to.”

Cole and Tate file into the elevator behind me.

“That was fun,” Tate says once we’re safely ensconced in the stainless-steel box.

I straighten my tie. “It was.” Unfortunately, my good mood fades as quickly as the elevator ascends to the top floor.

Tate, likely sensing the change, clears his throat. “How’s Chloe?”

“I don’t know.” I focus on the numbers ticking over the door rather than looking at him.

“When was the last time you spoke to her?” Cole asks.

“Three weeks ago.”

He scoffs quietly. “Really?”

Annoyance flares in my chest. “We’re giving each other space.”

He shakes his head. “Tate, can you talk some sense into this guy?”

I scowl at him and then Tate.

“What the hell are you scared of, man?” my youngest brother asks.

Before I can respond, the elevator dings and the door slides open. I stride out first, then turn to face them, hands stuffed in my pockets. “You think I’m scared? I’m trying to do the best thing for the company. And for Chloe.”

“Don’t lie to yourself,” Cole says. “You’ve finally met a woman you care for and you’re fucking terrified.”

The annoyance quickly morphs into anger. “Terrified?”

His blue eyes are hard when they meet mine. “Yes. There’s nothing more terrifying than love. But seriously, it’s not dad’s shadow you need to step out from under. It’s your own. You don’t owe the company anything. You don’t owe us anything. You definitely don’t owe Ellis or whoever’s reading those damn tabloids anything. Who the hell are you trying to prove your point to?”

Hot knives slice through my ribs. “We’re going to be late.” Without waiting for them, I pivot and stride away.

They follow silently behind me until we get to the hotel’s conference room. Ellis and his lawyers are there and our legal team is as well. Since he’s staying here for the week, he requested that we meet here instead of King Plaza.

I greet Ellis, and after the three of us have shaken hands with him and his team, we sit.

Without preamble, Ellis clears his throat and begins. “Thank you for passing on the information regarding Roger’s unscrupulous dealings. I never seriously considered his bid, but at least I know not to do business with him in the future.” He focuses on me. “I hope Chloe wasn’t hurt by those ridiculous tabloid insinuations.”

I school my expression and smooth a hand down my tie. “She’s fine.”

“Good, good,” he says. “She’s a lovely young woman. She doesn’t deserve that kind of scrutiny.”

“Agreed,” I say. My tone is probably a little too terse, but I’m eager to move on from the topic of Chloe. “Are you ready to nail down these terms?”

Two hours later, Ellis preliminarily accepts the King Group’s offer. I roll my shoulders, expecting them to loosen. Instead, they remain just as tense. “Our lawyers will be in touch when the contract has been drawn up.”

There are handshakes all around, and before we part ways, Ellis gives me a friendly slap on the back. “I’m looking forward to working with you.”

On the elevator ride down, the silence looms between my brothers and me.

“Ellis is right, you know,” Tate starts.

I glare at him, already knowing I’m not going to like what he’s about to say.

The look does nothing to deter him. “Chloe is a lovely young woman. She deserves better.”

“But the acquisition is all but a done deal now, so as long as you’re happy, that’s the important thing.” Cole’s eyes challenge me.

They know the truth. They know that the huge step we took today hasn’t made any difference. I’m still fucking miserable.

Before we step out of the hotel and into the rain, Cole stops me with a hand on my chest. “You’ve been so damn concerned about proving you’re not like Dad. Have you ever thought that the best way to do that is to embrace the things he never did? To fight for the stuff that truly matters?”

“Exactly.” Tate rocks back on his heels, his hands in his pockets. “What do you think would make him angrier, the way you’ve elevated the King Group’s status—while spending your life miserable and alone—or your ability to weather a potential scandal in the short-term while being in love and happier than he ever was?”

“Was I this insufferable when I was giving you advice?” I grit out.

“You were worse.” He lifts both brows, a smirk playing on his lips. “But you were right. There’s no double-standard here Roman. You told me to stop defining myself by Dad’s actions. Why not heed your own advice?”

Breath held, I look out, studying the heavy clouds.

Why the hell am I holding back? Dad isn’t even here anymore, and yet, he’s still influencing my decisions.

Things aren’t over between Chloe and me, but they could be if I don’t get my fucking head out of my ass and figure out what the hell my problem is.

“We’ve got your back,” Cole says. “All of us. Whatever you need.”

“I appreciate it.” My mind whirs, but finally I come to a decision. “I’ll see you back at the office. I’ve got something I need to do.”

The rain has lessened to a dull drizzle by the time I find myself standing at Dad’s grave. The grass has already begun to grow over the dirt extending from the marble headstone.

Just the sight of his name etched in the stone sends a familiar surge of anger and resentment coursing through me.

My hands tighten into fists. Why did he have to be the man he was? Why couldn’t he have shown me something, anything, worth emulating?

I close my eyes, letting a slideshow of memories flicker through my mind. Dad’s constant lectures about money and power, the cold dismissals of any display of emotion—especially affection—and his relentless drive to mold me in his own image. His laughter when he revealed the truth about Katherine.

I’ve spent most of my adult life doing everything I can not to be him, yet here I am, letting my fear of turning into him ruin the best thing that ever happened to me.

An image of Chloe forms in my mind: her smile, her strength, her genuine care. I pushed her away to protect the King Group from scandal, to protect myself from being compared to my father. Maybe I was trying to protect her, too, but if I’m honest, I had my own interests at heart.

By letting fear and self-preservation win, all I’ve done is repeat history. I’m embracing the emotional detachment Dad drummed into me for decades, prioritizing the King Group’s image over my heart. Over her.

I picture Dad with that ever-present sneer, his disdain at the weakness he saw in me. And I think about my brothers—their lives now, the choices they’ve made. Choices that haven’t made them weak the way Dad predicted, but stronger than he ever was.

A single leaf drifts down, landing on the damp dirt in front of the headstone.

Chloe believes in me. Not the man molded by my father, but the man who wants to do better, be better.

I swallow down the trepidation still plaguing me. I won’t let fear keep me from becoming the man I want to be. The man who loves Chloe. Without reservation. Without concern for repercussions. I want a future with her—not one dictated by the sins of my father.

My heart throbs harshly with the overwhelming need to prove to her that what I said was true.

She’s safe with me.

I turn away from Dad’s final resting place and stride toward the cemetery gates without looking back. I’ve got a lot to do in the next few days.

It took me far longer than it should have, but I’ve finally got my priorities straightened out.