Chapter 23
I drove around London aimlessly. Why? Why was I such a fucking idiot? Ellis was everything to me, and in a moment of panic, I had ruined it all.
I wanted to stand up and tell Dave Laverty that Ellis was my boyfriend and we were on a date, but I just kept thinking of my dad’s advice to me when I took over, that people were assholes, and it was probably better to keep my private life properly private.
I hadn’t known about his family. That just made me feel sick. Why hadn’t he told me? Thinking about him and his family made me think of mine. And my aimlessness turned to the direction of my family home of the last thirty-six years.
* * *
“You are like a bear with a sore head. What the actual fuck is wrong with you?” Jennie glared.
I shrugged at my sister. “Like I have any fucking clue what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, you don’t? Did he dump you?”
“Dump me ?” I choked. Had he dumped me? Was that what this was? “No… No, I dumped him , okay?”
Jennie laughed in my face. “Oh, yeah. I forgot that the mighty Aiden Munroe would never be dumped ever, would he?”
“Go fuck yourself.”
“Aiden Carter Munroe, that better not be how you speak to your sister,” my mum scolded.
“Sorry, Mother.”
“Ha! Dumped and now scolded. This day keeps getting better and better.”
“Jennifer.”
I wasn’t the only one being scolded. I grinned at my sister and stuck my tongue out behind my mum’s back.
“I saw that, Aiden.”
“Sorry, Mother.”
Jennie came over beside me. “So, what the hell happened?” she whispered.
I shook my head.
“It was the Dad stuff wasn’t it?”
Mum looked over at us. “What ‘Dad stuff’, Jennie?”
I sighed, and Jennie started to explain it. “The stuff with Dad and his opinion that Aiden shouldn’t be out with men in public.”
My mum shook her head. “Still? Son, I didn’t know you were still actively listening to that?
” Mum was surprised. So was I. I didn’t think she would have wanted me to go against what my dad was saying when it came to the business.
“Your father is old fashioned. He thinks people are too, but he doesn’t realise that they have moved into the 21st Century and left him behind.
You are an intelligent and successful businessman.
What you decide for your company is good enough. ”
I shook my head.
“Son. I love your dad, and I know you worship the man, but that doesn’t mean I agree with everything he has to say. When it comes to this, he’s wrong. You deserve to be happy. You deserve to live your life how you want to.”
She pulled me into a tight hug, and Jennie hugged the back of me too.
I could feel tears prickling my eyes. I was blessed to have a family who loved me like they do.
I thought about what Ellis had told me about his parents disowning him when he admitted he was gay.
My heart broke even more. I was truly a giant cock.
“Oh, Mum. I’ve made a right mess of things.” A tear rolled down my cheek.
“Tell us what happened,” Jennie prompted.
I started at the beginning. I told them about what happened with the date and meeting up with Dave Laverty. I told them about what I had said. Jennie hissed at me.
“Really, Aiden?”
“I didn’t think, okay!” I protested.
Mum took my hand in hers. “Calm down and finish the story.”
I poured out everything else. I told them that Ellis had told me about his family, how they had deserted him, how they had abused him just for being gay. Tears fell down all our faces, and Jennie and Mum hugged me tight again.
“What do I do, Mum?” I asked her.
She smiled and wiped my face. “Well, you are your father’s son, you know. You both have an amazing knack of fucking things up.”
Jennie stood opened-mouthed at the f-word falling out of our mother’s mouth.
“Mother!” she scolded.
“Oh, hush. You know it’s true. That’s why the pair of them butt heads so damn often. You’re alright, Jennie. My genes seem to have overruled the bullshit ones your dad gave you.”
The serious look on my mum’s face made both Jennie and I erupt into laughter. Dad, with perfect timing, picked that moment to walk into the kitchen.
“Something funny?” he asked.
Mum kissed him and hooked her arm around his. “Nothing you need to worry about. Now, Aiden needs to talk to you about something. And Carter. You listen to our son, do you understand?”
Dad rolled his eyes. “Yes, dear.”
He nodded his head for me to follow and we headed towards his study.
“Now. What is it you need to talk to me about?” he said, sitting behind his desk.
“I’ve met someone,” I blurted out.
Dad nods. “Well, it’s about time.”
“And I want to be open about my relationship with him.”
He stared at me, and I felt like I was a naughty little kid getting ready for a lecture from the headmaster, not a grown man having a conversation with his dad. “You know my thoughts on that as far as the business is concerned, son.”
I sighed. “I know, Dad. But… well, do you think I understand the business we’re in?”
Dad nodded.
“And do you think I’m good at it? Do you think I would do anything to hurt the company?”
Dad sighed. “Son, I wouldn’t have retired as early as I did if I thought in any way that you weren’t capable of it. But some of the old goats we deal with year in and year out, they’re not as okay with that kind of thing.”
“Dad, the word is gay. I’m gay, and I’ve hidden it for a long time because of the company.
But I want a life. I’ve met someone, and I want to be with him properly.
I want to be able to introduce him at events as my boyfriend, or my partner, or even my husband if I thought he was willing to have me. ”
“Your son is in love, Carter.” Mum stood in the doorway of Dad’s study. “You remember what that’s like, don’t you?”
“Get in here.” Dad sighed, beckoning Mum over to him.
She moved past me and went to where he sat on his chair.
He patted his lap, and she moved herself to hold onto his neck and sit on his knee.
“You know only too well that I still know exactly what it’s like to be in love, Mrs Munroe,” he teased her. “But this is business.”
Mum looked at him and raised an eyebrow at him.
Oh, shit. He’s in trouble . “Carter Joseph Munroe, this is the twenty-first bloody Century, your son is gay, and all he’s asking for is for you to stop being such an old-fashioned git and leave him to run the company to the best of his ability and to live his life how he sees fit.
Is that such a problem? Are you ashamed of having a gay son? ”
Dad knew when he was beaten. “I will never be ashamed of Aiden being gay. I have no problems with it. I said to him just before you interrupted that it’s about time he found someone.”
“Well then, Aiden is the CEO of Munroe Holdings, and the last time I checked, he didn’t actually need your permission to conduct business as he sees fit. Am I right?”
“Yes, dear.” Dad had given up.
“So, I guess tomorrow, Aiden, you’re going to be able to make whatever business decision you think will work. What do you think?” She beamed in my direction with a wink.
I grinned at her. “Thank you, Dad. I won’t let you down and you won’t regret this.”
“Lift your arse off my lap, woman.” He attempted to get up and get Mum off his knee.
Mum moved, and Dad came around the desk.
His arms went straight around me and he held me in a tight hug.
“Son, I have never once been let down by you. You are my flesh and blood and I have been proud of you since the moment you were born. I just want you happy, and I feared idiots would make your life harder if they knew.” While his logic was off by a mile, his intentions were flawless.
He had wanted to protect me. Protect the business and the family. I hugged him back just as tight.
“Thanks, Dad. I love you.”
“I love you too, son.”