27. Allen
“I’m surprised you asked to meet in person, Allen. You’re usually so anxious to end our phone conversations.”
Allen fought to keep his hands from fidgeting as he met Mr. Valero’s gaze in challenge. Facing the man was like standing in the path of an approaching tornado, and Allen hated tornadoes. They scared the shit out of him.
He’d thought calling Jake’s father to meet in the conference room across from the penthouse might make things feel more casual—but now, sitting at the long, empty table with nowhere to look and nowhere to hide, he found himself deeply regretting that decision.
“You’re an intimidating man to talk to,” said Allen. “And you’re right about my anxiety surrounding your calls, but I didn’t want to ask you for something this big unless it was face-to-face.”
Mr. Valero had done well in the genetics department because he and his son could have passed for brothers if Jake didn’t look so damn young.
But unlike Jake, Everett Valero was very expressive and easy to read, so Allen could at least judge the man’s reactions and know if he was crossing a line or not.
Mr. Valero’s smirk was also much colder than Jake’s, but there was kindness in his eyes when he leaned forward on the table and set his chin on his folded hands. “Tell me what you have in mind then, son. Take your time explaining, and I promise not to interrupt you.”
Allen nodded and swallowed the last of his fear down until it settled in his stomach, making him queasy. “Jake is autistic,” he began. “And even though he’s high-functioning, the way he thinks about things is different.”
Allen was certain he didn’t need to educate the man on his own son’s diagnosis, but Jake’s autism sat at the core of his reasoning, and he intended to use it to make his point clear.
“I know he’s your only son, and you have a realty empire that you want him to inherit, but I also know that Jake’s happiness is important to you, too. As it stands, you can’t accomplish both because working in real estate doesn’t make Jake happy.”
Mr. Valero’s brows pinched together, but Allen knew it was from confusion rather than anger. The man was studying him, waiting patiently for the solution Allen hoped he would provide.
“If you want Jake to be passionate about something, you have to look at his interests.”
Mr. Valero drew in a quick breath, and Allen held his hands up to stop him before he could say anything.
“I’m not asking you to let Jake play hockey again. We both understand how good he is, and even though I think it’s a waste of his talents to keep him benched, I respect your wishes.”
As much as Allen would love to see Jake skating with Kingston and Riley, he knew it would never happen. He had thought of every angle possible that would convince Jake’s father to give him that freedom of choice, but short of disownment, there was nothing.
Jake respected his father too much to go against him. It wasn’t about the money; it was the love he held for his father, as unorthodox as it may be. Jake loved hockey, but he was happy playing in the beer league with friends, too.
But there was another option that Allen was hoping to swing. He just didn’t know if he could articulate his suggestion in a way that would make sense to a businessman like Everett.
“My proposal is this,” Allen said, keeping his tone firm but not demanding.
“You co-own a hockey team that has no general manager. Jake has great hockey IQ from playing since he was a kid, and a great mind for business because he went to school and had you as a mentor. I think he would not only succeed as the general manager of the Halifax Citadels but would thrive in that position. It would allow him to experience the world and force him out of his comfort zone now and then, while also growing his confidence because hockey is something he knows.”
Mr. Valero’s expression softened as Allen spoke, his posture easing in a way that told Allen the idea of making Jake the GM had already crossed his mind. Still, there was one more issue Allen needed to address.
“Make Jake your GM so he can be part of the sport he loves, which will also keep him close to Riley. In return, I’ll accept your offer to go to university, and I’ll take every course you want—I’ll work as hard as I can to fill Jake’s position in your real estate business.”
Allen knew how insane the request was. He was a nobody who worked part-time at a sex shop and had a dismal education. Everett would be stupid to accept, but if liking challenges also ran in the Valero genetics, he would be able to see the potential.
“You want to take university classes and have me mentor you so I can pass on my billion-dollar company to you?” Mr. Valero asked, raising an eyebrow. “Son, that’s a bold offer.”
Heat rushed to Allen’s face because he knew what he was about to reveal was a game-changer, but it was the last chip he had, which meant he was all in now.
Unclenching his shaking hands, Allen lifted them from where he was hiding them under the table and pulled the long sleeve of his hoodie out of the way. The ring on his left hand still felt heavy and unnatural, but he knew it was the last piece to solidify his argument.
Mr. Valero’s eyes went wide, showing his surprise from across the space, and his smile grew until he was practically beaming. “He proposed?”
Allen gave him a confirming nod, suddenly feeling too hot for the sweater he was wearing. “A few weeks ago, on our date. I’m honestly amazed he waited this long since I know he’s been dying to ask me all summer.”
Mr. Valero unfolded his hands and set them on the table, drumming his fingers excitedly on the expensive wood. “When a Valero knows what they want, they take it. That’s my son.”
Allen felt too queasy to smile, but he tried anyway, knowing it probably came out looking more like a strained grimace. “And it really doesn’t bother you? Jake being with me? I figured you had a socialite picked out and waiting in line for him.”
Everett’s chuckle was playful enough to wipe away any of Allen’s final worries.
“I’m not disappointed at all. Honestly, I always figured Jake would be alone because he never seemed to get anywhere with Riley, so I’m glad he found you.
Riley seems smitten with Kingston Sloan right now, which was not what I was expecting, but seeing both my boys happy makes me happy. ”
Today was not the day to tell Jake’s father about the growing possibility that his son would end up in a poly relationship with his best friend. However, Allen knew that conversation would have to happen soon because they weren’t being…subtle about it.
“I wanted you to know that Jake doesn’t know why I’m talking to you today,” Allen began, steering the conversation back on track.
“I’ve been trying to figure out a way to ease the tension between you on my own for a while, but when Jake proposed, I realized I have a chance to be part of fixing it and help build a bridge between you. ”
Despite how shaky he felt, Allen stayed strong and put every ounce of determination he had into his next statement.
“Everett, I love Jake. I was a cynical asshole until the day he literally fell into my life and showed me how easy it is to feel worthy of happiness. He makes me the best version of myself, and I would like to think that I do the same for him. I want to marry your son, and I want to be a husband to your son for the rest of my life.”
Allen’s loyalty to Jake might be all he had, but his devotion was worth more than money and education to Jake’s family.
He was a nobody to the world, but he was everything to Jake.
With Allen by his side, Jake could still inherit his father’s empire without being crushed by the pressure of having to run it, and Jake’s father would know that his son was in safe hands.
Allen knew his statement had made the right impact, but he wasn’t in the home stretch just yet. Mr. Valero may have been smiling, but there was a sharpness to his expression that told Allen they were about to go into contract negotiation mode.
“Have you set a date for the wedding?” Mr. Valero asked.
“No,” said Allen. “I think Jake wants to have it on the first anniversary of the day we met. December tenth.”
Mr. Valero nodded and pulled out a goddamn planner from the pocket inside his suit. “December tenth it is. I hope you won’t mind my wife overstepping because she’ll want to plan everything.”
Allen had been hoping for a tiny courthouse wedding with Riley and Kingston as their witnesses, but the chances of that happening would be zero now that Jake’s parents knew.
“She can plan everything, but I don’t want to get married in a church.” Allen paused and then added, “Or a dress.”
Mr. Valero chuckled and scribbled something in his book. “It won’t be a dress. We’re not that eccentric.”
Allen wanted to say he was relieved, but he didn’t want to jinx himself.
“You’ll go to university in the fall,” Mr. Valero continued, using a tone that left no room for argument. “I’ll get you enrolled, and I’ll make sure that most of your schooling can be done from home so it doesn’t cut into your schedule.”
Allen was so nervous that he thought at first Mr. Valero meant his work schedule at the sex shop, but when he finally caught on, his pulse began thrumming loudly in his ears.
“Jake will have to travel a lot if he’s going to manage the team properly, and I know leaving you behind isn’t an option, so we’ll have to do our best to make things work.”
Allen was too excited to trust his voice, so he simply nodded, fidgeting as he spun the ring around his finger.
“You’ll mentor with me for a minimum of two years after you graduate, then you’ll help me run my business after that.
There will be a prenup when you get married that protects my assets and keeps them in Jake’s name, even though I’m confident you won’t need it, but I assure you that it will be fair to you both. ”