Chapter 27 All In
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
ALL IN
Jett
After too many days of more drama than a made-for-T.V. movie, it’s been a bunch of nothing for most of the week.
I shouldn’t say nothing. My new life with Lennon is the shit. It’s been all about her. Teaching her. Letting her explore. Learning what she likes.
And so far, I haven’t found anything that she doesn’t like.
I’ve not only struck gold with a woman who cares about everyone around her more than she does herself, but she’s strong, resilient, and sexy as fuck.
And being the one who can teach her and watch every moment of it...
Yeah.
I’m the one falling faster than a boulder rolling from the top of the mountain. The farther I go, the faster I fall. The momentum of the last few days hasn’t helped.
Sure, there’s been a lot of sex. But there’s also been late-night conversations, early morning coffee, and even after hour raids on the manor’s kitchen.
If I didn’t know the extent of the security system and cameras in every inch of the public spaces in this place, I would’ve put Lennon on the stainless-steel counter and fucked her in the middle of eating gelato and pizzelles.
Back when Harlow talked me into trying out the west coast, my desire to move into the manor was less starting over in another small town. The last thing I wanted to do was to take advantage of Devon by staying here for free.
Now that I have a trust fund I never wanted, I need to compensate him.
I’ll do that right after I buy a new truck.
Clive is such a slow worker, the only saving grace is that Lennon’s stolen car is in a million parts hidden away in his greasy garage.
I don’t have to figure out how to return it for a long time.
The bad news is that the only garage in town is booked for the unforeseeable future.
There’s no way I’m getting my truck in. We were lucky we made it up the mountain after we were almost killed being run off the road.
I need something to drive, and since there are no dealerships in Winslet, I guess I’ll order one.
Sounds like something someone with a trust fund would do.
I guess I should get used to it. The board meeting that will put all other meetings to shame is on the horizon.
I didn’t do an interview with The Daily Market Report, but Stonebridge did put out a press release detailing me, my background, and the fact I now hold a seat on one of the most coveted boards in the country.
That was last night. I was the lead story right after the closing bell rang.
Chrissie fed the information to Stonebridge’s public relations department who knows all the right people on Wall Street.
They had no problem blowing me up on the news since the vote to move forward on the Helix contract is on the horizon.
It didn’t suck, but it also wasn’t great. They reported every bit of information Chrissie gave them and brought up every question anyone could have about me.
I’m a private guy. You get used to that when you’re in the military.
But listening to them report on me did something. If my first board meeting didn’t lite a fire under me, that did. I almost don’t recognize myself.
Patrick decided to stay in Winslet through the vote. Harlow made it clear she’s never leaving. And this is what I need to talk to them about.
For once, it’s me calling a meeting. I’m not doing it in The Greenhouse or the conference room.
I asked them to meet in Harlow and Devon’s suite.
We’re sitting around the dining table with the fire crackling across the room.
There’s a fresh blanket of snow outside and the manor has shifted from a five-star summer resort to a ski lodge.
Once there’s enough snow, the slopes will open.
“Why do I feel like this isn’t good? You’re leaving, aren’t you?” Harlow’s question is hesitant and nervous. She looks from me to our father. “I told you to ease him into it. This damn vote pushed everything too fast.”
Patrick shifts in his chair and stares at me. “Is she right? That’s it? You’re just going to leave?”
I drag a hand down my face. “Why does everyone think the worst? No, I’m not leaving.”
“Oh, thank goodness.” Harlow exhales a relieved breath.
“From now on, I’m making it a rule that if anyone calls a family meeting and it’s not bad news, you have to declare that at the time you call the meeting.
Do you know what I’ve been through for the last three hours?
I thought you’d had enough and were moving back to Iowa. ”
“I didn’t,” Patrick says. “He won’t leave Lennon.”
“Who knows? He could take her with him.” Harlow leans back in her chair. “Now you can get to the meeting since I won’t have to cry again.”
I gape at her. “I made you cry because I called this meeting?”
She shrugs. “I can’t help it. Giving you a kidney has made me emotional. There’s no scientific reasoning for it. I also cried when Devon and I had our first meeting with Felicity to plan our wedding, and when we had a meeting with the contractor about my grandmother’s staircase.”
Patrick reaches over and squeezes her hand. “I told you he wasn’t leaving.”
I look between the two of them and get to it. “It seems the world assumes I’m incapable of everything when it comes to Stonebridge. Between the board meeting and the bit on the news, it’s clear.”
“Ignore them,” Harlow says.
But Patrick proves he’s no bullshit in everything he does. “I agree. No one thinks you can handle it, but I know otherwise. They’re underestimating you.”
I lift my chin in agreement. “One thing to know about me, I do not back down from a challenge.”
A slow smile spreads over Harlow’s face. My father, on the other hand, nods, and for the first time in my life, I know what it feels like to have a parent be proud.
I clear my throat and get on with it. “Fuck them all. I’m doing this. Consider me all in.”
Patrick glances at Harlow before pinning me with an intense stare.
Harlow leans in and lowers her voice. “Are you sure?”
“Harlow,” Patrick bites. “He wants this.”
“I want to make sure he knows what he’s getting himself into. Look at you. You work nonstop and put a target on your back. He could just live here, take his spot on the board, and live happily ever after. He just got his health back.” Harlow turns to me. “Make sure this is what you want.”
“I don’t need time, and I already started studying.
I lost myself in books while fighting for my life—this is the same, just a different kind of trial.
And I’m going to prove to every board member, the company, and the world, that if my father is going to offer me more than a seat at the table, I’m going to dive in headfirst. Maybe it’s because I’m healthy again, but I refuse to not take life by the horns. ”
Harlow shakes her head. “As long as you know what you’re in for. I’ll always be here for you.”
“I know. And I appreciate it more than you know.” I turn to Patrick. “I’m prepared to earn the respect I need to do the job. It’s not going to be easy, but I have time. I need to learn the business. Throw me into the trenches. I want to soak in everything from the bottom up.”
Harlow glances at Patrick. “Dad, say something.”
He says nothing for a beat. I hold his stare, but somehow, I know. I haven’t overstepped.
I lower my voice. “I want in. If you still want me.”
Patrick pulls in a deep breath and looks back and forth between his children.
“It’s yours. And yours. There’s no one in the world I trust more than the two of you.
I almost killed myself building this company.
It’s your legacy. Fight for it. Protect it.
But don’t do what I did. Promise me you’ll put your families first. Put each other first.”
“You have my word,” I promise.
“Always,” Harlow echoes. “That’s the easiest promise I’ll ever have to make. It’s all I want.”
“Kills me,” Patrick says, full of emotion. “Kills me that we missed out on this. I’m not fucking up my last years. I don’t know where I’m going to live, but I’ve decided I’m going to be in Winslet as much as I can.”
“Oh yeah,” I add. “Last night, I told Lennon that I was stepping up to the plate. But what I refuse to do is move to New York full time. I’ll find a way to work from here and will travel when I have to.”
A smile breaks Harlow’s face in two. “Stonebridge is going small town. Do I see a new headquarters in the future?”
Patrick shakes his head like he can’t believe it, but what he doesn’t do is argue.
It’s my turn to get down to business. “This is going to piss a lot of people off.”
Harlow smirks. “It sure is.”
And our father proves he’s got grit. It’s why he’s made it as far as he has. “I can’t fucking wait.”
“We’ll start tomorrow.” I look around the table .
.. to my family. Outside of the woman who raised me, it’s the only one I have.
I stand and make my way to the door. Lennon should be finishing up work for the day, and I’m meeting her at her office.
“Let’s fuck up this contract for good so we can move on. ”
I’m almost through the door when it opens and Devon walks through.
I lift my chin. “What’s up?”
Harlow doesn’t give him a chance to answer and moves past me to wrap her arms around him. “Guess what? Jett’s staying in Winslet for good, and he wants to be a part of Stonebridge—more than just on the board. Isn’t that great?”
“Bloody great news, baby.” Devon’s expression is tight, but he still wraps his arms around her and gives her a kiss before focusing back on me.
“I heard from Crew Vega. I’m afraid I don’t have equally as good news.
We need to get Lennon up here. We’re going to conference with Crew and Bella.
They’ve been digging and learned a lot today.
This isn’t the news anyone was hoping for. ”