13. Chapter Thirteen #2
I look around the table. Chris, me, Rob, fucking Garrett. George…
Are we all candidates for his CEO position?
“Discuss… things,” I say coldly.
My father takes a sip of his wine as a line of waitresses bring three trays full of platters. They set about to spreading them along the table as my father continues to talk. One sets a plate of wings in front of me.
“As you all know, my retirement is inevitable, and with the news, people have been up my ass like a dog who wants a bone,” he drawls.
I blink, unable to process what’s happening.
“So I thought, what better way to make a decision than spend some quality time with the men who I am considering as a viable replacement. Like an… interview.”
Garrett grins. “I think that’s a very smart idea, Mr. Everett.”
I glare at him. Of course he does. Fucking asshole. Did he know about this?
Something tells me he did.
And he held onto this for this very moment, to blindside me and fuck me over.
Because that’s the kind of person Garret Tempest is.
“So, we would like to propose an offer. That you all join us—my wife and I— at our estate in Madison Park for the week. This way we can spend some time—” He looks at me sternly. ”—quality time with you all and truly discern if you will be the right fit for this position.”
I think I just stopped breathing. I haven’t been to Madison Park in ages, and what my dad’s proposing sounds nothing short of a nightmare.
One week with him, my family, and the damn Tempests?
Including fucking Garrett and his new husband?
This is like the seventh circle of hell.
Am I dreaming? Is this a literal nightmare?
Rob nods in agreement. “I think that sounds like a great idea, Tony.”
My mother clasps her hands together. “Splendid!” Aunt Shannon and Uncle Travis also echo their excitement as Chris catches my gaze while Lola squeals with excitement.
He had no idea. He’s just as blindsided as me about this, and that makes me feel even more on edge. Usually Chris is the one who has his finger on the pulse of the family. So this means the decision must have been very sudden.
My father catches my gaze.
“Where’s your boyfriend, Aaron?” he asks carefully. Oh shit.
“Writing,” I lie. “Got a jolt of inspiration, and just had to… you know, get it out.”
I hold his gaze. If I break it, I’m fucked.
“You are coming to the beach house, right?” dad says. “I mean, you’ve made it pretty clear you want to be considered and—”
“You should bring him with you!” my mom says excitedly.
“I’m sorry, what?” I ask, blinking because I think she said—
“I didn’t know you had a boyfriend, Aaron,” Garret says smoothly. His gaze holds mine like a shark.
He knows I don’t have a boyfriend. He doesn’t know about my plan, thank God, but he does know I’m single as a fucking piece of cheese.
I hold his gaze steady.
“Yeah, I must’ve forgotten to tell you over drinks the other night.”
Take that, asshole.
Garrett smirks. “Seems we have more catching up to do, then.”
“Yes, I think that’s a lovely idea, Betsy,” my dad says, smiling warmly at my mother.
“I’m sure your little aspiring bestseller would find much to inspire him at the beach.”
I know this is do or die. This is the big leagues. My father is actually considering me as a possibility. I can’t fuck this up. I look at Garrett, fear rising in me. Is dad considering him ? Or his father?
“I will bring it up to him later,” I say, panic rising in my chest.
My mother smiles at Rebecca.
“Oh, you’ll love Jacob. He’s a writer. Romance,” my mother says as if he’s already famous.
Fuck.
“He sounds darling,” Aunt Shannon chimes in. “He must be quite special if you introduced him to your parents.”
Chris raises a brow at me. “I have to take a piss. I’ll be back.”
“You know what? Me too,” I say, not bothering to excuse myself as I follow Chris through the restaurant and onto the street. Thankfully, no one can see us from the back, so they won’t know we’re out here.
“What the fuck, man?” I say the minute we get outside. I run a hand through my hair nervously.
“Seems your plan worked a little too well,” Chris says with a huff.
“Are you applying for Dad’s—”
“No, I swear!” Chris says.
“Did your dad say something?”
Chris shakes his head. “Nothing, I swear!”
“This is bad,” I say, shaking my head as I pace. “So bad.”
“You have to call him back,” Chris says.
I turn to him, my eyebrows raised in alarm.
“What?”
“Jacob. You have to call him back. Hire him for the week. It’s the only way you can pull this off.”
“Are you insane?” I whisper-shout. “I just paid the guy this morning, and I’m pretty sure he wants nothing to do with me given what happened last night.” I realize as I say it that I said too much. Chris raises an eyebrow at me.
“What do you mean, what happened last night?”
I groan, shaking my head. “It doesn’t matter. What matters is my parents want me to bring my fake boyfriend to the family beach house alongside fucking Garrett , and—”
Chris settles a hand on my arm. His knowing gaze captures mine.
“Think about this logically, Aaron. If your parents liked your—” He air quotes his words.”—fake boyfriend, enough that they want you to bring him to the beach house so your dad can make a decision—about you —”
I feel the seriousness of his words.
“Fuck, Aaron, you didn’t come halfway to quit. I know you.”
I sigh, my heart in my throat. “I’m not quitting, I just—”
Chris holds my gaze steady.
“Then you better call your boyfriend and pack your bags, because this is it. This is the shot you wanted, so don’t be a fucking pussy and take it. ”
I pull out my phone, staring at the black screen, his words echoing in my brain.
“What if he says no?” I ask, my voice shaking.
Chris lets out a heavy breath. “Don’t give him a reason to say no.”
I purse my lips as he speaks. “Give him a reason to say yes.”
Yeah, that’s easier said than done.
Chris looks towards the door. “We should head back. I’ll go first.” I nod, staring at my phone as the door shuts.
Give him a reason to say yes.
“It’s just a job,” I say to myself as the wheels start to turn, as hope starts to fester, and I know Chris is right. I need to find a way to pull this off. Failure is not an option. Not if I want to be CEO of Everemore , not if I want to take my family’s business into the twenty-first century.
So I open my text thread and find his number.
I let out a breath as I tap out my text.
Me: I have a job offer to discuss with you. Can you meet me tonight? Coffee? Same place?
I’d normally meet a man or a client over drinks, but something tells me drinking and Jacob wouldn’t be a good mix right now, all things considered.
For a moment, I think he’s not going to answer. That maybe he’s not near his phone or worse—he’s purposefully ignoring me, but then I see those tiny bubbles flashing on the screen.
Prince Charming: I’m on a date right now.
Fuck. I should have thought about that…
I mean, I know he’s a professional, but I feel kind of slighted given everything that happened that he’s already out with some other guy probably charming his pants clean off. It pisses me off.
Me: Do you have a date at 4:30?
I know it’s snarky and bitchy, but I can’t help myself. Three hours is the Foxy minimum. I know that. It’s one thirty, so he’s either going to be wrapping up soon or it will be over by four thirty.
Prince Charming: No.
Me: Then meet me at Sunrise. 4:30. Please.
Me: It’s important.
I don’t know why I send that last text, but the minute I do, I regret it. It is important. At least, to me. But I can’t expect Jacob to just drop everything to meet me when clearly he has plans and work, and—
Prince Charming: Five O’Clock.
Prince Charming: I have a date at 7, so I need to leave by 6 to pick her up.
Her. He said her. As in he’s taking out a woman tonight.
I know he listed himself as bi on the website, so it makes sense, but…
still. The idea of him kissing, touching, dancing with someone else—even a beautiful woman who probably would treat him like the prince he actually is, makes my stomach queasy.
Me: Fine. I shouldn’t need more than an hour of your time.
I roll my eyes at my formality. God, I sound hopeless.
Because I am hopeless.
Jacob sends me a thumbs up, and I head back into the restaurant. My dad gives me a suspicious gaze.
“Everything okay?”
I nod. “Yeah. Just called my boyfriend to check on him.”
It’s not a complete lie.
My dad nods as I reach for my drink, and soon enough the conversation changes to the beach and vacation plans. I stare at the appetizer before me, suddenly at a loss for appetite.