Chapter 34 #2
She shoots me a glare, then flops onto the sofa, clearing space by sweeping everything off it in one dramatic motion.
"What do you want?" she snarls.
"I came to check on you," I say. "You haven't been answering my calls."
"I haven't been answering anyone's calls."
"What happened?"
She sighs heavily. "Amira left me. Said she's done with my ‘avoidant bullshit.'"
"And?"
"And I can't get over it! Is that what you wanted to hear? Are you happy now?"
I cross the room, sit beside her, and sling an arm around her shoulders.
"You're in love with her, aren't you?"
"No, I am not!"
"It's okay if you are," I tell her. "You don't really get a choice in that. Even if you fight it, love hits you out of nowhere. You might as well stop resisting."
"Like you would know."
"Actually, I do."
She hesitates, then grins. "Aha, you finally realized."
"Realized what?"
"That you're in love with Jenna. I knew way before either of you did."
I grin. "I thought you figured it was fake."
"Oh, I knew you thought it was fake. That was obvious—even a five-year-old could tell.
Mommy didn't see it, bless her oblivious heart.
Lucky for you she didn't. But I saw the chemistry right away.
You were crazy about Jenna. Maybe that's why Mom bought the act.
" She claps her hands, delighted. "This is great.
Almost as great as you quitting in the middle of dinner last night.
I thought Father was going to have a heart attack, and Mommy was on the verge of one of her famous fits.
They argued for hours—he told her she was wrong not to accept Jenna, and she told him he was wrong not to make you CEO because George doesn't have a clue. "
"Wow. They're both right and both wrong at the same time."
"The duality of our parents," she says dryly. Then she narrows her eyes. "So… are you really quitting?"
"Yeah."
"What are you going to do?"
"Not sure yet. I've got friends in business.
A few recruiters have been sniffing around for years, offering introductions to companies looking for an experienced CEO.
Or maybe I'll take a consulting role—help other firms avoid the mistakes ours made.
But honestly, I think I'll just start my own company. "
"Nice. Imagine if your company ends up bigger than Dad's. He'd be resentful and proud at the same time." She smirks. "I'm happy for you. Especially because your happiness is going to drive Marina even crazier than she already was last night."
"What happened?"
"Oh, I saw her and George arguing in the driveway. She looked unhinged, and he kept asking her about her pills. I didn't catch the details, but they got in the car still yelling and drove off."
"Huh. That's… weird." I shrug, filing it away for later. "Anyway, back to Amira—"
Steph groans. "I thought I distracted you."
"Nope." I grin. "Big-brother privilege. Listen, I'll give you the best advice you're ever going to get.
Get over yourself—and get over whatever emotional damage Mom and Pops left you with.
Because if you don't, you'll regret it for the rest of your life.
If you love Amira, go after her. Apologize.
Tell her you love her, tell her you want to make things right.
Beg her for another chance and promise this time will be different. "
She rolls her eyes. "You sound like a Hallmark movie."
"Maybe. But you know I'm right." I nudge her. "And when she takes you back, cherish her. Put her first. Make her the focus of your life—not shopping and vodka tonics." I grin. "Also, tell her she has to come back, because you need her to attend your brother's wedding with you."
A few weeks later, I'm standing in a vast, golden hall, watching everything unfold.
It's the final gala for the Showcase, and even though I no longer work with the Wolfe Group, I can't help but be proud, because Jenna put this all together.
It's grand and elaborate, beautiful art pieces hanging on the walls, some of them gritty and genuine, giving a meaningful contrast to the classic elegance offered by the crystal chandeliers and the golden archways.
Outside, lining the red carpet, a row of press photographers jostle and shove each other, calling out to attract the attention of VIP guests as they enter, each vying to get that magic shot of the evening that will make it to the backdrop image for the news anchor's story, later that night.
Everyone who wants to be anyone wants to be here, but we kept the guest list very exclusive for a reason.
My parents are here too.
I would like to say that they came to support the Wolfe Foundation showcase finalé, but I know it's more likely that they came here to get a chance to speak to me. They've been trying to talk to me ever since that disastrous dinner, and my mother has even shown up at my apartment a few times.
I've instructed Alvaro not to let them in…
ever—nor George or Marina either—and to call me if they try.
It's tough on Alvaro, but on the other hand I've told him that whatever bribe they offer—and I'm pretty sure that sooner or later they will try to bribe him—I'll pay him double, so at least he won't be out-of-pocket by it.
I refuse point blank to even speak one word to them again.
Not until she apologizes genuinely to Jenna, and I have to believe she really means it, too.
Even then, I still might not interact with them.
They were already given too many chances to hurt my woman before.
I'm not going to allow them to do it again.
So, while I wait for Jenna to arrive, I avoid them.
Instead, I engage with a few of Wolfe Group's business partners, and I keep my eye out in case I sense anything going off plan.
Jenna had to return home to pick up a few things and to get changed, and she said she'll be back as soon as she can.
I told her I could pick everything up for her, and bring her clothes to change into, but she told me not to bother, since she was already halfway there.
I wish I'd insisted on going for her. She's needed here, and I'm not. Also, I miss her. Sure, I just saw her this morning, but she was too busy for breakfast, and I feel like I didn't get my fill of her before she had to take off.
I might never get my fill.
Everything at the gala seems to be running smoothly so far.
Alongside our biggest clients, we have invited a few small business owners to mingle with the larger investors.
The din of conversation and laughter suggests that most people are having a good time, even as the orchestra plays classical music in the background.
I'm proud that Jenna pulled all this off in such a short time.
I just can't wait till she gets here so I can show her off in person.
I'm also happy this whole showcase series is over after today.
She's been stressing so much about it over the last few weeks, and though I've tried to help calm her nerves, I can tell it hasn't always entirely worked.
These last couple of weeks after handing in my resignation, I also threw myself into providing her with whatever help she needed, while setting up my own holding company on the side.
I'm here today, not as the CEO of Wolfe Holdings, but simply to support my fiancée. No matter how much my parents stare at me and talk between themselves, I refuse to pay them any mind, only focusing on the task at hand.
That is, until George approaches me.
"Can we talk?"
I stare at him, almost disbelieving what I was hearing.
"I'd actually much rather punch you in the face right now.
" Although I had never received any direct confirmation that it had been George who hired those reporters to write that article, they did admit that someone called them and fed them the information.
They said it was a woman, so I'm assuming it was George's assistant.
I'm going to make him pay for that, but I haven't had the time yet to think of an appropriate punishment. Decking him might do the trick, but I'm certainly not going to do it at Jenna's event and ruin everything for her.
"Look," George says. "I'm not here to take any more insults or abuse. I just came to make it clear to you; I did not tell anyone to write that article."
"Let me also make it clear. I don't believe you."
"I'm telling you—I didn't do it!" His voice is heated now, harsh, his words delivered louder and faster.
He lowers his tone when he catches people watching us.
"Do you think after everything I already did with Marina, after how shitty I felt about the whole thing, I would try to ruin your happiness again a second time? "
"I'm sure greed helped to drown your guilt, just like the first time."
"Greed? For what, the Wolfe Group?" He gives me a bitter laugh.
"I didn't even want to be CEO in the first place.
I didn't want to leave London. I'd built a life for myself.
I had friends and a home, and a great lifestyle.
I was perfectly happy running the European branch.
It was our parents who forced me to come back here and deal with this bullshit. "
I pause, staring at him, his eyes blazing with heat. I've not seen him this mad since we were kids, when I teased him endlessly about the stupid bowtie he was always wearing.
It was our mother's doing, and he was very sensitive about it, but of course, I didn't know that at the time. I was just saying stupid shit, and he finally tried to hit me in the face, and we fought, and I think that was pretty much the first time I ever respected him.
It was the most I'd liked him too.
Because I'd finally seen his true face, instead of the passive mask he always donned.
I see that same face right now.
He just might be telling the truth.
"If you didn't want to be CEO, then why did you say yes?" I ask. "Why didn't you talk Pops out of it?"