Chapter 42
Victor
Day four of no Serenity and Summer. These past ninety-six hours have been the longest, most hellish of my life. But I fucked up, and I’m man enough to admit it. When Serenity makes up her mind, there’s no changing it.
Not to mention, after everything with Paul, I’m sure she needs her space. Maybe once she has more time to come to terms with everything he did, she’ll hopefully realize I’m not the same as him.
I clear my throat and try to concentrate on the matter at hand, staring at each of my board members.
Mr. Lexington has a smug smile tugging his lips.
Mrs. Frederick keeps her sympathetic eyes on me.
Mr. Tille is actually awake with his daughter at his side.
All I need is a majority vote, and I can keep my title as CEO.
“All in favor of removing Victor as CEO, raise your hand,” Mr. Lexington says.
My stomach rolls as I wait. At this point, I only want to remain in my position for my father. He raised me as his own, loved me as if I’m his blood. I don’t want to disappoint him.
But is that what I really want? This was never my dream.
After a couple days of searching, I found the rules for CEO.
The board can vote on whether or not I remain CEO, and if it’s a tie today, then the stockholders vote in one month.
And if I don’t win, Isabella can take over.
She started working at Barlowe Tech when she graduated from Oxford.
All she’d need is for me to train her in the role of CEO, and I’d be free.
It would destroy my father if I walked away, though.
Mr. Lexington grabs my attention as he’s the first to raise his hand. His eyes dart to Rose, but surprisingly, she keeps her arms at her sides.
Mr. Lexington’s face turns beet red. “None of you are in favor of removing this bastard child as CEO?”
“Watch your language,” Mrs. Frederick admonishes. “Victor has led this company for a decade, and I think we can all agree he’s done a fantastic job. Why remove him? Mr. Barlowe himself raised him to take over and with the knowledge that he’s not his by blood.”
The conference room door opens, and we all turn in unison to see who is interrupting.
My father strides in wearing his favorite gray suit.
Even though he has all the money he could ever want, he’s worn this one repeatedly throughout the years.
His cheeks have even more color in them since we saw him at dinner.
His pace is quick, faster and better than ever, and I almost weep at the sight.
“I’m sorry if I’m interrupting, but I received a phone call that today was the day you were voting on Victor staying CEO or not.
” My father strides inside, and Martha rushes in behind him with an extra chair.
He nods a thanks before sitting. “Victor is my son. I raised him, and I love him. He is my heir.”
My heart swells. He never speaks so openly, especially in front of others, but hearing him say it almost brings tears to my eyes. It makes my next decision even harder.
Do I stay and be the Barlowe Technology heir, or do I give it all up to be with my family?
“Victor has done what was asked of him. He married before his thirty-fifth birthday. I trained him until I retired, and he has successfully run this company for the last ten years. He’s more than qualified.”
I break eye contact and swallow. During this meeting, I went ten minutes without thinking about how my heart now lived in Granite Falls while I remained here in the city with soul-sucking wolves.
Going through the same motions I have for the last ten years helped me get through these days, but I’ve made my decision, and I can’t do it anymore.
“Father, I appreciate your support.” I glance back up at him, his hopeful face chipping at my heart. “But I’m leaving.”
“Leaving?” Mr. Lexington straightens. “You can’t leave in the middle of a board meeting. So much for being the best CEO for the company.”
I don’t spare him a single glance. “I can’t be here while my heart is in another state.”
Pushing out of my chair, I look to my father. Through the hurt splashed across his face is … pride? He nods once, and I don’t hesitate. I rush toward the door.
Before exiting, I turn back and say, “Thank you to everyone who supported me even when you found out about my family’s heritage.”
I flee but don’t make it more than ten steps before the door opens and closes behind me.
“Wait a minute,” my father’s voice says. “I want to tell you something.”
I turn to face him. His chest is heaving. I squeeze my eyes shut, unable to look at him. He must’ve run to chase me. “What’s wrong?”
When he doesn’t say something right away, I pry my eyes open.
He places a hand to his heart, and I rush over to him, but he waves me off. “I’m fine. I don’t want something to come between you and your wife. I admit I jumped to conclusions, but I discovered who let the secret out.”
My eyes widen. “Who?”
My dad rubs his chin and gives me a sad smile. “Your real father.”
I straighten. “You are my real father.”
He shakes his head. “The man whose DNA gave you blond hair and blue eyes. Your mother has been keeping him quiet all these years, paying him off, but he wanted more than she could give this time, so he went to the press.”
I open my mouth and close it repeatedly almost like I’m a fish. My evil mother has been protecting me all these years without me knowing. Or maybe she was doing it to cover up her own misdeeds. I’m not sure I’ll ever find out.
My father must read my face because he says, “She did it to protect you, not herself.”