Chapter 73
CHAPTER 73
SIMON
A fter spending the last few days pissed off about everything that had happened with Abi, I’d called my parents and told them that we needed to talk. Fit Gal had contacted us to let us know that they’d decided to go with Walker and Co for the account, and now it was time to talk about our actual issues.
Dad had been trying to reach out about our plans for Fit Gal ever since the dinner, but I’d been leaving him on read. I didn’t care about the client—other than to be happy for and really proud of Abigail. She was absolutely the right person for the job and I knew she was going to do sensational work for them.
However, Fit Gal was always only going to have been another client. A huge one for sure, but both Walker and Astor had tons of clients that brought in the big bucks. What I needed to do today was a lot bigger than any client could ever be for any company anywhere in the world.
Work was work, but this was about as personal as things got. I strode into my parents’ foyer, glad when I wasn’t held up by any of the staff. They didn’t need to see this. As I reached the center of the large space, I paused for a moment, hands moving to my hips. I tipped my head back to take a good look around.
Who knows when I’m going to see this place again?
My gaze caught on the banister leading up the sweeping staircase on my left and nostalgia grabbed hold of my insides. Brooks used to love sliding down that thing.
In my mind’s eye, it was so easy to picture him as a kid, a huge grin on his face as he slid down fast, hoping that no one would see him. I squeezed my hips, bending my head for a moment as I allowed myself to remember my brother.
This had been the only home he’d ever known. A place where he and I had ruled the roost—as long as Dad hadn’t been home.
Although, back then, he hadn’t been the same as he was now. He’d always been a strict, bullheaded man, but he hadn’t been cruel. He hadn’t been cold.
At the click of heels coming toward me, I looked up to see my mom standing in the doorway to the parlor. “Is there any chance you’re not here to say what I think you’re here to say?”
Regret clenched around my heart like a vise, but I shook my head. “I warned him, Mom. Over and over. I have no choice.”
Moisture shimmered on her eyelids, but she inclined her chin in a nod and waved for me to join them. “You’re a good man, Si. I love you.”
“I love you too, Mom.” As I walked past her, I let my fingertips catch on hers, pausing for a moment to look into her eyes. “This doesn’t change that, okay? I’m only a phone call away if you need me.”
Her gaze immediately dropped away from mine, but she nodded and drew in a deep breath, letting go of my hand to swipe under her eyes. “When you’re done here, you’re going to get her back, right?”
“I hope so.”
“Good. She makes you happy.” Mom hung back for a moment after I strode in, but I didn’t wait for her to get started.
In fact, part of me hoped she wouldn’t have to hear any of this at all. My dad was seated in an armchair in front of the window, a tumbler of whiskey in his hand and the top button of his shirt undone. His tie was loose around his neck, his gaze on a flock of birds taking flight outside.
“Simon, you summoned us. Have you come to explain how we lost the Fit Gal account?”
“Oh, that was because of your shitty attitude at the meeting. But no, I’ve come to tell you that I’m resigning from the firm. Effective immediately. I’ve already emailed the relevant documents to HR and I’ve cleared out my office.”
Dad’s gaze snapped to mine, his throat working and his mouth dropping open. For the first time in my life, my father seemed absolutely floored by something I was doing, and my mom stumbled back, in pure shock as she finally lowered herself into the chair nearest the door.
Obviously, she hadn’t expected me to go quite this far, but I’d meant it when I’d said I was done if he kept it up. Dad finally scoffed and shook his head. “Don’t be a child. You can’t quit.”
“I can quit and I am,” I assured him. “Because of my role in the company, you’ve had far too much control over my life for much too long. I did everything you ever asked of me, and in return, you wrecked my life every chance you got.”
Incredulity flashed across his features before he sighed. “All I expect from you is to achieve your fullest potential.”
“No, that’s not it,” I said. “The moment Brooks died, you went cold. You became a shell of a man and that hasn’t been fair to either myself or Mom. It was like you died with him, and I can’t tell her what to do, but I sure as hell can remove myself from this situation. My only regret is that I didn’t do it ten years ago.”
Dad’s jaw clenched, but I stood my ground. I’d waited a long time to say this. “You’re unethical, distant, and selfish, and because of that, you’re now going to have lost both your sons.”
“It’s not because of that,” he seethed quietly, which I knew was much more dangerous than his yelling. “It’s because of her, isn’t it?”
“I choose Abigail,” I stated clearly. “I should’ve done that years ago. I never should’ve left the girl I love to try to live up to your ridiculous expectations. I won’t make the same mistake again, but she’s not why I’m walking away. I’m resigning because I can’t stand to work underneath you for one more day. I don’t want to inherit a legacy built on dishonesty and ruthlessness.”
With every word I said, it felt like a weight lifted from my shoulders, and by the time I was done, it felt like I’d cleansed myself from the inside out. I’d been holding on to so much for so long, and taking ownership of my own life was so fucking liberating that I almost laughed.
Instead, I turned around and headed for the door, knowing I’d need to check in with my mother later, but also that I had to get out of there. As I reached the door, I finally heard my father speak up again. “Son, I’m sorry.”
Emotion caught in his throat, his voice suddenly raspy and weak. I would have thought it was all for show, but my father hadn’t cried a single time since Brooks had died. Slowly turning to look at him, I was surprised to find that his eyes were red and watery, one side of his nose pulled up as he stared at me like he’d never seen me before.
“Everything you said is completely right,” he rasped out. “I did put you through all that, didn’t I? I am sorry, Simon. It’s just… you looked so much like him.”
Those words broke the dam I’d kept sealed up tight all these years and I practically roared as I threw my arms out to my sides. “Of course, I do. He was my fucking twin .”
Despite my voice bouncing off the walls in this quiet house that had become more like a mausoleum, my dad seemed trapped within his own thoughts. “When he died, I felt that loss, but I also felt like I failed you. Your mom. Our whole family.”
Breathing hard, I blinked rapidly and lowered my arms, uncertain what to make of the man unraveling right before my very eyes. “A father’s purpose is to protect his children and I failed. When he died, I lost that purpose. I couldn’t even protect my kids, but I still had you. I turned around and I put all the pressure of success on you and it wasn’t fair, but I thought it would keep you alive.”
“What?” I honestly couldn’t believe what I was hearing or seeing, but when Dad lifted those red eyes to mine, I knew he wasn’t kidding or trying to trick me into forgiving him. Something I had said had triggered this very real response. “How was that going to keep me alive?”
“I thought, if we needed you, if the world was on your shoulders, you wouldn’t be taken away from us.”
My head jerked back, but he wasn’t done yet. “You’re a great man, Simon. An even better son. I know I never told you, but I’m proud of who you are. So proud of who you’re becoming.”
Despite the waves of emotion obviously crashing into him, an inferno of rage was still burning in my soul. “Thanks, but I can’t live that way anymore. I’m sorry you lost him. I am, but George? Just because I look like him doesn’t mean I am him. You needing me also won’t keep me alive. So far, it’s only kept me from living.”
Heavy rivulets of tears were streaming down my mom’s face, her narrow shoulders shaking as she cried quietly. My heart broke for her. Shattered actually, but Dad had caused all this pain and my friends had been right.
By telling him about it and being honest, I was setting myself free. Hopefully, my mother would follow in my footsteps, but I couldn’t make her.
“I have loved Abigail since I was thirteen years old,” I finished harshly, my breathing ragged and voice hoarse as I realized how much time I’d lost with her because of him. “If not for what you did, we could’ve been married by now. We could’ve had the family we both want. Instead, she’s out there somewhere thinking that I’ll never choose her and that I shouldn’t, but that’s exactly what I’m doing. I’m leaving this family and its business to be with her. To be happy.”
“Don’t.” Dad shook his head, eyes round and pleading on mine. “We can work something out, Simon. I was wrong.”
My eyebrows shot up. “You should unpack that. In the meantime, I strongly encourage the two of you to keep talking. We can sort through everything later, but I need to go find her.”
As I spun to leave and saw my mom shivering like a leaf on the couch, I couldn’t bring myself to just leave. Suddenly changing direction, I went over to wrap my arms around her. Sinking down beside her on the couch, I held her while she sobbed and I was completely bowled over when my dad came to join us.
He touched his forehead to my shoulder, not sobbing but definitely struggling. Instinctively reaching for him too, I wrapped my arm half around him, and for the first time in over ten years, he hugged me. Really hugged me.
Torrent upon torrent of emotion swirled through me like a tempest of long unresolved feelings. I groaned as it all bubbled to the surface. Gently extricating myself from them, I watched as Mom collapsed into Dad’s arms. Then I grabbed my keys and headed out.
With single-minded focus, I drove directly to Abi’s house, relief registering through all the other emotions raging around within me when I saw her car in the driveway. I parked behind it and made my way to her front door.
The biggest battle I had to face today was still ahead of me and I drew in a deep breath before I knocked. My mind was half detached from my body and I felt slightly woozy, but I squared my shoulders and kept my head up.
I had to talk to her before our relationship had time to fracture any further. As soon as she opened the door and saw it was me, her eyes tightened and she tried to shut the door again. I slipped my foot into it.
“I choose you, Abi,” I explained urgently. “I told my dad that I’m resigning from the company and that I’d walk away from him if I have to, but that I’ve chosen you.”
She slowly eased her grip on the door, a deep frown etching into her beautiful face as she looked up at me. “What?”