Chapter 36
Chandler
I set the dumbbells back on the rack and wiped the sweat from my brow, before sitting down on the black bench.
The gym was crowded with the afterwork rush, a time I usually avoided, but I needed to blow off some steam.
I had found myself here a lot lately, trying to find a healthier way of dealing with my life than beer or whiskey.
It had been a few days since I had left my position of CEO at Harold Enterprises.
I hadn’t read anything in the press about it yet.
I wondered if Mr. Harold had kept it under wraps for now to avoid the speculation surrounding my sudden departure.
As much as he despised me, and as much as he was upset with Gabriella, I doubted he wanted anything about our relations coming to light.
This had me wondering about the board member who had come forward and so blatantly put our dirty laundry out there.
I tried to rack my brain about who it could have been and why I hadn’t heard about it from anyone else yet.
There was a good chance Mr. Harold had them sign an NDA, or maybe they had some trick up their sleeve.
Either way, I kept waiting for the shit to hit the fan.
On the bench beside me, my phone buzzed.
I wiped my hands on the slick fabric of my track pants and picked it up.
It was Nathan. I sucked in a breath, wondering if this was something I wanted to deal with now.
Or ever. I hadn’t talked to him since the disastrous family dinner where Greg and I almost came to blows.
But I didn’t like being on the outs with my brother, so I picked up the phone.
“Hey,” I said, my voice clipped.
“Didn’t think you’d pick up,” said Nathan, surprise in his voice.
“Almost didn’t.”
“What are you doing?”
“Working out.”
“Can you grab dinner?”
“When?”
“Tonight.”
I looked up at the large, silver ceiling fan spinning quickly overhead, wondering if spending the night having an assumed heart-to-heart with my little brother was something I wanted to do.
“I can meet you in an hour,” I said finally.
“Great. 7th Street Burger?”
“See you then.” I hung up.
I grabbed my towel from the bench next to me and wrapped it around my damp neck.
I was pretty much done with my workout, anyway.
I stood from the bench and headed for the locker rooms. I stripped out of my gym clothes and into a steaming shower, washing away the sweat and stress of another day of unemployment.
I didn’t like the anxious feeling I had without an empire to run.
It wasn’t like I was strapped for cash. I was more than well off, but it was in my nature to work. To run things. To succeed.
After my shower, I rummaged through my gym bag for the extra set of clothes I often packed for after my workouts.
I pulled on a pair of faded jeans and a white t-shirt over my head.
I didn’t bother with my hair, figuring it would just air dry on the drive to the restaurant.
It wasn’t like I had anyone to impress. It was just Nathan.
Twenty minutes later, I pulled up to the restaurant, luckily finding a metered parking spot across the street.
I clicked my fob, the chirp of my sports car beeping behind me as I crossed the street to the familiar brick and forest green building Nathan and I often frequented.
They had the best burgers in town, and burgers were Nathan’s favorite food. Always had been.
I found him in a corner booth toward the back, sipping on a beer. I signaled for the bartender to grab me one before settling in across from my brother. He looked relieved to see me, as if he didn’t think I would show. He ran a hand through his light brown hair, and gave me an easy smile.
“Hey.” He nodded.
I wordlessly nodded back as I picked up the menu in front of me.
“I already ordered, if that’s okay? I was starving.”
“Sure.”
“I got you your usual.”
“Thanks,” I said, putting down the menu, annoyed I couldn’t use it as a momentary distraction, but secretly happy I had a burger with pepperjack cheese, avocado, and jalapeno on the way. I was pretty hungry after my workout.
“How are you?” asked Nathan, gently prying.
“Fine, I guess.” I shrugged.
“Look, I don’t like the way we left things after the family dinner…”
Of course, Nathan would just get right down to it. He was much more open with his feelings than me. It almost felt like the roles were reversed in moments like these. I knew as the older brother, I should be the one to try and patch things up, yet here he was taking the reins as always.
“Yeah,” I muttered.
“It’s hard sometimes,” he said, his voice distant as he ran his fingers down the condensation of his glass. The bartender came by with my beer and set it on the table.
“What is?” I asked, giving the bartender a nod of thanks before he returned to the bar.
“Seeing you and Greg at odds. Always.”
“I thought you’d be used to it by now.” I took a sip of beer.
“I’ll never be used to feeling like I have to choose between you two. I hate being in the middle of the riff you two have. He’s my dad, Chandler.”
I grimaced slightly, knowing it must be hard on him to be in such an awkward position. I was mostly to blame for putting him there. I was sure it was a lot to shoulder.
“I know you don’t want to hear this, but I’m going to tell you anyway,” said Nathan. I looked up at him and tilted my head curiously. “Now, I know you have your own shit with your dad. I never met the guy, but he sounds like a real creep.”
That was the understatement of the year.
“It’s not fair what happened to you and Mom, and I know you probably hate anyone who comes near her. But Greg is a good man. I lucked out with him being my dad. He is the best dad I could ask for. I was lucky to grow up with him.”
I grunted my acknowledgment. Even though we didn’t see eye to eye a lot, I knew Greg was a good father to Nathan.
I saw it in the way Nathan was, in the way he was sitting here so easily articulating his feelings even if it was uncomfortable.
I could see it in how hard Nathan studied and worked to be the best. He was a good guy, and it was a testament to how he was raised.
“Why are you saying all this?” I asked softly.
“Because I think you could be a good dad, too, if you put the bullshit that happened behind you.”
I took another sip of beer, letting his words soak in.
He sounded just like Greg. And Wyatt. All of these people were telling me that I could do this, and I was starting to believe it.
I was starting to want to be the person they all thought I could be because Gabriella deserved that.
The time apart from her had only made me realize that my feelings ran deeper than I had ever let on.
I was tired of letting fear hold me back.
I was tired of thinking I would be happier alone and that everyone else would be better off without me in their lives.
“I think so too,” I said, my voice strained, not used to agreeing with people who think they know me better than myself.
Nathan smiled triumphantly. The server came by with our burgers, giving us a well-timed intermission from our conversation. We chowed down and changed the subject to school and sports and stocks, lightening the mood. He knew his point had gotten across. And I knew what I had to do next.
I had to tell Gabriella how I felt. It was time to step up and be the man she needed, and the man our baby needed.
It was early on, and I had my own shit to work out, but I was determined to do so by the time the baby was earthside.
I could be ten times the man my father was.
I knew we could have a life that I had never imagined for myself, but now wanted more than I ever thought possible.
But we couldn’t have that life until I sorted out the mess that was my life, starting with Mr. Harold.
Before we wrapped up dinner, I quickly typed out an email to Mr. Harold, requesting to meet with him.
To my surprise, by the end of the night, he replied and agreed to have a meeting at the office tomorrow morning.
I showed up five minutes early, avoiding the curious stares of the employees as I strode past. Questions must have filled the room, but I just looked straight ahead until I reached my old office, where Mr. Harold sat behind the desk looking perplexed.
He looked older than the last time I saw him just a few days ago.
Hell, I felt aged myself. I cleared my throat, bringing his attention to me.
My jaw tensed slightly under his icy stare.
“Shut the door,” he said.
I did as he said and took a seat in the armchair across from him.
“Now, tell me why the hell you’re here,” he said.
“For now, let’s put our differences aside, so I can tell you what my team of accountants discovered after going over the books. It’s something that needs your immediate attention.”
“You brought in your own accountants?” He raised an unimpressed brow.
“I wanted to be thorough in my assessment of the company.”
“And what did you find that is so urgent?”
“Someone has been stealing from you, sir. They’ve been skimming money from a private fund. I have everything here,” I said, pulling one of the papers of numbers from my jacket pocket and unfolding it on his desk. His eyes barely skimmed over it before he put his hand up dismissively.
“What happens at this company is none of your concern,” he said.
I was taken aback by his response. Rather than being grateful, he seemed irritated. I took the paper back and quickly folded it back up, unsure of what to make of him. I could feel my own irritation bubbling up inside me. I owed this man nothing, but I had come to him trying to help.
“Actually, what happens here is my concern,” I said firmly.
He looked at me sharply. “And why the hell is that?”
“Because I’m in love with your daughter, and she’s going to have my baby. Your grandchild. I want to keep them safe from the blowback of whatever scandal is happening here.”
He grew tense as he studied me, not saying a word.
“I apologize for everything that’s happened. I take full responsibility for the mess that was caused, but that mess turned out to be a blessing. I know you can’t see that right now, but it’s become clear to me. And I want to do the right thing.”
Mr. Harold brought his hands together on the desk, clasping his fingers as he watched me carefully. His expression was unreadable. After a moment, he took a deep breath.
“I will take what you said into consideration, Mr. White. I will contact you, but for now, you should leave.”
I nodded and stood from my chair, thinking it could have gone worse. Without another word, I slipped out the door, not wanting to press my luck. I knew there was still one more person to talk to. The most important one yet.