Chapter 62 Jonah
JONAH
That afternoon, I’d met with Rafael and Stacey multiple times.
The allegations about harassment? Well, it turned out that Rafael and Stacey had had an affair, one Stacey had ended abruptly upon learning about Rafael’s marital status.
And from their conversations, both offline and in texts, it turned out that Stacey had been the victim of harassment, not the other way around.
Except for a ten-day blip, Stacey had continued to contribute well at work after the affair, and had maintained professional dignity and behavior, as attested by Tom, who had conducted interviews with other employees who’d interacted with her.
Tom and I also learned that Rafael’s performance at work had gone downhill, and more than one co-worker had something to say about his curt attitude and lack of help to the other teams that relied on him.
I presumed it was because his bullying tactics against Stacey weren’t working and his obsession with harassing her was consuming his attention instead of him focusing on his actual responsibilities.
The meetings ended with Rafael getting kicked out of the company. He didn’t get references, nor did he get any compensation for the abrupt termination of his employment.
Stacey had been promoted to manager of the team, and that suddenly left open a full-time spot. A full-time spot for an employee who could fill it, if there wasn’t an alleged romantic relationship with the CEO in the picture.
Now, seven hours and a private jet ride later, I was driving up the winding road to my dad’s home in Star Valley, Wyoming, my jaw clenched in determination.
I needed to find Cora and Dad and put things to rest between us, once and for all.
Learning that details of my personal life had been leaked from within my own family circle? That crossed every line.
Darkness had settled over the valley as I parked on the cobblestone driveway. The scent of pine and fresh hay mingled with the crisp mountain air, but the familiar comfort of this place felt hollow now. Cora’s pickup truck sat closer to the house alongside Dad’s favorite Bentayga.
Walking toward the entrance, I felt the weight of years of disappointment settling on my shoulders.
To Dad, I had always been just the heir.
Someone to eventually take over his beloved company while he invested so little time in actually knowing me as his son.
I could have tolerated that cold distance, but involving Lexi in his games? That was unforgivable.
I loved Lexi beyond words, and this man simply couldn’t fathom the depths of my emotion.
My days started and ended with thoughts of her.
Even now, as I prepared for this confrontation, I found myself wondering: Was she taking Evie to the playground like she usually did at this time?
Was she worried about what the article might mean for her job?
The mansion’s huge foyer felt unwelcoming as I made my way through familiar hallways toward Dad’s study. Floor-to-ceiling windows on my right framed a stunning view of the sunset over the Tetons, but even that breathtaking sight couldn’t calm the storm building inside me.
I found them both in his study, a room that perpetually smelled of old books and polished wood. Dad sat behind his massive oak desk, looking every bit the patriarch of Altika, while Cora occupied the leather chair beside him.
Both looked up as I entered. Dad’s expression shifted from surprise to wariness, while Cora’s face remained carefully neutral, perhaps calculative.
“Jonah,” Dad said, rising slightly. “I wasn’t expecting you.”
“I’m sure you weren’t.” I remained standing, needing the height advantage for what was coming. “We need to talk about the smear campaign.”
“What smear campaign?” Dad asked, but his tone was measured.
“The one where someone’s been working behind the scenes, suggesting I should step down as CEO.” I kept my eyes on his face, watching for recognition. “The one that’s been going on for months, using every mistake I make as ammunition.”
Dad settled back into his chair, his expression unreadable. “If there’s been criticism of your leadership, perhaps it’s warranted. You’ve made some questionable decisions.”
“Questionable decisions,” I repeated slowly. “Like what, exactly?”
“Like getting involved with an intern,” he said bluntly. “It shows poor judgment, Jonah. The kind of judgment that makes the board question whether you’re fit to lead.”
“And I’m sure you did nothing to encourage that questioning,” I said, my voice hardening. “Tell me, Dad, when did you meet with Rebecca Martin?”
Something flickered across his face. It wasn’t guilt, but a calculating look. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Really? Because Rebecca was very chatty when I called her a few hours ago. She was grateful for the ‘anonymous source’ who provided her with details about my relationship with Lexi. Details like where we had our first date, or the fact that we’re living together.
Details that only my Dad could have known. ”
Cora’s sharp intake of breath drew my attention briefly, but I kept my focus on Dad.
“Ed,” Cora said quietly, her voice strained. “Did you?”
I thought she had been the one trying to undermine me all the time, but my Dad just took the cake.
Dad’s jaw tightened. “Someone had to do something. You were throwing away everything I built for some—”
“For some woman?” I finished for him, my voice deadly calm. “Say it, Dad. You destroyed an innocent woman’s reputation, made her daughter fair game for gossip columnists, all because you wanted to control my personal life? One you never had time for, anyway.”
“I wanted you to see reason!” His voice rose, his control finally cracking. “This relationship is inappropriate. It reflects poorly on the company, on our family name. I thought if you saw the consequences—”
“You thought you could manipulate me into choosing the company over her,” I said. “You leaked our private life to the press, hoping the scandal would force me to end things with Lexi.”
“I was protecting what’s important,” Dad said coldly. “The company, and our legacy. Things you seem to have forgotten in favor of your personal life.”
The silence that followed was deafening. Cora sat frozen, staring at her husband, stunned. Going to the press was a line even she hadn’t crossed.
“Ed,” she whispered. “How could you? This isn’t what we discussed.”
So she had been involved, just not at this level.
He ignored her, his eyes locked on mine. “So what now, Jonah? Are you going to throw away your career for her?”
“Not my career,” I said quietly. “But I am stepping down as CEO of Altika.”
The words hung in the air between us and my Dad’s face went pale. Suddenly, he looked every one of his seventy-four years.
“I won’t hear of it,” he said hoarsely. “You’re the best person for the job, Jonah. Don’t let this woman—”
“This isn’t about any woman,” I said, anger rising in me. “This is about Lexi.”
Dad’s shoulders sagged slightly. He’d seen the article; he knew what this meant.
“The one who set up the birthday party for you?” he asked.
I narrowed my eyes. “How do you know about that?”
When he answered, something cracked inside my chest. Lexi had reached out, trying to heal the wound my father’s absence had left, and he’d turned her away without a second thought. That he could reject her request so carelessly only proved I was done trying to win his approval.
“The company has strict policies about relationships between executives and employees. As long as I stay as CEO, HR will have to investigate, and that investigation will put Lexi under a microscope. They’ll question whether I influenced any decisions about her, and whether she deserves to be here at all. ”
I took a deep breath. “But if I resign now, before the formal investigation really begins, I remove the ongoing conflict of interest. What happened between us becomes a past mistake, not a current violation. It gives HR a way to close the case without punishing her. I won’t let her pay the price for my decisions. ”
“But surely there’s another way—”
“There isn’t.” For the first time since entering the room, I felt at peace with my decision.
“And honestly, Dad, I’ve been holding onto this position for the wrong reasons.
I thought being CEO would finally make me feel like I mattered to you.
In these past months as interim CEO, I convinced myself it was everything I wanted. ”
I moved closer to his desk. “But being with Lexi quieted all that noise. She never asked me to walk away, never tried to change me, but being around her made it impossible to lie to myself anymore. I wasn’t happy in this role.
I never had been, not like I was at my Venture Capital firm.
I wanted the CEO title because I thought it would fix something broken between us, but it didn’t. ”
Dad started to speak, but I continued. “For the first time, I’m not chasing something to prove a point. I’m walking away because I know what I actually want.”
“And what’s that?” he asked.
“A life with Lexi and Evie. A chance to build something real instead of trying to earn love that should have been freely given.” The words came out more harshly than I intended, but they were true.
Dad flinched. “Jonah...”
“If you truly believe Sam isn’t the right choice for the next CEO—and you’re right about that—then here’s my recommendation: Miles Harrington, my CTO. He’s brilliant, dedicated, and has the vision to lead Altika forward. I’ll nominate him to the board.”
After a long moment, Dad nodded slowly. “And someday, when this all blows over, maybe we can talk about bringing you back.”
“No,” I said firmly. “We won’t. I’ve spent too many years trying to earn your approval, Dad. It’s time I stopped waiting for you to show up as the father I needed and started living for the people who already love me as I am.”
I moved toward the door.
“Jonah, wait.” Dad’s voice cracked behind me.
I stopped, my hand on the doorknob.
“Every time I look at you...” He paused, and I heard him exhale shakily.
“I see her face. You have Helen’s eyes, and her expressions.
” He took a deep breath. “You’re a constant reminder of my mistake, Jonah.
I know it’s not fair to you, but I…I couldn’t separate the two.
So I kept my distance from you as much as I could. ”
The confession hit me with the suddenness of a punch. For a moment, I felt the weight of all those missed birthdays, the visits that lasted only minutes, and the feeling that I was never quite enough. Now I understood. I was too much of Mom.
I looked at him over my shoulder. His face was pale, crumpled with something that might have been regret.
“I hope it was worth it, Dad,” I said quietly. “Because you just lost your son along with your interim CEO.”
As I walked back through the mansion and out into the Wyoming night, my heart felt lighter than it had in years. The mansion loomed behind me in the darkness, a symbol of everything I was finally ready to leave behind.
Things would never be the same between us again. And for the first time, that felt like freedom.