Chapter 3 Aston #2
“You mean a rich family?”
“I want the best for my daughter. Is there anything wrong with that?”
Where to begin? I ask myself, as if this old bastard gives two fucks about his daughter’s happiness. All he cares about is how our family looks to everyone else.
“Is there anything else we need to discuss?” I quickly check the time on my phone, uninterested in whatever game my father is playing right now. “I have another meeting to attend.”
“This wedding will be the perfect opportunity for us to secure a deal with the Whitney Group. Myles Whitney is the son of Roland Whitney. Roland owns the land on the northern border of Cinnamon Springs, where the tree line starts. We’ve been trying to acquire it for the last twenty years.
” His voice turns cold as he leans in, eyes fixed on me.
“We give the Whitney family a dream wedding for their only son, and then we convince Myles to sell us the land. After all, he will be the new heir of the Whitney fortune. So you give your sister and Myles whatever they want, no matter how costly. You make sure this wedding cements the ties between our two families. Don’t screw this up—you understand me, boy? ”
I cross my arms, glaring at the man who is supposed to love his children unconditionally.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I mumble.
“I don’t kid, as you so ineloquently put it, when my business is at stake,” he raises his voice.
“You’ve got more money than you know what to do with,” I remind him. “Why do you need some piece of land to make more?”
My father observes me with an unrelenting stare. That same stare would intimidate me when I was a kid, but as I grew older, I learned to meet it with my own.
“Once the Beaumont Group owns the land, it opens up endless opportunities. Cinnamon Springs would benefit from another resort, or perhaps a new golf course with state-of-the-art facilities. This would give us a steady lead in property investments since the Gellar Corporation acquired the industrial end of town. It’s not about needing more money.
” My father pushes his chair back, standing up.
“It’s about power . Surely, son, you should know that by now. ”
And with those words, he leaves the room.
My fists clench tight, desperate to punch the wall. Instead, I take a deep breath and decide to find an incompetent asshole I can take it out on in the office.
Then, I will pretend this conversation never happened.
For the sake of my sister.
Across the table, Will is watching me swirl bourbon aimlessly. It’s my second glass; the first did absolutely nothing.
After the day I had, Will knew I needed a hard drink and suggested we go out after work.
If anyone understands the pressure I’m under, it’s Will Romano.
He’s a billionaire in his own right who owns several tech companies.
In the past two years, he branched out into real estate holdings, which is how we met.
“You’re letting him get to you,” Will is quick to remind me. “Stick with our original plan, and Pops will have no say in the matter.”
His sarcastic “Pops” is enough for a slight chuckle. God, why the fuck is this drink not hitting the spot? I loosen my tie in an effort to relax.
“You’re lucky your dad leaves you the hell alone.”
“Maybe, but my father-in-law doesn’t,” he states. “Before he was my father-in-law, he was my business partner. Try having him look over your shoulder when you’re dating his daughter behind his back.”
“Dating?” I laugh, shaking my head. “Will Romano wouldn’t date. You would have been fucking her sweet…”
“Ahem,” a voice sounds from over my shoulder.
Amelia, his wife, is standing beside us. I force a grin, pretending I wasn’t about to say something vulgar about their sex life. I stand to kiss her hello, having not seen her in a while. They live on the West Coast, but every time they’re in the city, we try to meet up for dinner or a drink.
“Your mother ever tell you to wash your mouth out with soap, Mr. Beaumont?” she chides before kissing her husband hello.
My lips curve upward as I attempt to backstep. “The ever-so-beautiful Mrs. Romano, how have you been?”
“Don’t try to charm me.” Amelia smiles as she rolls her eyes. “What are we drinking tonight, boys?”
The truth is, Amelia is beautiful and sexy, and all the things I dare not say in front of Will. He struck gold —enough said. They have three boys, all under ten. And from memory, one could even be a baby, but I’m never one to remember such details.
Her father is Lex Edwards, the mogul of a media enterprise.
It doesn’t stop there; his real estate holdings are one of the largest in the States.
I’ve met him several times, and unlike my father, the guy is damn intelligent where business is concerned.
He’s innovative and constantly pushes the boundaries to achieve excellence.
Apparently, my father couldn’t care less about money as long as he rules his world .
“Uh-oh. Why the face?” Amelia is quick to scowl. “What did your dad do?”
I glance at her. “How did you know?”
“Because every time you have that face and a bourbon in hand, which I assume is not your first one, it involves the ever-so-powerful Harvey Beaumont.”
“Don’t you have a kid to take care of?” I tease.
“Actually…” Amelia grins, clapping her hands. “We’re kid-free tonight. Mom and Dad are here and offered to take the boys. God, I can’t remember the last time I slept.”
“Last night?” Will reminds her with a huff. “When your sister came over, and the two of you decided to talk about periods so I would leave the room. You were knocked out by the time I was allowed back inside.”
“Ah…” Her emerald eyes light up. “That old chestnut works every… single… time.”
I scowl. “Women are crafty creatures.”
“Speaking of women, I know the perfect person to set you up on a date with.” Amelia is quick to focus back on me. “And before you object, hear me out.”
Closing my eyes briefly, I shake my head. “Not a chance in hell. You know I don’t do blind dates. Besides, I have to meet someone tonight.”
Amelia pouts. “I don’t believe you.”
“Would you like me to show you the texts? I hope you’re not a prude.” I smirk.
Will laughs while raising his glass of whiskey to his lips. “Is this Bianca, the one with the tight—”
Amelia turns her gaze to her husband with a raised brow. “Tight what ?”
I sense someone will be sleeping on the couch tonight. Rookie mistake, Will. Even I know you don’t talk about another woman’s tight ass in front of your own wife.
“I’m not sure how to answer this now that your wife looks like she’s ready to eat you alive.
However, for all intents and purposes… yes, Bianca.
” I raise my hand to stop Amelia as her mouth opens.
“Before you lecture me, I don’t need to settle down.
I’m twenty-six. There’s plenty of time for all that later. The topic is closed.”
Before Amelia can argue, my phone starts ringing. Seeing it’s my sister calling, I excuse myself and weave through the crowd, stepping outside the bar, where it’s much quieter.
“It’s nice of you to answer your phone,” Madelina is quick to scold.
“And happy Valentine’s Day to my newly engaged sister.”
“Who told you?”
“Father dearest.”
“Why am I not surprised? I haven’t even told Mom. She’s someplace that bans cell phones. Cell phones interfere with a person’s wellness ,” Madelina proclaims sarcastically. “Who knew, right? Anyway, let’s be honest here… are you happy for me?”
“Madelina, if this makes you happy, then I am happy,” I tell her honestly.
“I am happy, Aston, but there’s something you should know…” I purse my lips, waiting for the bombshell— she’s pregnant . “The wedding is next month, and before you say anything, I’m not pregnant. We’re having it soon because Myles’s grandfather is unwell.”
Well, well, it all makes sense now.
Myles’s grandfather is unwell, which is why my father insisted I not screw anything up.
I assume Roland and Myles will inherit everything, and if Madelina is married to him, then technically, it’s all hers, too, given that Myles is an only child.
And to top that off, if Madelina has her name on the land my father wants, he will manipulate her into selling it to him.
“Can you plan a wedding in a month?” I question, given that I know nothing about weddings, nor do I care for them. “Isn’t that a bit too short?”
“There’s a wedding coordinator for the venue. Myles’s mother is taking over some of the other plans, not to mention I’ll have help from family, which includes you.” I hear her voice pick up. “I need you in Cinnamon Springs in exactly one week.”
A huff escapes me at the same time a cab honks obnoxiously at a person walking across the street. I live in Manhattan and would prefer to stay here. The thought of going back to a small town upstate is discomforting, even if only for a short time.
“Are you kidding, Madelina? I can’t just drop work. I have meetings scheduled in the city.”
“Dad said you can. In fact, he insisted,” she quickly informs me. “So, are you in? I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t need your help.”
I remind myself I am doing this for my sister, not my father. Despite her being annoying, she is the only family I have.
Letting out a sigh, I drag out the words, “I could work remotely, I guess, if you really need me.”
“Perfect!” She raises her voice with enthusiasm. “And yes, I really need you. We’ll stay at the house together, it’ll be just like when we were kids.”
“You owe me big time,” I point out.
“I’ll add it to the TBPB list.”
“The what?”
“To-be-paid-back list. Things I owe you. Like the hundred-dollar bill I stole from you in junior high.”
“You said I probably lost it in the locker room,” I huff.
“Yeah, remember that bag I had with the ladybugs all over it, which you hated because you have an unnatural fear of the cute little things?”
“I don’t have an unnatural fear of ladybugs,” I respond stiffly. “They are just very… unpredictable .”
“Anyways, that’s what I bought.”
“I’m hanging up now.”
“One more thing I forgot. Uh, I have wedding brain,” Madelina yells over the speaker, much to my annoyance.
“What?”
“You won’t be alone. What I mean is… you’ll have help.
Remember my best friend, Eva? I’ve designated her my maid of honor.
Now, given that you’re my brother, and Myles’s best friend is stationed in Alaska and can’t make the wedding, Myles asked if you would consider being best man.
I said yes, so no declining the very nice gesture your almost brother-in-law has bestowed upon you. ”
The moment Madelina says her name, an unsettling feeling consumes me, like a shadow creeping over my thoughts.
I can’t quite put my finger on it, but the bourbon in my stomach suddenly feels like lead.
My instincts are screaming at me to back away, a primal urge to retreat from what lies ahead, but I know I can’t afford to.
Something deeper, more compelling, keeps me rooted.
It was a long time ago. When I was a kid, doing stupid kid things.
As the call ends, a text comes through. It’s Bianca. Of course, there’s an image attached, and she’s leaving nothing to the imagination.
Red lace—how fitting for Valentine’s Day.
But my head isn’t in it.
And as much as I try to shake off this nagging feeling, the thought of traveling back home to Cinnamon Springs dampens my mood. I left that small town behind for a reason, and the city is now my life.
I text Bianca to let her know I’ll meet her in an hour.
With my phone tucked back into the pocket of my suit pants, I push the door open and head back inside to finish my drink with Will and Amelia.
But it doesn’t stop at the second or third, and by the time I reach the sixth, I finally figure out what’s gnawing at me and refusing to leave my conscience.
Everleigh Woods.