Chapter Twenty-Two
Iwalk into the large meeting room to see my mother and our lawyer, Tom, on one side of the oversized cherry wood table and my dad’s best friend Steve, his son Preston, and their lawyer on the other. I forget their lawyer’s name. I only know him from the horrible hair plugs haphazardly placed across the top of his bald head. After avoiding the calls and emails from Tom, the hair plug guy, who represents my parents’ oldest friends, could finally schedule this meeting.
Preston and Steve stand to shake my hand. “How are you?”
“Fine, thank you.” I nod, giving them a cold greeting. They don’t deserve my respect after everything that’s happened in the last few months. And even more now that they’ve been telling community members that they’ll take over my dad’s winery before anything is final.
I may not have wanted this when I was younger, but this is my family’s legacy, and I will do everything possible to protect it. If my dad knew what these two would plan once he wasn’t around, I’m sure he would have cut ties long ago.
“So, you have officially moved back?” Preston asks, only to make small talk and not genuine curiosity.
“Yeah, I have. I’ll close on my house at the end of the month,” I tell them.
“And your girlfriend, will she be moving here as well?” Preston presses me for information on Piper. Based on what Piper told me about the interaction she had with Sophia a few weeks ago, I know he knows more than he’s letting on.
“I don’t think that’s any of your business, is it?”
“Is that the way this is going to be? I’m trying to be nice and ask you about your new girlfriend. Take a fucking chill,” Preston barks, still standing, although his dad and lawyer have taken their seats. This is just a power struggle for him.
“Are you worried that with me being back, that I’ll try to fuck Sophia? Because you can be assured, I have higher standards than that.”
“Jack!” my mom exclaims at my inappropriate language in such a formal setting, but I don’t care and continue to bait the asshole on the other side of the table.
“She apparently does now too,” he spits back at my expense.
“You think so?” I lower my eyes. “I got rid of her once, never wanting to see her again, and yet, here we are. Did she tell you how she got all alpha female with my girlfriend at the pool a few weeks ago? Too bad for her, Piper is beautiful and a bit of a smart ass, so it didn’t go so well for Sophia.”
“Fuck you. You’ve always thought you were better than everyone in this town.”
“Alright, enough!” Steve demands in a clipped tone, slamming his palm on the top of the table.
His dramatic display does nothing to faze me as I continue. “I am, since you’re marrying my high school girlfriend—who was grossly obsessed with me and is now trying to help you take away my family’s business. Just like when we were teenagers—get off my balls, dude.”
Our lawyer has had enough of our remarks and rises from the table. “Look, there are some strong emotions and past baggage between your two families. It happens often. Now, if you two gentlemen don’t mind, I would like to get down to the reason why we’re conducting this meeting today. Is that alright with you?”
“Let’s get started then,” I say, refusing to make eye contact with them.
Preston nods, aggressively clicking the blue pen in his hand.
“Wonderful.” Tom sighs, then sits back down, visibly annoyed.
“Let’s cut to the chase, shall we? Bradley Wines is a large part of this community, and to be honest, Jack is a flight risk,” Steve says.
I tightly ball my fists in my lap, and I have to remind myself that this is a professional setting, and I am in the presence of my mother, so I need to reign in my boiling anger. “What the hell does that even mean?”
“You left for college to pursue your own dreams, which I commend you on, but to the rest of us in this community, wine is our life and our passion,” Steve starts like he’s preparing some groundbreaking speech. Fucking joke.
Preston adds his half-baked two cents before I have the chance to speak. “I have been running one of the largest wineries in the area. I have had my hands in every aspect of this industry and know what it takes to make it run efficiently and effectively. I am involved in our community and currently sit on many local boards. I have what it takes to keep that business alive—not you.”
I start clapping. “Wonderful job. I am proud of you. Do you know that?”
“Fuck you, Jack.”
My mother stays quiet, and I’m not sure what she’s thinking. I can’t imagine this is easy for her. She’s tired, worn out, and wants to retire early. Without my father, I know she doesn’t have the energy or drive to devote to it. She’s still severely grieving. I push my own grievances aside and rest my hand on her shoulder, sensing her sadness.
“Preston is also marrying Sophia Dennings, who has deep family ties in this community. They will provide security for the business and our local economy. Not to mention that she’s also worked in this industry for years and has many connections with vendors,” Steve adds like it’s going to make a difference to me.
“I could give a flying fuck about any of that, Steve.” My eyes narrow. “And how would you even know if I’m qualified for this or not? You have no idea how capable I am or how I’ve made a name for myself in Phoenix within the restaurant industry and hospitality.”
“But not in Dupara, Jack, and right now, that’s all that matters.” Steve shifts in his seat and softens his beady eyes like he’s trying to throw me a bone.
“Again, I don’t give a fuck. It’s no secret that I didn’t always get along with my father, but I am still his son who shares his tenacity, fuck-you attitude, and the gift of being an absolute prick,” I grit out before shooting them a condescending smile.
“Here’s the thing, you have been away for nearly ten years. You have no idea how to run this business. Since we all have a vested stake in the success of Bradley Wines, I think it would be best if you let Preston and I take over,” Steve states, pouring himself a glass of water from the large carafe in the middle of the table.
“I still can’t believe you’re doing this. You were Cliff’s best friend.” My mother’s voice is shaky as she holds back tears. She takes a softer approach than I expected, but my dad’s best friend or not, I’ve never been fond of Steve. He’s always been a wormy guy who’s too focused on money and never saw eye to eye with my dad’s creative vision.
“Like I’ve told you before, it’s not personal. It’s just business—” Steve tries to defend himself, but the whole situation is still shady as fuck.
“Look, the reality is that we still own seventy percent of Bradley Wines, so despite your unneeded concerns, your opinion does not matter,” I interject, leaning back in my chair and resting my elbow on the armrest. “We will continue to make decisions on behalf of our business.”
Steve glances at his lawyer to his left, and then all three sets of eyes refocus on my mother and me. “That’s one of the things we’d like to discuss with you today. Preston and I are offering you a buyout.”
My mother’s face turns white. “A buyout?”
Steve clasps his hands together in front of the table. “Yes, that is correct, Heidi. We have drawn up the paperwork for what we’re willing to offer you.”
I pull my chair closer to the table. My mind flooded with everything that a buyout would mean. I get flashes of me as a kid. My dad chasing me through the vineyards. The first time I ever crushed the grapes with my bare feet— “Wait, what?” I blurt out, interrupting my thoughts.
Steve’s lawyer opens a black leather folder and removes a folded white paper. He glances at Steve again before sliding it across the table. Tom reaches out first and opens it. Straight-faced, he gives it to me. I snatch it from his hands, then open it in front of my mother.
Anger slashes at my back when I see the shameful and downright disrespectful offer. I raise my chin and flare my nostrils. “What a joke.”
“This can’t be a legitimate offer,” my mom adds.
The three of them stand to leave. “We are willing to negotiate. When you’re ready, get in touch with my lawyer and we’ll see what you’ve come up with.”
My mother, Tom, and I stay seated, neither responding as they walk out the door.
Pursing my lips together, I shake my head. “I need some time to process this. Let’s talk again next week.”
My mom nods in agreement, and the three of us leave the room.
“I didn’t know that Sophia was awful to Piper that day at the pool. I’m so sorry,” my mother offers, stepping into the hallway.
“Don’t worry about it, Mom. It’s not your fault.”
“I didn’t even know she was coming. I hope Piper wasn’t too upset by it.”
I shove my hands into the pockets of my dress slacks, thinking about my feisty wife I have waiting for me back at our villa. “Honestly, it’s alright. She handled it.”
Tom walks out shortly after us. “I say you both think about what they’re proposing, but I’ve known you guys for long enough to know that you won’t be taking his buyout offer.”
My mother glances at me with a simple look, but there’s much more behind it. She waits for me to speak first, and when I don’t, she starts like we’re picking up a conversation that’s already begun. “Look, we’ve talked about this. If you truly have no interest in the winery and can’t see a future here for yourself, then you must make that decision soon.” Her voice strains with anguish. It would be devastating for her to give up that place. She loves it so much and barely knows a life without it.
“I don’t know. I honestly don’t know. Yes, I want to do this—but I’m conflicted still. The entire operation is a lot to take on.”
“There are other options that we can flush out. Maybe neither of you run it and instead hire a chief executive officer to handle that side of things,” Tom suggests.
“That was my father’s role. He had his hands in everything.”
My mother turns back to me. “Since he left us three months ago, you’ve had a lot of space and time to figure out what you want.”
I pace back and forth in the hallway, which resembles more of a hospital than an attorney’s office. “I’m moving here, aren’t I? I’m leaving the life I built in Arizona, my friends, a marketing job I loved, and I’ve already purchased a home. I don’t know how much more you want me to do?” I shout. “Fuck!” My frustrations are getting the best of me.
Her eyes grow red. “I only want you to be happy. That’s all I have ever wanted. I know this wasn’t your dream, but your dad and I always hoped you would see its beauty.”
“I know that.” I blow out a heavy breath, tired of this same conversation. “I’m sorry for getting upset. It’s just a lot of pressure, especially when it feels like this entire town is rooting against me. The only people I have on my side are you, Gemma, our wonderful employees—and Piper.”
When I hear myself say her name grouped with others who are a part of my life, I see how much she’s becoming one too. But that makes this whole situation piss me off even more because Piper lives in Arizona, and now I have another reason to resent having to move away.
I storm out of the building, feeling like the world’s weight on my shoulders. That meeting didn’t go as I thought it would. Steve and Preston came to play ball. I may not be passionate about wine, but I am confident to a fault, and even though a part of me is still unsure, I need to succeed. And no better way to push me to do it than this.
Fuck them both.
Getting into my car, I white knuckle the steering wheel. Adrenaline is burning through my veins. I hate being put into the position of feeling controlled. My childhood felt restrained as my path was built for me before I could even speak. I fled this life, and I’m not afraid to admit it. Now, I feel controlled once again, not only by Steve and Preston but by this community.
I’m in a haze driving along the windy highway past the wineries and vineyards. The only thing I accomplished at the meeting was proving that I have a short fuse and am still stubborn.
As I approach the entrance to the villas, my heart escalates, knowing that Piper is there waiting for me. After my morning, she’s the only thing I want to see right now. The past couple of nights of falling asleep with her snuggled up to me have been peaceful and yet so simple but intimate at the same time. It was a little awkward after what we did the other night, but I’m craving more, and I believe she is, too, especially after I woke up this morning with her tangled around me again.