Chapter Two
Flynn
“Trouble? What kind of trouble?”
I was about to respond to Cedar when my phone buzzed with another call. I glanced at the caller ID, my gut tightening at the sight of my secretary’s number. “Nelly,” I said curtly.
“Good evening, sir. I’m sorry to call you on a Sunday, but your mother insisted I report to you,” Nelly said, her voice low and urgent.
“Go on.”
“I have some bad news. Your uncle, Director Will, just made a significant move. He’s been secretly meeting with key shareholders, trying to sway them to his side.”
My jaw clenched, anger simmering beneath the surface. This was the last thing I needed, especially today. My mother had called first, but she didn’t go into detail—she said Nelly would fill me in.
“What exactly did he do?” I asked, keeping my tone even.
“He’s proposing a new leadership structure, suggesting that you’re not ready to take over as CEO. He’s pushing for an emergency board meeting to discuss the future of J-Kings Holdings.”
I gritted my teeth, my mind racing. It was a power play, pure and simple—but to have my uncle at the center of it was shocking. He’d always been loving and supportive until my father passed away. It had been barely a year since the funeral, and he was already baring his fangs.
“Get me everything you can on this,” I instructed Nelly. “I want to know who’s backing him and what their motives are.”
“Already on it, boss,” she replied.
The line went dead, and I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. Cedar’s concerned voice cut through my thoughts.
“Flynn, what is it?” she asked, her eyes narrowing.
I forced a smile, not wanting to burden her with my family’s drama. “Just work stuff, Cedar. Nothing important.”
But she wasn’t buying it. She stepped closer, her gaze locked on mine.“Flynn, don’t lie to me. I know you too well. What’s going on?”
I hesitated, but her persistence wore me down.“Okay, fine,” I said quietly. “It’s family business. My uncle’s causing trouble.”
Cedar’s eyes widened. “What kind of trouble?”
I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. “He’s trying to undermine my position as CEO, and thinks I’m not ready to take over.”
Cedar’s expression turned thoughtful. “But you’re the obvious choice. Your dad groomed you for this role.”
I nodded. “That’s exactly what my uncle’s counting on—people doubting me because of my family ties.”
“He’s family too,” she reasoned.
“Yeah, but he’s been around much longer than I have.”
“Still… He and your dad were really close, and he’s always treated you well. I thought your uncle was a nice guy?”
“We all thought so too. I guess we were wrong.”
Cedar’s voice was firm. “You’re capable, Flynn. Don’t let him get to you.”
“Thanks, love,” I said, managing a wry smile.
For a moment, we stood in silence, the tension between us easing.“You should get some rest,” I said finally, glancing at her house. “Your parents are still up.”
Cedar nodded, concerned still clouding her features. “You too, Flynn.”
I watched her walk to her door and waited until she was safely inside before I turned away. My mind spun with the news I’d just received. The night air felt heavier, the shadows deeper, as I walked toward my car.
I’d parked a short distance away because of all the visitors. As I made my way there, I tried to make sense of the situation. Nelly wouldn’t have called without reason , but I still found it hard to believe my uncle would go this far.
Once I slid into the driver’s seat, I dialed my uncle’s number.He picked up on the first ring, as though he’d been expecting me.
“Uncle Will, good—”
“Cut to the chase, Flynn. Why did you call?” he interjected, ignoring my attempt at pleasantries.
“I just heard you’ve called for an emergency board meeting.”
“Yes. I have.”
“Why?” I asked, caught off guard by his bluntness.
“I believe your secretary gave you the agenda. So why waste my time asking questions you already know the answers to?”
“I don’t understand. Why are you doing this?” I asked, failing to hide my hurt.
“Because I can. If that’s all, I have an important meeting to return to.”
Before I could respond, the line went dead. I stared at my phone in disbelief for a few minutes until a text from my mother lit up the screen.
“Where are you?”
I texted back: “I’ll be home soon.”
***
The Jefferson House was a sprawling oasis nestled among lush tropical gardens and towering palm trees. A high wall enclosed the estate, and a sleek black iron gate swung open to reveal a majestic driveway.
The soothing rush of water accompanied my approach, trickling from a lion statue in the center of the property.
The first house on the property had been built by my great-grandfather. He’d wanted a family retreat for holidays like Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving, as well as special events like weddings. While my grandfather was alive, he made sure the family came home often.
Over the years, each first son renovated the building, creating a more modern Hawaiian style while keeping it harmonious with the environment.
They also expanded it and built another structure on the property. Uncle Will and his family always preferred staying in the back building when they visited.
The main house had exterior walls clad in rich, dark wood, and the roof was covered in lush greenery, offering both insulation and natural beauty. Floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding doors let sunlight flood the interior.
Pulling into the driveway, I heard gravel crunch beneath my tires. I parked in front of the three-car garage, beside my mother’s sleek silver Mercedes.
As I stepped into the house, my mother, Khalan Jefferson, stood at the kitchen island, watching me come in.
“Flynn, darling,” she said, her voice warm but concerned. “I’ve been waiting for you. How was Cedar?”
I kissed her cheek, inhaling the familiar scent of her perfume. “She’s holding up, Mom. But I have more pressing concerns.”
Her expression grew serious. “Your uncle’s move, I presume?”
I nodded, taking a seat at the island. “Nelly filled me in. What’s going on, Mom? Why is Uncle Will doing this?”
Her eyes narrowed, and her tone carried a hint of disdain. “Will’s always had ambitions, Flynn. I warned your father, but he never believed your uncle could harm us.
Now that my husband is gone,” she continued, her voice trembling slightly, “Will has taken off his mask. I can’t say I’m surprised—I just never thought he’d turn so quickly.”
I leaned back, trying to process the situation. J-Kings Holdings, our family’s business, was an industry giant. Founded by my great-grandfather, it has grown into a multinational conglomerate with interests in renewable energy, advanced technology, healthcare, and finance.
Our headquarters in Kailua oversaw operations throughout the United States. We had research facilities in Silicon Valley, manufacturing plants in Texas, financial institutions in New York, and stores scattered across the U.S. and parts of Europe.
J-Kings Holdings was revered as a leader in innovation, offering cutting-edge products and services.
Our renewable energy division developed sustainable power solutions, our tech department created advanced software and hardware, and our healthcare division led crucial medical research. With over 50,000 employees, J-Kings was a global powerhouse.
Aside from my father, who had the largest share, Uncle Will owned the second-largest stake and was deeply involved in daily operations. My mother, sister, uncles, and aunts held minor shares and rarely engaged unless they noticed a decline in their monthly income.
Dad always said Uncle Will was a shrewd businessman but not leadership material—impulsive, profit-driven, and lacking transparency. If he took over, we’d lose our grip on the company in mere months or a couple of years.
“Mom, what are our options?” I asked, my mind churning.
Her expression turned resolute. “We need to rally the board members loyal to us. Your father’s shares, combined with yours, your sister’s, mine, and any other loyalists, might outmaneuver Will. But we also need to convince the other shareholders that you’re the right person to lead.”
“Hmm. And, according to Dad’s will, I don’t get his shares until I have a woman in my life. Why didn’t you convince him that was a bad idea?”
“Looking back, I see your point. But it’s done. And for what it’s worth, your father wasn’t necessarily unwise. You need to settle down, son—first for yourself, and now because the company depends on it.”
“But—”
“No buts with me. I didn’t put you in that position. If you want to argue, feel free to call the lawyer and have him read you the will again.”
Mom was right. There was no use fighting her on it. I just nodded. “I’ll do whatever it takes, Mom.”
Her eyes gleamed with pride. “That’s the spirit, son. We’ll get through this together. Speaking of togetherness, your sister called—she’ll be home in a week or two.”
“She’s finally done with the tour? When we spoke last night, she wasn’t sure when she’d wrap up.” Heather was an A-list model—the face of everything from magazines to billboards and commercials. If you needed a brand boosted, her smile could do it in record time.
“Plans changed. She just has to tidy up a few things, and then she’ll be here.”
“Great.”
I’d missed her immensely. Heather and I weren’t related by blood, but we were as close as siblings could be—and we even looked alike. After my parents tried for years to have a second child, they adopted Heather when I was fifteen and she was eight.
“Dinner’s ready,” my mother said gently. She loved cooking and never allowed hired help in her kitchen. That was her domain, and I’d inherited her passion.
“Thanks, Mom. How are you holding up?” I asked, knowing she’d realize I was referring to Dad.
She sighed, her gaze drifting to my father’s favorite spot in the kitchen. “I miss him.”
I didn’t ask anything more. I let my fork twirl idly in the spaghetti as my mother’s words echoed in my mind.
I needed a wife.