27. Hunter
Hunter
I prowl around the office with my hands stuffed in my pockets. It’s just me and Mace so far this morning, and my brother isn’t the greatest conversationalist. He speaks only when I ask him for an update on the people he’s tracking. One of those is Maddie.
She’s spending the day at the mill. We’ve had multiple trips there since Hugo died, introducing myself and my brothers as the new owners, and overseeing the improvement plans.
This is Maddie’s first solo trip anywhere since her ill-fated visit to the library.
I had wanted to go with her, but Ash is traveling back after an overnight stay in Chicago with Reid, and he wants a meeting.
He’s been speaking to our lawyers, and I have a sinking feeling I know what’s going to be top of the agenda.
“ETA is thirty seconds,” Mace announces helpfully. He’s tracking the SUV Jake used to pick up my brothers from the airfield.
I’m wishing I could hit pause on my life for just a few more weeks when Ash sweeps into the room.
“Is Maddie still at the paper mill?” he asks .
“Yeah, still there,” Mace confirms. He doesn’t need to check since I only asked him five minutes ago. And she’s planning on staying there the whole day.
I feel my neck cording. “Good afternoon to you too.”
“Afternoon,” Reid says from behind Ash, but he can’t hold my gaze.
I rest against the nearest windowsill, hands in pockets so my brothers can’t see they’re closed into fists. “Do you want to get this over with?”
“Shall we at least sit down first?” Ash asks, gesturing to the conference table.
“Help yourself.”
I stay where I am as Reid takes a stack of papers from the folder he’s carrying. He places them in the seat he presumes I’m going to take. I watch as Ash gestures to Mace, indicating that he should join us. My brothers take up their positions. It’s going to be three against one.
“Did you sort out the licensing with the distillery?” I ask.
The licensing issue was the reason Ash had given for his visit to our lawyers.
It’s his pet project so there was no reason for me to go with him.
But when he’d emailed last night to make sure I’d be available today, it didn’t take a genius to work out another of his pet projects was behind the trip.
“We’re almost there,” Ash says. “But I think you know that’s not what we need to discuss.”
My eyes flick to the papers on the table. One set is the shareholders’ agreement for the paper mill. And as for the second – I’ll wait for Ash to explain, and there had better be a good fucking reason why he’s gone behind my back. “If you want to talk, then talk. ”
“I’ve been working on a new proposal to expedite the close down of our operations here.”
“And you thought that was necessary because?” I keep my expression fixed. Ash already thinks I’m too emotionally involved in our latest venture. I need to stay calm despite my heart thumping hard enough to make my chest ache.
“Because you’ve spent the last three weeks avoiding it,” he hits back.
“I’ve been turning the mill’s fortunes around as planned. All part of our exit strategy, Ash,” I remind him.
Except it’s not just the mill I’m supposed to be preparing for our departure.
My older brother has been asking daily if I’ve instructed our lawyers to begin divorce proceedings, but I haven’t even raised the subject with Maddie yet.
We both know it’s on the cards, and I close my eyes every night vowing to break the spell my wife has me under.
But when I wake each morning with Maddie in my arms, I can’t help but steal one more day.
“What I’m proposing will be for everyone’s benefit, including Maddie’s,” Ash continues.
He tips his head to the shareholders’ agreement.
“If she agrees to our terms, I’ve drawn up papers for her to buy back her half of the paper mill, and it would be at the same price she sold it for.
That way she’s guaranteed a place on the board for as long as she wants. ”
I try to loosen my jaw, but it’s ticking like a damn time bomb. “Maddie already has a place on the board. I put her there. And she has my word that she stays there no matter what happens.”
“You and I both know that a promise isn’t watertight,” Ash says. “We could stage another takeover with one of our other companies, and the current agreement with Maddie would lapse. ”
“No, it wouldn’t,” I argue. “The promise is fucking watertight because I made it to her. I don’t want Maddie’s money. We don’t need it. She does.”
Reid has his head down so low that his forehead almost hits the table. Meanwhile, Mace has his usual poker face, and it’s impossible to tell if he knew what Ash was up to.
“It’s a good offer, Hunter,” Ash says. He tips his head towards the second set of papers. “All Maddie has to do is sign the divorce papers.”
I can feel my fingernails digging into my palms. “Explain that to me, please.”
Ash meets my glare. “What is there to explain? Maddie walks away with full control of a company that’s already benefiting from our investment program.
The mill’s future is secured and she gets to live her life however she chooses,” he says.
He leans forward to push the second bundle of papers closer to me.
“Not bad for less than two months’ work. ”
I pull my hands from my pockets and stride over to the table. Two names are clearly visible on the divorce papers, complete with tabs to indicate where Maddie and I should sign. I snatch up the top sheet, scrunching the paper in my fist.
“You misunderstand me, brother,” I grit out. “What I want to know is why you took it upon yourself to speak to our lawyers about my fucking marriage. This has nothing to do with you!”
Ash jumps to his feet and splays his hands across the table as he leans forward.
“It has everything to do with me. And Mason. And Reid. It was a business arrangement, Hunter. And last time I looked, it’s a joint business,” he says, spitting the words out.
“And it’s time to cross the fucking finishing line. ”
With the paper scrunched in my fist, I mirror my brother’s pose so we’re leaning over the table, face to face.
“I say when it’s fucking finished, not you,” I hiss.
“I won’t bribe Maddie, and I won’t threaten her with a second takeover.
She keeps her position on the board. The clause in the prenup stands. ”
“Then all we need to do is initiate the prenup by getting Maddie to sign the divorce papers,” Ash replies smoothly.
“But perhaps you should leave it to your ex-wife to decide if she wants to buy back her shares in the mill.” My brother pauses to absorb what he’s just noticed me do.
I’d flinched at his use of the term, ex-wife.
“You need to get the hell away from her before you completely lose your shit, Hunter. Sign the damn papers and leave the rest to me.”
“I’ll sign when I’m good and ready.”
“The fuck you will!” Ash roars. “You’ve let things get messy, and you’re in so deep you can’t see straight.”
“I see enough to know you’ve overstepped the fucking mark!” I say, flinging the balled up piece of paper across the table. “It’s my mess, Ash. And I’ll deal with it.”
“By ignoring the problem?” Ash asks. “Divorce is the only option, and you know it. You can’t spend the rest of your life stuck in this miserable town, and if you care about Maddie, you won’t bring her into our world either.
What if she wants a family? You can’t expose her to the kind of risks we face. ”
I grind my teeth. There’s nothing Ash says that I don’t agree with. I just don’t want to hear it right now.
“Sit down, Hunter. Please,” Ash says, more gently now that he sees my chest deflate.
“I’m not blind. I know you have feelings for her.
I’ve been in the exact same position, and I know how much it hurts.
And as crazy as Maddie drives me, I do like her.
I understand why you don’t want to let her go.
But the longer this goes on, the more it’s going to hurt both of you. ”
Ash retakes his seat, and waits for me. I want to walk out. I want to grab a car and head straight over to the paper mill. I want to spend every minute with Maddie as if it’s my last. And isn’t that the problem? I slump into a chair.
“Will Maddie sign the papers?” asks Reid.
I shrug. “We haven’t talked about it since her brother died.
We’ve been focusing on finding out what’s happening over at Lancelyn Heights.
That’s why she’s at the paper mill today.
We still need to find out what this John Cooper is up to, and if it involves Barrett.
And to be clear, I’m not leaving Maddie here alone to deal with any fallout if Barrett’s planning on disrupting the business. ”
“I appreciate you want to look after Maddie, and she’ll always have our support,” Ash says.
“But even if we do need to stay a little longer, it doesn’t mean the divorce has to be delayed.
” He gestures to Reid, and our brother slides more papers across the table.
“And to help things along, I have an additional proposal to put to Maddie.”
There’s a tight band across my chest and I can’t breathe. I never have been able to outmaneuver Ash.
“In addition to giving Maddie the opportunity to buy back her shares,” he says.
“We would offer her an additional one percent – but only if she signs the divorce papers this week. She’d become the majority shareholder, and her control over the company would be assured.
What’s more, we’d hand over her family home. ”
“The end of the week?” I repeat with a shake of my head. No fucking way. I’m not ready to give her back yet. “That’s some bonus you’re offering, and I’m sure I don’t need to point out that you can’t make those kinds of gestures without unanimous agreement. All I have to do is say no. ”
“And why would you do that, brother?” Ash asks. Giving me time to consider, he looks to Reid. “Do you agree to the proposed bonus?”
“Absolutely. Maddie deserves it,” Reid says, but without any enthusiasm.
“And you?” Ash asks, turning to Mace.
“Sure. It’ll be good to get back to some peace and quiet.”
“Fuck you, Mace,” I spit out. “She’s had to put up with a lot of your shit too.”
My brother simply shrugs. “What do you want me to say? That I’ll miss her?” he asks, then starts scrolling on his phone. His features are unreadable, but he doesn’t fool me. Damn right he’s going to miss her. Just not as much as me.
Ash rubs a hand across his beard. “What about you, Hunter? Do you want to deny Maddie the opportunity to take full control of her company, and her life?”
“Like you said, it’s her choice,” I say, forcing the words out.
“Then please take my advice,” Ash persists. “Don’t leave any other options on the table for her. You know the kind of life you’d be offering her. Maddie doesn’t. Make the choice for her.”
Mace straightens up. “And you’d better make it soon. She’s on her way back.”
My heart stutters. I’m not ready for this, but on one thing I’m clear. It’s my job to keep Maddie safe. I know what I have to do.