Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 61248 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61248 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
“Just let it be. What was so damn important in the first place?”
His scowl is instant, as if I’ve reminded him of the problem standing in front of him. “Edward told me you spoke against Grant’s new cybersecurity project. Why are you trying to work against your brother?”
I sigh and sink into one of two leather chairs, this one to his right. “This is what was urgent enough to insult Sofia?”
“So it is Sofia?”
“Yes, Father. It’s Sofia. Not bitch.”
“I told you—”
“Focus on why I’m here. In theory cybersecurity is a hot industry for Dalton to invest in, but the company he’s trying to onboard is a shit show. I suspect they have a second set of books and something funny going on in the background.”
“Can you clean it up?”
Now I’m the one scowling. “Why would we want to clean it up? Why not start our own cybersecurity division? Or buy a company that offers a better outlook?”
“Your brother has already done the legwork on this one.”
“Do you know how many companies I look at and discard before I bring them to you or the board?”
“Yes. Let’s talk about that. You seem to be distracted as of late. I hear you opened your own investment company.”
Here we go, I think. “It’s small.”
“It’s a conflict of interest. You need to get rid of it or fold it into the main company.”
“We both know I’m not doing that.”
“You can’t own stock in both.”
“I could. I can. I’m not investing in competing businesses, but I’m also concerned about Grant’s decision making, and frankly, Father, your own. You’re blind when it comes to his problematic behavior.”
“You’re blinded to his assets because he took your woman.”
I don’t react, not outwardly. I’m beyond that with him, well beaten down after years of his niggling. How can I not be? He literally told me to take the Anna thing on the chin, for the good of the family. In the end, it wasn’t Anna’s actions that bothered me. It was the lack of loyalty from my family that she exposed. The issue here is that I don’t belong in the family’s inner fold any longer, and I haven’t for a while but that doesn’t mean I don’t love my father. And there’s no denying a part of me fears my brother will be the death of him. Maybe not literally, but professionally, yes. The board expects him to be the CEO of Dalton Enterprises before all else. The first time I don’t stand between him and a bad decision driven by Grant, my father’s throne will falter.
But I’m also exhausted to the bone by this cycle with the two of them, that’s at least a dozen deep.
“Why can’t you just help your brother?” my father demands.
“Maybe you’re right. Maybe I can’t do two things at once. Maybe I need to step away.”
“That’s what I want to hear. Shed the distractions. Get on board and help your brother. We can appoint someone else for the European division. You can spend time here and work with Grant.”
“I’m not talking about staying with the company. I’m talking about leaving Dalton Enterprises, at least my board seat and my day-to-day duties. I’ll keep a percentage of my stock to protect the family majority and shed the rest. If you’re smart, you won’t ship Grant off to Europe. Keep him close, and under thumb.”
My father stares at me, his expression masterfully unreadable. “This is about Dalton Vault, isn’t it?”
“I’m highly motivated to diversify and make my own private investment group excel.”
“This is the wrong decision, and you need to step back and rethink it.”
I push to my feet and tap the edge of his desk. “You need to rethink that cybersecurity company.” With that, I turn and exit the office, ready to be back at the hotel, lost in all things Sofia.
Chapter Two
Ethan
Iescape the hellish meeting with my father to end up locked down in a traffic jam, and, eager to get back to Sofia, I decide enough is enough, and exit the car, hiking it back to the hotel in five minutes I’m certain would have taken me an hour. I’m not sure what the gift shop has besides a coffee bar, but I want to take something upstairs to Sofia. I step inside when Anna appears by my side.
“Ethan.”
“What the hell?”
I turn to face her only to find she, too, has cleavage for miles, and it irritates the fuck out of me. If Sofia sees her with me, dressed like that, on top of my father’s rudeness, I’m going to be kicked to the curb. “What are you doing here? Are you following me?”
“I asked Tabitha to tell me when you left Dalton.”
I knew there was a reason I didn’t like that woman. “What are you up to now, Anna?”
“There’s trouble. Grant is in trouble.”