I didn’t want to be compared to my father, but for now, I’d take it if it would give them confidence in me. “I hope you see that I want what’s best for this company as well as you and my father does. I know what I’m doing, and I intend to do it.”
“That sounds like an ultimatum,” one of my father’s allies said.
“It’s a promise, Rich,” I said, using his first name, again as a rude way to hold my position of power.
He glanced at my father, who looked small on the screen. He’d have hated that. While he looked pale and frail, his green eyes were as sharp as ever. Worried about what undermining or back-handed comment he might make, I forged ahead.
“The Roarke is having a St. Patrick’s Day party. I hope you’ll all attend.” I pulled all my notes and items together, shoved them in my briefcase, and then left the meeting.
I didn’t even bother going to my office. I went straight for the elevator and headed down. My destination; Serena’s place.
It was possible the board, along with my father, would vote to get rid of me. So be it. I was thinking that perhaps I should transfer the New York Club work to my own business entity. Maybe I’d arrange to buy the other clubs too. My father would be happy and I’d be free.
I got into my car and asked Doug to drive me to Serena’s building. When he let me out, I gave him the rest of the night off. If I was lucky, I’d be staying with Serena tonight. Or maybe I could invite her back to my new place, which I hadn’t spent much time since my father’s fall.
I poked the buzzer to her apartment and waited. When she didn’t buzz me in, I rang again. The third time, I buzzed her parents’ apartment.
“Yeah?” her father’s gruff voice sounded through the intercom.
“Mr. Moore. It’s Devin Roarke. I’m looking for Serena and Andrew.”
“Come on up.” The door buzzed and I walked in. I guess they were at her parents’ place. I hated to bug them, but I did owe her an apology for missing lunch.
When I got to her apartment, I knocked.
“Devin, come in,” Mr. Moore said as he swung open the door. “Glad you’re here.”
I stepped in; the place was quiet. “Is Serena or Andrew here?”
“They’re at the park with my wife. They’ll be back any minute. Want a whiskey?”
After a day like today, I wanted several. “Maybe a small one.”
“Sorry to hear about your father. Is he okay?” Mr. Moore went to his liquor cabinet and poured two small glasses of whiskey.
“He looks frail but his mind and tongue are sharp as ever.”
Mr. Moore laughed. “Sounds like you’ve been cut a few times.”
I shrugged. “I think my father forgets I’m grown up.”
“With a son of your own even,” he said handing me the glass.
Huh?
“I have to say, I was worried how you’d take it or what you’d do. It does my heart good to see you here, Devin.”
“Ah…yes sir.”
“Andrew thinks the world of you. When do you and Serena intend to tell him?”
I sipped the whiskey trying to figure out what he was talking about. Tell Andrew what? “Ah…I don’t know. To be ho
nest sir, I’m not sure what—”
“You know, I saw it from the beginning. The boy looks like you.” His eyes narrowed at me. “I don’t like the idea that you took advantage of my daughter all those years ago, but Andrew is the heart and soul of this family, so I guess it’s a good thing you did. I just hope that you weren’t as careless with other women over the years.”
I stared at Mr. Moore completely confused. He was speaking English and if I wasn’t mistaken, he was talking to me as if I was Andrew’s father. But that couldn’t be right. First, Serena would have told me. Second, the boy was four, and I’d been with Serena nearly five years ago to the day. Shit. Pregnancy. I’d forgotten about the nine months. Was it possible?