Etching Our Way (Broken Tracks 1)

I’m still in a state of shock as I make my way into the city. My body is going through the motions but my mind’s not really here, it’s in the past; memories invading it at an unwanted pace, but there isn’t a thing that I can do to stop them.

I know that Mom knew something was up when I told her and Amelia that I had to leave all of a sudden, but when I said I had to go into the office, Mom’s face completely cleared of any trepidation she showed.

Her eyes shined with knowledge, and if I was to guess, I’d say that she knew Harmony was at that studio too. Amelia said that if I wasn’t back in time that she would take the kids home and get them ready for bed. Truth be told, I didn’t know how long I was going to be in the city. From what Catiya said, I could be here a while.

My mind spins, not believing that I’ve been this close to Harmony for the last six weeks and I didn’t even know. She’s been spending time with Clay and Izzie, no doubt getting to know them and teaching them all that she can with me being none the wiser. Did she know who they were? You can’t not see me when you look into Clay’s eyes, she had to have known.

She was always so passionate about art; I used to wish I was that passionate about something, to pour my heart and soul into things the way that she did. I never found what my true passion was, at least, not until I left her under that willow tree without an explanation.

That’s when I realized that she was my passion; my everything, and I left her, breaking not only her heart but my own in the process.

It was for her own good, I tell myself, but in reality, I know now that I shouldn’t have done it.

I was protecting her from my father—from his threats—but I shouldn’t have walked away the way that I did. I should have been the man that I am now and stayed by her side through everything. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, unless it’s telling you that you made a mistake.

No, it wasn’t a mistake because I wouldn’t have Clay and Izzie if I hadn’t have walked away; but if I had have walked away then Natalia would still be alive. It’s all my fault, every single thing that’s happened in the last decade; it’s all on me.

The roads are near empty—much to my surprise—so I make it into the city in record time, double parking out in front of my office building and not caring if it means I get a parking ticket.

I open the car door and slide out, straightening my leather jacket and making my way across the sidewalk and inside.

Catiya waits by the entrance, a nervous look on her face and her body taut. She opens her mouth to say something but I cut her off.

“Why are you here on a Saturday?” I ask, shaking my head at her. She’s always at the office, no matter how many times I tell her that she shouldn’t be working on a weekend, she still comes in to make sure she’s ahead for the next week. Not that I really care, it’s not like she gets paid any extra for being here, only I’m thankful now that she is because otherwise I wouldn’t have known about this meeting otherwise.

“I was preparing for next week,” she whispers, walking by my side toward the elevator.

I jab the button with my pointer finger, clenching my jaw and gritting my teeth as I think about what is no doubt happening up there in my boardroom. I’ll rip the board to pieces, digging up any and all the dirt that I can to end them for trying to go against me.

After several tense seconds, the door slides open and we both step inside, neither of us saying a word as it climbs to the top floor. The doors slide open again with a whoosh, revealing an empty floor. You’d think that nobody was up here if it wasn’t for the voices coming from the boardroom. One voice in particular has me taking a calming breath before stepping forward and pushing my shoulders back, heading for the room full of underhanded traitors.

“Sorry I’m late,” I announce once I’ve opened the door. They all turn to face me, varying degrees of shock and confusion on their faces.

They didn’t expect me to turn up, that’s for sure.

I close the door slowly once Catiya has stepped inside, taking measured steps to the head of the table where Pete is standing; he’s been after my position since my father handed the company over to me.

He’s tried to shoot me down with every single thing that I’ve suggested to improve the whole company, not that I’ve taken a single thing he’s said seriously, and I can’t say that I’m surprised by this at all. I knew this was coming, I could see it happening from a mile away.

I take my leather jacket off slowly, placing it down on the table and sitting in my chair, steepling my fingers in front of me on the light wooden table and motioning for him to continue. When he doesn’t, I narrow my eyes at him. “Carry on.”

They’re all silent for several seconds before Pete’s gaze flits from Catiya then down to me, sneering, “You shouldn’t be here.”

“I shouldn’t?” I ask, raising a brow at him and lifting my lips into a smirk. “You see that name there?” I tilt my head to the screen that displays the company logo. “The name that is on the front of this building? That’s mine.” I wave my arm, signaling the room and the whole building. “This? All of this is mine,” I growl.

I stand up, slowly, stretching to my full height of over six feet and looking down at him.

“You want this company that bad, Pete?”

“I… Yes… no… I mean.” He clears his throat. “You’ve been embezzling money, just like your father.”

I stare him down for several seconds before throwing my head back and laughing. “Really?” I look around at all of the men sitting around the table, keeping eye contact with each and every one of them for several seconds, showing them that I’m nothing but honest. “And you have the proof to back up your accusation?” I ask calmly, too calmly. I know he doesn’t have shit.

“Well…” He stammers over his words, pulling at the collar of his shirt. “I don’t—”

Everyone starts talking all at once, chairs being scraped against the floor as they stand up, preparing to leave.

They’ve seen through his whole facade, through all of the lies and I barely said two words.