Say You Will (The Alexanders 5)

He’d give Mara the night to cool off and then he’d come back and explain everything. Once she understood, not only about his background but also about his need to succeed on his own, she would understand. It would be an incredible weight off his shoulders for her to know the truth. Then he could finally start taking care of her the way he’d wanted to for years.

He hadn’t even had the chance to unpack, he thought bitterly.

He pulled out his cell phone and dialed his brother’s number. James answered on the first ring.

“Miss me yet, brother?”

The smug attitude in his voice just grated on Trent’s already shredded nerves. “I’m waiting for you to come to your senses and get back here. You have a family to think about.”

“Dad can kiss my ass,” James drawled.

“Not him. Your family. Avery and your son. Travis needs you. He deserves to have a father around.”

“From what I hear, you’re taking care of that for me, too.”

“I can’t be there all the time. I have my own life. Or did that not occur to you? That my own fiancée might not appreciate me leaving her behind so much to clean up your messes.”

It was ridiculous that he’d actually thought that appealing to his brother’s sense of morality would work. He’d hoped that if James knew that helping him out was ruining Trent's life, then he'd come back. Unfortunately it seemed his older brother was tired of even attempting to play nice.

“Let's face it bro, this is your role, not mine. I was never cut out to be the heir. If fate had any sense of justice at all, you'd have been born first.” There was a bunch of noise in the background and James yelled something that Trent couldn’t make out.

“Where are you?”

“South Beach. If you get tired of dancing to our father’s tune, you should join me. Until then, I’ll be having fun for once.”

“Don’t hang up on me. James!” Trent cursed as the line went dead. He put his phone in his pocket to stop the urge to throw it across the room. Or to call Mara, which was what he really wanted to do. It sucked to be here in this damn hotel room when she was only a few miles away, her naked tempting body covered in suds. The only thing keeping them apart was one little conversation. Once she understood why he’d kept his family a secret, she’d understand. She’d forgive him. Then things could go back to the way they’d always been. Perfect.

His phone buzzed in his pocket. When he drew it out and saw the name on the display, his fingers tightened around the case. His father’s voice was the last thing Trent felt like hearing right now.

“This really isn’t a good time,” he said in lieu of a greeting. His cold reception didn’t seem to register with his father at all.

“It’s time for you to come home."

“We’ve had this discussion. I’m helping out while James is gone but that’s it. I’m going to talk to James again. Try to get him to see reason.”

“Your brother is an idiot. We don’t have time for this now. The board is circling and there are rumors that they’re trying to oust me.”

It shouldn’t have hurt. But the sudden realization of why his father was so determined to get him home cut him to the core. His father wasn’t trying to get him to come back out of sentimentality or a desire to bring their family together. He was trying to keep a figurehead in place that he could control. He was trying to keep a Townsend at the head of Townsend Industries. He was afraid.

“I’ll keep acting as interim CEO until either James comes back or your doctors say you’re okay to work again. But that’s it.”

“It’s time for you to stop messing around. Just bring the girl with you if that’s what the problem is.”

His father’s casual mention of Mara made his skin crawl. He didn’t want Mara anywhere near the moral cesspool of Townsend Industries.

"You've been spying on me again, I see."

There was no response.

“I can't come home yet. I need more time.” He hung up and lay back on the comforter.

But Trent had a feeling his time had run out.

* * * * *

MARA SLAMMED THE drawer of her desk. After a sleepless night, she'd awoken to find that Trent had sent her a text message that he would be back today so they could talk. No phone call, no voicemail. Nothing personal at all. Just a text as if she was an afterthought.

He couldn't even put in the effort to fight with her properly?