Aware that he was still standing, Samuel resumed his seat, a symbolic acceptance of his presence and admission of guilt. Their father followed suit, pulling out his wide wing-backed leather chair and settling himself into it.
Parker Kane cleared his throat. Something. Important. Would. Now. Be. Said.
“My whole life, I’ve worked to make the Kane name synonymous with quality and integrity. And when something threatens the legacy I’ve attempted to build, I deal with it expediently, regardless of the source. Samuel has refused my offer to mitigate the damage he has caused while retaining his position, and for that reason, I feel that it is best that Samuel step down as CEO.”
Mason leaned forward in his chair, his head cocked at a curious angle. “And what would Samuel receive in exchange for his willing exit?”
Pleasure at Mason’s interest in his plans was heaped on their father’s face like caviar on a toast point. “Miss Banks will receive our full recommendation and support in any future endeavor.”
“Huh.” Mason nodded slowly. “Yeah, that’s a no for me.”
“You don’t think we should offer Miss Banks a recommendation?” their father asked, silvery eyebrows raised.
Acid ate at Samuel’s stomach. We. As always, that we included Mason and his father alone.
“No,” Mason said. “I don’t think Samuel should step down as CEO.”
Samuel couldn’t tell who was more surprised, himself or their father.
“I beg your pardon?” Parker said.
“I don’t think Samuel should step down as CEO.” Mason set his coffee cup down on their father’s desk with a decisive thump.
“Perhaps you would be kind enough to share your reasoning behind this.”
In that moment, Samuel felt himself hoping the reasons would be purely selfish in nature. Transition in CEOs could send a red flag up to potential investors. It would be better to force Samuel to stay on during the resulting fallout for his own humiliation.
“Because Samuel is the reason Kane Foods has sustained a 10% revenue growth rate year over year since he was appointed CEO and deep down, you know dismissing him would be cataclysmically stupid.”
Had Mason walked into the room, hauled back, and clocked him in the jaw, Samuel would have accepted this as his due. He’d rolled the dice and lost. Fair was fair.
But this?
This left him more stunned than any knockout punch ever could.
His twin going to bat for him in front of the father whose favor he clearly owned? After Samuel had done his level best to sabotage him?
“Your brother hired a woman for the express purpose of attempting to lure you into an affair that would result in your dismissal. You don’t think that’s grounds for his resignation?”
“First of all,” Mason said, “she’s not just a woman. She’s Arlie Banks, and she’s a wonderfully talented food stylist. I would have hired her in a hot minute, with or without my brother’s scheming.”
An exceedingly unwelcome flush of heat erupted beneath Samuel’s collar when Mason pinned him with a pointed look.
“Second, I’ve personally broken that rule on at least six very memorable occasions. The only difference is that Samuel is too pathetically honest not to get caught.”
“Romances within the workplace compromise productivity. They can lead to potential legal consequences—” their father sputtered.
“Did you or did you not meet our mother working at the soda fountain at the Sunset Drive-in in Conshohocken?” Mason asked.
“Mom never told me that!” Samuel objected.
“She knew it would offend your orderly soul,” Mason replied.
“That was the circumstance of our original acquaintance,” Parker admitted.
Though he couldn’t be certain, Samuel would have sworn he saw a subtle sheen coating their father’s eyes.
“Look,” Mason said. “Every one of us in this room knows that you have the resources to shape this narrative however you want. My personal recommendation is to come down on PhillyGossip like a ton of bricks. And when you find the source of this article, make them pay, and pay again. Make them rue the day they ever typed the name Kane.”
Samuel felt a slick of pleasure at the idea. At Taegan subject to the same scrutiny she’d brought to Arlie.
Their father stood, wandering back to his spot at the window.
“And if I should decide Samuel’s resignation remains the best course of action?”
“Then you’ll have mine to go with it,” Mason said. “Marlowe’s too, if you’re curious.”
Samuel glanced at his twin, not fully sure what he expected to see, his mind buzzing with the one question.
Why would you do this for me after what I tried to do to you?
Mason grinned. The one answer he could and would always give clear in his eyes.
Because I can.
On an exhale that could have moved a mountain range, their father faced them. “I suppose, in this particular instance, maintaining our current structure might be the wisest course of action.”
“That current structure will include Arlie Banks,” Samuel said. “Whether or not she’ll have me after all that’s happened.”