Stealing Her (Covet 1)

He stared me down. “Anything else I should know about your actions while claiming to be me?”

“Benefits.” I shrugged. “Lots and lots of benefits for old IFC employees, parental leave, gym memberships.” The more I talked, the more he seemed to listen, until we were finally at the building.

“Shit, Bridge, could you have at least tried to suck a little bit at my job?”

I winced. “Sorry.”

And for the first time since waking up, a ghost of a smile spread across his face. “Don’t be. This company is my life. You did well.”

I didn’t realize how much I needed him to say that until that moment.

“And you’ve done well, Jules. I stepped in for a few weeks, but you’ve been running this place for years. I know he never said he was proud, but that’s because he’s a selfish jackass. You’ve done incredible. This”—I pointed to the skyscraper—“is all you.”

He put his hand on my shoulder and then pulled it away.

It was all I was going to get.

And I was okay with that.

“Let’s get this over with,” he said under his breath.

The car door opened.

We both got out.

And all hell broke loose.

So many cameras I was blinded. We walked tall, right next to each other. We entered that building as equals. We got on that elevator with a charged sense of purpose.

An eerie silence followed us as we walked down the familiar hall to the boardroom. People stared almost in reverence as we moved in sync.

I opened the door for Julian and followed.

It shut quietly behind us.

No board member stood.

Our father, however, did. “Boys, good to see you. Have a seat.”

“Actually”—I grinned—“it’s feeling a little crowded in here.”

Board members exchanged glances while I nodded to Julian, who chose that moment to stare down the man he once would have done everything for.

And lost everything because of it.

“I make a motion to remove Edward Tennyson as corporate president of Tennyson Financial.”

“I second.” I stood by him.

Dad slammed his hand onto the table. “How dare you think you can walk in here and—”

“Third,” Harry interrupted.

“Fourth.”

“Fifth.”

More voices chimed in. Every man pledged their allegiance to us in front of our father. The men representing the company he’d built.

The company that was ousting him.

He finally got what he deserved.

“All in favor?” Harry asked.

It happened fast.

So fast that my head spun.

Our dad looked at us like we had betrayed him.

And I wondered if he finally understood what it felt like to have your own flesh and blood reject you, the way he had rejected us and our mom.

I pressed the com button. “Can we get security in here to escort Edward Tennyson from the premises? Thank you.”

“This is my company!” Edward roared.

“We’re not saying it isn’t your company, Dad.” Julian spat the word Dad. “We’re just taking the reins. After all, isn’t that what you wanted? Both of your sons making their way in the world? I hear Florida’s wonderful this time of year.”

“It really is,” Harry piped up.

Security walked into the boardroom.

A look of absolute fury twisted our father’s features, but he didn’t put up a fight as they took him out of the room.

Leaving me and Julian with the board.

I cleared my throat and hoped Julian wouldn’t be pissed. “I have a proposition for you.”

Julian frowned at me.

“The CEO position is Julian’s, not mine. But I hope I’ve proven myself enough to ask that you consider hiring me to take over as CFO.”

Julian stared at me like I’d just lost my mind.

“It’s yours, Jules, it’s always been yours.” And I’d taken enough. I left that part out.

He nodded and a look of surprise crossed his face as talking ensued around us, everyone agreeing it was a fantastic idea.

Both Tennysons running the company.

Both Tennyson boys reunited.

And what’s more, both Tennyson boys finally side by side, the way we were always supposed to be.

By the time the board voted to legally transfer the CEO position to Julian and papers were signed to that effect, I needed a stiff drink and wanted to go home. Then again, I really had no home, so there was that.

Julian told me to meet him in his office.

The door was slightly ajar, so I knocked and let myself in.

He was standing there with Izzy.

I hated the vision.

I also hated the guilt.

And the need to punch him in the face or throw him out the window. What the hell was wrong with me?

“Iz brought you lunch,” he said, slightly amused. “Weird, since she never brought me lunch, and even then it probably would have been poisoned, especially those last few months.”

“Did you guys talk?” I crossed my arms.

Izzy nodded. “Yeah, we did.” And then she rolled her eyes. “Stop staring at him like that. You look ready to throw him against the wall.”

I just shrugged.

Earning a smirk from Julian.

“And I never brought you lunch because you didn’t like me coming to the offices, no mixing business and pleasure.”