“It’s just,” Robert continued. “Well, Harmony wants me to move to Florida and work for her dad. He’s making me the president of Preston Technology Service Corporation. So it won’t be as demanding as CEO. And it’s something I think I could be good at. I’m a good businessman but I can’t handle the world on my shoulders. It’s why I sucked at running Dad’s company. I’ve finally come to realize that. And I never have to work past five pm. I can be there for my family. I can be a good president and a good dad. And also, it’s best if I start fresh somewhere else. I’ve slept with too many...um...it’s just best I start fresh. Harmony doesn’t want to deal with all my past affairs. It makes her feel uncomfortable.” He looked at James. “And I want us to be closer. I want my children to love and cherish you like Nick’s little girl does. I don’t want us to fight and hate each other. Because I think we were heading down a dark road.”
“I always wanted us to be closer,” James said. “But we just kind of drifted apart as we grew up. And I was afraid this CEO thing was going to tear us apart forever.”
“I didn’t come to this conclusion lightly. I pondered long and hard. Dad would not want me destroying his company, and that’s the path I was on.”
“I can’t believe you’re saying this.”
“I was running the company into the ground, James,” Robert confessed, his voice uncharacteristically soft and steady. Apparently, he’d reconciled with himself, and now he was seeking his brother’s forgiveness. “I don’t have the head for it, never have—not like Dad and not like...you. Not to be cliché, but it just isn’t my cup of tea,” he said, daring a wink at me.
If James was stunned to hear that his twin brother had walked away from a multibillion-dollar company, he was completely blown away to hear Robert liken him to their father. His lips parted in absolute shock, and for a moment, he appeared to be sincerely touched. Then, just as quickly as they faltered, all those defenses shot right back up again, urging him to harshly accuse, “This must be some kind of joke, Robert. I can’t believe you would just—”
“Wel
l, believe it,” Robert interrupted conversationally. “It’s already done. And I’m already packed to go to Florida. I’m leaving all the stress behind me, and I’m even getting a one-million-dollar sign on bonus. Listen, giving up the company would make Dad happy. He told me he wanted you to run Cross. I always knew that. Also. It’ll stop this insane fight between us. And I’ll have more time with my family. Because right now, I’m working 100 hours a week. And that has to stop.”
James tried to process all the information. “Congratulations on the wedding. And congrats on the twins.”
“I’m having boys,” he declared proudly.
“That’s wonderful, so exciting!”
He touched Harmony’s belly with his hand. “It is. We’re so happy.”
“I settled his ass down,” Harmony said, flashing her two-carat diamond ring. “Bet you didn’t think I could make a family man out of him.”
I watched with wide eyes as Robert flashed a sudden smile and plopped down onto one of the sofas by the fire. Harmony sat down to the left and he held her hand.
He gently kissed her hand. “I did this all for you, darling. For you and our precious family.”
“Baby, I love you more than anything.”
“I’m leaving this island happier than ever.”
“We’re going to have a great life together.”
The man might have been at some kind of existential crossroads, but unless I was very much mistaken, there was something lighter about him, something happier, as if he’d cast off a burden and was, like his womb mate, finally free.
James took a tentative step forward, then sat down beside him, still not fully believing him. “So what happens now??”
“It’ll go to David or someone equally qualified.” Robert paused for a moment before lifting his head to look his brother right in the eyes. “It could, of course, go to you, the most qualified of all.”
Those were the last words anybody said for a while.
“I DON’T UNDERSTAND. You’re just going to leave, just like that?” I stood at the foot of the bed with my arms folded across my chest, watching James throw wads of stray clothes into a bag. “Can’t we at least talk about this? And what the hell makes you think Granny will let you go?”
He didn’t even glance up, just gestured outside the window as he continued to pack.
I followed his motion and saw a plane waiting on the water, with a pilot standing beside it. “James, honey, can we please talk?” I tried to grab him, but he was moving too fast for me. “You heard Robert. The company is yours, free and clear, with no red tape or anything. There’s no need to rush—”
“Yeah, I know,” James said as he threw the bag on the bed and pulled on the zipper. “I heard.”
I threw up my hands in exasperation. “And?”
“And I’d like to go back to London now,” he said, then kissed me swiftly on the lips before grabbing my bag and his and heading out the door.
I stared after him for a moment, feeling like my head was about to burst wide open, then ran down the hall behind him. “To London to do what?” I demanded as I skidded around the corner and bolted after him, right out the front door.
Nick and Abby were already loading their things onto the plane as James made a beeline for the dock.