Second Chance Love

Our eyes connected.

“What’s going on?”

“I’ll explain on our way to his office.”

I nodded, looking over at Evie. The smile on her face quickly faded into worry.

“I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere, okay?”

I could sense she wanted to come with me. However, she reluctantly agreed instead. I resisted the urge to kiss her in case my kids were around.

Once we were away from her, I asked Robert, “What’s going on?”

“Your grandfather is retiring soon, and Tristian wants the company.”

“I know. What’s the problem?”

“You know your grandfather, Caleb. There are conditions.”

“Why are they discussing business during his party?”

“When are they not discussing business?”

His office wasn’t far from the room where Evie and I were dancing. I couldn’t help but remember how many times I’d played in his office as a child while my father and him talked business. It was in the Hawkins’ blood. We didn’t know how to not be workaholics.

We opened the French doors to my grandfather’s office as Tristian yelled, “This is fucking bullshit!”

“You need to calm down,” Grandfather ordered.

I stayed by the door, waiting for the right moment to interfere if needed. They were so caught up in their argument, they didn’t realize we’d walked into the room.

Tristian roared, “Calm down?” holding up what appeared to be a document. “I’m not going to calm down until you tell me this is some kind of mistake. I’ve worked my ass off for you, giving up my whole life, and this is how you repay me? With this fucking bullshit?” He slammed the document onto Grandfather’s desk. “I won’t stand for this! Do you understand me? I deserve this company, and I won’t let you play your damn games with me.”

“It’s not a game, Tristian. You either meet my conditions, or I won’t hand Hawkins Enterprise down to you. It’s really quite simple.”

“Nothing about your contract is simple, Grandfather.”

“Merging companies with the enemy is the best future for our legacy.”

“You don’t know what you’re asking. Because of your rivalry, I destroyed her.”

“Then consider this your second chance rival.”

Were they talking about Belle?

She was the granddaughter of my family’s biggest adversary. There was a generational feud between my family and hers. For decades they hated each other, competing over whose business would take out the other, which was just another reason why I wanted no part in the company. I didn’t want to take on that war.

Tristian warned through a clenched jaw, “I won’t stand for this! Do you understand me?”

“You have no choice. You either take it or leave it. It’s my bottom line. If you don’t make it happen, then I’ll find someone who will.”

“After everything I’ve done for you. I can’t believe you’d repay me like this. I live and breathe this company, old man.” He backed away. “You made sure of it.” With one last menacing glare, he left through the other door near Grandfather’s desk.

I followed him and called out, “Tristian,” through the corridor.

He turned around, relieved when he saw me walking toward him.

“How can he ask me to sign away my entire life?”

I sympathized with him, experiencing first-hand how hard it was to please my grandfather.

Cocking my head, I countered, “Why do you think I walked away from it?”

He opened his mouth to respond, but a familiar voice interjected, “Always the boy scout, aren’t you, Caleb?”

My eyes snapped to my brother who was suddenly standing beside us, shocked as shit he was there. He never showed up to family events, having no interest in them.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

“What?” He shrugged. “I can’t show up for our grandfather’s birthday party?”

“Seeing as you didn’t show up for the last ten, I think you can understand my surprise.” I nodded behind him. “Grandfather is in his offi—”

“I’m only here for you.”

I cocked my brow, confused.

“We need to talk.”

“This isn’t the time or the place, Joseph.”

“I tried to talk to you last month, and you didn’t give a shit.”

“I still don’t.”

“Trust me, you’re going to want to hear what I have to share with you.”

Intrigued, my eyes shifted to Tristian. “Email me Grandfather’s contract. I’ll have my lawyers take a look and see if there’s anything you can do to avoid his stipulations.”

“I appreciate that, Caleb.”

We shook hands, and he walked away.

Once he was out of sight, I glared at my brother. “You have ten minutes. Now let’s go.”

With that, I led him out to the garden, away from everyone at the party. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t on edge as we walked outside. For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out what his urgency was about.

“You’re going to want to sit down.”

I shook my head. “Enough with the cryptic bullshit, Joseph. What do you want? More of my money?”

“No, but your ex-wife sure as shit does.”

“Tessa?” I questioned, utterly baffled. “What does she have to do with this?”