DRAMA NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 42
Since meeting her: 47 days
Company takeover: 6 days
Married: 28 days
The next morning, I have Lexi for breakfast, and afterward, I meet Weston in the Park Tower lobby.
While we were in South Africa, he told me he was returning to the penthouse he purchased in the same building a few years ago, so we agreed to ride to the office together each morning.
It selfishly allows me to confirm if we’re twinning by coincidence or if he’s been playing a fucking joke.
He smiles when he steps off the elevator, running his hand down his black tie and navy suit.
I shake my head, wearing the same thing. “How? Do you have cameras in my closet?”
He shrugs, then slams his hand onto my shoulder. “I’ve told you, little brother, I can read your mind.”
After the car arrives, we head to Calloway headquarters. I laugh because it’s always been my brother and me, just like this, planning world domination.
While we were away, I noticed something had changed inside him. Or maybe he’d been like that for a while. The day I returned from traveling for six months, I met Lexi, and she’s been my focus ever since. I feel like a shitty brother, like I haven’t been there for him as he navigates through this messy divorce.
“I’m going to try to hang out more,” I say, not wanting him to lose himself.
Over the decades, Weston has never let me spiral when things didn’t go as I had planned. My brother is always there for me; I haven’t given him the same kindness.
His face softens and he grins. “I’d like that.”
I won’t pry again until he’s ready to talk, but I know something is happening in his private life. However, he’s been guarding himself after dealing with his toxic ex. She tried to strip him of everything he was—confidence and heart. It’s one reason I was shocked he coaxed Lexi into joining him the night he had her meet me at The Garage. Feels like forever ago.
Weston dates often, but he’s been off his game since Lena.
He pretended for me. He knew Lexi was my match.
As soon as Weston and I enter the building, Taelor stops us. She notices the twinning immediately. Everyone always does.
“Your father is searching for both of you,” she says, not meeting our eyes. “He instructed you to wait for him in his office—right now.”
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“I’m not permitted to say.”
Her words don’t give me hope.
I glance at Weston and we walk to the opposite side of the building. I’m exhausted from being away from home and traveling, then the party last night, which I appreciated so damn much.
Afterward, I stayed up most of the night with Lexi, making love, then I held her in my arms until we fell asleep. No regrets, and the smile on my face says as much. I might be tired, but I feel like I’m on top of the world.
“Did we miss a memo?” I ask, noticing how no one glances in our direction when we make eye contact.
Weston walks beside me, just as confused.
He can also feel the vibes are off. I don’t need this during the final days of the transition.
This week, I am scheduled to spend time with my father as he ties up loose ends. Saturday, we’re supposed to throw a company party, a farewell, on his last official day.
Monday, I will be CEO, and I’m fucking ready. For over a decade I’ve followed in my father’s footsteps, assuming I’d take this position. But so has Derrick.
However, I fulfilled my contractual duties just in time. It’s proof that love conquers all.
“Maybe Dad wants to congratulate us for doing what the board wanted, but better,” Weston offers.
It’s a nice thought, but I know better.
“I doubt that,” I say, knowing we don’t get thank-yous.
Being Calloways, the heirs to a multibillion-dollar business, comes with the expectation of being unstoppable. Thank-yous aren’t given for doing what should’ve been done. We were sent because we could make impossible deals happen. Call it charisma, call it luck, but it comes with being a Calloway.
I allow Weston to enter first. We sit next to one another in seats in front of the famous Calloway desk. I want to run my fingers across the intricacies of the carved logo, but I don’t.
After a few more minutes pass, I glance down at my watch; it’s barely past seven.
This feels off, but I blame my tiredness. We’ve worked nonstop, and maybe that’s by design; the last test my father set up for us to see if we can handle it.
At fifteen past seven, he enters with wild hair on his head. The door slams as he rushes to his desk. My father resembles a goddamn supervillain as he interlocks his fingers, looking between us. I watch him, wondering if I’m like him—cold at times and charming when he needs to be.
The same blue eyes that Weston and I have glare back at us. He’s undeniably mad. I haven’t seen him like this in years.
“Do you know how long we have until I retire?” my father asks. He’s being stern.
“Six days until Easton takes over,” Weston answers. His jaw clenches.
“You’re right. Six days. So, why the fuck am I dealing with this?” He seethes, flipping his computer screen and clicking on a video file.
The screen pops up, and it’s a still frame of me and Weston chatting in my office. My brother glances at me, and I realize we’re both wearing gray suits. Fuck, I remember this day like it was yesterday.
“What is this?” Weston asks.
I don’t need to watch this. I don’t want to.
“This is a PR and contractual nightmare. It was sent company-wide and to every major media outlet,” he says with flared nostrils as he presses play.
Weston’s voice lowers. “All you have to do is get married and make it believable. That’s it.”
“Okay, so what if I meet the love of my life while I’m fake married?” I asked.
“Oh, it should be a real marriage on paper and in public. Scandals are wonderful for business too.”
I groaned. “This is fucking ridiculous.”
“You only have to stay married for one year. Pretend to be the happiest, in-love couple in the world, and no one will question anything. And if you find the one, wait to pursue her until you’ve divorced your temporary wife. After three hundred sixty-five days, you’ll be free to do the same thing you’re doing right now, and you can continue your toxic affair with the company.”
The screen goes black, and my father glares at us.
“Why were there cameras in my fucking office?” I ask, livid. “Did you do this? And where are the other conversations we had?”
He shakes his head. “Can you imagine how disappointed I was to learn that my sons, the men given the golden keys to this empire, had set out to defraud it? Your grandfather … thank God he isn’t here to witness this atrocity.”
“I can explain,” I say, not knowing where to start. “It’s not fake. I —”
“Not right now, Easton. It was your intentions that disgust me. Both of you. The board is questioning if you should take the position because they’re not sure they can trust you.”
“That video doesn’t prove anything,” I say.
He doesn’t listen.
“It proves that neither of you respect the terms. If you’ll lie about this, what else are you capable of? I should be thinking about my goddamn retirement right now, not this.”
My father inhales a breath.
“Effective immediately, you’re both on temporary leave, and all assets are frozen until stated otherwise. I need to speak to legal and the board to decide what this company’s future is. Oh, and, Easton, you don’t have to wait a year for your divorce. You can do us all a favor and stop pretending with your actress ‘wife.’ ” He puts the word wife in air quotes. “And don’t ever lie to me again.”
My jaw clenches tight as I glare at my father.
“Respectfully, go fuck yourself.” I seethe.
“The act … still?” His demeanor is threatening.
“When I don’t get divorced, I’ll enjoy watching you choke on your fucking words.” I stand up, pushing my chair under the table.
There is nothing I can say to make him believe it’s real. Nothing.
The disappointment in the room is so thick; it nearly chokes me.
Weston stands, buttoning his coat jacket.
“We’re a package deal. You get us both, or you get neither,” Weston says. It’s the gamble my father took knowing the clock was ticking.
“Get out of my sight until I figure out what to do. You’ve made a goddamn mess out of this. Knowing you could take something so damn sacred and make a spectacle out of it.”
Weston tries to say something more, but my father pounds his fist on the desk. “Leave!”
On my way out, I close the door, and it slams shut. The building grows quiet as we head toward the elevator. We’ve been ostracized. Proof that life can change in a snap, as if I needed it.
We walk into the elevator and take it down to the bottom floor.
When we step out, my brother shakes his head, shoving his hands into his pockets. “That fucking sucked.”
“It’s over, Weston. You and I both know that. Unless we can find out who’s responsible and take control of the narrative.”
Our car arrives and we ride across town.
“This is my fuckup,” he tells me. “I’m sorry. I thought we were safe in your office.”
I don’t say anything as I try to determine what else this person might have on me.
“This has Derrick’s name written all over it,” he says.
I nod. “I know. But we need to prove it. How could he have gotten into my office? The door stays locked unless I’m inside.”
“That’s where we start.”
“I can’t imagine what the headlines say,” I mutter and unlock my phone to type in my name.
EASTON CALLOWAY & HIS PRETTY WOMAN
EASTON CALLOWAY: NEVER IN LOVE
EASTON CALLOWAY’S MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE
EASTON CALLOWAY’S HEART IS STILL AVAILABLE
EASTON CALLOWAY BACK ON THE MARKET
THE CALLOWAY WEDDING WAS AN ACT
ALEXIS MATTHEWS CALLOWAY: ACTRESS OF THE YEAR
ALEXIS MATTHEWS: THE STAR OF THE SHOW
WESTON CALLOWAY IS THE PROBLEM
WESTON CALLOWAY DIVORCED FOR A REASON
THE CALLOWAY BROTHERS: MASTER MANIPULATORS
THE CALLOWAY BROTHERS: UNABLE TO LOVE
DOUBLE TROUBLE AND FRAUD
The articles go on for pages about how Lexi and I aren’t in love, how Weston was the real problem in a past relationship, and how the two of us don’t respect relationships or family. The blatant lies are the most frustrating.
My father is right. This is a public relations nightmare.
I click on the images and see hundreds of photos of Lexi and me together, and I can’t help but scroll through them. From the beginning, she’s always looked at me the same—with hope in her eyes.
A devious smile touches my brother’s lips. “I’ve got a plan. You and Lexi should disappear together.”
He’s more calculated when it comes to navigating the social aspect of our job. With his charm, he can get anyone to do whatever he wants, even eat out of his palm.
“How long?” I ask.
“However long it takes. I’ll find you. But don’t make it too easy.”
We exit the car and walk through the foyer of our building. We step into the elevator together and ride up.
As it stops on his floor, he turns to me. “Trust me, little brother.”
“I do,” I say before the doors slide closed. “Don’t make me regret this.”
“I won’t.”
If anyone can make this right, Weston will. He’s reckless, a fucking kamikaze by nature, and has my back like my shadow.