“Sit,” he orders.
“I’ll stand.”
Julian drops the documents on the coffee table and glares at me. “Sit, Falcon.”
“I’m not one of your employees you can order around,” I remind him. “Why are we meeting here?”
Julian leans back against the sofa and rests his arm on the back of it. “Funny you should ask that. After the bomb you dropped, our family home turned into a battlefield.”
Yeah, I can only imagine.
“I called you here because I have a question for you.” He picks up the tumbler with whiskey from the side table and takes a sip.
“Ask.”
“You’re not marrying Serena Weinstock?”
That’s the last question I expected from him.
Scowling, I walk to the other sofa and sit down. “No, I’m not.”
“Are you serious about this girl,” he pauses and gestures toward a newspaper lying next to him of the sofa, “Layla Shepard?”
My eyes focus on his, and I try to figure out where this is heading.
“I am.”
Slowly, he nods then take another sip of his drink.
“I’m willing to make you a deal,” he finally gets to the point. “I’ll marry Serena.”
Shock vibrates through me, and for a moment, I can only stare at my brother. “Why would you do that?”
“Unlike you, I am prepared to conclude the business deal between our family and the Weinstocks.”
“I’d congratulate you, but you’ll know I'm not sincere. Before committing to Serena, I feel you should know she’s unstable.” I might not get along with Julian, but I don’t want my brother marrying a potentially insane person.
“Oh?” His eyes show interest for the first time. “That might make things easier for me,” he muses.
“In what way?”
“I can marry her then have her committed. That way it’s a win-win.”
“Damn,” I shake my head, letting out a burst of cynical laughter, “that’s cold, even for you.”
Julian tilts his head and jeers, “Aren’t you lucky to have me for a brother?”
“That all depends on what your gracious sacrifice will cost me.” I lean back, already knowing what he wants.
The corner of Julian’s mouth lifts. “You know what I want.”
I clear my throat and grin back at him. “Why would I give you my shares, Julian? I wasn’t going to marry Serena in the first place.”
“There are two contracts on the table.” He gestures to them. “The first is where I buy your ten percent.” When I open my mouth to tell him it will never happen, he holds up a hand. “The other contract is where you sign a promise that you’ll never compete for the chairmanship, and you relinquish all rights to the Woodrow Wilson banknote. Sign either one and not only will I marry Serena, but I’ll back your relationship with this Layla girl.”
My eyes sharpen on his, and it makes him smile triumphantly.
I keep staring at Julian, and maybe it’s because of the time I spent with Layla, but instead of feeling bitter, sadness creeps into my heart.
What would Layla do right now?
“She’d look for the reason behind your behavior,” I murmur confusing the hell out of Julian.
“What?” he asks.
I sit forward and rest my elbows on my thighs.
Letting out a burst of silent laughter, I smile down at my hands as I link them.
“You’re acting strange,” he says as he sets down his glass. “Did you drink before coming over?”
I shake my head and reply, “I’ve just learned to look at things from a different point of view.”
“What does that mean?”
Layla would be brutally honest.
Bringing my eyes back to his, I ask the only thing I’ve ever wanted to know, “Julian, why do you hate me so much?”
His mouth lifts in a smirk. “I don’t hate you, Falcon. You’re just competition.”
Getting up I walk to the windows and look out over the night lights.
“I never wanted any of this,” I murmur. I close my eyes as years of bitterness and heartache comes to the surface. “I never wanted to be your competition.”
“Bull,” he laughs.
‘Instead of me being your weakness, let me be your strength.’
Remembering Layla’s words make my eyes burn. I close them, and as I turn around to face Julian, I don’t hide my feelings.
There’s no mask.
Just me.
The disappointment. The longing. The hurt.
Julian looks at me, and the smirk fades from his face.
“I never wanted to work in the company,” I say, my voice low and hoarse. “I have different plans for my future, and it doesn’t include CRC.”
Julian rises to his feet, his eyes never leaving mine.
“What are your plans?”
A burst of air explodes over my lips, and I struggle to hold back the tears.
“None of you have ever asked me that question.” Through the emotion, I smile. “I want to start my own business.”
“You do? What kind of business?” Interest flickers over Julian’s face.
Always the businessman.
“Buying patent rights.” I take a deep breath, then share one of my dreams with my brother, “I want to help create the future. I want to help bring dreams to life.”