And once he had Harper back, no one and nothing would come between them ever again.
If he won her back.
Fletcher and Hunter waited in the hallway, and after an uncomfortable silence, his father stepped out and stood in front of them.
“As unhappy as I am about this, I am proud of you all for sticking together and using your heads,” he said. “Is Mackenzie dealt with?”
“Yes. A media release has just arrived in my inbox,” Fletcher said, his eyes also darting to Daniel.
He gave Fletcher a nod.
They made their way downstairs and stood watching as their father's car drove away.
“Fuck me,” Hunter said, rubbing the stubble on his face.
“He’s going to be furious when the shock wears off,” Fletcher said. “You know he won’t let this go, right?”
Daniel nodded. “I know.”
Fletcher was right. His father had built this company with his bare hands. It was his life’s work. He was a smart and strategic man. There was no way he thought his father had just accepted what had happened tonight and was going home to plan his golf game for the next twenty years.
“We don’t want to be at war with him,” Hunter said.
“Well, that’s up to him, but either way we had to protect the company,” Daniel said. “He’s not out, just less able to fuck things up now.”
Daniel tightened his scarf around his neck.
“I’ve got to go,” he said when he spotted his driver pull up. “It’s a shit time to leave. I’m sorry, but this is important. Call me if there are any emergencies, otherwise you two are in charge for two weeks.”
Fletcher smirked.
“We’ll be fine,” Hunter said. “You do fuck all. We all know that.”
Daniel laughed.
“Fletcher, keep your mitts off Olivia,” Daniel said, as his brother's smirk dissolved.
He’d deal with that when he returned. Right now, Harper was his priority.
He was going to get his girl.
––––––––
A FEW HOURS LATER, Daniel was in the air. He still had an eleven-hour flight ahead of him, but he was excited to see Harper. And nervous as hell.
He chewed the side of his lip.
Finally, he’d thought of the perfect words to text her and his finger hovered over the send button.
Press it.
I figured out my priorities. It’s you, Harper. x
Then he waited.
And waited.
And she never replied.
Fuck.