Edmund
I pushed through my last set when my arms were already burning and my chest rose like everything inside was about to explode. I breathed through my mouth, staring at my reflection in the mirror, watching sweat roll down my neck and drip onto the mat. I lifted slower, feeling the weight of the equipment, refusing to stop because I didn't want to think about anything.
I'd been angry yesterday and the remnant of that anger was still in my head. Why the hell would my dad do such a thing? Supervision. The hell did I need supervision for? I'd worked my ass off however carefree and reckless I was, but I always made sure to never mix business with pleasure.
Who took Alistair Entertainment to the top it's at currently? Me! Whose looks and popularity made us win the E-Tainment Awards ten consecutive times in a row? Me! Who stayed up all night watching the market and pulling the team together for new trends? Motherfucking me! Then why was I about to be sent off like some school boy to be tutored by someone only a few years older than me?
Not to mention he's an arrogant asshole too.
I lowered the dumbbells to the floor when the door behind me opened.
"Sir," the maid said, careful, like she didn't want to startle me. "Your father is asking for you."
I stayed where I was, hands on my knees, breathing hard.
"Now?" I asked without turning.
"Yes, sir."
I nodded once. "Tell him I'll be there."
She left, closing the door gently behind her. I stood upright again, wiping my face with the towel hanging off the rack.
I headed to the shower, turned the water on too hot, and let it hit my back while I braced my hands against the wall. I stood there longer than necessary, replaying the gala, replaying my father's announcement, replaying the way that asshole Asher treated me.
By the time I stepped out and wrapped a towel around my waist, my entire mood was worse than before. I dressed quickly, pulled on a clean shirt, fixed my hair and walked out of my room.
Whatever was about to happen, I was not going to let my father off smoothly.
My father stood near the window in his study, hands behind his back, looking out at the garden, you'd think he was in love with the flowers.
"You sent for me," I said.
He turned slowly. "Sit."
I didn't sit. "What is this about?"
"We're going out later today," he said calmly. "You need to be ready."
I crossed my arms. "Ready for what?"
"We're signing the paperwork," he replied. "Everything has been finalized. You'll begin your supervision immediately."
I stared at him. "Today?"
"Yes."
I shook my head before I could stop myself. "That wasn't the plan father. I did everything you wanted of me and now you're acting like I'm some irresponsible child who wants to run the company to the ground."
He walked toward his desk. "Well things have changed."
"You didn't say that when I was working my ass off at 16," I said, my voice already rising. "You said all I had to do was work hard and I did just that."
"I said nothing of the sort," he replied. "You simply assumed that."
I laughed, but it didn't meet my eyes. "You can't just decide my life like this."
"I already have," he said.
I stepped closer. "It's not fair father. You can't treat me like one of your bastard sons."
His expression hardened. "Watch your tone boy."
"Why?" I asked. "So you can pretend this is for my benefit?"
"This is for the company," he snapped. "And for you."
"For me?" I scoffed. "You didn't even ask if I wanted it."
"You don't need to want it," he said. "You need to do it."
I paced now, my hands running through my hair. "You're sending me to be babysat by a guy who's not only arrogant but is barely a few years older than me."
"You're being supervised," he corrected. "Because you need to understand industry structure."
"I've been working since I was sixteen," I shot back. "I've been showing up. I've been doing everything you asked."
"And yet you're still reckless," he said. "You're still bashing cars and running an ill reputation at 25."
"That's rich," I said bitterly. "Coming from you."
His eyes narrowed. "This conversation is ending."
"No," I said. "You don't get to shut me down."
"I'm your father," he replied. "And this is my company."
"I'm part of this company," I insisted. "I've earned my place."
"And you'll keep it," he said. "If you do as you're told."
I stopped in front of him. "What if I say no?"
He looked at me like I'd said something foolish. "You won't."
"You don't know that," I said.
"I do," he replied. "Because you understand what's at stake."
I swallowed hard. "You're forcing me?"
"I'm protecting what we've built," he said. "Whether you like it or not."
I stood there, chest tight, realizing that I wasn't left with any other choice.
"Get ready," he said finally. "We're leaving this afternoon."
I didn't answer. I turned away, walked out before I said something I couldn't take back.
I headed upstairs, my head buzzing from all the anger in me. I reached my door when someone blocked the doorway.
My stepbrother leaned against the frame, arms crossed, wearing that lazy smile I'd hated for years.
"You know," he said lightly, "you can say no, right?"
I stared at him. "Move."
He didn't move. "Funny how you're the one being dragged around while I get to relax."
"Get out of my way," I said through my teeth.
He chuckled. "All that work, and it still ends up in my hands eventually."
That was when I snapped.
I stepped forward, and shoved him back with every muscle in me. "You haven't worked for anything you fucking scum."
He laughed, but recovered quickly. "Doesn't matter. Blood is blood."
"Shut your fucking mouth," I growled. "You've done nothing. Absolutely nothing to deserve even a quarter of the shares in our company."
"And yet I'm still here," he said. "Still next in line."
"You think I'll let that happen?" I asked.
He shrugged. "You don't get to have a choice."
My fist connected with his jaw before I could think. He stumbled back, shocked, holding his face.
"Over my dead body," I said, my voice shaking. "I won't let you take everything I've worked for while you sat around doing nothing."
He stared at me, stunned and angry.
I slammed the door in his face.
And I locked it.