CHAPTER SIXTEEN

WARD

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I watch as my son guidesPayton out of the room and...listen I’m a man. I might be a father. But I’m a man first.

A red-blooded man.

So I see exactly how he feels about that beautiful young woman. He can’t keep his eyes off her.

It’s almost laughable, if it wasn’t so serious, watching my firstborn so full of irrational jealousy as I spun her around the dance floor.

Did I do it on purpose?

I’m not answering that.

But I will admit that this situation is taking a turn I hadn’t expected when I set the criteria for Knox to apply for the role he believes is his birthright.

My role.

In the company I built, brick by brick.

The reason I was successful—one of the reasons – is because I put the right people in the right jobs. Knox is a talented marketer. I saw that when he was in his teens, before he began his degree. He knows the brands. He understands how it works innately. That’s something no classroom can teach you.

Is he ready to be the CEO?

We will see.

Do I expect him to settle down and stop sleeping with women?

Of course not.

But fucking key business partners will not get him the respect he’ll need, nor the power and influence that’s essential to walk in my shoes.

Knox is highly intelligent. He knows this. At least on some level. But he’s letting his dick lead, which is a sign of immaturity.

I want to see him make the right decisions, so that I can be assured if he’s awarded the job, he’ll do the right thing.

Except none of us were expecting Payton.

Certainly not me, and I know my son wasn’t.

I lift my glass and can’t help the private smile. When you’re my age, you can’t help but laugh at the irony of how things play out. That’s the thing about living more than just a few decades. You have a whole ton of experience to reflect on how life weaves its magic.

After the fact.

Not during.

I don’t know what role Payton is going to play in Knox’s destiny, but I can tell you this: she is.

Of course, she’s more appealing to him because he can’t touch her—at least if he wants this job more than fucking her. Which I believe he does.

For now.

But I wonder...

Is she going to test him? Because there’s something special about her and they both have a lot at stake here.

I know the answer.

I don’t think he has a clue.

Which, as a parent, is amusing in a god I love you kind of way. But as his CEO I really hope he does the right thing.

“Mr. Montgomery,” a voice snaps me out of my deep thought as Knox places a hand way too low on Payton’s hip—cough, ass, cough—and disappears around the corner.

Hmm.

Let’s see what choices he makes tonight.

I turn. “Yes.”

“Daxton Phillips.”

I shake his hand.

I know who he is. Daxton Phillips is the current CEO of Aurora Atelier, an up-and-coming fashion house in New York.

Yesterday, we sent out a media release announcing my resignation, so Daxton is not the first to approach me tonight.

I realize I’ve thrown my children a curveball, but I’d rather enjoy the rest of my life with them. After my wife and then more recently my friend John died, I went for a physical and my doctor told me my blood pressure was too high.

Nothing serious, but it was an early warning.

I intend to live for a long time. But I won’t do that if I am running a billion-dollar organization every day. It is not for the fainthearted.

In time, my children will run it completely.

Knox included.

Right now? I’m just not sure that day is now, and I’m not willing to work myself into the ground and not be around to watch him. To guide him.

To keep loving all of them.

“I wanted to introduce myself. I’m considering applying for your position,” Daxton says predictably.

“I know who you are, Daxton.” I nod.

He’s led the Aurora team for five years and has grown the company by twelve percent. It’s my job to know this stuff. They’re not a strong competitor, but that’s has nothing to do with his performance.

In fact, I was expecting an application from him.

“And I hope you do,” I add. “But let’s not launch into an interview here.”

“No, sir.” Daxton laughs and I like the man.

While it would make me very proud to see my son take the lead of Montgomery Enterprises, the organization needs the right person at the helm.

So we will see how the cards fall.