32. Chapter Thirty-two
Chapter Thirty-two
Jake
It was strange to see Roman Wells leaving my brother's office.
Not that the man was out of place at the MZ offices. With his impeccably tailored suit and sharklike movements, he looked like he went where he wanted and took ownership. The thing was, there was no discernible reason for this man to be visiting Jeremy. As far as I knew, they weren't friends or associates. Jeremy didn't tell me every detail of his life, but I was aware of most of it.
Roman strode toward me, where I had paused on the way to my office. His grin wasn't exactly friendly, nor was it threatening.
"Ah, the other Hayes brother. It's about time we met." He held his hand out to me. When I frowned at it, he introduced himself. "Sorry, I shouldn't assume anyone knows who I am. Roman Wells."
I shook his hand out of obligation. "Jake Hayes, but you seem to know that."
He chuckled, but it was perfunctory more than a reaction to something humorous. "I would expect I do. After all, we're partners, aren't we?"
I did not let my shock show. My molars might've ground to dust, but I managed to keep my expression neutral.
"Nice to meet you, Roman. I need to get back to work."
He nodded at the bag in my hand. "Working lunch?"
I'd been looking forward to the sandwich I'd grabbed from a deli down the street, but now the idea of eating made my stomach roil.
"Something like that," I answered. "Have a good day."
I beelined to Jeremy's office, knocking once before letting myself in. He was at his desk, surprise crinkling his forehead when he saw me.
"Hey. I thought you were out to lunch with Clara."
"Mmm. That had been the plan, but she called when I was on my way to cancel."
This was my week with Sage, so we only had lunches to spend together. We both guarded them like flames in the wind, but sometimes things came up. Today, it was an emergency meeting about Rossi's Utah factory.
"Ah. That's too bad." He folded his hands on his desk, blinking up at me. "It seems like something's on your mind. How about you sit down so I'm not breaking my neck looking up at you?"
Bracing my hands on the edge of his desk, I leaned forward, putting my face a few inches from his. "I saw Roman Wells, Jer. He introduced himself as my partner. Let's not beat around the bush—you scheduled whatever meeting you just had when you thought I'd be out of the office. What the fuck is going on?"
He swallowed hard, but that was his only tell. Otherwise, he was cool and composed, gesturing for me to take a seat. I finally gave in. Me being in his face like I was didn't do either of us any good.
Once settled, one ankle braced on the opposite knee, I nodded. "Go on. I want to hear what you have to say to me."
He flattened his hands and sighed heavily, dropping them to his lap. "When we had to close those stores two years ago, I knew we needed to do something drastic. We can't keep closing stores and expect to be around long term."
"I know this," I stated. "It's why we're going after Rossi—to breathe new life into MZ."
"That's this year. Last year…well, to be frank, things weren't getting better. Dad suggested taking out a loan, but the last thing we needed was to bleed out paying back loans. Then I met Roman at a charity golf tournament. His reputation precedes him—"
"For sinking money into failing companies and sucking them dry when he's done. Yeah, I've heard of him."
He exhaled slowly and rubbed the center of his forehead. "That's categorically untrue. Roman revives failing businesses."
I blinked at him. "You think we're failing?"
He leveled me with his gaze. "No. But it was where we were headed. So, I talked to Roman, and he'd been willing to buy ten percent of my shares. It'd been exactly what we'd needed. And with his money, he brought ideas. The new branding was from his team. The Rossi deal? All Roman. And—"
"You didn't think this was something I should have known? You brought me on to support you. How can I support you when you're keeping secrets?"
"I knew you wouldn't be happy about my decision. Honestly, I was afraid you'd offer up your own shares so you'd have a reason to leave."
I chuffed. "Since when do we avoid tough talks? I'm sitting here in a suit because you asked me to be. There's nothing you can't say to me. If we're in trouble, we figure it out together. You don't plan underhanded meetings with the vampire of Denver and make me look like an idiot when it's plain to see I have no idea what's going on with my own company."
Heat rose up his neck to his cheeks. "Sometimes I have to make tough decisions, Jake. Granddad handed MZ to me. If it fails, I fail. I won't let that happen."
"You think I want it to fail?"
"I don't think it would devastate you. This all disappears, you go back to being a car guy, living the life you always wanted. Maybe with a little less money, but you have your very own heiress now."
"Fuck off with that, Jer." I stood over him again, jabbing at his desk. "That's the last time you bring up Clara."
He leaned back to look up at me. "You're right. That was low. I shouldn't have said that. I'm stressed, and you've got me cornered. Lashing out was wrong, though."
"A whole lot is wrong in this scenario." I'd walked in here pissed off, hoping he'd have a logical explanation for me. Now, I was more fired up. Angry. And more than that, disappointed in my brother. "I am here because you asked me to be. I would do a fucking backbend for you. If you're not willing to see that and do the same for me, you're spitting in my face. Don't tell me losing MZ would be no skin off my back, as if I don't care about you, about our family's legacy."
"I believe you care about MZ, and I would never question that you care about me, but…you didn't grow up being told all this rested on your shoulders. It's a heavy load to carry. If I don't turn this ship around, it's not just me going under. Thousands of livelihoods will be lost. You may not agree with me bringing Roman in—"
"You didn't give me a chance to agree or disagree."
His lids lowered as he took a deep breath. "Maybe that was a mistake, but like I said, this rests on my shoulders, which means there will be times I make a unilateral decision."
"That's fine." It didn't feel fine, but he was right. In the end, our grandfather had left control of the company to the legitimate heir. I stood at his side, but the yoke was his alone.
"I'm glad you agree," he intoned.
I moved my jaw side to side, no less pissed than when I'd walked in here. "You're the boss, Jer. I get that. But if you keep secrets concerning MZ from me again, I'm out of here."
His nostrils flared—the only sign he was getting mad too. "You say you care about MZ and me then threaten to leave in the same breath."
"It wasn't a threat. I've drawn my line in the sand, and there's no reason for you to cross it."
He lowered his chin. "We'll talk about this later."
I straightened, shoving my fists in my trouser pockets. "You don't keep secrets, we won't need to have another conversation like this."
"I hear you."
I walked out on my brother, but I didn't feel any better. If he'd punched me in the gut, I would have been less winded. What he'd said to me in there, the way he'd looked—that wasn't the brother I knew.
He had me thinking maybe there was a side to him I didn't know at all.
Crickets chirped outside my open windows, a cool breeze rustling the curtains. Sage was tucked in her room, probably reading one of the books in her many stacks. I was in bed, TV on, but I couldn't focus.
Picking up my phone, I texted the one person I wanted next to me.
Me: Hey, mama. You in bed?
Clara: Hey, baby. Not even close. I'm working in my office. What are you up to?
Christ, I liked when she called me "baby." Never thought I'd be into that, but coming from Clara, it was the sweetest thing.
Me: My girl works too hard. I'm lying in bed, thinking about you. After my wreck of a day, I'm wishing you were here.
Clara: I'd rather be there with you too. Want to talk about it?
Me: My brother…it's a lot. You're working. We can talk about it another time. Just wish I could hold you for a minute. That would make it all go away.
I waited for a reply, but seconds turned to minutes and nothing came through. She was probably caught up in what she was doing. I'd hear from her when she had the chance.
Settling against my pillows, I picked up the remote and flipped to a movie I'd seen a few times. Nothing I needed to pay close attention to. Exactly what I needed since my mind was scattered and worn out.
My eyelids were drooping when my phone pinged with a text. I picked it up, rubbing my eyes as I read it.
Clara: Are you still awake?
Me: Yeah, I'm here.
Clara: Good. Come outside for a minute.
Heart thrashing, I vaulted out of bed and jogged for the front door. I threw it open, and there she was, bundled in a fuzzy sweater, leaning against my porch railing.
"You're here." I felt like I was dreaming.
"Of course I am." She held her hand out, beckoning me to her.
I stood in front of her, ghosting my hand over her hair. "You're here," I repeated.
"I am." Her arms wrapped around my middle, and she pressed her face to my chest. "I missed you, and when you said you wanted to hold me for a minute, I thought that sounded like the best idea I'd heard all day."
I clutched her tight, burying my face in her hair. "You came here because I wanted to hold you?"
"Mmmhmm. I particularly like being held by you, Jake Hayes."
I laughed, but it was wet and thready. She had me choked up like an idiot. This woman turned me inside out.
"You're the cure, Clara," I murmured to the top of her head. "You make it all fade."
She kissed the center of my chest and stroked my back in slow, steady drags. Bit by bit, I curled around her as the tension drained away.
We stayed like that for a while before sitting in one of my rocking chairs. Clara settled sideways in my lap, her feet tucked under one of my legs. She was in her pajamas—a tank top, floral pants, flip-flops on her feet.
I ran my hand along her leg, smiling at the cute little flower pattern. "You rushed over here, didn't you?"
"A little. I stopped to ask Marina to listen out for Nellie. Maybe driving in my PJs wasn't the best idea, but—"
"No, it was. I can pretend I'm going to take you inside and put you in my bed in a little while."
"Wouldn't that be nice?" She sighed. "At least we have this."
I slid my fingers through her silky hair, studying the way the shadows played on her face. In the dim porch light, I couldn't see nearly enough of her, but beggars couldn't be choosers.
"Thank you for coming over. I hadn't expected it, and you're exactly what I needed tonight."
She slowly stroked my beard, her eyes darting between mine. "Did something happen?"
"Yeah. It did." I held a strand of her hair between my fingers, rubbing my thumb back and forth over it. "Jeremy sold part of his shares of MZ last year and never told me. He purposely hid it from me. I didn't find out until I ran into his investor today."
"Shit," she muttered. "Roman Wells."
Closing my eyes, I nodded. "I guess your lawyers' due diligence had turned that up."
"Yes. I never would have guessed you didn't know, though."
"Before today, I wouldn't have either. Never would have guessed my own brother would accuse me of wanting MZ to fail so I could go back to my old life."
"That's harsh. Wow."
"Yeah. Messed me up to hear that from him."
She leaned into me, gliding her hand from my beard to wrap around my neck. "He must know the sacrifice you made to be there with him instead of doing what you want. Every time you put on a suit instead of coveralls, you're showing how committed you are despite it bringing you no joy. He knows that, doesn't he?"
"I don't need my job to bring me joy."
"It would be better not to be miserable, I think."
I cracked my eyes open. "‘Miserable' is an overstatement. I want to be there with Jeremy."
"I know you do. You made a sacrifice for him, but it doesn't sound like he really appreciates it."
"Doesn't matter if he does. It's what I have to do."
"But why?" she whispered.
"Because I had a really good life where I could be whoever the hell I wanted. When I got Carly pregnant, my family rallied around me and promised we'd make it work. That was how it always was. But my brother—my own brother —didn't have that. Where I had warmth and acceptance, all he got was cold and discipline. If he messed up, it was his obligation to fix it. Neither of us had done anything to earn the families we were born into. It was the luck of the draw, and his hand lacked in every way."
There were a lot of reasons our grandfather gave Jeremy MZ and not his own son, our father. The main one, which went unsaid because we all knew it: Martin Hayes was a piece of shit. An angry drunk, a neglectful father, irresponsible with his money, he was no more capable of running a large corporation than a child. Jeremy had been molded for the position from his youth. Our grandfather had plotted his schooling, hobbies, and even the clubs he joined.
"You feel guilty," Clara surmised.
"Yeah, I guess. But that's not my biggest driving point. I'm there with Jeremy because he's never faltered in being there for me. He could've hated me for everything I had, but he didn't. He never turned on me or became resentful. He was at the hospital when Sage was born. He read baby books and helped me change diapers. Even now, he rarely misses one of her games. He's there for me, so I'm gonna be there for him."
"Okay."
Her acceptance wasn't easy. Her doubts rang out in her questions, but she chose to let it go. It was obvious she didn't agree with my point of view, but it was just as obvious my mind was made up.
"Clara…" My lips touched her eyelids and the tip of her nose. "Thank you for letting it go. Don't know how to say how much I appreciate you letting my reasons stand."
"I didn't come here to argue with you, baby." She nuzzled my throat and jaw, sighing against my skin. "I like understanding you. I don't have to always agree with you so long as I understand."
"And you do?"
"Yeah," she breathed. "I'm sorry your day sucked."
I kissed her temple once, twice, three times. "I honestly don't remember what made it suck so bad anymore. Not with you here."
"I'm really, really glad I could be here for you."
Something told me Clara would always be there when I needed her. It was who she was, what made her her .
We rocked for a while longer, content to be in each other's arms without a lot of talking. When she had to go, it wasn't easy. It never was. But these days, watching her drive away was becoming harder and harder.
Something had to change.
And it was up to me to figure out what that change would be.