Page 157 of Collateral Damage
“So you’re pretty pissed at Dad right now, huh?” Ethan asks.
“Obviously,” I drawl. “He fucked me over. I confronted him as soon as I found out what went down, and he said he was already too far down the path with Vale.”
“Do you think your dad would be willing to make some changes to make it up to you?” Arden asks, and Ethan gives her the side-eye.
“Probably… Do you have something in mind?”
She locks eyes with Ethan, who shakes his head. “They’ll never go for it.”
“Go for what?”
Arden lifts a shoulder. “It can’t hurt to ask.”
“Have you met our father?”
“Want to clue me in?” I say, waving my hand for attention.
Ethan sighs. “I’m pretty unhappy with my career. I want to pursue something else without losing access to the trust fund.”
I blink. Is he for real? “You don’t want to be CEO of King Media?”
Ethan shakes his head. “I think you’d be better at it. You actually like the job.”
I mean, it’s true that I love our work, but I had no idea Ethan felt differently.
“What other career are you wanting to pursue?” It’s hard to wrap my mind around him doing something else. This has been the plan since birth.
His cheeks go pink, and I swear my jaw actually drops. When I have ever seen my confident and broody brother ever look so sheepish?
Arden’s smile is beaming. “You can tell him.”
“I was thinking medicine. Maybe oncology. I couldn’t save Mom, but maybe I could save someone like her, ya know?”
“That’s amazing, Ethan. We should talk to Dad about it, for sure.”
They both visibly brighten, and even though getting our father on board might be next to impossible, this feels like it’s going to happen.
We end up eating Chinese takeout at their place, and then I slip over to my penthouse next door. It’s getting dark, and I should be exhausted after the day I’ve had, but I’m buzzing with energy and end up pacing the length of my family room, my mind whirling with thoughts of Sybil.
It’s only been half a day, but I miss her already. I want her here with me. I want to kiss her and hold her and be secure in the knowledge that she loves me as much as I love her.
Something tickles the back of my mind—an itch I can’t seem to scratch. I feel like there’s something I’m missing.
Something important.
I veer toward my office, sliding into my chair and loading up my computer. It’s strange being home in my penthouse after it was taken over byTop of the World,even stranger seeing my house on national television every week.
All my things have returned to their rightful places, but I feel like a completely different person. I recognize this house, but the man I was six months ago is unrecognizable.
My private investigator sent me a massive document about Lance Vale, complete with the numerous files Lance kept on people, and I load it onto my computer screen. I have no doubt I’ll have many demands to delete any possible blackmail fodderI could have over board members. I’m more than happy to do that. Never have I, and neverwillI, operate like Lance Vale.
I scroll through the endless documents, my mind quickly categorizing everything, searching for something still unknown.
I’m missing something. I know I’m missing something.
Then I see it.
My mouth goes dry, my heart races, and my stomach completely flips. How could I be so stupid? I cannot believe I didn’t see this before, didn’t realize the obvious.
