Page 49 of Hush Money
“Who says ‘hitched’ anymore?” Sawyer pipes in, and I love her.
“Brooks, give it a rest,” Keaton says, but I rub his arm, letting him know I can handle whatever wrench is thrown at me today. If getting through today means being the butt of the jokes and the center of the Everett family gossip, then so be it.
“I did, Brooks,” I say, matter-of-factly. “But I think I knew all along where I was actually supposed to be. Just had to find my way back.” I look up at Keaton and wink, and he smiles down at me.
“Well, I, for one, am glad you’re here. I need some more dirt on these guys. More collateral for blackmail, ya know?” Sawyer says with a big grin, holding her glass in the air. I nod my head in her direction.
“Happy to be of service,” I say with a wink. Julian wraps an arm around her waist and smiles.
“I’m glad too,” he says with a sincerity in his eyes that feels foreign to me. “We all need our people right now.”
Brooks looks at his brothers, eyebrows raised. They don’t say anything, just shoot him a look that says, “you should have showed up.” But before Brooks can ask anything, the lights in the room flicker, and the music gets louder.
“Here he comes,” Julian warns, throwing the rest of his beer back before putting it on a tray that’s being carried by. I see him reach for Sawyer’s hand, and I interlock my fingers with Keaton’s.
“I’m here,” I whisper as his grip on me tightens.
But as his eyes narrow in on his father with a look of pure disgust, I don’t know if he is.
KEATON
“Ladies and gentlemen, the man of the hour, the man of the house, Cato Everett!” the MC says, and the crowd erupts like they are at a fucking concert.
I look around at them, wondering how many of them know. How many of them are involved with it. I know certain members of the board were at the “meetings.” I’ve had my eyes on them since I walked in the house. Fucking pigs.
I’m so mad, so disgusted at what my father has become—or maybe, what he always was. I just chose not to see it. He walks down the grand staircase like a fucking king, his third wife clung to his arm like an expensive piece of art. He waves at his admirers, people whose loyalty he has bought over the decades. They clap and wave and laugh and smile like the blind followers they are, and it’s not until Evie taps my hand that I realize how tightly I’m clutching on to her. How hard I’m gritting my teeth. How shallow my breaths are. How much pure hatred is radiating off of me.
“Breathe,” she whispers. “It’s his birthday, remember?”
I draw in a few long breaths, blowing them out slowly.
Calm down, Keaton. Play this off.
I nod back at her, looking down into those big green eyes. I feel my jaw unclench as she kisses the back of my hand. Cato takes the microphone, and I feel myself go rigid again. I look at my brother, but he is strong, collected, stoic.
Be like Julian.
“Thank you all so much for being here tonight,” Cato says, and the crowd claps. “Angelina and I really are so grateful for each and every one of you. Everett Enterprises has never been more lucrative than it has been over the last decade. We are constantly growing, even when the rest of the world is stagnant.”
How like him to turn a birthday celebration into a fucking commercial and to toot his own fucking horn.
“But more than that, we are blessed to be standing here with our family.” He turns to us, raising a glass. “Boys, there is no greater joy in my life than getting to be your father. I am so proud of each of you, and I rest easy at night, knowing that the Everett legacy will carry on because of you.”
My brothers and I look at each other, and I freeze. I feel nauseated. Julian raises his glass, and Brooks does the same. Evie nudges me, and I finally will my hand to follow suit. The room erupts with applause again.
“Still waiting on some grandchildren, though!” he adds, and the room bursts into whoops and laughter. We look at each other awkwardly, Julian feigning a smile and Brooks running a hand over his neck playfully. I take another swig of my drink. Jesus Christ.Grandchildren.If I have kids, they may never know this man.
If I can help it.
“But seriously,” Cato goes on, “thank you all for joining me to celebrate. Here’s to the next decade!” The crowd erupts again, and the five of us turn back to our table. Brooks’s date just looks on, completely unaware of anything that is being communicated amongst us. The head waiter approaches us.
“Pardon the interruption, but dinner will be served shortly. Your father has reserved your seats at the head table.”
“We need an extra seat,” Julian says. The waiter looks at me then nods.
“Yes, of course, Mr. Everett. Please follow me.”
“Think we know the way, there, big guy,” Brooks says, putting an empty beer bottle on the table. “But thanks.” He flips an imaginary cap. The waiter walks away, and Julian turns to him.
