Page 13 of Galen's Redemption
“I have too much to do.”
“One drink.”
The last time he’d said that, Galen had wound up online with a video of him being fucked by two men. No, thanks. Even though his face wasn’t really visible, he had no desire to repeat that performance. Well, not publicly, anyway.
“No. And don’t bother whining, because I’m not changing my mind. Sunday is my day of rest.” Or it should be. He was up to his elbows in straightening out the mess with the Wayne acquisition. He had to have it all done by Monday so he could show it to his father in their morning meeting.
“You used to be fun.”
Andy was fuming, and normally Galen would do his best to assuage the hurt feelings,but he simply didn’t have the time.
“Look, I’m sorry, okay? I have a lot of work to do tonight, so I can’t go anywhere.” As much as he hated himself for what he was about to say, he did it anyway. “What if you pick up a pizza and a six-pack and bring them over here? We can sit and talk for a bit.”
“But I wanted to go out and get laid.”
Of course he did. “Then you’ll have to go without me.”
“It’s just one drink.”
Galen squeezed his eyes shut, hoping to stave off the impending headache. “The last time you said that, I wound up drunk off my ass with two guys fucking me.”
Andy gave a wistful sigh. “Yeah, you have all the luck. Even if you weren’t rich, the dark hair and gray eyes make you stunning to look at. It must be such a burden for you.”
Great, now he was going to be snippy.
“Yes, because I don’t have to work three times as hard to prove myself to my father, so that I can be considered half as good as my brother—who, if you recall, doesn’t even work for him anymore. Not being his pride and joy is such a relief, right?” Okay, so Galen was snippy too. “I’m sorry, Andy. I wish I could, but I just can’t.”
“Fine. Have a good night. Maybe I’ll talk to you later.”
He hungup, leaving Galen feeling oddly empty inside. Galen tossed his phone on the table, got up, and walked to the window. He stood staring out into the night from his penthouse. Having Olivia tell him he was too good for working with his father? That had been shocking. But he’d been stewing over it the whole weekend. He knew he wasn’t Lincoln, but he was there, damn it. Why did his father have to treathim like a poor substitute for his brother? Why couldn’t he pull his head out of his ass and see how much Galen went through to try to make him proud? He’d never walked away from his family like Lincoln did. Galen had been at work, every day, pulling in business left and right, while Lincoln frittered away time he could have better spent at the office. Still, for whatever reason, Lincoln seemedto be Father’s favorite.
When it came time for meetings, even when Galen was the one who brokered the deal, Father had taken Lincoln along. Accolades that rightly belonged to Galen went to someone else. Prime assignments, like acquiring a company that would be a feather in Primal’s cap, always went to Lincoln. What was it about him? Did Father not think Galen could be as ruthless? Had he notproven himself time and time again?
He paced around the room, his head throbbing. He thought back to the things he’d done since he started working for his father. He wasn’t at all surprised by the sheer number of things he’d done that Lincoln had gotten credit for.
Annoyance swept over Galen. What would it take before his father saw him? It wasn’t like he could work harder than he had been.He worked twelve to fourteen hours a day.
But Lincoln works eighteen.
And he already had enough stuff heaped on Olivia, so it wasn’t like he could give her more. Maybe he could hire a second assistant.
Lincoln does it all on his own.
And if the only way Galen could find a little companionship for a few hours was to go to a bar and get fucked like a piece of meat? So be it.
Lincoln has a lover.
Galen sank back against the couch. His father was right for choosing Lincoln over him. He’d never be able to hold a candle to what Lincoln could accomplish.
He picked his phone up off the table, stabbed a finger on the screen, and dialed the last number. When Andy answered, Galen huffed out a frustrated breath. “Where did you say you were going tonight? I think a drink sounds like a good idea.”
If he was too sick to work tomorrow, too goddamn bad. Maybe his father could see what it was like when he didn’t have a lapdog to kick around.
