Page 98 of Galen's Redemption
“Yes!”
Galen sounded absolutely astounded, and Robert had to admit he was dying to find out what was going on.
“Are you going to tell me?”
“Sorry,Robert. He’s off on the computer again.”
“Andy? What the hell’s going on?”
“The site he and Olivia put up? It’s already gone viral. More people are logging in and putting their stories up, and this time they’re including Galen’s mother. Now the news stations are calling to interview Galen. It’s a madhouse. Channels 4, 6, 12, and 58 all want to get an exclusive.Good Morning, Americahas beentrying to get Galen to fly out to New York to talk about it.Peoplemagazine wants to do Galen’s story. Everyone wants a piece of him now.”
“Oh.” Robert’s heart sank. Of course everyone wanted a piece of Galen. “Well, okay. Tell him I’ll call him back later, would you?”
“What? Wait a second.”
A shout and then loud thumps before Galen came back on the phone. “What do you mean, you’ll call meback later?”
“You’re busy.”
“Yes, I am. I’m going out to dinner with my boyfriend.”
“But they want interviews with you, and—”
“And I’m telling them no.”
What?“Why?”
“Let me spell it out for you very slowly. I’m having dinner with my boyfriend.”
“But this is what you wanted.”
Galen chuckled. “No. I wanted to get the story out there. I’ve done that. Let them do the work, because I’ve gota date.”
Holy crap! “You’re choosing me?”
Galen’s voice softened. “I’m always going to choose you. I didn’t want my father to get away with what he’s done, but he’s not my priority anymore. You, Cassie, and everyone else at the shelter is. Dear old Dad will get what’s coming to him in due time.”
Robert scrubbed at his burning eyes. He was sure it was from the onions he cut the other day, becauseno way was he crying.
“When the story broke, the first to call was Father. Do you know he had the balls to ask me what the hell I was doing to my family?Myfamily. The ones who were willing to split up Lincoln from the man he loved, and the one who pretty much told me I’m useless.”
“Which you’re not.”
“Damn straight, I’m not!” Galen sighed. “I realize I’m going to have to answer questionsin the future. The company’s lawyers have been calling, as well as members of the board. They’re doing major damage control right now. They’re acting all shocked and everything, despite the fact that there were a lot of complaints against Father that stretched back years. Now, suddenly, they’re taking them seriously. Father’s been asked to step down, and they’ve offered me my job, with a hefty raiseand a promotion to CEO, but only if I walk the story back. I refused. Then they tried to dangle a carrot in front of me, telling me they’d release all my assets. All those things came from Primal, and I’m not proud of what I did to get them. I said they should go ahead and keep them.”
“You did not.”
“Oh, I did. And when I asked why they hadn’t called Lincoln, they hemmed and hawed, but eventuallyadmitted they did, and he turned them down flat. Even now, I still come in second to my brother. Oh well. Either way, I told them to kiss my ass. If they had contacted me first, I still would have said no. You’ve given me purpose in life and made me happy. Why would I want to walk away from that?”
Robert’s heart wanted to burst from his chest, he was so damn proud.
“Now, about dinner. I wasthinking maybe we could skip right to dessert.” Galen’s tone was seductive. “I’m in the mood for something cream-filled tonight.”
“I will give you anything you want, anytime you want it. Because I love you.”
“And now you know why I did what I did. I love you too.”
Robert’s heart turned to mush hearing those words. He just hoped he’d always be worthy of them.
