Page 88 of Who We Love

Matthew

Thanksto the help of Tristan and Mason, the headquarters of Colthurt Productions moved from L.A. to Seattle. We have two studios in Kirkland and four in Vancouver.

The new offices are close to Decker Records and Ainsley’s art academy. Their buildings are similar—old brick historical from the outside. However, the production company doesn’t have walls covered up with posters, framed billboard charts, or pictures of bands that have recorded in their studios.

Here the immaculate white walls blend with the glass desks. The décor is all Pria, our image consultant, and her team.

Dad has an office here, too. He’s out of retirement and back into showbiz. His decision was based on a mixture of the way television and movies are being made, how the business is changing, and that the offices are only twenty-five minutes from his house.

He works for me.

Convenient, but at the same time a pain in the ass. He calls me whenever and asks to see me at any time. Like now, since he wants to discuss the Nexus Point series.

Shutting the door of his office behind me, I wait for him to finish his conversation with Papa. I sit down in the chair across from him, pull out my tablet, and check my emails. I don’t pay attention to what my parents discuss. Though, I am thankful I didn’t catch them making out like last week.

“Did you find him?” Gabe asks anxiously.

I set my iPad on top of his desk and grab his pen to chew on it.

“Or her?” Papa adds because according to him, J. M. Hurst could be the pen name of a woman too. “I can have Mason do the work, Matt. We have assets for that kind of shit.”

My jaw tenses. This is it. I let out a frustrated sigh. They never trust what I am capable of doing. Hence, we’re having this conversation today. My family is invested in a sci-fi series. The Nexus Point series.

They want to buy the rights to make them into movies or a TV show. Maybe I can be the screenwriter since I know so much about the series.

“I love you dearly, but I hate when you assume that I can’t take care of shit.” I drum the pen against the desk. “Makes me feel useless. Reminds me that I have limitations.”

“We know you are capable, but also that you pile on more than you can carry.” Papa takes a breath, moving from one side of the room to the other and then stopping in front of me. “It has never been our intention to make you feel… Really? You have unlimited potential, Matt. You set your goals, meet them, and add more… and more and, for fuck’s sake, concentrate on one thing and stop trying to prove yourself to us. Right, babe?”

Dad purses his lips and straightens his posture before leveling his gaze. “That’s why I let you head this company, Mattie. Because you’re capable of that and more. You almost failed because you believed those jackasses—the board. You let the suits walk all over you. Once you spoke up and made your own decisions, the company took a different direction. You moved the entire operation here. That’s fantastic.”

I grab a Post-it from his desk to explain who J. M. Hurst is. Switching my initials J.M. to M.J. and adding the Colt to Hurst. As not many know that my name is Matthew James Colthurst-Decker, the connection between the two is almost impossible. They’re both quiet, staring at each other for a few minutes. Papa looks at Dad, who studies me, and I wish I knew what they were thinking.

“Talk about putting extra shit on your plate, Mattie.” Papa takes a deep breath, and his eyes move from Dad’s to mine a few times. “Gabe, our son is a kickass author.”

The pressure I’d felt since the moment I decided to tell them about it is gone. Damn. They’re making it too simple. Usually, they make a big deal out of myoops, I own that company too.Not anymore.

“Well then, have Pria’s people release a communication that we’ve acquired the rights,” Dad begins ordering. “Tomorrow you can set up your team and start working on the script.”

I nod, standing up and picking up my tablet before I leave. “Do we really want to make this into a movie?”

“It’ll be a great series of movies, Matthew,” Dad says, staring at me. “You’ve created great things in the past year. You’re cut out for this and much more, Son.”

Much more.I feel more hope knowing my personal life is headed in the right direction, especially after working with Tristan. Not only professionally, but as a couple. If I can have another miracle, I might be able to work things out with Thea this upcoming weekend.

ChapterFifty-Eight

Thea

“Lunch is on its way,”Lisa, the receptionist, says through the intercom.

“Thank you?” Before I ponder where that lunch came from, there’s a knock on my door. “Come on in,” I call out, rising from my seat and searching for my wallet to pay for…

As the door opens and I look up into the face of who just stepped into my office, I feel dizzy. My unstable legs barely sustain me as his green eyes find mine. Stunned to see him, I momentarily forget how to breathe or speak.

“Tristan.” His name leaves my mouth the moment I take my first breath.

Out of impulse, or just because I can’t stop my treacherous legs, I rush to where he stands, and he meets me halfway.

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