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“Busy doing what exactly? Scheduling book signings in New York for no other reason except that you’re losing your goddamn mind?”
My grip on the phone tightens. “How did you find out about that?”
“I know about everything that happens within the company, including the fact that you took a vacation for the first time in years. What the hell is going on with you?”
“It’s a long story.”
“Give me the abridged version.”
I drop into my leather chair. “Is this the real reason behind your call?”
“No, but I want to know why you’re acting like a dumbass only a few weeks before the vote.”
“I decided to spend a weekend doing something I liked.”
“Save me the bullshit excuse about New York.”
“I don’t need to give you an excuse. You’re not my keeper.”
“No, but I’m the one who’s going to knock some sense into you when you’ve clearly lost your goddamn mind over a woman.”
What the fuck? He knows about Zahra? “Who told you anything?”
“I have eyes and ears everywhere, Rowan.”
“Stop poking around in my affairs. If I wanted to tell you what I was up to, I would.”
“No, you wouldn’t. You never do.”
I chuckle low under my breath.
He sighs like he’s carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. “I’m worried about you.”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t be.” It feels pointless to even say it. Declan might act like a hardass, but I know it comes from a good place. His protective instinct has been ingrained in him since a young age.
“I don’t like the idea of some woman manipulating you into taking time off so close before the vote. It’s suspicious.”
My jaw clamps down. “I don’t see how that’s possible when it was my idea.”
“You actually like her?” He laughs mockingly.
“Is that so hard to believe?”
“And to think I considered you my more intelligent brother. What a disappointment.”
My molars grind together. “Declan, I’m in the middle of something so either get to the point of your phone call or I’m going to hang up.”
“The letters have been sent to Grandpa’s chosen voting committee.”
Fuck. This is the last kind of stressor I need. “Any word on who he picked?”
“No, but you need to get your shit together because we’re all depending on your presentation.”
“I’ve been prepping for months. There’s no way I don’t have this vote locked down.”
“Good. Once you get the approving votes, you’ll spend a month transitioning the next Director into the role and they’ll take on the project from there.”
“I thought while you were settling everything with your part of the letter, I could stay here and oversee the project myself.” The idea slips out of me. If I stay at Dreamland, it will give me time to work through my feelings for Zahra without sacrificing anything in the process.
If we fizzle out, I go back to Chicago like pla
And if you don’t?
The silence coming from Declan’s end of the phone makes the back of my neck prickle.
“I thought you were joking.” He speaks after a whole minute.
“No. What’s the point in me moving back if you still haven’t gotten married yet?”
“You’re going to shadow me and take over a portion of my CFO role so I can concentrate on finding my future wife.”
My teeth grind together. “Give me six more months as the Director. It’ll be less confusing for the employees to have a Director for a whole year.”
“Since when do you care about confusing employees?”
“It’s my job to care.”
Declan’s low laugh carries through the small speaker. “No. It’s your job to finish up and move back to Chicago after the vote.”
“Grandpa said I have to be Director for at least six months. But he never stated when I had to leave.”
“I’m well aware of what Grandpa said. It doesn’t change the outcome for you. I’ve already chosen the next Director and he will be contacting your secretary after the vote.”
“You’re not the CEO yet. You can’t force me to move back whenever you snap your fingers.”
“Let’s be real. The only reason you’re interested in staying there is because of a woman. You don’t even like Dreamland, so cut the shit.”
My nails dig into my palm. “No. That’s not true. I actually enjoy this job.”
He sighs in a way that reminds me of when we were kids and I begged him for dessert before di
Fuck. I put him on speaker and run my hands through my hair.
How am I supposed to choose between my brother and Zahra? My distress over the decision is laughable after everything Declan has done for me throughout my life.
I hate that my brother has a point. I hate that I know I owe him this much, despite my feelings toward Zahra. Declan was always there for me when my father was drunk or absent. He was the one who taught me how to ride a bike just like he was the one who stayed up late helping me with my homework despite having his own. Hell, he sacrificed an Ivy League education so he could stay in Chicago to take care of Cal and me. In some ways, he became a parent figure when I didn’t have one.
All I feel is abdominal distress at the idea of choosing him over Zahra. Nothing about moving back to Chicago seems easy, especially now.
You were the one who wanted something casual with Zahra. Get over it.
I release a heavy sigh. “Okay.”
I expect some type of relief at agreeing to his plan, but instead, I feel a heavy weight pressing against my chest. Because to please my brother, I’m bound to hurt the one person I’ve grown to care about.