The Fine Print

Rowan

I should go home after landing in Chicago, but I tell my driver to take me to my father’s place. After everything that happened after Zahra’s presentation, I’ve had something bugging me. It took me an entire flight to realize I have unfinished business to settle before I can finally move on. 

The pressure I’ve placed on my own shoulders to live up to some unattainable goal of proving my father wrong has poisoned enough of my life. I wanted him to recognize my worth for years when he couldn’t even see past his own misery. And now I’m done. I’m letting go of that boy who wanted to be seen by the entirely wrong person. 

I press the doorbell with one gloved finger. It takes my father a few minutes to open the door to his townhouse on the edge of the city. 

His eyes widen behind his glasses. “Rowan. Come on in.” He opens the door. 

I take a moment to assess him. His eyes seem clear and sober, and his breath lacks the distinct smell of whiskey that I’ve grown to pair with his drunken outbursts. 

I guess he’s sober enough to get through this conversation. 

I hold up my hand. “That’s not necessary. I have a couple of questions to ask you.” 

His brows knit together, but he nods anyway. “Okay.” 

“Do you think Mom would be proud of the man you’ve become since she died?” 

My father’s mouth drops open. I don’t think I’ve seen him look surprised like this before. The color leaches out of his already pale face, making him look ghostly. 

A heavy gust of wind blows toward us, snapping him out of whatever thoughts he had. 

“No. I don’t.” His head bows. 

“Why did you change?” 

“Because I was an angry, pathetic man who wanted to drown everyone in my grief so they could feel hurt like I hurt.” 

I blink at him, caught completely off guard by his candid answer. Out of all the responses I considered, the words he spoke never even made it on the list. 

He sighs as if this conversation is draining him of all his energy. “Any other questions?” 

“Do you regret falling in love with my mother?” 

“Not at all.” 

I could have sworn he would say yes. How could he not after all the pain he clearly went through? “Why not?” 

“You’ll learn that the best rewards come with the biggest consequences. Because nothing that great is given for free.” He shuts his eyes.  

If a man like him would do it all over again, that’s all I needed to hear. Because if he would relive decades of grief knowing it would result in the same outcome, then there’s something about love that must be worth the pain.

I made a huge mistake based on a complete lie I told myself year after year. I spent my entire life thinking love makes people powerless, and it does. My father is living proof of that. Love does make people helpless, but only because they willingly accept it. Because to love someone else means to trust them enough to not abuse the power they have over you. 

Despite how Zahra might feel about me, I trust her. I trust her with my whole damn heart and my future. There’s not a pros or cons list in the world that could keep me away from her anymore. 

I know what I have to do. The decision comes easy, relieving some of the tension pressing against my chest like an anvil. 

I nod. “That’s all I needed to know.” I turn and leave my father gaping at my back, finally ditching the final weight holding me back from moving on with my life.

Now I need to break the news to my brothers. 

Declan scoops up another forkful of mashed potatoes like I didn’t tell him I’m not coming back to Chicago after the vote. “No.” 

My fists remain hidden below his dining room table. “I didn’t ask for your permission.”

Cal’s head bounces between us. “Are we seriously going to fight on Christmas?” 

I ignore him. “I’m not coming back.” 

“Okay. I guess we are.” Cal grabs his drink and raises it toward me in solidarity. “Finally, it’s your turn to be the problem child for once. Welcome to the club.” He takes a deep swig. 

Declan scowls at Cal before turning his glare at me. “We already discussed this in-depth.” 

“It doesn’t matter what we decided before. Things change, and I’m not giving up my position as the Director, so find a new CFO.” 

The muscle in Declan’s jaw ticks. “How could you possibly prefer being the Director of a theme park over becoming the CFO of one of the top companies in the world?”

“Because I met someone special and I’m not going to give her up for some goddamn desk job thousands of miles away where I would be miserable without her.”

Declan looks at a loss for words. 

“Holy shit,” Cal whispers under his breath. “Are you serious?” 

I nod. 

Cal blinks twice before speaking again. “What have you been hiding?” 

“Nothing I want you poking your limp dick around.”  

“Now I definitely need to visit Dreamland. Our baby brother has been keeping some big secrets from us.” Cal elbows Declan with a smile. 

Declan shoves Cal away. “It’s only considered a secret if I had no idea.” 

Cal stares at Declan. “You knew this whole time and you didn’t tell me?!” 

“He took a vacation. That in itself was a cause for alarm. Try to use some of the few brain cells you have left, Callahan.”

“Fuck you.” He glares at Declan before turning his head in my direction. “I hate feeling left out.” 

Declan refocuses his irritation on me. “You’re doing all of this because of a girl?” 

“No. I’m doing this because I like who I strive to be when I’m with that girl.” 

“Damn. Rowan might not speak much but when he does—” Cal does a chef’s kiss. “Poetry.” 

Declan shakes his head, clearly not sharing Cal’s sentiment. “You’ve completely lost your goddamn mind.” 

I shrug. “Maybe. But at least it’s fun.” 

Cal laughs.  

“You’ll be begging me for the CFO position in six months.” Declan crosses his arms. 

I shake my head. “I won’t.” 

Cal claps a hand on Declan’s shoulder with a smile. “Cheer up, buttercup. I can lend a hand and help you with your duties until you find a new replacement.” 

“The job requires more math abilities than adding two plus two.” 

“I think my little brain can keep up.” Cal taps his temple. He might have ADHD, but he has the highest IQ out of all of us. If only he had the drive to apply himself. 

I speak up. “You know, Iris could help you with some of the workload. I saw how well you worked together, and she could definitely handle some of your tasks while you search for a wife.” 

Declan rubs his chin. “Maybe. I’ll have to think it over.” 

“Rowan, we’re supposed to protest against Iris working more hours.” Cal sighs. “Poor girl probably forgot what the sun looks like with all the hours Declan makes her work.” 

I don’t care about Iris or her schedule so long as I get what I want. While I might be interested in changing some of my old ways, I’ll never stop being greedy when it comes to Zahra. She will always be the exception to any rule and the one person I’m willing to screw the world over for. Because if she’s not happy, I’ll ruin whatever stole her smile, myself included. 

I grip onto the plastic bag with a chokehold as I slam the knocker on Zahra’s apartment door. After my jet was grounded for an extra hour today due to Christmas day traffic, I couldn’t make it back as early as I would have hoped. But I’m here now and ready to speak to Zahra. Since everything is settled with the Director position, I can use it as a bargaining chip to show her my good faith.