“Yes but, Julian said legacy is nothing but shackles to one’s dreams,” I say, watching him carefully. He sighs, running a hand through his hair.
“Okay…”
“I guess my question here is, why?”
“Why?”
“Yes, why does he say that?” I watch him. “I thought the Fitzgerald house has always been passed down from one generation to the next since the empire started. Julian is your oldest son, isn’t he going to inherit the legacy one day?”
A moment of silence passes between us and for a second, I fear that I might have overstepped, but I keep a straight face, eyes wide, the perfect face of innocent inquiry.
I have this nagging feeling that whatever Julian’s secret that he’s keeping from Liam has everything to do with this man and the deal they made and buried. Time to dig it out.
“That’s true, you’re up to date with this aren’t you?”
“Well, I’ve been known to be a scholar myself,” I smile sweetly. “But you haven’t answered my question.”
“Well, Mia, I apologize for my son’s rudeness. He, well, let’s just say Julian has strong feelings toward doing anything I tell him to.”
I wonder why.
“He has authority issue?” I question instead, with a small smile on my face. Authority issues are the least of Julian’s problems.
“You could say that.”
Hmm, he’s a bit tongue-tied. Let’s press the bloody, gushing wound a bit more.
“I also heard that the Fitzgerald House can’t be led or run by anyone who isn’t of the bloodline,” I start, and he frowns. “Is that true?”
“You’ve done your research, huh?” he says, his gaze narrowed on me.
“Unfortunately, your family affairs are more public than the average household’s dirty laundry”
“Unfortunately, Mia, you’re right about that. About everything in fact.” John sighs, dropping into his leather chair. “See, in the interest of security of a legacy that has thrived generation from generation, the Fitzgerald House, including the corporations, all the businesses, have to be run by a Fitzgerald. But Julian passed that by.”
I can’t say I’m surprised by that. Julian is nothing if not rebellious when it comes to his father.
“Is that possible?” I question.
“Well, not usually, but because I have another son…” he trails off the meaning of his words.
“But?” I step closer, tasting the juicy secrets about to be spilled.
“But the Fitzgerald legacy has always been complicated Mia,” he says. “See, Julian had to strike a deal with me.”
Here we go!
“A deal?” I press, with a frown on my face.
“Yes,” he nods. “The boy wants to play professional football. I agreed, only if he’ll make sure that Liam will have no choice but to run the company when the times comes.”
I freeze, my jaw slack as I look at him.
“What?” I demand.
“Since Julian refused, everything’s now up to Liam who can’t refuse at all.”
Oh my God. I can’t believe Julian would do that to Liam. Hell, I’ve talked to Liam, he wants absolutely nothing to do with his family’s legacy. If anything, he was actually relived that Julian would take over all that responsibility. My heart’s pounding as I hold John’s stare.
“How can you both be sure that Liam would agree to that? He still has a choice, doesn’t he?”
“Actually, with Julian forfeiting, Liam literally doesn’t have a choice. Unless of course, he wants out.”
“Out?” I gasp, dread making me tremble in my shoes. I feel so protective of Liam, this is seriously upsetting me.
“Well, if Liam refuses to execute the duties this family demands he does, he will be cut off completely. From everything. Money, the power of the family name, everything.”
“You can’t do that. This isn’t the middle ages, John.” Or a mafia, unless it is?
I’m tense as I wait for his response. John tilts his head to the left, studying me.
“Mia, it’s all up to them. Julian made his choice.”
He sold his brother for selfish reasons.
“Soon, Liam will have to make his.”
“But, isn’t there a way for…”
“Mia, I know you’re a smart, sweet girl, but this is for my sons to bear,” he says. “I do admire you for wanting to keep your own family’s legacy alive. Your father should be proud.”
My father, huh?
I’m starting to hate fathers. Mine and the man before me.
“I bet he is, wherever he is,” I say, then turn on my heel and leave, unable to believe that Julian could hurt Liam like that.
26
JULIAN
“So, how’s it going with our new house guests? They moved in already, huh?” Liam questions, a smirk on his face. We’re in the car. I just picked his ass up from the