in,” Jason said. “It’s far too hot to stand outside and talk.” He led the way back inside, where blessed air conditioning filled the house. The ceiling rose at least three stories above Hunter, the inlays of gold reminding him that this Hammond had money—and a lot of it.
Hunter could have a house like this if he so chose. He didn’t have to work at all, and he thought of the extra barns and stables going in out at the family farm, once again wondering if he should quit at HMC completely and focus on his true passion—the farm. Helping others, especially those who’ve served their country and community.
“Something to drink?” Jason asked.
“What do you do?” Hunter asked.
“Water for me,” Wes said. “Wait. I’ll take a diet cola if you’ve got one.”
“I do.” Jason lifted his hand and looked at Hunter. “I’m a stock broker.”
Whatever Hunter had expected him to say, it wasn’t that. He blinked at him, even more surprised when a woman wearing a pale teal dress crossed the lobby with a tray balanced on her palm, a single glass of dark brown liquid on it.
“Diet cola,” she said, extending the tray toward Wes.
“Stock broker,” Hunter said, watching Uncle Wes take a sip of his cola, then watching the woman walk away. “You know, I’m not sure I believe that.”
“Well, I’m a Hammond too,” he said. “My father only had two sons, while Wes’s here had five.”
“Yes,” Wes said. “Us Hammonds under Chris are at a severe disadvantage.” He rolled his eyes, which caused Hunter to smile.
Jason grinned too, indicating they should follow him further into the house. He led them into a room to the left, where bookshelves lined the walls from floor to ceiling. Molly would love this place. Hunter didn’t read many novels, and he loved it.
The knowledge contained in these books…he could feel the power of it streaming through the room. “Wow,” he said.
“This is my father’s collection,” Jason said. “He and my mother had to relocate after her surgery, and I took over their house.”
“Oh, so this isn’t your place,” Wes said. “Things make so much more sense now.”
“Do they?” Jason laughed as he sat on a leather sofa. “I’m glad.” He waited a moment as Wes and Hunter sat down. “I suppose you came to talk me into claiming a right to the CEO position at the family company.” He lifted a cup of coffee to his lips, his eyes never leaving Wes’s.
“That’s right,” Uncle Wes said, not even bothering to hide it. “See, Hunter’s got a Master’s degree in Bioinformatics, and he’s needed in the lab.” He leaned forward, putting his elbows on his knees. “You don’t need the money, and if you’re a broker, you can simply pass your clients to someone else in the firm for a few years.”
Jason listened, his dark eyes hardening by the moment. “I’m not going to be the CEO.”
“Why not?” Uncle Wes asked.
Jason turned away and put his coffee cup back on the saucer on the small table next to the couch. “Wes, we are quite different in age. You’re what? Sixty?”
“Sixty-two,” Uncle Wes said, his voice guarded now.
“I’m only thirty-seven,” Jason said. “Twenty-five years can conceal a lot of secrets.”
Hunter frowned, trying to read between the lines.
“I don’t understand,” Uncle Wes said.
“I live in this house simply to honor my parents, but I have no desire to work at HMC. I tried, for a year or two, and it is simply not for me.” He looked at Hunter. “I understand your dilemma. I feel it inside me too. If one of us doesn’t take the reins, who will? Someone outside the family? Then what becomes of the Hammond family company? Will the values be the same? Will the direction change?”
The man had just vocalized all of Hunter’s jumbled thoughts.
Jason gave a small smile. “It is a sacrifice I cannot make.” He looked at Uncle Wes. “Not only that, but I was told in no uncertain terms by the current CEO that there would never be a position I was worthy to fill at HMC.”
“What?” Uncle Wes asked. “Why?”
Even Hunter leaned forward, but Jason’s face gave away nothing.
“When I worked there, I worked with Kent in the financial department. I made some suggestions to how HMC invests and in what stock. I prepared a portfolio I thought would take us into the future with even more money.”
Hunter exchanged a glance with Wes, his thoughts suddenly firing rapidly.