Taken by Storm (Give & Take) - By Kelli Maine Page 0,17
If you find him, you can ask him of course, but I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you.”
MJ watched Rachael’s chin jut forward. She’d soon learn obstinacy didn’t get you anywhere with his grandfather. You couldn’t affect someone who didn’t give a shit.
“I’ll let you know,” MJ said. “I need to think about it.”
The corner of his grandfather’s mouth twitched. “While you’re thinking about it, think about finding a permanent residence somewhere near. A corporate president doesn’t live with his granddad.”
Granddad? MJ had never once called him that. And the permanent residence was just a way to get him out of this house under the guise of looking and acting like a corporate president. He’d never been welcome here, and the Old Man couldn’t send him away to boarding school anymore.
Not that it mattered. MJ didn’t want to be here anymore than his grandfather wanted him to be. He should’ve found a lease that went through the summer.
MJ stood and smoothed the legs of his jeans. “That it?”
“That’s it.” His grandfather pushed his chair out from the desk.
“Wait.” Rachael stood and stepped up to Enzo’s desk. “Why now? After twenty years, why tell Merrick about him now?”
Enzo braced both hands on his desk. “As I said, I spent a lot of money keeping Gina’s family quiet. They agreed on one condition: Keeping Merrick out of MJ’s life. Once he was eighteen though it was out of my hands. MJ’s a man, as is his father, and men need to deal with the truth. I should’ve told him two years ago.”
MJ studied Rachael’s face. She wasn’t buying it. Good for her. It was all bullshit. Everything out of Enzo Rocha’s mouth was bullshit, MJ had learned that early on.
Rachael lifted her chin slightly higher and let her stony stare linger on Enzo for a moment longer. “Your son is nothing that you make him out to be,” she said, and strode out of the office ahead of MJ.
He caught up with her in the hallway. “Hey, don’t worry about any of that. I’ve known him long enough to not become one of his minions.”
Rachael’s gaze darted over his shoulder to the closed office door at the end of the hall. “Minion, huh? What do you think he has up his sleeve?”
MJ glanced behind him. Within the Old Man’s earshot was not the place to discuss Enzo’s motives. He took her by the elbow, led her through the house and out the back door to the patio. “I think you and I both know there’s no chance of me successfully managing Rocha Enterprises. Even if there were, I don’t want it. When I fail, he’s free to own everything with a clear conscience and not look like the bad guy. Keeping up appearances is as vital as air to the Old Man.”
Rachael shot one hip out and tapped her foot. “So, this is all a ploy to keep control of the company himself. I see.” She yanked her cell phone out of her pocket and started jabbing buttons sending a text message. “He better get his ass here,” she muttered.
“My… Merrick?” MJ couldn’t bring himself to say dad.
“Yes. I can’t fight this battle by myself. He needs to face this. And why wouldn’t he tell me your mother was dead and he thought you were too? God, that man!” She shook her head and poked the SEND button. “I’m sorry, by the way,” she said, looking up at him, “about your mom.”
He smiled, wanting to put her at ease. “It’s okay. I never knew her.”
She eased her phone back into her pocket and crossed her arms appraising him. “What do you want to do if not run Rocha Enterprises?”
His throat burned knowing he’d have to admit he was a total fuckup, and he ran his hands through the back of his hair. “I did want to be a scout for probaseball.”
“Not anymore?” She rocked from foot to foot.
“I don’t think it’s an option for me at this point.” Getting kicked off the team was probably not a step in the direction of his dreams. No pro team would touch a guy who wasn’t a team player on and off the field.
Rachael tilted her head. “What are you going to do then?”
He chuckled. She was unbelievable. Why couldn’t she let it go? “It’s undetermined.”
He noticed her hand press against the phone in her pocket, as if anticipating a return message from his dad. What kind of asshole lets his girlfriend walk