made it hard for him to sleep. If he doesn’t take the company it will be sold to someone else, and years upon years of work will amount to nothing.
“Well, for one, my health has changed.” I sit up a little straighter at his words, a million different scenarios going through my head. Is he sick? Dying? Does he have cancer like Reed’s mom?
Concern seems to pinch all three of the men’s brows as they wait for their dad to answer. Ryker pipes up first, asking what everyone else is probably thinking. “Sick? Are you okay?”
Clark smiles lovingly at him. “I’m getting older, and with age comes illness. I won’t go into the details on the matter right now, but I have changed my mind on handing the business over and thus added some stipulations into transferring everything over to Reed.”
It’s strange how in that moment I can feel Reed’s fear as it slams into me, blanketing me, suffocating me. I feel all of his emotions and it terrifies me. He’s usually so calm and collected, and seeing him so out of sorts is strange. He always controls the situation, never letting it control him.
“What kind of stipulations? I’ll do whatever you need me to. I’m here for you and the company. You know that.” Anguish overtakes him and it takes all I have not to rush over and comfort him. I know if I do though, he won’t be happy. Reed hates office gossip, and everyone in the office already assumes we’re having sex due to all the time we spend together.
Clark’s heavy sigh is one I’ve heard many times with all the time I spent in their house when we were growing up. Anytime one of the boys did something to disappoint him, he’d make that sound and they’d all immediately feel bad and do whatever they had to so he’d be proud of them again.
But something tells me there’s no talking their way out of this one. Clark has made up his mind.
When he speaks again, the stipulation drops like a bomb. We’re all in shock. “I’ve decided I want a grandchild before the company can be transferred into your name, Reed.”
My heart slams against my rib-cage as real fear invades me. That means Reed will have to get married. He’ll have to find someone to love and my chances of being that woman will be over. It will be too late to tell him I love him.
With blurry vision and heat crawling over my skin, I want to jump up and volunteer, but I know that will only lead to rejection, and even worse losing his friendship.
Reed clears his throat, opening his mouth like he’s going to say something, but his father lifts a hand, cutting him off with one singular motion.
“I’ve made my decision, and I won’t listen to anything you have to say on the matter. Give me a grandchild and the company is yours. Refuse, and I’ll have somebody here to buy us out tomorrow.” The sound of pen against paper fills the room, and then complete silence encompasses us. I peek up at the men across the table from me, their faces full of varying emotions. Reed looks pissed, terrified and enraged. Ryker is smiling ear to ear, though I’m not sure why.
He winks when he catches me staring at him, causing my cheeks to warm and I quickly look away. My gaze moves to Remy, who seems to be out of it, not really caring what happens with the family business.
After his final words, Clark dismisses the entire room. As people filter out, him included, I remain seated, too afraid of what might occur once the room is empty. I never thought I’d see the day where Reed’s father would force him to get married and have children.
“What in the actual fuck just happened?” Reed swears, which is completely unlike him, at least when it comes to being in a work setting.
Ryker shrugs, “Dad one-upped you. Hell, he just grabbed you by the balls.” He seems overly happy for someone who just found out that his entire family's business is riding on whether or not his older brother can create a baby with another person ... and soon.
Reed pushes up from the heavy oak table, his chair slamming against the wall of glass behind him. “Shut the hell up. You’ve been on my ass since you stepped foot in the office and it’s getting old real fast.”