Page 61 of The Rebel

Each time we came, we sat at that table.

But none of those occasions felt anything like this.

This was … too much.

Oh shit.

Now, I really couldn’t breathe.

I left Ridge’s side and moved into fourth position, doing everything I could to fill my lungs, to calm the storm exploding within me, to ignore the churning that had amplified during this walk.

But nothing helped.

Nothing soothed these sensations.

If anything, they increased.

The jitters. The nausea. The discomfort.

Once we reached the door, my father turned and faced us. “Remember, I’ve made my decision. There’s nothing any of you can do to change what’s about to happen.” The pause that followed reinforced his statement. “So, what I need is for each of you to go in there and act like a Cole. I need you to represent our brand and family name and not do anything to embarrass me or yourselves.” His stare moved to Rhett. “I mean it, Rhett. We will not have the police called on us. You will not raise your fists. This is a business meeting. I expect you to treat it like one.”

“Fuuuck,” Rhett growled quietly.

“I’m doing this for the three of you,” my father continued. “I know you don’t see that now, but you will.”

The talk.

We’d gotten the same one yesterday.

This morning.

And now, here—again.

But it was needed because my father’s assessment was right; the three of us didn’t believe this meeting was for us.

It was for him.

And the reason behind that was something we couldn’t understand.

As his words sank in, I could feel my brothers’ emotions bubbling through their suits.

“Nod your head and tell me you’re going to comply,” my father hissed to my oldest brother.

Rhett reluctantly gave my father the gesture he’d demanded from him.

Ridge did as well.

Dad’s eyes eventually landed on me.

“Of course,” I whispered, the movement in my throat reminding me that my stomach was far from settled.

My father’s stare circled our small group. “Then, let’s go show them the power of the Coles.”

Before any of us could respond, he opened the door, and my anxiety lifted to a peak I hadn’t anticipated. While I watched my father step inside the conference room, my knees weakened. My heart clutched as Rhett moved in directly behind him, my stomach clenching into a ball as Ridge proceeded.

I gazed at their profiles.

Their reactions.

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