Page 74 of Steel Queen

I looked around the corridor before speaking. “And are you done processing?”

“Yeah,” said Corey. “There’s no point in being as dramatic as No, but yeah, the CEO position is yours.” His smile turned brighter. “Make us proud, Milla. No matter what happens, we’ll back you up and protect you.”

Warmth burst inside me.

I blinked, wondering if this was all a dream.

Could Brian really be my dad? Were the Amhurst brothers really telling me they’d protect me? Was this all just a dream?

Struggling against the urge to pinch myself, I added, “Are you sure you guys wouldn’t regret this decision?”

“What’s there to regret?” said Caleb. “You’re his daughter. You have a share in everything that our parents built. You’re the smartest among us and deserve the position. Noah’s great but he sucks at negotiations. He’ll help you with operations and we’ll lend you all our support.”

“Why do you keep looking around like that?” Corey asked with a frown, noticing the way my eyes darted around the corridor. “Does it still bother you to be alone with us?”

“What? No!” I gasped. “It’s just...” I lowered my voice. “We shouldn’t be talking about this stuff here. If you guys are free now, why not join me? I’m heading home to cook dinner for Brian. We can visit him together.”

They glanced at each other, doing their weird telepathic ritual where they silently communicated with each other.

“We’ll come,” said Corey, gazing back at me.

I didn’t even have to wait for Caleb’s reply. Turning away, I rolled my eyes. Some things never changed.

They followed me as I headed into an empty elevator.

I took my phone out when the doors opened in the basement area.

Tom and Greg were still in the building, waiting for me to contact them.

“Hey,” I said as soon as Greg picked up. “I have Corey and Caleb with me. They’re coming home with me and then, we’ll go visit Brian in the hospital. Since they’ll be with me, you guys can take a break.”

“We’re getting too many breaks,” Greg replied in a grim tone. “Are you sure you still need us around?”

His question struck me.

I hadn’t needed them much ever since I came back to Silverlake City. Maybe it was my deep familiarity with this town. Or maybe it was Corey, Caleb, and Noah’s presence here.

I glanced toward Corey and Caleb who were waiting by my car. Their presence kept my anxiety away. In the strangest way, I felt safe with them.

“We’ll talk later,” I said, knowing I’d have to let them go sooner or later. They weren’t the type to hang around a client if there was no job to be done.

“Everything okay?” asked Corey as I unlocked the car.

“Yeah. I was just telling Greg to take a break.”

Corey and Caleb climbed into the backseats. They both shirked off their jackets and opened the top few buttons of their shirts. Their actions were so identical, I watched them in a mesmerized haze.

“Oi, you okay?” Corey called out, giving me a start.

“Yeah,” I said, turning to the front and strapping my seatbelt in.

A long breath escaped me as the car drove through the gates of the company headquarters. We could all relax and be ourselves now.

“This is the first time you’re taking us home,” said Caleb from the backseat. “How about we make a stop and buy some flowers and wine for the place?”

“What’s the point?” asked Corey. “She won’t be staying there long anyway.”

“I guess you’re right,” said Caleb.

---