Page 8 of Obsessed with the Heartbreaker

But at the same time, I couldn’t dismiss it.

Failing would reflect badly on everyone around me, even if accepting it might hurt me worse.

So, in the end, I settled for, “Thank you, I’ll consider it.”

I was grateful that Connell tended to see such ‘humble’ answers as me just being stubborn and wanting to challenge myself.

If only he knew.

We were already finishing our meals, a new wave of diners coming in and settling around us, and it was getting late.

Connell Campbell had brought me here for a reason, and I didn’t want to beat about the bush anymore.

“Are we going to talk about why you brought me to a steak house, sir?”

Connell chuckled, putting down his cutlery and wiping his mouth with a napkin. “I knew you wouldn’t have missed the location choice, Antony.” With crinkled eyes that bore a hint of apprehension, he added, “I guess it’s lucky we know Henry wouldn’t be caughtdeadin here, so we have the privacy to talk about this.”

Here we go.

Henry, the Heartbreaker, the collegeKing, was actually a vegetarian. A curiosity that most people didn’t know, the knowledge of which had always made me feel closer to him.

Yet another subject that he and his father often argued about.

Connell sighed. “You probably heard that we fought a few weeks ago, right?”

I had.

The Campbells had told my mother, who had told me.

After my nod, he said, “It’s just sofrustrating, you know? I’ve never been able to get through to him. His mother and I have always been so practical, so business-minded and focused on our priorities, but Henry has always been sochaotic. A hard-headed rebel without a cause. Abstract where we’re concrete, party-minded where we focused on our careers. I thought he might come to terms with the reality of life by his last year of college, but here we are, and hestillwon’t come to heel.”

Well, that last expression was unnecessary. Not to mention that Henry Campbell wouldnevercome to heel. Not for anyone. Kings didn’t bow to other people, they made their own way.

It was true that Henry had never been attracted to the same things as the older Campbells had been. He’d always been more people-focused, more creative and spontaneous in his way of thinking, less regimented.

The Campbells had allowed him to major in Communications, hoping that it would satiate his rebellious streak and he’d decide to continue the family business after college, like he’d always been meant to.

The problem was that Henry had never had any intention of doing so, and, to top it all off, he didn’t seem to be pursuing anything else either, as Connell explained. Henry had told them he had no intention of doing any internships this year either, which had just frustrated Connell further.

I had my own theories as to why Henry behaved the way he did, but the Campbells were very narrow-minded in their approach to really hear me—or Henry—out on it.

“I understand, but I don’t know what that has to do with me.”

After all, I wasn’t in his life anymore. Not at all.

Connell let out a sheepish smile. “Well, I know you didn’t mean it in this way, but you remember you told me you’d one day repay my kindness?”

Oh no.

Yes I had.

I told him and Mrs. Campbell that I would give back to them. When I was established and with a good career, a friend could help a friend, and I would thank them properly that way.

Butthis—this I couldn’t have conjured.

Seeing my tight expression, Connell continued, “I wanted to ask you if you could help convince Henry to do what he has to. There has been enough dawdling already, and he needs to face his future. He should start getting ready to work in our company, to succeed us when the time is right. Do you think you could do it?”

I was speechless for a long second, mind racing. “Sir, I…I don’t even talk to Henry anymore.”

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