Page 45 of Mine to Keep

Without knocking on his father’s office door, he burst in and closed it firmly behind him. Roland appreciated the look of dread on Warrens’s face. He should feel that and much more.

“Son, you don’t just barge into my office,” Warren said.

Roland ignored that and came to stand on the other side of the desk, putting his hands flat on the surface and leaning forward.

“I want to know why you would go so far to put a wedge between me and Laila.”

He could see his father trying to think about what to say.

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about,” Warren said.

“You know exactly what I’m referring to. That little stunt of bringing Laila to the fundraiser and having a friend detain me until you got there.”

Warren sat back and narrowed his eyes. “You need to watch your tone, Son.”

“Fuck that. You almost got my wife and child killed with your stunt.”

Warren exhaled. “It wasn’t supposed to go the way it did. The timing was perfect with you dancing with a woman. I just wanted Laila to see you went out without her.”

“Now tell me why?” Roland asked.

“We’ve already discussed this. I saw the way you’ve changed since she came here, and I didn’t like it.”

“You mean happy?” he asked sarcastically.

Warren waved his hand. “Don’t be so dramatic. I felt you were too distracted, and I needed all your attention on the business. That’s what’s important.”

Roland stood and glared down at his father. “Jesus Christ. You are so fucked up. Men can have a happy marriage and a successful business at the same time, Father. You just didn’t like her influence on me. It took control away from you.”

“My opinions should be the most important,” Warren said.

Roland wiped a hand down his face in frustration and tried to rein in his fury. When he felt calm, he stared down at Warren.

“As of now, you will no longer have any say in the business. In fact, I think you should move down to the Florida home permanently.”

His father laughed. “You think you can dictate to me? I’m the head of the family.”

“Not anymore.”

Warren smirked. “There’s really nothing you can do to force me to leave the business and this house.”

“I can resign from the business and move my family away.” He’d thought about it several times over the years, butnow it was at a point where he had to decide, and he wanted it done before the baby was born.

His father looked shocked, like he’d never thought that would happen. Like he couldn’t fathom it. After the shock, his eyes filled with apprehension and, perhaps, a little sorrow.

“I think we can work this out, Son.”

Roland shook his head. “You have two choices, and I want your answer by the end of the day.”

Warren sputtered. “You can’t do that.”

“I absolutely can. The day of your power over me ends. Just think, the Florida vacation home we own is right next to a golf course, and the weather down there, although hot in the summer, has more milder days than we have here.”

Roland turned to go, but Warren stopped him.

“What do we tell the board of directors?” Warren asked.

“I’ve already talked to them. They are fine with me becoming the official CEO of our business. I told them you are ready to retire and want to move South. Hell, I’ve been running on my own for years, and they know that.”

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