Page 75 of The Wrong Brother

“He cares about you much more than you know, and if you care about him as well, try to give this a shot. My head is spinning right now because you’re both running out of time, but I’m sure I can make him see it.”

I am instantly turned off.

“No interest,” I say and rise to my feet.

I get up and start to walk away toward my bathroom, but he tries to stop me.

“Jenny,” he calls, but before he can say anything more, his phone begins to ring.

He glances at the screen, frowning. “It’s my dad,” he mutters. “Hang on.”

He answers, his expression shifting from confusion to surprise. “What do you mean, an emergency board meeting?” he says into the phone, his tone sharp. “I didn’t know about this. When?”

A pause. Then his eyes widen, darting to me. “Zack called it?” He runs a hand through his hair, his movements suddenly frantic. “Yeah. Yeah, I’ll be there.”

He hangs up, his face pale as he looks back at me. “Jenny, I think something’s wrong.”

“What?” I ask, my chest tightening. “What’s going on?”

“I don’t know,” he says, shaking his head. “But if Zack’s calling an emergency board meeting, it’s big. He never does that unless something’s about to implode.”

Fear coils in my stomach, sharp and unrelenting. “What do you think he’s planning?”

“I don’t know,” Brett says again, grabbing his jacket. “But I need to stop him before he does something stupid.”

He turns to leave, but I grab his arm. “Brett, wait?—”

“I’ll fix this, Jenny,” he says, his voice firm but gentle. “Just… don’t leave yet, okay? Give me until tonight.”

I want to argue, to tell him it’s pointless, but the determination in his eyes stops me. I nod reluctantly, letting him go. As the door clicks shut behind him, I collapse onto the bed, my heart pounding.

I don’t know what’s happening, and whatever it is, I really don’t want to be a part of it. I also don’t want Zack to return and still find me here, so I hasten to finish my packing and get ready to leave for the airport.

Chapter

Forty-Two

ZACK

The boardroom feels colder than usual, though the afternoon sun streams through the tall windows, glinting off the polished surface of the table. I stand at the head, my hands resting on the chair in front of me. Around me, the board members murmur, some flipping through their notes, others casting curious glances my way. My parents sit closest, their expressions a mix of worry and expectation. They know something’s coming, though not what. Not yet.

I take a slow breath; the words I’ve rehearsed rattling in my mind. It’s the right decision. The only decision. And yet, the thought of saying it aloud feels like tearing something out of myself.

“I’ve called this meeting to inform you all of a significant change in our plans,” I begin, my voice steady despite the storm raging beneath. “As of this morning, the merger with the Fairchild family is no longer?—”

The doors swing open with a bang, cutting me off mid-sentence. Brett strides in, his usual swagger accompanied by an energy that borders on manic. His blond hair is a mess, his suit slightly wrinkled, and he looks like he hasn’t slept. Yet somehow, he manages a grin that’s both infuriating and triumphant.

“Sorry, everyone,” he says, his voice too loud, too cheerful. “But it looks like my big brother’s got his facts wrong.”

I stiffen, my jaw tightening as he strolls to the table, addressing the room like he’s the one in charge. “There’s no need to cancel anything,” he announces, leaning casually against the table’s edge. “The merger is still on, and so is the wedding.”

A ripple of confusion spreads through the room. My mother frowns, while my father’s brows knit together in a rare display of visible emotion. I glance at them briefly before turning my full attention to Brett.

“What the hell are you doing?” I say, my voice low but laced with barely contained fury.

“Saving your ass,” Brett replies smoothly, his grin widening. “Honestly, Zack, what were you thinking? Throwing away a billion-dollar deal for what? Some girl?”

The air in the room shifts, the tension thick enough to choke on. I take a step closer to him, my fists clenching at my sides. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

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