Page 72 of Could Have Been Us
Alex’s leg bounces continuously. Josh looks calm, Grayson is furious, and Oliver seems indifferent. It’s insane that he’s able to stay so carefree when the tension in the room is enough to make me feel ill.
Our father enters, looking us over before taking his seat behind the huge mahogany desk. “I see this is a family meeting. I’m sure it’s about your mother.”
Josh speaks first. “It’s not. It’s about you.”
“Ahh, yes, I’m the villain. Go ahead, have your say.” Dad leans back, arms over his chest.
Alex, the one closest to our mother, laughs. “You’re incredible. You cheat for years. You play games with all our lives, and you think that we want a say? Do you really think all five of us came together just to let you have it? Come on, Dad, you’re smarter than that. Or maybe you’re not.”
Dad’s eyes narrow, and he sits straight. “Then what do you want?”
“I would’ve liked a good father, but clearly, that didn’t happen,” I say.
“Yes, you had it so hard, Stella. You’ve lived in luxury, owned a home before your friends were out of college, got a free education, and have a job that supports a life that most people would kill for. I’m a horrible father.”
“You know what that cost me,” I remind him of Kinsley. While no one else will know, I see the flash of emotion in his eyes that lets me know my barb hit.
Good.
“Everything comes with a price.”
Grayson leans back in his chair, crossing his leg over the other. “And what is your price, Dad?”
“So, this is retribution?”
The slow smile that forms on my brother’s lips is chilling. “It will be.”
“What did I teach you about threats, Grayson?” Dad asks.
“Oh, don’t you worry, Father. I will make good on my promises today.”
For the first time since he entered, the confidence and manner of ease slips away. He assesses us, and I hope he’s scared. He did this to us, trained us to be ruthless in business when we needed to be. While none of us have ever followed in his footsteps regarding other areas of his life, when it comes to this part—we’re going to prove our mettle.
And this is going to come hard and fast.
Joshua drops a folder onto his desk. “We all plan to.”
“What is this?” Dad asks, his voice filled with anger.
“This is what you taught us,” I say with a smile.
Alex nods slowly. “It’s what family does.”
“Well, what a real family would do, not what he does. No, not our dad, he fucks around on Mom and sleeps with Grayson’s ex, who happens to be his granddaughter’s fucking mother,” Oliver speaks, his voice hard, which is a total contrast to his outward appearance. “But the thing is, we’re not like you.”
My father does his best to look unaffected, but it’s clear he’s not. The tic in his eye and the way he keeps shifting in the chair give him away. I really expected better of him. “Then you’re weak.”
I laugh this time. “Maybe we’re weak apart, but together, we’re stronger than you.”
Josh grins at me. “You made an error.” Dad doesn’t say anything, and as he opens the file, Josh continues on. “At the age of twenty-five each of us was granted partial ownership of the company. We have shares and a seat on the board.”
My father inhales and looks around. “This is what you’re play is? To force me out?”
Grayson grins. “No. We don’t want you to go anywhere.”
“Then what?” My father finally snaps, getting to his feet.
Then Alex puts his folder down and walks over to Josh. “Nothing.”
