Page 149 of The Spare
Epilogue II
"Hm," I frown at the open laptop on the patio table in front of me and take a sip of my coffee, watching the latest celebrity news anchor just word vomit all over my family's legacy. I'm only watching it because it's not usual for our family to be splashed over celebrity sites as we're solidly business, not celebrity. Every now and again I might see Teresa on during a broadcasting of some major fashion event. But nothing like what I'm looking at now."Typical."
“As of two days ago, a simple trip to the lobby of the revered King Dynasty building shows Mason King's finance plaque is still firmly in place next to the other businesses spanning across forty-five floors. Mason Kingis the youngest son of Oligarch, Richard King, and brother to current CEO Hendrix King. If you try to visit his former business, you will find the floor non-operational as Mason King now resides in California with his new bride, Melody King. A simple google search shows an LLC opened under his name; however, the finance business is only but a third of what Mason ran while he was stationed in New York. King Dynasty has sustained astaggeringthree-hundred-and-fifty-million-dollar loss in revenue since his departure."
I whistle, shaking my head."Damn,that's pretty steep."
My eyebrow rises when a picture of my older brother and Maribel flashes on the screen.
"As if things weren’t bad enough, there are also reports that Richard King and his wife of forty years are on the cusp of a divorce. Subsequently, it has not escaped our notice that Richard King’s younger brother, William, who is the current Communications Director of a charity in Italy, has taken a leave of absence and is back in New York. One brother moves out, while another moves in. Does this spell disaster for the King family, and what does this mean for New York society? As we know, the King Dynasty reach spans acrossbothbusiness and politics, with many of the city's influential voters and heavy hitting donors to political campaigns often mirroring the Kings.” I shake my head on a muted curse.Thisis why our family is being featured on a celebrity news outlet.
Fuck.
Scrubbing my hand down my face, I wish more than anything I could pick up the phone and call Richard. Mother would be utterlyhorrifiedat the King family making these sorts of headlines. I can see her rolling over in her grave right now as our family seemingly rips apart at the seams.
Unraveling the very threads she almost killed herself stitching together with her blood sweat and tears, rebuilding King Dynasty after the horrific death of her husband and the senseless murder of my sister.
My heart squeezes painfully at our misfortune splashed across every major news outlet. The stocks consistently going down. Acquaintances I haven’t heard from in years crawl out the woodworks as news of my stay creeps into the other wealthy families’ homes, and rumblings of an imminent coup is billowing like smoke from glowing embers just waiting to ignite with real fire.
This is thelastthing I need: for Richard to feel like I’m trying to trump Hendrix and take over.
I reach over for my cup of coffee but pause at the sound of the doorbell.
Seeing as I don't have staff here, I rise from the seat, tossing a heavy linen napkin left over from my breakfast on the table, and carry my coffee with me through the sliding glass doors into the penthouse.
I frown, reluctant to go see who it is since I'm not expecting visitors. Today's not the best day as I'm a bit homesick for Italy and the feel of the Mediterranean sun, so I came out here for breakfast and a bit of warmth and relaxation. I don't care to break it for an unexpected guest.
Since they now live in California, Mason and Melody graciously loaned me their place to use while I'm stationed in New York, and I've made every second I've been here these last two months since the Balducci wedding count. Whether it's visiting with old acquaintances, or attempting to heal my relationship with my brother, I've done what I can to keep my mental health strong.
But Donna's constant rejection has been wearing at it.
The concern over my brother's mental health hasn't been helping, either.
What's worse is it's piled on top of all the issues between us, and so not only do I have to deal with Donna's rejection, I'm dealing with Richard doubling down on his disdain for me. And now with Maribel gone, he's also suspicious I'm trying to take her from him, as if it were forty-one years ago all over again.
With so much familial strain I've been nervous at spending too much time with Hendrix, much less have enough time to get to know Mariah…
God, this family is in shambles, and I desperately wish I knew the magic phrase to fix us.
Answering the door, I pause briefly in shock. Attempting to mask it as the one person I hadn't expected to come calling comes into view.
Maximus.
Not wanting to show him my displeasure, I raise a brow and step to the side, letting the underboss in and closing the door behind him. He walks in leisurely, like he owns the place. And I guess as Melody's father he would feel like it. He rakes a hand through thick, deep brown hair as he hesitates just inside the foyer, taking in the portrait of Melody and Mason posing on a beach, laughing.
I told Mason it was an odd spot to put such a picture, and he replied by saying they hung it there to always remind them to come into the house happy. The boy is wicked but sickeningly sweet sometimes, and I'm so proud of how far he's come in life.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?" I ask wryly, seeing as he's not going to talk first.
He turns to face me and tilts his head. "Are you not going to offer me a seat?"
"And why should I?"
"Well, for one, it's polite." He gives me a knowing smile. "And two, because we have things to discuss. Obviously."
I scoff, folding my arms and spreading the stance of my feet just a bit. "I have nothing to discuss with you."
"I beg to differ."
