Page 63 of His to Keep
Alexander shrugs. “I don’t remember, but we should eat before she comes back.”
We all tuck into our breakfast, chatting about the castle and Gio’s impressions of it. He’s like a little kid, almost jumping out of his seat when my brother offers to show him the battlements later.
When I finish eating, I lay down my cutlery and sigh. “That was amazing. I don’t think I’ll be able to move for at least an hour.”
“That’s good,” Alexander says, “because I want to talk to you.” He glances at Gio. “To both of you.”
“That sounds ominous.” Gio sets down the cup he was drinking from.
“It isn’t, I promise.”
“Well, spit it out then.” My tone is curt, but I haven’t the patience for beating around the bush right now.
“Okay,” my brother says. “I’d like you to come home, to Dunblair.”
“I don’t know.” I turn to Gio. “I mean, we…”
“Hear me out,” Alexander interrupts and I give him my attention once more. “I’m giving you fifty percent of CCH.”
“CCH?” Gio asks.
“Our family business. Our father left it to me, but half of it is Eilidh’s by right.”
“Wow!” I always imagined he would give me a share of the company or a lump sum of cash from our dad’s estate, but fifty percent of the business is more than I expected. “But I don’t know a thing about running such a huge organization.”
“I’m hoping you and Gio can learn it together. I’d like him to work by your side.”
“I don’t know.” Gio sounds uncertain. “I’ve never run a business either.”
“Yes, I realize that, and I know you’re capable when it comes to the brutal aspects of our lifestyle, but I can tell your heart’s not in it. This is a way out. I’ve plenty of muscle in my organization. I don’t need you for that.”
Gio rubs his chin. “There’s a lot to consider. I mean, where would we live? Here?”
Alexander shakes his head. “I was thinking of giving you Rowan Cottage. It’s on the estate, about a mile from here. It needs some work, but…”
“It would be perfect.” I clap my hands together. Excitement swells in me and then dissipates as I realize Gio might have other ideas. I turn to him. “But it’s up to you.”
“No,” Gio says. “It’s up to us.”
“Why don’t you head down to the cottage and have a look,” Alexander suggests. “It might help you decide.”
I immediately jump up from the table. “Yes, let’s go. We can walk through the woods. That way Gio can see some of the estate.”
Without waiting for him to agree, I hurry to the door. This is so exciting. I love Rowan Cottage. I just hope Gio feels the same.
Gio
For the entire walk through the woods, Eilidh chatters excitedly about the house we’re going to see. It’s clear what she wants to do, but I’m torn. My brother expects me back in New York soon.Everything I know is there and there’s a role for me within the family business if I want it.
I have to admit, though; Alexander’s offer is tempting. It would be nice to work in an organization where I didn’t have to get my hands dirty and in a place where people won’t be constantly comparing me to my brothers and finding me lacking.
“There it is.” Eilidh points through a gap between the trees to a white house that’s more a mini-mansion than a cottage. “Don’t you just love it?”
As we get closer, I see the exterior could do with a lick of paint. The door is definitely shabby, and the tiled roof is a disaster. The garden to the front of the property is wildly overgrown. Yet, for some reason, I do kind of love the place.
“Can we go inside?” I ask because Eilidh didn’t stop to collect a key.
Eilidh nods. “There’s a key under the plant pot.”
