Page 5 of The Renegade Billionaire
Mr. Coop lays his hand on top of mine, his aging skin paper thin. “Ace always had a plan, but know this—to him, making a difference wasn’t always what could be done with your bank account. Sometimes it’s your time and attention that leaves an impact on the world around you.”
“‘Time will always be more valuable than gold.’” It’s the phrase I heard Ace say a million times, and the ache of missing him rears up at knowing I’ll never hear his voice again.
“That’s it.” Mr. Coop pats my hand one more time before standing. “Invest your time and your heart, Braxton. Those are two commodities you’ve kept close to your chest for too manyyears now. I believe that Ace thought it was time for you to share the best parts of your soul.”
“Make a difference by giving my time,” I mutter. Turning to Grey, I see the worry etched all over his face—it’s an emotion he rarely shows.
We’ve been running Omni-Reyes together since college. First with Ace’s help, then on our own for the last five years. Failing Ace is his biggest fear.
“You’ve got this, Grey. You know that, right?”
He nods and rolls his lucky coin between his fingers as he stares at the floor.
“The rules say you have to be in Georgia, Braxton,” Mr. Coop says. “But they don’t say you can’t have help or help others. Ultimately, Grey does have to make the tough decisions for Omni-Reyes while he’s in charge, but the two of you have always put thought before action—you’ve discussed and collaborated. You’ve grown Omni-Reyes into something far exceeding anything Ace could’ve ever imagined, so he was very careful with his wording.”
Using my thumb, I press into the ache that feels hollow in my chest. “Grey is to be the face for six months, but we can still work together to ensure we’re making the right decisions?”
That’s where my value for Omni-Reyes lies anyway—being able to pull the ideas from Greyson’s mind and then drafting the plan that he executes.
We are truly the perfect team.
Mr. Coop nods, and Greyson pitches forward in relief beside me. “Greyson isn’t required to travel like the rest of you, but that doesn’t mean he can’t travel.”
Grey drops his head into his hands.
“I’ll give you boys a few minutes to talk privately.” Mr. Coop stands, but confusion must show on my face because he nods toward the stack of papers in my hands. “You leave tonight,Braxton. And I’ll give you a word of advice—I’ve known your father since before you were born. When he fails, and he almost certainly will, he will try to sabotage you. Don’t make it too easy for him to trace you. It was a very smart move not saying the name of your town, but Georgia is only so big.”
We’re silent as he leaves, then Grey turns to me with his shoulders pulled back in determination.
“You need a break, man,” he says. “You’ve been going twenty hours a day for six months. When’s the last time you even slept in a bed and not cat-napped in your office?”
I shrug, but exhaustion and sadness do feel heavier today than they have in months. “You’re one to talk. We have a goal, and if we want to undo all the years of abuse Alistair’s choreographed under the guise of freedom of speech, I had to get everything in place to oust him at our first opportunity. Montgomery Media reverting to Omni-Reyes is our opportunity, and now we’re prepared.”
“You know I’m still on board with our plan—the world needs a bipartisan source of information—but that doesn’t have to be your whole life. Alistair made choices, but they’re not yours to correct. Where the hell would I be if I had to undo all my father’s corruption?” He swallows hard.
“You okay?”
“It’s no secret that I was born a Wells, Brax. Ace spent his entire life building a brand that people could trust, and they trusted it because of him. The Wells name…when it comes out that I’m the acting CEO.” He grips his hair in frustration. “Nothing good happens when a Wells is attached to anything.”
I know what it cost him to admit that. He never talks about his family.
“Then it’s a good thing you’re not a Wells, Grey. You’re a Reyes, and you are not your father either.” Grey is a better brother than Archie has ever been, and Ace made sure that wewere family the way it should be, with unconditional love and acceptance. “What the fuck am I going to do in Happiness, Georgia?”
His smirk shows just how funny he finds my predicament, but his fear is etched into his face like a tattoo. “Make it an adventure. Do what Ace said and figure out what it is you love to do instead of doing what your loved ones needed you to do. Ace is sending you there for a reason—he always said there was healing to be done in happiness.”
I snort, and my shoulders bounce until my laughter escapes, then I pull out the postcard of the place Ace is sending me to.
“I just don’t understand what could be waiting for me at an inn in Happiness, Georgia that’s so important he never bothered to mention it until he was dead.”
“No idea, man.” He takes the folder from my lap and starts sifting through it. When he holds up a credit card I recognize, I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I guess he knew about the DDD after all.”
He hands me the folder, and I place my car keys in his open palm. Our nephew will love it.
“Tell Sage to be careful with it.”
“Come on,” he groans. “You remember that he’s only seventeen, right? Giving him a hundred-thousand-dollar car is ridiculous.”
My lips curl up at the corners. “I know. It’ll secure my crown as the fun uncle.”
