Page 10 of Begin Again, Part 1

Clarke's wry drawl pulled Liam away from the bookcases lining the walls. He gave him a small smile as he watched him turn off his MacBook and leave his place behind the desk.

"Hi, sweetheart!" he said as he sat beside Lois and kissed her cheek. "Are you okay?"

She nodded, blushing like a schoolgirl on her first date as they held hands.

Liam sighed at their exchange. They always made him feel like a third wheel. Most of his friends' parents were divorced. He was lucky his folks were as in love today as they were when they tied the knot over thirty years ago. Their commitment to each other was inspiring, and he prayed he'd find something as enduring and meaningful.

Mrs Horowitz, the housekeeper, knocked on the ajar door and wheeled in their afternoon snacks.

Liam poured himself a cup of coffee and grabbed a handful of macarons.

His mother excused herself. She had to check on the catering for Monday night's dinner with the board members. If his father had his way, it would be Liam's first official engagement as CEO.

"The board meeting on Monday," Clarke began when they were alone. For half an hour, Liam had to listen to him drone on about the importance of forging good ties with the board. Strong, healthy relationships would strengthen his position within the company.

"I don't need to remind you about your cousins," Clarke said. "They'll do anything to undermine your position. The minute they sense weakness, they'll attack. You cannot keep your guard down!"

Liam disagreed. Julian and Matthew were ambitious and would never shy away from senior positions. But they'd accomplished a lot in their own right. He would never admit it to his father, but he thought the brothers deserved a shot at the CEO position. After all, they'd poured their blood, sweat, and tears into Anderson Logistics. Matthew had done well as a junior creative director and Julian as an accountant. If he took over, Liam planned to make them his allies.

"Are you even paying attention?" Clarke demanded. "Julian is still holding a grudge over how his father left the company. He still blames me for Sullivan's death—"

"Dad, please." Liam held up his hands. He didn't want to get into it with him. Julian and Matthew weren't just his cousins, but his best friends. They took him to Crush last night to cheer him up. They were always there for all his tournament wins and losses. They pushed him to get his competition license and even paid for all his racing courses when Clarke froze his bank accounts to teach him a lesson. Liam would never have made it to Rock Union's motorsport team without their support.

"I get it." Liam drained his now-cold coffee and set the cup down with the macarons. He couldn't even finish one because they were too sweet.

"I'm not convinced you do." His father inhaled hard, a clear sign he was losing his patience fast.

To appease him, Liam nodded, leaned back in his chair and crossed his feet. His old man's speech wasn't anything he hadn't heard before. After all, this was all he'd talked about since Liam was old enough to read the Business Insider.

This time, though, was different. Liam wasn't nine years old anymore. When he took over from his father on Monday, he'd be the youngest CEO and board member in the history of the company. As much as he hated the responsibility, as the only son, taking over the company became his destiny from the moment he was born. All three predecessors had led the company through some of the country's worst economic meltdowns. They brought in cutting-edge innovation to make Anderson Logistics the giant it was. The time for Liam to step up and solidify their place in the industry had finally come.

He had no issue stepping up. It was the cost that came with it. The price he had to pay. He'd have to surrender his freedom and give up on his dream. It was a loss he couldn't bear to come to grips with, and sent him to Crush last night in a hopeless attempt to hold on to life as he knew it.

"You agreed you'll give me time. I love what I do, and I'm not ready to give it up," he reminded his father when they'd exhausted all points of discussion.

When Uncle Sullivan bought him his first life-size car model, there was no turning back for Liam. Even at six, he knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life behind the wheel, racing for the best team. It was something he'd pursued with a doggedness that had surprised everyone around him. It was a long hard road, especially without his father's support. But he'd made a name for himself in the motorsport industry and had recently won his first Iconic 9-Hour Race.

"Do you think I was ready when I took over from my father?" Clarke whipped up his head, his eyes soft with regret. "Do you think I wanted to? I wanted nothing more than to live my days joyously with your mom and you kids by my side. But five hundred people needed me and depended on me for their livelihood. Like it or not, Liam, you have a responsibility!"

"I didn't ask for it!" Liam refused to give in, and the meeting that should have been a quick chat spun out of control.

They ranted and raged at each other. Clarke did most of the shouting, while Liam reached for the whiskey on the mantel and did a lot of the drinking.

Clarke had had enough with Liam's philandering ways. He was constantly disappointed at all the scandals he read about him weekly. "For once, can you make me proud and earn yourself a cover of Business Insider? Is it so difficult?"

"For once, can you be proud of my achievements? I've just won my seventh tournament. I was on the cover of Motor Mag last week, doesn't that count for something?"

No, it didn't. Clarke thought it was time he gave up his 'hobby' and started earning a living like everyone else.

"A 9 to 5 job will kill me! I'm not meant for it!" Liam gnashed his teeth. A corner office with its amazing views wasn't for him. It would crush his spirit if he had to spend the rest of his life behind a desk.

Nothing would ever come close to the adrenaline rush he felt when he threw on his race suit. Or the exhilarated rush he felt when he pushed his car to the finishing line and still came out in one piece. Not sex. Not the tons of money in his bank account. Not even holding up a tournament cup while thousands of fans cheered him on. It was an unparalleled feeling. One he couldn't bear to lose.

"Well, that 9 to 5 job you hate so much has paid for your elite education. It's time you put that MBA to good use, Liam!"

Liam dug in his heels. He wasn't ready to take on such a mammoth responsibility.

He'd have no issue stepping up if his father had a more compelling reason for his sudden retirement. But his old man wanted to focus on the family he'd neglected for over twenty years. He'd also mentioned something about travelling the world like he always wanted.

---