Page 27 of Insufferable Boss

Sighing, I got a cab for myself, and soon enough, I arrived at the office. My secretary David got up immediately to deliver messages of welcome that had come in from the other company staff and I collected them all but when I sat at my desk, found myself distracted and unable to focus on anything for the first few minutes. That was until I heard a loud rap against my door. It was so startling that I was immediately annoyed wondering who was barging in so rudely.

For a few seconds my mind went to Kane and as it did, I found myself moving from my previously slouched position and immediately straightening up.

However, when the door was pushed open, I met my secretary’s confused and apologetic gaze, and then I met the gaze of my younger brother Dylan. He looked stressed and pissed, but I could understand all of this given that he had just been fired. Of course, it would be extremely difficult to fully enforce, but it was sure to frustrate Dylan in the meantime, which I was certain was Kane’s entire intention.

“It’s okay,” I said to David so he retreated as respectfully as he could manage, and soon I was left alone with my beloved brother.

“You came to New York, here, and you didn't tell me?”

I sighed thoroughly, not ready to deal with this now, but what other choice did I have?

“I haven’t heard from you since the last time I called you two months ago,” I reminded him. “Was I supposed to call you royally to inform you of the changes in my life when you didn’t care to ask?”

He stared at me, and then he took a seat.

“What are you doing?” he asked. “I thought you didn't want to be involved in the company.”

“You’re not happy to see me,” I noted.

“Why should I?” he asked. That spawn and you—”

“Please leave,” I cut him off. “If you are here just to whine, then I really don't want to hear it. I'm having a bad enough day as it is.”

“What exactly is bad about your day?” he asked. “Did you just get fired for no reason?”

“You missed the scheduled meeting this morning,” I reminded him, and he gave me a dark look.

“He had an agenda this morning that neither Sarah nor I were looking forward to, so we decided to give ourselves a bit more time to consider things.”

“Ah,” I said. “So you two planned it together.”

He gave me a look.

“I'm not saying that, but I can understand that it may look that way. However, I heard that he rescinded the proposal he presented to you to buy your company. Instead, you'd actually become active in this company. I’m so incredibly curious as to why you would agree to this. Did he buy your loyalty in some other way or…”

I gave him a look.

“That's what the meeting was for this morning. The meeting that you didn't attend.”

“We knew what it was for,” he said. “He was going to strong-arm us into losing our case somehow, and we needed to get ready for that.”

“So, you are admitting to intentionally boycotting the meeting?”

“I didn't boycott it. I was late.”

“Intentionally?” I asked, finally noticing the exhaustion and strain in his eyes he tried to hide.

“What were you busy with?” I asked. “Partying overnight on your yacht?”

He laughed.

“Don't sound salty now. You handed that over to me, hoping I'd sail away most probably and never come back. Unfortunately, here I am, and I really don’t know what you two are planning but kicking me out the first day you came back is a very, very bad move.”

I looked at him and sighed.

“What if my coming back wasn't a move? Have you thought of that?”

“I have,” he nodded. “I tried to give you the benefit of the doubt, but who are we kidding here? You ignored all of these gifts for months, and suddenly you're back when he’s about to lose an argument? How convenient.”

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