Shay's POV
Around noon, I was informed by one of the housekeepers to meet my father in his study. My father and I have never really had a proper conversation before, so this was a first. I was a bit confused and tried to come up with a few reasons why he suddenly wanted to talk to me today.
Most importantly, what did he want to discuss?
I walked down the dimly lit hallway towards his study and stopped outside before gently knocking on the door. He called out for me to enter. As I stepped inside, I saw him sitting in his big leather armchair with a drink in his hand. I took a seat in the chair in front of his desk, keeping my gaze fixed on my entwined hands below me. The look he always had on his face intimidated me sometimes.
"You wanted to see me?" I asked.
I noticed him leaning towards the table, putting his drink away before clearing his throat loudly.
"Yes, I want to ask you something. What have you been spending your time doing these days?"
His sudden direct question completely threw me off guard. It suddenly made me worried that he might have found out about my secret job.
"Nothing much."
"Are you telling me you've been doing nothing at all these last couple of weeks? Just staying at home, doing nothing?"
I swallowed the tight knot in my throat before answering him.
"Well, I've been going to places and events that Mom wanted me to go to. Sometimes I go to the gym or attend my Pilates classes as well."
There goes my same old excuse that everyone else had managed to buy. Now I just hoped he would fall for it too.
He slowly leaned back in his seat, staring at me with a serious expression. A small frown appeared on his face.
"So you're basically free without a job and doing nothing important at all."
I slowly nodded my head.
"Well, in that case, I want you to work at the company."
WHAT?
"We're dealing with a lot of issues at the company now that Shawn is gone, and on top of that, we have the prosecution office investigating your sister. It's quite a handful, which is why I need all hands on deck. Your mother is already handling our ongoing charity events and business workshops. Shanelle isn't much help because she doesn't have a business mindset. You, on the other hand, graduated from business school, so you can easily settle in and handle a few things on your own."
My mind was racing, and I was secretly starting to panic. This was not what I thought we would be talking about.
I had been avoiding this topic my whole life. The reason I didn't want to work at Falcon Group was because I knew I'd never get my freedom back the minute I let them control me. I tried to remember all the excuses I had prepared for this moment, yet nothing came to mind.
"You'll start next week. I'll have my assistant arrange the required paperwork for you, plus your work position. You'll be given your office, soâ"
"I don't want to work at Falcon Group."
The words left my mouth before I could even think twice about it, but it was too late. It was already said.
He frowned at me and clasped his hands on top of the table in front of him.
"And your reason is?"
I released a low sigh and finally looked up at him, meeting his cold eyes.
"Because I don't want to, and I'm not ready yet."
He scoffed and glanced away.
"Not ready? The reason we sent you to business school was to specifically prepare you for this type of situation. You think just because we're letting you do whatever you want in this house means you can also disagree with what we tell you to do?"
I quickly shook my head.
I was telling him the truth about not being ready to work at the company, but another reason was that I didn't want to leave my job at Cartwright & Evans Holdings.
I was already happy with my job and my position there. If only I could tell him that. But I knew it would only get me into more trouble than I was already in just for refusing to work with my own family.
"Are you seeing someone?"
The sudden change in topic startled me.
"What?"
"I asked you a question. Are you seeing a man? If you are, then that could be the only reasonable explanation for why you're refusing to work at the company."
I frowned and shook my head.
"No, that's not the reason, Dad. I'm not seeing anyone."
Another lie.
"Then you'll start work next week. End of discussion."
I clenched my fists in frustration and shifted forward in my seat while looking at his face.
"Please, Dad, just give me some more time to think about it, and I will let you know when I'm ready to start working. I promise you. Just give me some time, that's all I need."
He angrily looked away, grabbed his glass of alcohol from the table, and took a few huge gulps.
Placing the drink down with a sigh, he suddenly glared at me.
"One week. That's all you have, no more than that. Within that one week, get yourself ready, cancel those classes and other private activities you regularly go to, and start preparing yourself to start working. We really need to get back on our feet, now that the press is starting to get involved in our business."
I nodded in relief and thanked him before I left his study and went back to my room.
One week is all I have to settle things out with Jason and everything else.
This has also given me the limited time I need to plan how I'm going to leave this house and my family so I can finally live my own life.
I never knew that the time would come so soon, but things have become a lot more complicated now. I have to be ready when the time comes to get out before it's too late.
Jason's POV
I walked out of the gym's locker room and made my way outside, where Chase was waiting for me in his car. He had insisted on picking me up today for some unknown reason, but I agreed anyway.
The sun burned my skin the minute I stepped outside. Quickly, I put on my shades, swung my duffel bag over my shoulder, and walked toward Chase's black Hyundai GV80 parked across the road. I opened the passenger door, got inside, and tossed my small duffel bag to the back.
"Sup, man?" Chase greeted, though his eyes were glued to his phone.
"Hey," I replied, fastening my seatbelt. I rolled down the window and leaned back in my seat, finally feeling the relaxation I needed after that great workout.
A minute passed, and I realized Chase still hadn't started the car. I glanced at him and saw that he was still staring at his phone. Tapping him on the shoulder, I finally got his attention. He looked up at me with a weird expression.
"Are we leaving or what?"
He quickly shook his head and put his phone away. "Oh shoot, right."
As he started the car and drove away from the gym, I studied him. Something was obviously bothering him, but I wasn't the type to pry unless it was necessaryâhe'd end up telling me everything anyway. Still, I decided to push.
"What were you looking at on your phone?"
He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Did you see the news? About Shawn Falcon?"
The name instantly pulled my thoughts back to Shay. My plan to expose her and uncover her motives for working at my company remained unchanged, but the last few days had been a mess. She was in my head every day, and I couldn't stop thinking about her.
Now, with the news about her brother, I finally understood why she had canceled our date the other night and why she hadn't replied to my texts or answered my calls. At first, I thought she would at least try to keep up the act, but she didn't. When I found out from Sylvia that she had requested a whole week off, I thought about her even more.
And now, I was worried.
Fuck. I hated this. Why was I feeling this way? This wasn't part of the plan. Dammit.
"Jason." Chase's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I shook my head and looked at him.
"Yeah?"
"Did you hear what I said?"
"Oh, yeah. The news about Shawn Falcon. Yeah, I heard."
Chase glanced at me before blowing out a frustrated breath.
"Okay, look. I'm just gonna tell you this, even though I was told not to. But you're my best buddy, and you have to at least know the truth about this one."
I frowned in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
He stared at me for a few seconds before turning back to the road.
"You know that secretary at workâShay Kellen?"
I slowly nodded. Why was he suddenly bringing up Shay?
"Her name's not really Shay Kellen. It's actually Shay Falcon."
I froze.
"I know what you're thinking, dude. It's shocking, I know. She's Shawn Falcon's younger sister. And she was the one I met on that blind date."
I clenched my fists, listening closely.
"I still don't know why she's working at our company, but remember that time I got a black eye?" Chase continued. "Her brother did that to me, bro. And she threatened me, saying Shawn would do it again if I told anyone who she really is."
He sighed. "Sorry for telling you now, man, but I just thought you should know the truth about her."
Oh. So now he'd decided to tell me the truth.
I scoffed, staring out the window.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Chase asked.
"Like what?"
"Like anything. You don't look surprised."
I chuckled, taking off my shades before looking at him.
"I am surprised."
He gave me a small frown, then slowly nodded before turning his attention back to the road.
"Okay. If you say so."
I clenched my jaw and stared at the moving vehicle in front of us.
Shay Falcon. What the hell is your real motive for working at Cartwright & Evansânow that you've got both of us tangled in your life?