Breaking through the Bond (Espen Jetties #2)

39. Jamie

39

JAMIE

I tossed my keys onto the table near the elevator door. They slid across and landed somewhere on the floor. I’d find them later. The only thing that mattered was the folder in my hand. The one my father had shoved at me when he was kind enough to demand I meet him downtown at his lawyer’s office. There they presented me with the papers to place an offer on Reynolds Trust. All I had to do was sign them.

Apparently, with my name now linked directly to King and Hayes, they felt it was necessary to move faster than lightning in completing the deal. I didn’t need a lecture to know that he didn’t approve of my night in the media. My father didn’t care that I was gay, nor did he care that I was with two men. He was more concerned with who those two men were and the fact that King loved to light up screens. After telling him that whomever I dated was none of his business, I told him to get to the point of dragging me there.

Dad’s longtime lawyer had gone over every bit of the contract offer. I knew the deal in and out, yet I couldn’t bring myself to sign it. My stomach rolled when I picked up the pen. It took a couple of deep breaths on my part to get myself under control. After some careful maneuvering, I got them to agree to let me take the papers home and sign them there. My excuse of wanting to go over the details again without taking up any more of their time was apparently a sound business move.

For me, it was the chance to have a panic attack and a few shots as I signed my life away.

I set the folder on the table and grabbed a bottle of vodka and a glass. Tugging the knot of the tie loose, I tossed it on a nearby chair and unbuttoned the top few buttons of my shirt. I rolled up the sleeves and sat down. If I went upstairs to change, I’d avoid this forever. This was our future and I had to remember that even if I hated it.

I poured a drink and reached for the pen when my phone buzzed again. It had been going off all day. With no social media, the only thing I had to worry about were friends and family. I’d sent Hayes and King a reassuring message after my father had shown me the news about us so they wouldn’t be worried. Tim, on the other hand, I’d ignored his calls and texts, not wanting to deal with it while still trying to navigate my dad.

When I checked the screen, I knew Tim was done being ignored.

Tim : If you don’t call me back in the next five minutes, I’m coming to your place to check on you.

I sighed and leaned back against the couch. With everything out there about the three of us, Tim deserved to know what was going on. He only wanted to protect me. I found his number and hit send.

The phone didn’t finish ringing a single time before he picked up.

“Where have you been all day?”

I ran a hand down my face. “Well, hello to you too.”

“Really, Jamie? Now you want to be a smart-ass? I see your name plastered all over the gossip blogs with Hayes and King, then you ignored my calls. What do you expect from me?”

I could hear the worry in his voice. “Sorry, it’s just been a shitty day.”

“I’m sure. I know how much you love social media and the gossip blogs.”

“Is that Jamie?” I heard from somewhere in the background.

“It is,” Tim said.

“Give me the phone, I need to know that he’s okay.” There seemed to be some scuffling, then Vanessa’s voice came over the line. “Are you all right? I’ve been worried sick about you.”

The care and concern in her voice was enough to put a small smile on my face. “I’m fine, Vanessa.”

“I saw King’s statement. That was so sweet of him. Why didn’t you tell us the three of you were together?”

“At the time, we weren’t, but after that night things took a turn. Then Dad showed up…”

“Oh, Jamie. He has you running in circles, doesn’t he?”

“Let me talk to him,” I heard Tim say.

“Fine, but in a second. Lunch soon?” she asked.

“I’d love to, but only if you leave your grumpier half at home.” I could hear her laughter as she handed the phone over. I needed that even if for only a moment.

“If you’re okay with everything happening with King and Hayes, then I’m happy for you three. It’s not conventional, and it won’t always be easy with how much that man likes to be in the media, but I’ll be here, whatever you need.”

“Thanks, Tim. After the day I had, that means a lot.”

He sighed. “And I’m guessing you having a shitty day has nothing to do with The Espen Gazette and everything to do with Dad.”

“You would be right.” I took a sip of the drink I’d poured earlier. “I’m buying Reynolds Trust. He gave me the paperwork to sign today for the offer.”

“Jamie,” he groaned. “Why would you do that? You don’t want to own that company. You don’t want to own any company. Why would you change your mind after being adamant for so long?”

I downed the rest of the glass. “Because it’s what I need to do. I want a forever future with King and Hayes. I want to be able to take care of them when they’re no longer playing. Let them enjoy retirement.”

“That sounds like a bunch of bullshit Dad put into your head. Your investments alone can take care of the three of you.”

“Not if those investments go bad they can’t. This offers a stable income.”

“There are a million things you could do, and you pick the one that Dad loves the most.”

“You have Vanessa and Moria. Are you telling me you wouldn’t do anything to make sure they’re happy? That you wouldn’t give up your dreams to make sure they got what they deserved?”

His voice grew softer. “I’d give up anything for them.”

“So, you get why I have to do this. As long as those two men are happy, then that’s all that matters to me. And if I have my way, I’ll still get to come home to them every night.”

“You must really love them.”

“More than words can express.”

“What are you going to do about the day-to-day operations? It’s not like you know a lot about finance.”

“Dad promised he’d teach me everything I don’t already know. But with my portfolio, I’m sure I know much more than he realizes I do.”

“He has no idea of your actual worth, does he?”

“I don’t think so.” I glanced at the time. It was getting later, and I wanted to get the paperwork taken care of before my time with King and Hayes tonight. “Let me go finish this paperwork. We’ll talk later.”

“If you change your mind, let me know. I’ll be here for you.”

“Thanks, but I’m not changing my mind.” Anything to take care of the two men in my life.

We said our goodbyes and I poured another drink, while I sat and stared at the paperwork in front of me. I lifted the glass to my lips, hoping the burn would wipe away the bitterness of the day. Glass number two and nothing had helped.

“The elevator has arrived,” Molly’s voice filled the room. I didn’t bother getting up. King and Hayes would know where to find me. I swirled the liquid around and took another sip.

Hayes and King came into the room. King offered a smile, hesitant as it was. Hayes couldn’t mask the concern on his face when he saw me. He sat down beside me, not looking twice at the papers in front of me. “I’d ask if you’re okay but it’s clear you’re not.”

King sat on my other side but didn’t say anything.

“Everything’s fine.” I tipped my drink toward the papers on the table. “Just needs a signature and it’s done.”

“I don’t need to read your mind to know this isn’t something you want to do.”

“It’s what I need to do.” I finished off the glass and reached for the bottle.

King took the bottle before I could. “Why do you need to do it?”

“Drink? Because it helps me relax.” I knew I was avoiding what King really wanted to know, but this was not something he or Hayes needed to worry about. Once I put my name on those papers, everything would be fine.

“That’s not what I meant. You can have this bottle back when you answer my question.”

“Without my signature, I can’t make an offer on Reynolds Trust.”

“Jamie.” Hayes’s voice pulled my attention to him. “I know we haven’t talked about everything that’s going on, but we’re here for you. It’s obvious you don’t want to do this.”

I leaned back and stared at the ceiling. “What I’ve wanted hasn’t mattered in a long time. Not since I was allowed to go to MIT.” I sat out and held my hand out to King for the bottle of vodka.

“It matters to us. We hate seeing you like this. If signing that document isn’t something you feel passionately about, then don’t do it.”

“The last time I felt passionate about something I took the job at Equistris and got screwed in the end anyway.” King had ignored my hand, so I switched and held out the glass to him. “I answered your question.”

He tipped the bottle so no more than a finger’s worth poured in. “We’re not going to do this you answer a question, you get a drink thing. You’ll be drunk within the hour and while that may be your goal, we’d like to talk without you slurring your words. I know this is going to have a complicated answer, and neither of us are in your shoes, but why can’t you say no?”

I tipped the drink back like a shot. “I think I prefer the drink for each answer plan,” I mumbled under my breath. “If I say no, then I have no career. My dad keeps pushing and reminding me that I let everyone down. How I can’t take care of my family.” I shook my head. “You both don’t need to listen to me whine. Let me sign these and then we can spend the rest of the night together.” I leaned forward and reached for the pen that had been taunting me for the last hour.

Hayes spoke this time. “Why do you need to take care of your family? Aren’t your dad and brother well off? The only person you need to worry about is yourself.”

I froze and glanced over at Hayes. “I didn’t mean them.” My eyes darted away. “I meant you.” I picked up the pen and put it to the paper.

King plucked the pen from my fingers like it was a piece of lint and tossed it over his shoulder. It clattered to the floor behind the couch. “You don’t need to take care of us. We each have enough money individually to take care of all three of us. Money is no issue in this relationship. You signing that paper feels to me like a jail sentence. It’s not something you want but you’re doing it to appease your dad, which isn’t the right reason. As to you saying no and then having no career, you can take your time to find something you want to do. You don’t need to work, Jamie. Find your passion.”

I scoffed. “The last time I followed my passion, I ended up working for an asshole with a quarter of my IQ and knowledge. To be young and na?ve again.” I stood up and moved on the other side of the table, unable to keep still. “When I was offered the job at Equistris, I’d done it on my own. Exactly like when I got into MIT. My dad wanted me at Wharton, but my mom convinced him to let me try it my way.

“The CEO knew who I was when he hired me, but no one else did. I got that job on my own merit. He’d told me that if I wanted to run the company someday, I’d have to work for it.” I ran a hand through my hair. “Tim had done the same. Both of us refused to use our father’s connections to get what we wanted. We wanted to make a name for ourselves, not let Dad buy it for us.

“Except Tim made it, while I, on the other hand, got stuck working for Ronald Halford when the former CEO passed away from cancer. Halford knew I was smarter than him and did everything in his power to make my life miserable.” I turned back to face both men as they watched me from the couch. “Sometimes there’s no point in following your passion.”

Hayes stood and came over but didn’t reach for me. “You don’t need to work for some piece of shit again. Why not work for yourself? Look around this place. Look at all you can do. You’re so damn talented, Jamie. Use that to build a company from the ground up for you. No one else. Make it what you want so you’re happy.”

“And what if it fails? There’s no financial security in that. Besides, do you two really feel like dealing with the media every time I try something and it doesn’t succeed? As everyone in my life pointed out to me today, being with the two of you means everything I do reflects on you both. I don’t give a fuck what anyone else thinks, but I won’t hurt either of you.”

“If it fails then you figure out what you did wrong and try again. As for financial security, don’t put all your eggs in one basket. You know how to manage your money. Invest in your company wisely.”

King stood and came over. “And have you forgotten how much I love the media?” He grinned. “I’m skilled when it comes to them. I also don’t care what people say. Hayes and I have gotten good at dealing with that. Every time we fuck up, we have fans chewing our asses out online.”

“All we want is for you to be happy, Jamie,” Hayes added. “Whatever that is, we’re here for you. Don’t worry about the media and what they’ll say. We can handle it. The only way for you to hurt us is to turn your back and walk away from us.”

My heart ached with how much I loved both men in front of me. Could it really be as simple as not signing those papers?