His sister had surprised him most of all. Katherine had found her niche in running the public relations department and wasdoing a damn good job of it. Cade had no idea where he belonged.
He had been given a stellar education along with his siblings and held degrees in business and art as well as a minor degree in computer science. He had never put any of them to use.
For the first time, shame coursed through his body. He wanted to slink away and hide inside his room, but he figured that was what was expected of him.
Another expectation was that of his inability to see anything through to its conclusion. He was going to prove that expectation wrong. He had to.
"I don't want to wait," he told his mother quietly.
"All we're saying is that you should take some time and decide what you really want to do."
He sent his brother a cool look. "Is that the general consensus around here? Poor Kincaid has never worked a day in his life, so let's keep him out of the business?"
"Now son..."
"No, dad." He shook his head. "I need this and all I'm asking for is a chance." He put down his utensils in a precise manner as he tried for calm. "I know none of you have any reason to believe me or believe in me, but I need to do this."
Picking up his wine glass, he took a sip to cool his parched throat. It was difficult trying to change, even more so to try to convince the people who were used to you that you were determined to do just that.
He searched each of their faces, hoping for a glimmer of understanding, anything to show that they still saw him as capable of more than his past failures. The silence that followed felt heavy, but Cade forced himself not to look away.
Deep down, he knew that earning their trust would take more than words, but he was ready to show them through actions this time.
"I love books, always have. I've been reading up on the various arms of the company and there's a publishing house slated to be closed because of lack of performance. I want a chance to revive it."
His father exchanged a glance with his older son. "Raven House has not been producing for years now. Part of the reason is the location and the fact that it was poorly managed."
"Then we revive it. I already have some ideas of what needs to be done. I've done a deep dive into the root of the problem and think I have a solution."
"Son, how about an easier position? You're very visible and our brand is falling behind. You did some modeling and acting..."
"You want me to pose on billboards and give interviews." He could not even blame them for thinking that was the only thing he could handle. He had handed them that ammunition for years. It was time to change the narrative.
"How about this?" He was also determined not to take it personally and prove his mettle. "Give me two months to turn things around at the publishing house and if it doesn't work out, I will stand in front of the camera and do my thing. How about it?"
He noticed when his father exchanged looks with Kevin and tamped down the resentment.
"If you're sure..."
"I am." Lifting his glass, he offered a humorless smile. "To my fruitful future."
Later on, after the meal was finished and dessert served in the cream and gold sitting room, he stood by the window of the study, staring out at the leaves of the old oak tree fluttering in the breeze. He had been away a long time, but it was like he had left just a week ago. Nothing had changed.
"Here. Scotch with a twist of lemon. Always wondered how the hell you tarnish such a manly drink."
He turned to take the drink from his brother with a smile. "That's because you never acquired the taste for the finer things. The lemon brings out the taste."
"If you say so." Leaning on the pane, Kevin eyed his brother. "Want to talk?"
Chapter 2
Scanning the room, Cade noticed that his father had left.
"Dad gave you the unpleasant task of picking my brain?"
"Something like that." Kevin took his own drink and sat on the side of the well-polished oak desk. As like everything inside the room, the furniture was old and antiquated. The house had gone through dozens of Tyrell's ancestors with only a few moderate changes. "I envied you, you know."
Cade shot him a startled look. "Why? You're top of the chain in the business; you have a wonderful woman who refused to run away with me when I begged her to."
