Everything is about to change.
I can't place how I know this, but I feel it. The energy in the air has shifted as the guests clear out, and soon, we'll be left with just my family and my father’s most trusted executives.
"Take her home." I practically shove Grace out the door as I give Wallace the order.
"Asher, stop." Grace's palms land on my shoulders as her pretty eyes bore into mine. "It's going to be okay."
I scoff, and her brow furrows. She's being naive. Something I love about her; she's pure, untainted by the world my family lives in. And maybe that's why I want her to go, like a desperate need to keep her pure. Sure, she's met my father, heard his snarks and witnessed his petty behaviors, but she's never seen him blow. And I wouldn't wish that on anyone.
"What are you worried about?" She reaches up, her palm coasting over my cheek. For a brief moment, I close my eyes and let her warmth radiate through me. What would it be like to live in her world? To let all this go and just be…free? I imagineshackles breaking, a weight being lifted. But that's not possible. I could never walk away from my family.
"You need to go." I don't answer her question, repeating my order. And like the good girl that she is, she nods, plants a kiss on my cheek, and spins around, walking out with Wallace.
This is the second time in the span of a month that something has gone terribly wrong. First, Dove's wedding. What was supposed to be a merger of powerful families fell through in the most publicly embarrassing way it could. And now, a bastard child airing our family drama at our own fundraiser.
I'm completely certain that my father is about to lose his mind. And from experience, I know that comes with yelling, throwing furniture, and making sure everyone around him feels as small as possible.
I watch as Grace gets in the car, and once I know she's safe, I turn back to reenter the ballroom.
"Is it true?" I reach for Gabe as he slips by me, gripping his shoulder and forcing him to spin around. The last few stragglers are clearing out, and my brother eyes them as they leave before turning his attention back to me.
"I'm as surprised as you are." He shrugs, smoothing the lapels on his tux.
"Bullshit." I watched his face when that girl spoke. He knew what she was going to say. "Who is she?"
Gabe smiles. "A poor girl living in a very expensive city who needs some help with college expenses. She wrote a very convincing essay."
"And in that essay, did she mention that she's our sister?"
"Half-sister." It's Wren who chimes in. I rub my hand over my eyes, not even sure when he appeared behind us, leaning against the wall casually. “She’s the affair baby.”
"Ash." Gabe claps a hand on my shoulder, and I know he's trying to be convincing, but I'm not convinced. Something is fishy here. "It's done. Now, we need to figure out the next move."
"Why do I feel like the next move is making Asher CEO?" Wren yawns, as if this whole conversation is boring him.
"It's your family business too, you do realize that?" I snap at my younger brother. His constant jokes and lack of seriousness finally pushes me over the edge.
But something simmers underneath my skin. He's right. The solution might be making me CEO.
It would take some of the spotlight off my father's misdeeds, or at least make it look like he's being punished for them, removed from the head of his own company after the news breaks. And who better to replace him than me? The one who's been training for my entire life.
Anticipation thrums through me. This could finally be it.
"Nah." Wren pushes off the wall to stand straight. "This company might have my last name attached to it, but I want nothing to do with Dad's empire."
His words shouldn't surprise me. Wren's always been against our family business. But I viewed his distaste as a protection mechanism. You can't get hurt by our father's games if you don't play them.
"Why are you even here then?" I ask.
A twisted smile rises on my younger brother’s face. "I just like the drama."
"That's what this is to you? Just drama?" Annoyance edges my words. I have more important things to be worrying about than my brother treating this like a spectacle. I need to focus on how to fix this situation.
"Yeah, Ash. It matters to them. It doesn't have to matter to us." Wren talks like he's trying to prove a point to me, but I wave him off.
"Like it's that easy."
Wren shrugs. "It could be. I'm gonna go in so I can get a good seat before Dad melts down." He winks. Fucking winks. And then he goes back into the ballroom.
