His father criticized him and praised Penny. Her mother praised him and criticized Penny. His dad told him that just because he was going to inherit a lot of money didn’t make him better than anyone else. His mother explained to him that he had to meet society’s expectations to show that he deserved the money.
As teenagers, this combination had been near-fatal for them. So, Penny and he had rebelled. He did so by proving to his parents that he could indeed be better than everyone else, not by meeting expectations but by surpassing them. Penny did so by living a life outside the norm so that she could no longer be compared.
“Gareth, I don’t think you realize how much money we’re talking about! Because you don’t listen to anyone. Because you’ve lost sight of what’snormaland what isn’t. Because you think you can get away with anything just because your name is Clark, and you have a lot of influence and power!”
Yeah, Penny might have chosen the better path. She didn’t have to deal with this bullshit.
But Gareth was who he was — and certainly not the man his father saw. He had no power or influence because of his name.Heearned all the money in his account, not his father, because he worked harder than everyone else. He didn't even think it was because he was smarter — although he was arrogant enough to claim he didn’t lack intelligence. He was successful because he was always willing to sweat for what he wanted to achieve. But no one believed him, including his father. Gareth was tired of fighting for what others were simply given, having to prove to his father that he was better than everyone else – not because of the money, but because he had earned it. Having to prove to his sister that he was happy and content. Having to prove to his mother that he wasn’t married yet not because his standards were too high. Having to prove to his friends that he wasn’t a womanizer just because he could be. Having to prove to the world that he wasn’t arrogant because he was attractive, but because he couldn’t do his job if he lost his self-confidence. Having to explain to his assistant that he didn’t like his damn coffee black simply because black matched his soul.
His father thought his life had been too easy, his goals too easily achieved, that too much money and power had been handed to him for him to be a halfway decent person.
Butnothingin his life had been easy, and it seemed that he was the only one who noticed.
So he gave up. He let people believe what they wanted. They weren’t worth the fight.
“Dad,” he said calmly, “I think it’s better if you leave now,” before he said things he regretted, he didn't add. Granted, he wouldn't regret it for a few days, but the moment would come.
His father ignored him, as usual. “You are going to pay too much for Fox and Devreaux!”
Of course, it was about them. “I’m still negotiating with Fox and Devreaux.”
“Yes, for three months now!”
“Dad, it’s not your team anymore. You left it to us. Now it’s my decision.”
“I gave up the team, not the right to tell you when you’re wrong. You only want Devreaux to prove you can do it.”
“No. I want him because he’s damn good.”
“His stats aren’t any better than Temple's, or West's, or Fox's.”
“If you want to talk stats, talk to Penny. I’ve been watching Devreaux for three goddamn years. The coach is using him wrong, and he could be a hundred times better.”
“I see. So you have a coach’s expertise now too?” his father said condescendingly. “Gareth, you’re too arrogant. Your ego gets in the way. You can’t stand losing, which is why you’ll be taken advantage of.”
Wow. Even his father thought he was an asshole.
Awesome. Maybe he wasn’t wrong about that, but he was wrong on the other point. Gareth had spent hours arguing with Parker Gray, their head coach, who agreed with him about Devreaux.
But he remained silent. He didn’t owe his father anything, especially not more damnproofof his competence.
“Come on, Gareth. You don’t even want Devreaux anymore, you just want to beat Hazel Barrow. I know your dynamic.”
Anger filled his chest. It was anger he’d learned to hide. But not when it came to her. Never when it came to her.
“You don’t knowanythingabout Hazel and me,” he replied coldly.
“I know she’s a fantastic lawyer, the one you advised me not to hire back then because you two had some kind of feud.”
Gareth gritted his teeth. No, that wasn’t the reason.
“Son. I’ve had problems with agents before, and they’re easily solved by sending them a nice, expensive bottle of alcohol or some other gift. Chocolates, for example. So they feel appreciated.”
Gareth stared at his father, perplexed — then he started laughing. The situation wasn’t funny, but his father’s suggestion was. “Chocolates,” he whispered, his laughter growing louder. He couldn’t help it; the idea was just too ludicrous.
“What’s so funny?”
“The fact that if Gareth sent me chocolate and alcohol to win my favor, I’d throw a nice bonfire and question his sanity,” a voice rang out.
