“Go for it.” Parker’s own phone rang.
William stood, turning his back to Parker. “This is William.”
“Are you sitting down?” his attorney, Dawn, asked breathlessly. “Because the judge just threw out your father’s final appeal. Crestone’s yours. No more appeals, no more court dates, this is it. The company transfers on your birthday, like your mother requested.”
William gripped the phone tighter.
He had won.
Nearly a decade had passed since he’d left Confluence after the reading of his mother’s will. He had not returned, choosing instead to spend the next phase of his life proving himself a respectable newsman while attorneys and mediators sorted out the legalities of his inheritance.
And.
He.
Won.
William had shed tears when he heard his mother had died. He stood by her grave weeks later, numb, tired, and cold inside. Over the next years, he’d fought the image that damn reality show had created. The persona they’d created for him followed him everywhere. Confluence media had a heyday with it. His father had to deal with his reckless son’s behavior, when he should have been mourning his wife. And the whole time, William felt…nothing. Like he’d been the one who died.
Right now? The frigid vise gripping his heart started to melt.
“You there?” Dawn asked.
William swallowed the intense emotion threatening to spill. “Yeah, great news. Thank you. Really. Thank you.”
“I’ll be in touch with paperwork,” she replied. “Congratulations.”
William turned toward Parker, unable to keep his grin at bay. “I’ve got news.”
Parker dropped his phone in the cradle. “I heard. Your dad called.”
An ominous feeling crept up in William’s chest. “You talked to my dad?”
Parker shifted uncomfortably. “I did. You need to meet with him. The Colorado Springs merger is precarious. This is the worst possible time for you to take over.”
What the hell?
That was certainly not the vote of confidence William had expected. “Worst possible time? Sorry my dead mother’s plans and my birthday don’t work for your calendar.”
“That’s not what I meant, man. You know that. Your dad’spissed.”
Yeah, probably. His dad spent most of his time furious with his wife for dying and leaving her family company to William instead of him. Years fighting her last wishes had left his father bitter.
“He’s been working on this merger for years. He wants to meet with you. Hash everything out.”
Absolutely. Succession plan preparation should happen soon. First, William needed to do his own research before any meetings so he would go in prepared.
“I’m puttingthatmeeting off as long as possible.” He rubbed against the pressure in his chest he experienced whenever his father’s name came up.
“You need to go visit him. Now.”
“Nope.” Now that things were going his way, he would do this on his own terms. In his own time.
Parker cursed. “Don’t be a jackass.”
“Seriously, when did you become his bitch?” William set his hands low on his hips.
Parker glanced away.
