CHAPTER 31

“Is that so?” Romano asked, a hint of humor in his voice.

His grandfather cleared his throat, sitting up. “I am a man of fairness, Romano. Everyone knows this, I’ve never said either of my grandsons would be CEO but I made it known that the most hardworking of them would have it on a platter. For now, the position is open and I look forward to seeing who is man enough to go after what they want.“

And his eyes settled on Xander as he spoke. Xander knew what those words meant, his grandfather had set a condition and he needed to know how desperate Xander was to become CEO.

It was simple: marry whom I chose or lose the position.

He’d sworn off marriage, sworn off relationships and had closed his heart after Serena and they all knew it. He wasn’t the commitment type but this was a sacrifice he was willing to take and it was a logical decision so it made no sense why the thought of being married to another woman made him feel like the most despicable person on Earth.

What he had with Kathleen wasn’t anything serious. She’d said the other night she wanted to have fun and forget everything else and he provided that. That was all that was between them and when she was ready, she’d return to her life in Goodspring but even the thought of her leaving sent fear down his spine.

“There’s never been anything I wanted that I didn’t get,” Xander said, the baritone of his voice rich with confidence. “This is nothing,”

Something like respect sparked in Romano’s eyes. “So tell me, Xander, what do you think of my daughter, Julia? A fine young woman, don’t you agree?”

He shrugged. “It may seem so,” disinterest laced his tone.

“Lovely woman,” Micheal added. “I couldn’t stop myself earlier from telling her how beautiful she is. I read she finished at the top of her class in Harvard. Is that so?”

Romano’s grin widened. “Julia is intelligent. I always knew from when she came into this world eyes shining with curiosity,” he laughed fondly.

Xander watched his brother with suspicion as he discussed Julia Wynter with her father. He knew what Michael was after, if he somehow got the woman to himself, he would make Xander appear inept to his grandfather but Xander still couldn't find it in him to grow interested in the woman.

“You know Julia is a big fan of your works, Xander. She pores over your projects with interest and she'd convinced us the resort was something you would do brilliantly.” Romano said. “You should have a chat with her while I drink and talk to Archibald about the old times.”

It was a dismissal. Xander recognized it and even Micheal in all of his stupidity did too.

Xander downed the last of his drink and nodded at them before he left, his brother hot on his heels.

“Does she know?” Micheal asked.

Xander didn't bother with a response.

“Grandfather knows about her,” he continued, undeterred by Xander's silence. “Everyone in this goddamn family knows about the woman you keep in your home. It's unfortunate that you still continue to hide her like you are ashamed of her, the poor thing.”

Xander stooped.

Micheal knew he’d gotten his attention and so he went on harder. “I wonder if she has deluded herself that a man like you and her could ever be. After all, if there's anything a gold-digging whore does better than fuck is dream big.”

The words were barely out of his brother’s mouth before Xander grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the wall, rage burning his insides.

“What did you fucking say?” He asked, seething. All he saw was black, he wanted to rip out Micheal limb by limb, tear out his skin, and listen to his cries for even daring to talk about Kathleen like that.

Micheal smirked. “Does that hurt? Don't tell me you've fallen for her?” he chuckled. “This is interesting, so what do you do now then, big brother? Do you sacrifice the woman you want for your life-long goal or… do I begin to gear up to take up the position that has always fucking belonged to me?”

Blood roared in his ears. “I won't tell you again, Micheal. Keep her name off your mouth!”

And he slammed him harder against the wall until his brother’s confident smirk waned and in its place was a nervous smile.

“You don't want to know the ways I can harm you, you fucking bastard…”

“Xander?” a calm voice called from behind them.

Xander glanced behind him to see Julia Wynter watching them with a calm expression. He knew she'd heard everything he and Micheal had said.

Micheal chuckled. “Well, well, well. Good luck getting out of that one.” he whistled to himself as he walked away.

Xander watched the woman with no idea what to say to her. Fuck! He wished he was back in his apartment watching some small-town rom-com with someone else.

She cleared her throat. “I uh, actually, my stepmother had asked me to come find you,” she admitted.

He nodded.

“She can be that persuasive, my stepmother, that is. She likes things to go her way.”

Xander had no idea why they were discussing her stepmother.

“I see,”

“So, here I am,” she said.

“Come with me,” he said, leading her toward the bar. They settled there and Xander poured them a drink.

She leaned in close. “You know, Xander, you've always intrigued me. I've followed your work since I was in college.”

“Have you?” he asked, taking a sip of his drink.

“But I've always wondered beyond the glamour of CEO Xander Blackwood, who really are you?“ she asked, trailing a finger down the inside of his arm.

She was bold, he’d give her that.

Xander picked up her hand by the wrist and set it back on the table.

She smiled and watched him with interest. “You don't like me?”

His voice was flat. “Am I obliged to?”

She laughed. “We might dance around it but it's obvious what our families expect of us, Xander. But if you'd like to go slow, I'm a patient girl after all I've been patient with you for the last ten years.”

He simply watched her.

“A crush since I was fifteen, I don't think anything would deter me now. You see, I've heard of the type of women you like and I became one. I am beautiful and hard-working, you'd learn to like me.”

In any other case, her confidence would have been a turn-on for him but when his phone vibrated with a text, he ignored the woman before him, and his face exploded in a full-blown smile when he saw it was a picture of Kathleen. Her hair was put up in a messy bun and her face was stained with paint.

“I'm almost done, pick me up on your way home.” She texted.

He sent back a response telling her he’d be there in fifteen minutes before he got up and grabbed his jacket.

“It was nice talking to you, Julia. I'm afraid I have to leave.”

She glanced at his phone with a knowing look before she shrugged. “Like I said, I'm a patient woman, Xander. I'll see you next week for the charity function. By the way, I loved the flowers.”

He nodded absentmindedly as he strode out, his eyes on the picture on his phone.

“Xander?” Julia called after him.

He stopped, casting her a sideways glance.

“I'm not usually this forward but keep in mind that the Blackwood Properties is at stake here and if you don't get your CEO position back. I don't know how you'd live with yourself after such a loss.”

Without a word, Xander walked out on Julia, slamming the door behind him but her words remained with him, ticking in his head like a time bomb as he drove to Kathleen.