Page 10 of Sinner's Binding
“Why’re you so happy about it? Contracts aren’t your area,” I pointed out.
“They might not be, but they impact everyone. Hey, I wanted to ask. I need a favor.”
There it was—the reason. He always had something that he wanted when he began a sentence with “I wanted to ask.”
“What is it this time?” I asked, trying not to sound weary.
“It’s nothing big. With DeMonte as a client, you won’t even notice,” my brother assured me.
I said nothing and waited. When he realized I was waiting, he sighed and made his pitch.
“I’ve been working here for two years. And the company keeps growing. I think in order to maintain the appropriate appearances, I should make a change.”
“And what exact change would that be?” I asked dryly.
“A new wardrobe and car in line with my status as the owner’s brother and successor,” Rowan stated bluntly.
I choked on my coffee. It took a few seconds of coughing to clear my throat enough to speak. I stared at him in disbelief while he looked smug.
“Status? Successor?” I croaked.
“Well, yeah. Look, you’re single, Reign. You have no girlfriend, wife, or kids. And at this rate, based on the way you never date, it’s not happening. That means I’m your heir. I’ll inherit the company. And since that’s the case, I should dress better, have a nicer vehicle, and move into a senior position. It doesn’t look right for me to be a regular grunt.”
I’d heard enough. I set down my cup. “Rowan, you are my brother, but that doesn’t mean I’ll place you in a senior management role. Those are earned through experience and time, not because of nepotism. You skate along at your job within the company. You come in late, leave early, and only put in enough effort to qualify for your name to be added to projects. And the bulk of the work is done by others, not you.”
Rowan frowned, then he made his excuse. “Well, that might be true, but it’s only because the work is beneath me. I can do more. I need to be stimulated to produce my best work.”
“So having a paycheck isn’t enough stimulation?” I asked.
He waved his hand dismissively in the air. “It’s not like that here, and you know it. I’m your brother. No one expects me to do basic work. I’ve let it go for two years, but it’s time to announce your successor and my promotion in the ranks. I think Vice President makes sense.”
He paused. I wanted him to hang himself fully. I kept my hands below the top of the desk so he couldn’t see how I clenched them. When I said nothing, he continued.
“To carry it off, I need an entirely new wardrobe. And if I’m going to client meetings, dinners, and such, I need to arrivein style. I don’t want to embarrass the company. I looked at this gorgeous Porsche 911 Turbo S coupe the other day. Man, it’s beautiful, powerful, and sleek. And for what you get, a hundred and fifty thousand is a steal. It’s white with a black leather interior. You’ve got to come with me to get it,” Rowan said exuberantly.
I let him run out of steam before I replied.
“Rowan, exactly how do you propose to pay for the clothes and car?”
My brother gave me a confused look. “What do you mean? My pay raise, plus a little chipped in from you as a bonus, will cover it. I know you can afford that.”
“You’re right, I can afford them, but I’m not moving you into a different, higher position, increasing your pay, or giving you a bonus. And I’m not naming you as my successor. If I die without a wife and kids, then the company will be sold and the proceeds given to various charities.”
The shock on his face made me want to laugh and cry at the same time. God, he was so oblivious and entitled. He was a man-child. I knew I hadn’t started the creation of him, but I’d continued it. Rowan sat forward in his chair. His hands were placed flat on the desktop.
“What the hell are you talking about? Leaving it to charity! I’m your brother. This company and your assets are mine. Why give them away? I get it. If you do marry and have kids, they’re entitled to a portion, but you’ll need me to run things until your children are old enough to join the family company. But even then, it makes sense for me to run everything.”
“Like hell it does! I built this with my own sweat, blood, and tears. You haven’t done a thing to grow it. And I won’t leave a portion of it to you. If you want a legacy to control or pass on, then put your head and ass into making something of your own.Get your hands dirty and work yourself up. You’ve skated along your entire life, Ro. Mom and Dad started it, and I was stupid to continue. But those days are done.
“I wanted to wait to talk about this, but since you brought it up, we’ll do it now. If nothing major happens before I finish acquiring Little’s Crisis Management LLC, you’ll need to find a new job when it's done. I can’t keep you on anymore, Rowan.”
The silence was deafening. I watched his face. His expressions went from smug to disbelief, to horror, then finally to anger. He hopped to his feet and leaned over my desk.
“What the fuck!?” he shouted.
“Keep your voice down,” I ordered.
“You’ve got to be kidding me. Tell me this is a joke. You can’t do this to me, Reign.”
