Page 36 of Sinner's Binding
“I know that I haven’t made the greatest impression at the company. I get it. And I want you to know that I’ve gotten serious. I won’t be coming in late to work. I’ll be productive during working hours, and if something requires me to work on the weekend, I’ll do it. You’re right. I’ve gotten used to skating by.
“Dad and Mom made it easy as the baby of the family. When they died, you were drowning with your life and then taking on me. You kept it the same. I know it was to lessen the impact on me. I appreciate that you did, but it has gone on fartoo long, Reign. You’re right. I need to stand on my own two feet and create my future.
“I plan to do just that. But it doesn’t mean I have to do it separately from Caldwell Catastrophes. I want to learn and work beside you to make Caldwell into a bigger, better family company. Yes, you’re the owner, but I think we can take it even further if we work together. In a case like that, it makes sense that I get not only a portion of the company for my work, but also an additional percentage as your only sibling.
“Assuming you decide to get married one day and have kids, they should get a portion of the company when you pass. However, you don't have to leave that burden to your wife and kids. Leaving me in charge as your successor will protect them from all the stress and worry. I’ll make sure they have what they need. I’m your brother. You can trust me to do that. After all, they’ll be my family, too.”
Rowan paused as if to see if Reign had anything to say. Although Reign’s body had tensed beneath mine, he kept his expression bland and showed no outward appearance of tension. Rowan continued.
“Think about it. You always said that companies with too many hands trying to steer them, who split it into so many slivers, are inherently disasters waiting to happen. If you have your kids and a wife all trying to direct things, it’ll weaken the company. Whereas if I were the CEO and carried on as you want, there would be a solid face of the company and a single leader. I’m ready, Reign.”
Rowan sat there staring expectantly at his brother. The only time he looked at me was when he mentioned a wife and kids. Inside, my heart jumped at the thought of being Reign’s wife and providing him with children, which was wild considering the length of our acquaintance and that we’d only had oral sex once.
“I want to make sure I got this right. After thirty-one years of pretty much doing or not doing whatever the hell you want, you’re ready to get serious about work. And you want me to allow you to demonstrate that at my company. And not only to allow you to remain employed there, but to make you a stakeholder with authority. I assume as my VP.
“And when I marry and have kids, they wouldn’t take over the company because that fractures it too much. Instead, you’ll take over as CEO and ensure my family receives a share of the profits without any voting or authority within the company. Did I miss anything?” Reign asked calmly.
Rowan scooted to the end of the couch cushion. His face glowed with excitement.
“Exactly. Now, you’re getting it. I need work that challenges me. Take, for example, the Littleton acquisition. I need to be involved in those types of things. I need to be involved in engaging work. Associating my face with you, Reign, is key, not as a faceless drone. What I’m doing now doesn’t do that.”
“You want me to give you more work, work that can make or break the company, and if I do that, you’ll perform. Do you hear yourself, Ro? That’s not how one proves oneself ready for advancement.”
“Maybe not in regular companies, but this is yours. We’re family. And family sticks together and helps each other.”
I was astonished at what came out of Rowan’s mouth. And the way he acted, he believed it. It was clear he had no clue how the real business world worked. Poor Reign, he had to put up with this every day.
“I swear to God, Rowan, do you even hear yourself? I’ve never heard anything so asinine in my life,” Reign told him coldly.
Reign held up his hand as Rowan opened his mouth, no doubt to argue.
“No, it’s my turn to speak. You sit there and listen. Are you that goddamn entitled and disconnected from reality that you actually believe what you’re saying? And that you think I’ll ever agree to it? If so, you need help. I love you, Rowan, but I’m not blind to who you are. Yes, I had a hand in shaping you, which I’ll regret for the rest of my life, but it’s time to face reality.
“The fact we share the same DNA doesn’t entitle you to a fucking thing of mine—not my business, my home, or anything else that I’ve fought to build. I created all I have through sacrifice and backbreaking hard work over the years. You skated by with college paid for and your every need and want fulfilled, without lifting a finger. The fact that you believe being brothers means you should get anything of mine, let alone run my company, is ridiculous.
“I will never place my future wife and kids in your hands for you to decide what they get. They will inherit everything and run my company. I’m not saying this to be cruel. It’s to wake you up. It’s not too late for you to build something of your own, as I did. A legacy you can pass down to your family one day.”
When Reign stopped speaking, it was evident his words went right by his brother. Rowan’s face had grown steadily redder and his scowl deeper as Reign spoke. When the silence came, he immediately launched into more spewing.
“I can’t believe you! You act all superior, saying you did it on your own. No, you didn’t. Mom and Dad helped you. Remember the house? You got capital from it to start your business,” Rowan snapped.
“I got the same amount of money you did. I chose to use mine wisely. You blew through yours in a year on stupid shit: more expensive clothes, a sports car, fancy vacations, and dinners. You threw it away, partying with your so-called friends. I used every penny to help get my company off the ground. It took way more than that to become what it did.”
“There was money, too, that you took! I know they had money in the bank and a life insurance policy,” Rowan yelled. He was on his feet, pacing.
“You’re right, there was a policy, but it wasn’t massive, and as for money in the bank, there wasn’t much. I used the money from both of those to continue paying the mortgage, property taxes, homeowners’ insurance, everyday bills, and groceries. I paid for everything you wanted, plus clothing, school trips, and a car when you were seventeen. I didn’t pocket that shit, Ro. And you know this because I kept meticulous records showing where every dime went. And outside the mortgage and mutually beneficial bills like utilities and groceries, every dime was spent on you. I paid for my car, car insurance, and anything I wanted or needed out of my salary. I worked sixty-hour weeks while you sat back and got to enjoy being a teenager and coast by!”
Reign was breathing hard, and his body was stiff and vibrating. I rubbed my hand across his chest, attempting to soothe him.
“Reign, honey, try to relax. You’re stressing yourself out too much,” I said softly.
Rowan, who had paced over to the kitchen island, whipped around and marched back to us. He pointed his finger at me.
“Who is this woman? You never mentioned dating anyone. I bet she’s sitting there thinking she’s hit the jackpot and is set for life. You’re her meal ticket. She’s no doubt counting on being the future Mrs. Reign Caldwell. If you give her access to your money or company, she’ll steal you blind. Women think the fact that they fuck a man means they get everything,” Rowan hurled spitefully at me.
I gasped. Not because of what Reign’s brother said, though it pissed me off. It was due to suddenly becomingairborne, and then I was seated back in the chair. Reign was on his feet, and he let a roar rip as he went after his brother.
Rowan’s eyes widened as he backpedaled, but he wasn’t fast enough. I watched as Reign grabbed him by both sides of his shirt. Then, Reign shoved him down on the couch and loomed over him.
