by Leslie North
“Truce.” His brothers echoed.
Stephen blew out his breath and knocked back the rest of the drink he still held. Not only would his plan get him out of Duncan Enterprises, but maybe he could finally step back and reevaluate his relationship with Angie. He wouldn’t play in the shadows forever. They would need to come forward soon or they needed to end it.
He wasn’t an in-between kind of guy.
14
Angie was out of town that weekend for a family get-together, and things at Maxfield Construction were quiet. Stephen spent some time video chatting with his son before wandering around the house. Following the sound of someone playing billiards, he found Nathan leaning intently over the pool table.
“Trying to improve your game and hustle a few guys at the bar?” Stephen teased. Nathan scratched and straightened up to glare at Stephen.
“Not hanging with Gabe today?”
Sensing that talking about work might set Nathan off, Stephen carefully sidestepped it. “Nah. How are things at home? You don’t talk much about it.”
“It’s not that I don’t talk about it much. It’s that you two never seem interested.” Nathan leaned over again and aimed his cue. This time, he got two balls in one strike.
“I’m interested now. How is Daisy?” Stephen asked quietly.
“Daisy is Daisy,” Nathan muttered. “She’s passionate about her cause.”
“Cause?” Stephen knew that Daisy had similar interests to Nathan, especially about going green.
“She wants Duncan Enterprises to go green,” Nathan said. “As do I.”
Not this again. It was all Stephen could do not to roll his eyes. Nathan was something of a broken record. “There are more important things to do right now than worry about going green.”
“See! Right there! God, I’m so tired of you and Gabe shoving my ideas aside. I’m not a child anymore.”
“No one said you were. But there will be no company to go green if we don’t focus on other aspects first,” Stephen pointed out.
“Did you ever think that announcing that we’re going green might actually help save the company? Things have changed a lot in the last five years. People are waking up and becoming more aware of the environment. Duncan Enterprises could get a lot more attention if we announced some changes.”
“Is that you or Daisy talking?” Stephen said finally.
Nathan seemed to deflate. “Daisy has gotten kind of extreme these days. We’ve been together for years, and I’m worried that she’s going to leave me because of my father. How crazy is that?”
Stephen chuckled. “I feel you. Angie doesn’t want to go public with our relationship because of Duncan. That man is a cock blocker if I ever saw one.”
“You and Angie are official now?” Nathan asked, with wide eyes. “When did that happen?”
“It’s not official. But we’re past the stage of just talking. There’s something about her, Nathan. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I feel like I shouldn’t let her go. I realize I hardly know her, I’m not usually an impulsive person. I look at all the angles before I make a decision, but if I take Angie and look at the all the angles, I have a big fat no. She’s in Duncan’s pocket. She’s not interested in a relationship. She puts her career first. She’s here, and I’m not.” Stephen sighed. “But I can’t seem to stop myself.”
“Big brother has it bad,” Nathan teased. He finally smiled at Stephen and offered him a beer from the cooler. “Women will drive you insane.”
“So will family,” Stephen said with a wry smile.
“All I’m asking is to be heard. If I draw up a presentation, will you and Gabe finally pay attention?”
Stephen reached out and ruffled Nathan’s hair. “We’re always paying attention, little brother. We’re just waiting for you to make a stand.”
Nathan growled and swung a punch half-heartedly at Stephen. “I know where your priorities lie. But I think this could help.”
Stephen nodded his head. As he watched Nathan drink his beer, he realized how much of Nathan’s life he had missed. This wasn’t the little kid who came to him with every problem. This was a grown man who was struggling with issues and didn’t have anywhere to turn. He’d always blamed Duncan for abandoning him, but he and Gabe had done the same to Nathan.
Maybe it was finally time to turn that around.
“Anyone up to shoot some hoops?”
Stephen turned to see Gabe dressed in blue shorts and a tank top. He wrinkled his nose. “If those shorts were any higher you’d be giving us all quite the show,” he teased.
Gabe frowned and looked down. “No one has been around to play in a while, but it’s not like I’ve grown all that much.”
“Shrinkage. It’s the death of all clothes.” He downed the rest of his beer and stretched. “I’ll play. Nathan?”
Nathan shook his head and kept his head down. It was clear that even though he and Stephen were trying to resolve their issues, he wasn’t quite ready to do the same with Gabe. “Are we good?” Stephen asked softly.
“Yeah.” Nathan gave him a small smile. “We’re good.”
“All right!” He clapped his hands together and rubbed them. “Time to kick your ass,” he told Gabe. “Let me change real quick.”
Gabe snorted, and thirty minutes later, Gabe and Stephen were neck and neck. “What wrong, big brother?” Gabe panted. “Too old to play anymore?”
“Please,” Stephen replied as he locked eyes with his brother. “You’re so busy working for Daddy that you don’t even know how to handle yourself outside the company.”
Gabe slowly dribbled the ball from side to side. “Oh yeah? Then how come you aren’t kicking my ass?”
“I’m getting warmed up,” Stephen said as he made his move. Snagging the ball from Gabe, he reached up to shoot the ball. As it slid through, he made a loud whooping cry and began to dance along the court.
“Lucky shot,” Gabe grumbled.
“Are you going to be a sore loser? I hate sore losers,” Stephen taunted. The ball fell between them, and they were at it again. As Stephen followed Gabe around the court, he could tell that the tension between them was from far more than the game. The words, facial features, and movements were far too harsh for a playful game. But Stephen didn’t let up. If this is what Gabe needed to get out all his anger, then Stephen would let him.
It wasn’t like the resentment was one-sided. Gabe was as responsible for Duncan Enterprises practically running Maxfield Construction out of business as Duncan was. Gabe could have stepped in any time to put a stop to it, but he hadn’t. Instead, he chose to side with Duncan, and Stephen had about enough.
So Gabe was pissed off that Stephen was taking the reins. So what? This is what Gabe wanted. Stephen was called in to save the company, and now that Stephen was taking steps, Gabe was suddenly jealous.
“So are you going to tell me your plan, or are you going to fly by the seat of your pants again?” Gabe asked finally as the ball bounced between them. It almost sounded an ominous note as it thudded against the concrete. They were both dripping with sweat, and Stephen was in no mood for a fight.
“I told you. I’m looking at it from all the angles,” Stephen gasped as he wiped his face.
“Not good enough,” Gabe said roughly. “I called you in to help. That means that you need to keep me in the damn loop. Do you understand?”
“What do you want, Gabe?” Stephen said, spreading his hands out. “Every time I try to talk to you, you kick me out of the office. You act like I’m in the way.”
“That’s because whenever you’re in my office, you are in the way! You’re so fucking blindsided by Angie and so suspicious of the company that all you do is bitch and moan when you’re with me. I brought you in to give me ideas. I didn’t bring you in so that you could go rogue. When all is said and done, you’re going to be leaving soon. And I’ll be the one to clean up whatever mess you leave behind!” Gabe roared.
His heart hammering painful
ly in his chest, Stephen finally stopped moving and stared at Gabe. “Is that what this is about? You’re worried about what’s going to happen when I leave?”
“What did you think it was about?”
“Glory,” Stephen said with an apologetic shrug.
“Please,” Gabe sniffed. “I could single-handedly save this company, and Duncan wouldn’t look twice at me. We both know that. But like it or not, Duncan Enterprises is important to me. I might never be CEO, but I want this company to work. I’ve put a lot into it, and I want to make sure that when you leave, it’s not still in a mess. If you keep me out of the loop, then I’m going to have more nights like earlier this week where you’re in a jam and I have to scramble to get you out of it. Let me in on what you’re thinking. Let me help you so that I can work up a plan for the future. For when you’re gone.”
The ball rolled harmlessly into the grass, and Stephen collapsed on the bench. “I’m not focused,” he groaned. “My attention is divided.”
“Angie?”
Stephen let his head fall back as he sighed. “She’s on my mind all the time, but it’s never going to work out. She’s here. She belongs to Duncan hook, line, and sinker. And I belong with Maxfield Construction. Neither of us is going to volunteer to move. I need to see it for what it is and leave it alone.”
“That’s never going to happen.” Gabe shrugged when Stephen glared at him. “What? I know you. You don’t let things go. If you did, you wouldn’t be here helping me.”
“You know I didn’t realize that we would have so many problems getting along,” Stephen said. “We’re so far removed from each other’s lives. Nathan’s practically a stranger to me, and sometimes I even find myself wondering if I can even trust you. And we can’t exactly blame Duncan for that.”
“No,” Gabe sighed. “It’s our fault. Nathan hasn’t even looked at me for the past few days.”
“We have to provide a united front in whatever we do. That should be the easiest move, but it’s certainly not looking that way.” Stephen stood and stretched. “I’m going to grab a shower. Pizza later?”
“I’ll call it in,” Gabe said absently. Stephen could tell he had a lot on his mind.
As he should. They had a lot to work through. If they couldn’t make it as a family, they were never going to make it as a company.
15
By noon on Monday, Stephen was yearning for a drink. “You have got to be kidding me,” he muttered as he stared at the computer screen.
“Rough day?”
The sound of her voice lifted his spirits, and the vision of her in his temporary office lifted more than that. As quickly as he could, he moved from the desk, checked the hall, and closed the door. “What are you doing?” she protested as he grabbed her and pushed her up against the wall.
“I haven’t touched you in more than forty-eight hours,” he said huskily as his hands traveled down her body. His lips descended on hers, and the muscles in her body relaxed. She became like putty in his hands as he pulled her blouse from her skirt so he could skim his hands over her warm, bare skin.
Moaning, she grabbed for his shirt. “Did you lock the door?” His only response was a low growl as he slammed her harder against the wall. “Shush!” she hissed.
With a frustrated sigh, he released her and backed up. “Jesus, Angie. Could you at least pretend that we aren’t sneaking around? I kind of got over the forbidden hookups when I was seventeen,” he grumbled.
“You didn’t seem to have a problem with it last weekend,’ she sighed. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“Everything,” Stephen snapped. “This job with Garret has had no publicity at all. Which makes absolutely no sense. No reporters calling. No stories in the paper. Nothing. What is happening?”
“It takes time, baby,” Angie said as she put a hand on his arm.
“It’s been two weeks. By now there should be at least two tabloid magazines making up stories about us. And then there’s you. Every time I want to see you, I have to practically put on a disguise. And we can’t even role-play and make it fun.”
“You don’t think the sneaking around is fun?” Angie murmured with a seductive smile.
Stephen backed up and ran his hands through his hair. “It was fun in the beginning, but not so much anymore. I want to take you out to dinner and go to the movies. I want to be able to touch you at work without you pushing me away or checking over your shoulder.”
“We talked about not making this more than it is,” she said frostily.
“The only person doing that is you,” Stephen said. “There is something between us, and you keep pretending that there isn’t.”
“Dammit Stephen, I already have to work twice as hard to get any respect around here. How do you think they’re going to treat me when they find out that I’m sleeping with the boss’s son? It could damage my career. Hell, it might even damage my relationship with your father. Why can’t you understand that?”
He opened his mouth to respond, but a knock at the door interrupted them. Immediately she flushed and began straightening her clothes and smoothing her hair. “What?” Stephen snapped when he threw the door open.
A small woman stood there. Her eyes rounded when Stephen continued to glare at her, so he softened his features. “I’m sorry. How can I help you?”
“I’m looking for Angie. Someone said I might find her here,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Great,” Angie muttered under her breath. “Michelle, this is Stephen Maxfield. Stephen, this is Duncan’s receptionist. What can I do for you, Michelle?”
“I need to get into Mr. Maxfield’s office. I need a new checkbook. He said that you could let me in.” Her eyes darted nervously from Angie to Stephen, and he couldn’t help but smile. Before Angie could say anything, he immediately stepped forward.
“Angie has a million things to do today,” he said smoothly. “I’ll get that checkbook for you.”
The timid woman immediately recoiled, and Stephen couldn’t figure out exactly what had caused Duncan to hire her. Usually the old man liked his secretaries pretty and sassy. Michelle was plain and quiet. It was odd.
“You don’t have a key,” Angie pointed out.
Stephen held out his hand. “That’s easily remedied.”
She eyed him for a minute before sighing and pulling out her key ring. “You’re lucky that I am busy,” she grumbled. “And Stephen, if you touch anything in that office other than the checkbook, this will be your last day on this earth. Do you understand me?”
“I wouldn’t even dream of it,” he said with a smile. He hadn’t gotten a look at Duncan’s office since he got here. And now he realized that it was something he would need to remedy immediately. A man could tell a lot about a person from their office.
Michelle squeaked but spun on her heels and hurried down the hall. Stephen hurried to keep up with her. Behind him, he heard Angie closing the office door. The receptionist seemed to want to get this transaction over with as quickly as possible. And his lover was moving in the opposite direction. What was with the women today?
“So, do you like working for Duncan?” he asked as pleasantly as possible when they stepped into the elevator. She squeezed herself into the back corner and cast her eyes downward.
“Yes sir,” she whispered to her shoes.
“Really? Because I find my father incredibly hard to work with and work for,” Stephen said as he leaned against the elevator wall. “You don’t have to fib to me, Michelle.”
“It’s the truth, sir. Since your father hired me, he’s never been here. He sends me detailed instructions via email on what I’m to do. It’s the highest paying and easiest job I’ve ever had.”
“And how long have you worked here?”
“Eight months.”
“Eight months?” Stephen’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head. “Duncan hasn’t been into the office in eight months?“
“He used to come in for meetings, but now h
e sends his son. His other son. Mr. Gabe Maxfield.” Her eyes widened. “I don’t think I was supposed to tell you that.”
“It’s okay, Michelle. Everything you say to me is in complete confidence. Is there anything else you want to divulge?” He tried to slump down a bit and seem less intimidating, but Michelle shook her head and stared at the floor. Clearly, he wasn’t going to get any more information out of her.
The doors opened and she practically bolted down the hall. Stephen unlocked the door, and Michelle darted in. Once she pulled the checkbook out from the drawer, she didn’t even spare him a second look. “Thanks,” she whispered.
“No problem,” he said slowly as he watched her scurry away. Wow. Someone really needs to have a conversation about social conventions with her. Shutting the door behind her, he moved slowly around the office. His father had impeccable taste. Everything was solid mahogany. There were no personal items in the office. No pictures of the family or mementos. Duncan had a shelf of trophies awarded to the business, several expensive plants, and a huge aquarium. Yet Stephen knew without a shadow of a doubt that his father had no idea what kind of fish were in the aquarium. But he knew their worth.
“Daddy, daddy, daddy. Nothing has changed. Your office is as cold as you are,” he murmured. “This business is your life. So why aren’t you here?”
The phone rang, and he looked at, and hesitated for a moment. He shouldn’t. He really shouldn’t. No doubt, the calls were going straight to his father’s cellphone. But this one just kept ringing. “Dammit.” Reaching out, he snatched up the phone.
“Maxfield,” he growled. Jesus. He actually sounded like his father. How terrifying was that?
“Duncan. Garret here. I got a call from Stephen earlier asking us about the press. You haven’t told him that you wanted to nix the press? And that you’ve shut down all the options coming in?”
Stephen froze. What the hell? Duncan was sabotaging the project?
