Promises Forgotten
Chapter 51

Pulling up to my parents’ house, I sighed. Stacy and Jason were also with me, since they had been added to family dinners long before they entered the company. Waiting for a moment, I stared up at the looming shadows of the house.

“Zach, you okay?” Stacy put her hand on my arm.

I nodded, but didn’t look back at her. “There are two ways I can play tonight. One, I can be straightforward and upfront with them. Explain everything as best I can and just walk out of there. Step up to my father man to man and have an adult conversation with him.”

Jason snorted. “Please. You f*****g hate the man. You could never just sit and talk with him.”

Smiling, I looked up at the two of them. “Or I can go in there and throw everything in their face. I can make the biggest f*****g scene I can and show them I don’t care about anything they say.”

“At this point, I think balls in is the only way to go. They destroyed you, destroyed a happiness in you. I think it’s time they f*****g get a taste of their own medicine.”

Jason and I looked at Stacy, shocked. Usually, she never went along with our crazy plans. She was the brain and conscience.

“Balls it is, then.”

“Balls to the wall we go.”

Laughing, we piled out of the car and sauntered up to the front door. Stacy knocked and my mother opened the door. She smiled graciously as the ever-regal host that she was.

“Jason and Stacy, I’m glad you were able to come and drag my son with you. And sober. I appreciate you two.”

“Mrs. Anderson, it’s lovely to see you again.” Stacy kissed her cheek, as did Jason.

She looked at me and I smiled down at her. “Good evening, Mother. You look lovey as ever.” Kissing her cheek, I tried not to shudder.

“The Sinclairs are here tonight.”

My brows furrowed and I looked at her, confused. “Why are they here?”

“Because your father called them over and we still have matters to discuss. Please be civil with Miss Sinclair.”

Walking into the large living room, my father and Gerald Sinclair were speaking in front of the fireplace, while Jennifer and her mother were talking on the couch with Nicole. Adrian was on the other side, looking bored. He looked up and smiled.

“Hey, bro.”

Shaking my head, I walked over to the couch. “Nicole, it’s lovely to see you. I’m sorry I haven’t been around to make sure you’re okay. I know how Adrian is.”

Nicole laughed, standing and giving me a hug. She really was a beautiful woman. Tall, slender, golden hair, green eyes and a personality that was as lovely and sweet. How my brother got so lucky would always be beyond me. Her smile brightened as I felt her take my hand, but it froze for a moment as she looked at my face. It was her fingers, though, that found my wedding band and she was trying to keep composure.

“It’s lovely to see you, Zach. I’ve been okay even in your absence. I make sure to put him in his place.”

“Good!” Reaching out, I kissed Kristen Sinclair’s hand. “I apologize for making you all wait. I was finishing up a last phone call before coming over.”

Jennifer stood and smiled brightly at me. I smiled back and hugged her. The whole room seemed shocked, and I realized I forgotten to tell them about our dinner.

“It’s lovely to see you again. I hope you runway went well?”

“It did, thank you for asking. Next is Milan, which I’m very excited for.”

Walking back to the couch, I leaned on the back as Jason and Stacy took a seat. The room filled with meaningless small-talk and after some chatter about different places in Milan to go to, Jennifer got up from the couch and wandered over to the window. Following her, I looked out the window she was staring out of.

“I don’t know what they are up to, Zach, I swear.” She whispered.

Chuckling, I shook my head. “Don’t worry about it. If anything, I promise an entertaining evening.”

Her eyebrow rose. “Dinner and a show?”

“Just stick around for dessert and you will see.”

“You seem, happier…less lonely.”

A soft smile came to my face and I looked away from her, out the window over the lawn. “I am. I was given a second chance to do it right and I’m going to do my utmost to hold tight.”

“Good luck, Zach. You deserve it.”

My mother cleared her throat and clapped. “Dinner is ready. Let’s make our way to the dining room.”

We headed out and I slapped my brother on the back. “Don’t look so f*****g nervous, A. You’ll be fine.”

“He’s going to murder me.”

“Nah, he’ll murder me first and you will have time to get away. Plus, after he murders me, all that is left will be you.” I winked and Nicole looked back at us, confused and suspicious.

Sitting down, we all surrounded the long wood table that used to be my grandfather’s. It was one of the few things my father did actually keep, but more out of necessity because it was hard to find such a big table made of solid wood. It was an incredible piece. Mother set out four courses for all of us and we ate, still talking about nothing in particular. I could see Adrian wringing his hands and Nicole trying to calm him down. Jason and Stacy kept stealing glances at me, a smile on their faces. Jennifer picked up on it as well and was smiling as she focused on her food.

“How is work going, son?” Both Adrian and I looked up at our father. The table had been cleared and the dessert hadn’t been served yet. Taking a quick breath, I looked over at Adrian and motioned for him to answer.

“It’s been going very well. We secured two more contracts…”

My father slammed his hands down on the table. “I wasn’t asking you. You, and that stupid little holdings company you manage. I was talking to your brother.”

The table fell into a hush and my mother put her hand on my father’s arm.

“Then you would be talking to the wrong brother. Adrian is the one that would know. Not me.” I smiled at him and his face darkened.

“What are you talking about?”

Leaning back in my chair, I tapped the table with a finger. “I mean, if you want to ask about the company, shouldn’t you be asking the CEO? It seems silly to ask someone else.”

I looked at Jennifer, whose eye widened as she looked from me to Adrian. She caught on quicker than her father did, who was still looking confused. Mother looked pale as she stared at my father.

“Zachary Anderson, stop being ridiculous. I brought the Sinclairs back so that you can resume your engagement, so that our businesses can still work hand in hand. You will marry Miss Sinclair and ensure the future of our family’s name.” My father was speaking in the even tone he used when trying not to yell.

“Unfortunately, I can’t do that for two reasons. One, I’m not CEO, or at least I won’t be as of Sunday. The paperwork has already been submitted and as you know, the press conference is set for tomorrow.”

This time, my father slammed his fists down on the table and two glasses got knocked over with the tremble. “Stop f*****g with me, Zachary. You are CEO and will continue to be CEO. You will marry Miss Sinclair and that is final.”

“No.”

I think the single word shocked the table more than anything else I said. My mother was holding tight to my father’s arm.

“Zachary, listen to your father. It’s what’s best for the company.” Her voice was soft and sickly sweet.

“I am doing what’s best for the company. If I didn’t hand it over to Adrian, I would have burned it all to the ground. I would have burned this whole f*****g family down to the ground if it wasn’t for him. He will be CEO come Monday. Not only that, but he will be Chairman of the Board as well. Majority shareholder and all that.”

My father’s eyes bulged and I could see Adrian shrink back, but I didn’t. I’d had enough of him and his anger. Jennifer was now smirking as she held her wine glass. Her parents looked very uncomfortable. Nicole was still trying to steady her husband down but she realized that it might be futile considering how I was acting. I didn’t even need to look at Stacy and Jason to know they had smiles on their faces they were probably trying to hide.

“Absolutely not! He can’t take over! He doesn’t know shit! I didn’t raise him to be CEO!”

“No, you didn’t. But Grandpa and I did. I think all along, Grandpa wanted Adrian to have the company, not me. It was always meant to be Adrian’s legacy and judging from your reaction, he told you that. I cleaned up your f*****g mess that you made with the company. Now, he will take the company I fixed and run with it. I have every faith in him that he will do better than I could ever do.”

Looking at Adrian, he was staring at me, his eyes shining. I smiled at him and nodded. My certainty in my decision was only solidified over the past few days working with him and I knew I made the right choice. I probably should have done it sooner but clearing out the corruption my father brought in was good enough. Adrian at the time was still dealing with college and was dating Nicole and had more to lose than I did or remembered that I did.

“I took over fully ‘that stupid little holdings company’ and Adrian sold his half to me in the form of my shares at the company.”

There were a couple coughs and all eyes shot to me. I hadn’t told Stacy or Jason that Adrian was now chairman because I sold my shares. That was something extra I wanted to keep quiet until now. It was worth it for the looks on their face.

“So, you not only had your entire legacy removed at the company, but now you’re being removed from your prized position as chairman back down to just a regular old board member. A singular vote. It must feel terrible watching your sons ruin everything you are.”

More silence filled the room and then the dessert came in. Everyone being served as the entire table was quiet. I swirled the wine in my glass around, smiling, thinking that I wasn’t even done with the evening.

“I won’t allow it! I won’t allow any of it!”

“It’s too late. Everything has been signed and the shares transferred. It’s been done, Father, for two weeks. Since Adrian is already married to my lovely sister-in-law, it would seem silly to continue talks with the Sinclairs about marriage to their daughter.” I winked at Jennifer, and she raised her glass to me.

Gerald cleared his throat. “Even with the sight changes, we would still consider a union if your youngest son agrees…”

“Father!” Jennifer barked at her father.

I cut in, though. “Unfortunately, as I said, Mr. Sinclair, there are two reasons as to why I would not be able to marry your daughter.”

“My dear, love can be built over time. It’s not something you should hold back…” My mother cut in but I shot her a glare.

“The reason I cannot marry Jennifer is because…” I let my hand rest on the table, my wedding ring showing. “…I’m already married.”