I look at Addison. As soon as our eyes lock, a feeling rushes between us and we can’t help ourselves—we break out laughing.
“Oh, no,” Jackson says. “Don’t tell me…”
I shake my head. “I don’t want it either.”
Soon we’re all laughing—everyone except the lawyers and Mr. Sterling, who find no humor in this at all.
“Come on, Rex,” Miles says to me. “We’re handing it to you! You’ll be the youngest CEO in the country.”
“Pass,” I say through laughter. “I’m with you guys. I’m done playing Father’s games. I found someone I love and respect and want to grow old with. Nothing means as much to me as Addison. She’s my partner now, and I intend to create quite a life with her.” I raise her hand to my lips and kiss her.
“This is highly unusual, and frankly unexpected,” Mr. Sterling says. He’s shuffling through the papers before him as if he might find the answer of how to handle this situation. “Your father certainly never expected this to happen.”
“I hope he’s rolling over in his grave,” I say.
“Give us a moment to discuss how to handle this,” Mr. Sterling says. He and the others step out of the room.
“Oh my god,” Miles says, pushing his hair back on his head. “This is crazy.”
“What do you think they’re going to do?” I ask, watching them confer on the other side of the glass wall. “I don’t want to harm the company.”
“Definitely not,” Jackson says. “We have hundreds of amazing employees that we’re responsible for. We can’t let this affect them.”
“Agreed,” Miles says. “We have to find a way to keep the company moving forward.”
“Here they come,” I say, as the men make their way back into the conference room. “Let’s see what brilliant idea they’ve come up with.”
“Well, gentlemen, this is where we are,” Mr. Sterling begins. “You’ve all fulfilled your father’s wishes, whether that pleases you or not. You’ve each shown strength of character to run the business. You’re all more than capable. So with that, we hand the power back to you. It’s now up to the three of you to vote as you choose. Jackson, Miles, Rex, you are to decide what’s to happen to Croft International. You can disband it, find an outsider to run, or appoint one of yourselves as CEO. Although this is a major decision that should not be taken lightly, I do need an answer by tomorrow.”
Once Mr. Sterling and the others leave, we all—my brothers, their wives, myself and Addison—all let out a breath and look around at each other.
“So?” I say. “Where do go from here?” My brothers and I have held such grudges against each other, held such battles and animosity yet I’m hoping we can somehow move on or just start over again. Now that I understand what love is and what truly matters in life, I don’t want to fight with my only remaining blood over the crazy shit our father did to us. I just hope they agree.
“Why are you asking us?” Jackson says. “You should know.”
“Yeah, little brother,” Miles say. “This is your town and I’m starving. Skipped breakfast. So where should we go?”
They’re both smiling at me, and I realize there is hope for us to have the brotherly bond we were denied growing up.
“I know just the place,” I say, and we all begin to walk out of the office.
“Better make sure it stands up to Jackson’s highly-evolved palate,” Miles teases. “He thinks he’s some kind of connoisseur just because he owns some restaurant in Boston.”
“It’s not just some restaurant,” Jackson says. “It’s only the best reviewed restaurant in the city. We’re booked up for the next four months.”
I clap him on the back as we walk out. “Glad to hear your ego is still in tact.”
“Well, some things you just don’t want to change. Like your hair. What’s wrong, brother? Can’t afford a haircut?”
We all ride together in my limo. Our wives (that’s so strange to say) make quick work of getting to know one another as my brothers and I start the process of getting to know each other on a new, respectable and dare I say mature level.
I take them to one of my favorite restaurants in West Hollywood and the owner seats us in a semi-private room that still captures the elegance and light atmosphere of the restaurant.
“Champagne?” I say when the waitress comes to take our drink order.
“Definitely,” Miles says. “We have three marriages to celebrate.”
I order two bottles to start and several appetizers. “Jackson, I think you’ll love the beef carpaccio,” I say. “Excellent quality with a touch of lemon.”
“I’ll let you know if I don’t,” he says.
“Of course you will,” I laugh.
“Actually, I know of this place. Always wanted to try it but…”
“But I live in L.A., and you didn’t want to have to see me, right?”
“Something like that,” he says.
Once the champagne arrives we raise a toast. All of us says what we feel is most important to toast to.
“To putting the past behind us.”
“To family.”
“To love.”
“To starting over.”
“And starting better.”
“To getting to know each other.”
It doesn’t matter which one of us said which toast; the point is, we all feel deeply about them all. We’re moving forward, together. And that feels pretty damn incredible.
“Looks like the women are already getting along,” Miles says.
“No, you have to try them!” Emily is telling Addison and Jordyn. “They’re so good!”
“What’s the web site again?” Jordyn asks, taking out her phone. “Wait, first give me your number.”
“Yeah, me too,” Addison says, and soon the three of them are swapping numbers and other pertinent information.
They’ve huddled at the end of the table and are talking rapid-fire as if trying to cram a year’s worth of absence into one lunch.
“Who would have thought, huh?” Jacksons says as we all watch our gorgeous wives talk. “Any of it, really.”
“No kidding,” I say, taking a drink of the champagne. “I don't know what’s more shocking—the fact that we all got married or that we can sit together and not rip each other’s throats out.”
“Give it time,” Miles says, holding up his glass. “I tend to go crazy after my third glass.”
“You couldn’t touch me if you tried,” I say, and it’s good to be able to talk like this and know there’s no subterfuge beneath our words.
“Jordyn is beautiful,” I tell Miles. “How’d you meet?”
“I fired her,” Miles say, a slight look of guilt on his face.
“Nice,” I say.
“Very romantic,” Jackson agrees.
“I know,” Miles says. “It’s a miracle she’s forgiven me for that—and all the other shit I’ve done. She’s amazing, guys.” He watches Jordyn laugh with the others, his face full of love that’s so clear. “So what about you guys. How did you meet your wives?”