“This isn’t anger on my behalf, and it’s not just irritation that your new business partner is a sleaze. Tell me.”
A muscle twitched in his cheek as Ashton looked between him and Nikki. Then he drew in a breath, clearly trying to control his anger. “Jeremiah Stark is the one who introduced me to Rosenfeld.”
Damien leaned back against the sofa seat, then took Nikki’s hand. Her fingers curled around his, giving him comfort. “I can’t say that I’m surprised.”
“Not surprised? You knew he was at the heart of this all along.”
“Knew, no. Assumed, yes.”
“Why? Why would your own father want to keep us apart?”
“Because he’s a shit of a human being. I told you what he did when I was in Germany. He’s not a good man. Jeremiah Stark is after only one thing, and that’s what’s best for Jeremiah Stark.”
He watched as Ashton stood and began to pace. “I feel like such an idiot. He’s been around my entire life. I trusted him, and because of that I turned against you. I embarrassed you publicly. Fuck.”
The last word came out loud and harsh, and he slammed his fist against the wall at the same time.
“I owe you a lifetime of apologies. That vile snake. I’m so sorry.”
Damien stood as well, then went to stand behind his son. “You don’t owe me anything,” he said softly.
Ashton shook his head, his back still to Damien. “I should have straight-out asked you. Instead, I played this goddamn game.”
“I’ll grant you that. Maybe you should have. But you’d been raised with one version of reality. It’s hard not to see what’s true when you’ve been living in a nightmare.”
Ashton turned, looking miserable. “You should hate me.”
“No. I shouldn’t. And I don’t. But if you want to know the truth, I don’t really know you. But,” Damien added, hoping Ashton could hear the truth in his voice. “I very much want to.”
For a moment Ashton was totally silent. Then he nodded. “Yes,” he said “I want that, too. Goddammit,” he continued as another curse exploded out of him. “So much wasted time. You’ve been here all along, and I never had the chance to get to know you, or Nikki,” he added looking at her. “To get to know your children. Fuck, they’re my sisters and brother. Jeremiah Stark stole all of that from me.”
“He stole it from all of us,” Nikki said. “Lara, Anne, and Bradley, too.”
“Fuck this,” Ashton said. “I’m going to go see the son of a bitch.”
Damien could tell his temper was high. It was practically coming off him in waves. Another way Ashton reminded him of himself, and Damien had to acknowledge that this particular trait was not necessarily a good one.
“Better to just let it lie,” he said. “At least for now.”
“Hell, no. He arranged this, him or Carl, and my money is on Jeremiah.”
Damien’s was, too. Carl wasn’t that clever, but he was willing to live off the spoils of other clever people.
“He’s been playing me for years. Goddammit, why?”
“I’ve already told you. He’s a manipulative prick. That cost him a relationship with me. He saw you as a second chance. And a cash cow.”
“Oh, fuck me,” Ashton said, this time not with anger, but with self-loathing. He let himself fall into the chair again. “Jeremiah’s part of this deal. He introduced me to Carl. Because of that he has an equity interest. Son of a bitch. It’s like he’s been running a lifetime long con on me.”
“You said at the press conference that the deal hadn’t been finalized yet.”
“True. And now we won’t be finishing it, and right now all I want to do is drive down to San Diego, find the prick, and throw the voided paperwork in his face.”
“Better to let your attorney handle it.”
For a minute, Ashton did nothing. Then he nodded. “Probably. Although it would feel damn good facing both of them at the signing table, then telling them to go fuck themselves.”
He stood up and started pacing again. “Do you know that he told me that you killed my grandfather on that roof in Germany? And he said that you’d kill me, too. That you were ruthless, and you’d kill me if I ever spoke out against you. Because I was part of your shame.”
Damien put his hand on Ashton’s shoulder. “What your grandfather did to me and Sofia was horrible. But none of that is on you. Believe me,” Damien said softly, “You were innocent in all of this. Your grandfather fucked me over. He fucked Sophia over. But in some ways, you got the worst of it. They forced you to live a lie. And now it’s time to find your own path.”
Ashton nodded. “Yeah. It damn well is.”
“I’m truly sorry about all of this, Ashton. And I’m sorry I didn’t have the chance to know you when you were growing up.”
“I believe you. And would you do me a favor?”
“Anything, Damien said.”
Ashton swallowed, looking a bit nervous. “Would you just call me Ash?” That’s what my friends call me.”
Damien smiled, feeling light as air. “I’d like that.”
Ash nodded, then put his hands in his pockets. “What should I call you?”
“Anything you want. But maybe sometime, when you’re ready, I think I’d like you to call me Dad.”
“Okay, Stark,” Ash said. “I guess we’ll see.” But when he smiled, Damien knew that everything was going to be okay.
19
Damien spent the following morning dealing with all of the meetings he’d put off because of the recent drama in his life.
It was a welcome change from the family drama, though he couldn’t truly regret the last few days. Though they had been hell at times, in the end he’d smoothed a path between him and Ash.
He had another son.
It still amazed him. Two daughters, two sons. And yes, he regretted missing all of the childhood moments with Ashton, but the truth was, he’d been a child himself.
Nor could he wish for circumstances to be different. Ashton was who he was because of those circumstances. But he hated the fact that he hadn’t known that his son existed for so long.
Still, he knew now. And he intended to move forward with Ash as a full member of the family.
Nikki, thank God, agreed. She would’ve had every right to find the situation awkward and off-putting. But she told him on the ride back from the hotel last night that Ash was welcome in their home at any time. That he needed to meet their kids, come over for brunch or beach time, and start sliding into the family.
Damien had still been glowing from the simple fact that Ashton had told Damien to call him Ash, but Nikki was already thinking about practical ways to bring him into the family. If he didn’t already love her with his full capacity, he would’ve loved her more because of that.
“Mr. Stark, Alaine Beauchene called. He’s waiting for you downstairs.” Troy’s voice rang out over the intercom.
“Tell him I’ll be right there.”
He put away the documents he was working on, grabbed his suit coat, and headed for his office door. He’d called Alaine earlier to ask if his friend had time for a cup of coffee. Fortunately, Alaine was working at one of his downtown restaurants today. Neither one of them had much time, but they agreed to meet at Java B’s, the coffee shop in the Stark Tower lobby, then sit outside for a quick chat.