by Alina Jacobs
"You better leave my property now," Grant said. "You have no right to be here."
"Actually," Wes said, "I have every right."
Walter Holbrook maneuvered through the crowd that had formed. Another man with similar build and coloring followed close behind him. Wes assumed it was Walter's brother, Jack.
"Stefan, call the cops," Grant ordered. Wes watched the butler hurry inside, then he turned to face the Holbrooks.
"You need to leave," Jack said.
Wes smirked. "You know, Jack, considering Walter stole your company out from under you, I would expect a bit more sympathy."
Jack looked taken aback.
"I did my opposition research," Wes said. "But you know what didn't come up as I perused your contemptable family history? All the children you have littered about New England, Walter."
"What children?"
"Don't play dumb," Wes said. Liz was looking at him, her eyes wide in the low light. "Do you remember someone named Elaine?" Walter looked visibly pained. "Did you know she was carrying your child?" Wes continued. Walter didn't say anything. "Did you know?" Wes shouted.
"I did, but—" Walter started.
"We need to do this inside," Nancy said in a low voice and waved them all into the elegant interior of the estate house.
Wes barely registered the expensive finishes, understated cream accents, and priceless artwork as he followed Nancy Holbrook into a nearby study.
"I don't understand," Walter said once they were away from the party guests. "How did you find that out? Where is the child? I thought she… I don't know, got rid of it, I suppose. I was dealing with the fallout from Grant's mother at the time. It's a long story."
"I already know all the sordid details," Wes interrupted.
"Where is the child?" Jack repeated.
Grant tipped his head back and laughed darkly. "We're looking right at him. Aren't we?"
"Them, actually," Dana said.
Walter sat and studied them in silence.
"You know—" Jack started to say.
"I don't want to hear it, Jack," Walter growled.
"Sorry to ruin your party," Dana said. Wes knew she didn't mean it.
"We should do a DNA test," Nancy said after a moment. Wes pulled the DNA kits Dana had bought out of his suit jacket pocket and threw them on the floor.
"Go ahead and do the test. You already know the truth," he stated.
"Wes," said Walter, rubbing his temple.
"You ruined my life!" Wes yelled at his biological father. "You ruined everything. You took my company. You took my family."
"It was just business," Grant interrupted.
For a brief moment, Wes thought he could actually kill his half brother. "So that's how you Holbrooks made your mark in the world. Ruining people's lives for your own profit."
"Shut. Up," Grant said.
Wes was so angry he was shaking.
"Let's all take a moment," Nancy said as she gathered up the DNA kits from the floor. "Walter, Grant, out. You too, Jack." Jack scowled and walked after his brother and nephew.
"I need a drink," Dana announced.
"Help yourself," Nancy said. "Right this way. We have plenty."
"Thank you. I plan to."
Alone in the study, Wes paced around the room. Why was this happening to him? His whole world was crashing down around him.
He heard a knock on the door frame and turned to see Liz standing in the doorway.
"So," she said, "you're a Holbrook."
"So it appears."
"What did you hope to gain by coming here and confronting them like that? It's late, and they're drunk," she said bluntly. "This was never going to be a happy reunion."
"I had to know," Wes whispered and sank down on the sofa. His head started to pound.
Liz walked over to him. She seemed hesitant as she laid a hand on his shoulder.
He turned his head to meet her hand when she let it slide up to caress his face.
"Wes," Walter called.
Liz jumped back.
Wes hoped Walter hadn't seen what he and Liz were doing. Liz gave him a small smile, ducked her head, and scurried out of the room. He watched her go.
"Look, I think we started off on the wrong foot," Walter… his father… stated.
Wes slowly turned his gaze on the CEO of Holbrook Enterprises.
"You know, when you went and plucked Grant out of whatever hellhole you found him in, he was beholden to you. He had nothing. But that is not my situation," Wes said. "I don't need you for my self-actualization. I built a company. I am a CEO. I am a billionaire."
"I understand that," Walter said diplomatically. "But I would still like to form a relationship with you and your sister."
Though he had kept his emotions in check the entire time he was talking to the Holbrooks, now after Liz had left, he was starting to feel like he was spiraling out of control.
"Dana and I don't need or want anything from you!" Wes said.
"Dana can speak for herself," his twin sister said as she returned to the study with a drink in her hand.
Wes didn't have the energy to fight them both. He turned and headed outside to the car to leave. The rage had left him, and he was suddenly so very tired.
Ahead of him, Wes saw Liz walking down the wide staircase to a waiting car. She was his only source of comfort in the insanity, and now he craved her touch. He ran after her and grabbed her arm as the chauffeur placed her bag in the trunk. She looked at him in confusion.
"I just… I don't know what to do," he said.
Liz leaned forward and hugged him.
He rested his head against her and pulled her against his body. Wes wanted to run away with her, lose himself, and forget about everything. He let his hand drift up and cupped her face. "I want to kiss you," he said.
She blinked up at him. "There are people watching," she said and stepped away from him. "I have to go. I promised my parents."
"Can I— Can I call you?" His voice sounded small. He hated that. He didn't need Liz. He didn't need anyone.
She smiled sympathetically. "Of course."
13
Liz
Anastasia cornered her as she went to grab her bag. "It's true? There's another Holbrook?"
"Two more," Liz said. "Wes has a twin sister."
"Holy shitake mushrooms," Anastasia said. "And you're just going to leave?"
"Wes has had a difficult few weeks," Liz said. "They need privacy. Also, I promised I would see my parents. The town car is already here. I'll text you! We'll do drinks!"
The taller woman shook her head, her hands on her hips, as she watched Liz hurry out of the house.
Liz was at the bottom of the wide stone steps when someone called her name. It was Wes. The chauffer opened the door, and Liz practically ran toward the car. She was stopped short by a strong arm around her waist.
He seemed so lost, and Liz felt her heart melt. Then Wes cupped her face and bent over her. She said something, she wasn't sure what. Her mouth was on autopilot as every neuron in her brain fixated on the way his hair fell over his forehead, the strong line of his brow, the angle of his jaw where it hooked under his ear.
"That your boyfriend?" the chauffer asked when she slumped gratefully in the car.
"N-no," Liz said and grabbed a bottle of water from the seat pocket.
"Too bad. You need to get on it, girl!" the chauffer said. Liz could only manage a strained smile.
Her phone beeped with a message from Anastasia.
What
The
Flounder
Liz blanched. So, they had been seen. She hurriedly wrote back.
You and your food puns
You spend too much time blogging
She knew Anastasia was one of the more successful luxury-food bloggers, but she also knew her friend had to be savvy for her blog to be as popular as it was.
Yes
I use all these expensive twelve course meals to distract me from the fac
t that I have no boyfriend
But not you!
You already have a man
Liz wished she had a man. She thought about her wedding scrapbooks. She should burn those things.
I don't have Wes
The way he looked at her. He was probably just in shock.
A Holbrook!
Liz rolled her eyes then smiled to herself as she replied to Anastasia.
He's like an off brand Holbrook
Anastasia's texts came rapid-fire.
Billionaire
CEO
Fine as an heirloom tomato
Liz ignored that last message. The car had stopped. They were already in front of her parent's' house.
"Liz!" her mother, Sylvia, exclaimed when she walked into the house. "I'm so happy to see you!"
"Hazel's here too," her father said, sweeping Liz up in a hug. "She just returned from Spain."
"Aren't you supposed to be in college?" Liz asked her younger sister after greeting her.
"Harvard doesn't start for another few weeks."
"How was Europe?" Liz asked.
"Amazing!" Hazel said twirling around. Then she grinned a big tell-me-all-the-secrets grin.
"Don't," Liz warned.
"You were at the Holbrooks?" Hazel asked, bouncing on the balls of her feet.
"Yes."
"So, is it true? There's a new Holbrook in town?"
"Good news sure does travel fast around here," Liz remarked. Hazel squealed and clasped her hands together. "There's two of them actually."
"That Walter Holbrook is such a piece of—" Liz's father said.
"Language, Adam," Sylvia chided.
"But it's true," Liz's father said. "All those Holbrook men are completely out of their minds. You should think about finding a job somewhere else. You could go work at one of Eric's companies."
"I'm fine where I'm at," Liz said. "Besides, Kate would kill me if I left."
"I think Liz probably wants a bath. Here let me help you with your bags," Hazel said.
"I don't need—" but her sister had already scampered up the stairs.
When Liz walked into her old childhood bedroom. Hazel had arranged herself on Liz's bed and was petting a stuffed unicorn.
"I need to know everything about Wes Holbrook or the unicorn gets it," Hazel said, drawing her finger over the stuffed animal's' neck.
Liz laughed. "I don't really know much about him."
"But you spent time with him," Hazel countered. "So, what's he like? Is he single?"
"I guess so," Liz said.
"Is he ready to mingle? Is he as hot in person as he is in his pictures? What does he smell like? Eric said he grabbed you in a meeting and said he wanted to fuck you in his office."
"He's too old for you."
"But not for you. Did you touch his—you know?"
"Hazel, stop it," Liz hissed. "Get out of my room."
Her sister ignored her. "Wes and Mark are the last free Holbrooks, if you want to land your dream man."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
From behind one of the numerous pillows on Liz's bed, Hazel pulled out a well-worn scrapbook Liz had made several years ago. It was all about the Holbrook cousins, who at the time, were only Carter and Mark.
"That's private! Where did you find that?" Liz yelled.
She jumped on the bed and tried to wrestle Hazel for the scrapbook. Her sister held her off… Liz really needed to start going to the gym.
"You are so weird," Hazel said when Liz finally managed to rip the book out of her sister's hands.
"You're a brat." Liz was winded.
"And you are out of shape."
"Shut up!" Liz shrieked.
"You know, for woman your age, heart disease is a killer."
"Oh no, I'm old," Liz moaned.
"You are," Hazel agreed. "You need a man. Wes seems like a good prospect."
Liz blushed.
"Are you having a stroke, or are you crushing hard on Mr. Big Shot Holbrook CEO?"
"I uh…"
"You did touch his man stick, didn't you?" Hazel asked with a smirk.
"I did not," Liz protested.
"But I know you want to," Hazel crowed.
"Is that all you learned in college? How to have a potty mouth?"
"I wonder what it feels like to let him have his way with you."
"Probably like a billion dollars," Liz said then clapped her hand over her mouth.
Hazel shrieked in laughter. "You need to get laid."
"Go away," Liz said, slumping on the floor. Hazel pretended to take her pulse.
"I hope you do a little toning up before you hit that Holbrook."
"You're a terrible sister."
Hazel sat back on her heels. "You know I'm always in your corner."
"I know," Liz said.
"I won't say anything about you and Wes for the time being. Eric thinks your boy is a douchebag."
"There is no me and Wes," Liz said dejectedly.
Hazel smirked and pinched Liz's chest. "He can't resist these babies."
14
Wes
After Liz left the Holbrook estate, Wes saw no reason to remain.
"Are you going to stay here, or are you leaving?" Wes asked Dana when he walked back inside.
"You know, I just might stay," she said.
"I can't be here anymore," Wes said, pulling the keys out of his pocket.
"It's my car," Dana said, plucking the keys out of his hand, "so unless you're walking back to upstate Connecticut, you better settle down."
He followed Dana into the dining room.
"Oh, you're still here! Wonderful!" Nancy exclaimed when she saw them. "Why don't you at least have something to eat? We have all of this food, and everyone's left early." The rest of the guests that had come for Mark's party had gone, leaving Wes and Dana alone with the Holbrooks.
He saw Mark sitting at the table. His cousin smiled at him crookedly.
"So, you're the latest and greatest Holbrook," Mark said.
"Hey!" Carter said. "What about me?"
"You're just a pretty face. Wes is a self-made man," Mark countered.
Do not start acting chummy with them, Wes ordered himself. Don't forget, these are your sworn enemies.
Carter shoved him into a chair and handed him a glass of an amber liquid. "It's whisky, neat," Carter said. "From Uncle Walter's private collection. Just what you need."
Wes took a sip. "It's better than the cheap beer my father… er… my mother's husband drinks," Wes said.
Stefan set a plate of food, a linen napkin, and silverware made from what appeared to be actual silver in front of him.
Wes looked at the food. It was a collection of seafood, grilled vegetables, and various pastries.
"I don't really like sweet foods," Wes said.
"Of course you don't," Carter said. "None of us do."
"They're lobster pastries, not poison," Nancy said. "I made them myself." Wes picked one up and niffed it. Then he took a bite.
It was buttery and flakey and slightly salty. It was heaven in his mouth.
"It's a far cry from Mom's brisket, isn't it?" Dana asked, snagging one off his plate.
Wes was too busy inhaling the rest of the pastries to respond. After he finished eating, he drained the rest of the whisky in one go and tried not to cough. Then he stood up and said, "I think I've exhausted your hospitality, Mrs. Holbrook."
"Please call me Aunt Nancy!" She beamed.
"You guys should stay," Mark said. Grant was leaning in the doorway, unsmiling. He lowered his head slightly. Wes received the signal loud and clear.
"Dana and I really should be going."
"Oh, all right," Dana said. "I have to review some proposals anyway. We'll be seeing you all, I'm sure."
Grant followed them to the front door.
"Do we have a problem?" Wes asked Grant.
"I don't know," Grant said. "Do we?"
"I'll see you Monday," Wes
replied, feeling gratified by the sour look on Grant's face.
Wes whistled to Kal, and the dog came bounding out from around the house and jumped in the car.
"That went well," Dana said once they were in the car. "All things considered. No one had to go to the hospital. Grant has a reputation for violence. I thought he was going to stab you while you were eating." She snickered to herself. "I bet your next board meeting is going to be interesting, to say the least."
Wes forced himself to relax his grip on the steering wheel. "Am I taking you back to New York City?"
"Please. I need to crash at your place."
Wes spent the weekend ignoring his mother's phone calls. By Monday, he was tired of sharing his tiny living space with Dana, and even though he didn't want to spend the day with Grant, he was glad to leave the apartment.
"You should have rented a bigger place!" Dana yelled at Wes as he left to brave the Monday-morning rush.
"Brother," Grant greeted him testily when Wes met him at the subway station. Because it was rush hour in New York City, the subway would be faster and more reliable than driving.
"Liz isn't coming?"
"No," Grant said, "business-development meetings aren't part of her job description. Also, I don't want you around her any more than is necessary."
Wes tried to keep his features neutral but knew that he failed when Grant glowered at him.
"Liz isn't for you."
"Liz is her own person. She can make her own decisions. If she's competent enough to orchestrate, and I quote, 'the most devious corporate takeover this century,' then she can decide who she wants to spend her time with."
A lazy smile was spreading across Grant's face. "You think she wants to go out with you, don't you? You think you have a chance after that disgusting display at your office."
"Well I am a Holbrook now, aren't I? So that should excuse the disgusting behavior, as you put it. It seems to work for you and your cousins."
He could tell Grant wanted to continue the argument, but they had arrived in front of a slick office tower in the financial district.
"These are potential clients for our cyber security systems," Grant said. "With Walsh Systech on board, it should be an easy sell."
"I must admit," said one of the firm partners after they had all shaken hands, "it is reassuring on our end that Walsh Systech is now controlled by Holbrook Enterprises."