A/N: Wow! Thank you all for the follows and reviews!
Chapter 9: Reckoning
E POV:
Sunday morning was nothing like the song; there had been nothing easy about today. Alice wouldn't stop touching my face. She thought I was immediately back to the 'old Edward' and had brought over clothes she deemed "appropriate" for Emmett's football relaunch. Jasper wouldn't stop teasing me about how much younger I looked and Dad would laugh every time I got angry he called me "baby face." Meanwhile, Mom had this look of pure joy on her face as she sang while making breakfast. It was all unnerving.
My mother's face fell as the doorbell rang, and a few minutes later my father entered the room followed by his father. My grandfather wasn't due for a visit today, and the easy, fun, festive morning had morphed quickly into stuffy, apprehensive, and all too careful conversation.
"Edward, we need to talk."
I had heard those words fall from his lips several times before in my lifetime, and what followed had never been encouraging.
My mother must have sensed that this would turn ugly, so she tried to help the best way she knew how.
"Pancakes are ready! You can discuss whatever you need to after you all have breakfast."
I saw my mother notice my father grin at her; and while I waited for objection from my grandfather, it never came. He just pulled out Alice's chair for her and sat down beside my father.
I didn't say anything. I was curious as to what he wanted to discuss. Surely my grandfather didn't care about the headlines from the U.K. I hadn't been arrested. I hadn't had any DUIs to speak of lately. It was unnerving, and I found myself staring down at my plate for the remainder of breakfast. I didn't miss much in conversation. No one really spoke.
Finally I placed my fork and knife on the plate in the finished stance and looked up to see my grandfather rise. I followed, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of ease come over me as my father placed his hand on my shoulder. The fact that he was following along, going where we were going had my brain going into overdrive.
My grandfather took a seat on the giant leather sofa in my father's office. I sat in the chair opposite him while my father grabbed a water for all of us. He sat and I looked in my grandfather's eyes; trying to fathom what he drove out to discuss.
"Edward, I don't know if you know what I am about to tell you, but I wanted to be sure you were aware of some business that needs your attention."
Whew. Wait. What? "What business?"
"I was golfing the other day with the head of the Integrity Channel, and it came to my attention that your production company was working on a project that they agreed to distribute."
"Yes, we spent a lot of time and money on a few projects for them, and the latest has some of the biggest names they have had on their channel."
"Yes, well, it would seem your latest behavior was so unbecoming to them that they are considering pulling their deal. They have their legal team looking for a way out."
I felt like someone had punched me. Not only was this information something I had not heard, it was something that would possibly tank my company.
"Grandfather, I thank you for this information. This wasn't just said in passing? It wasn't just some snide joke to make you throw you off your game?"
"Edward, I always win. Even in sports. In life, that is what this family does. We don't care for participation trophies, the only one that matters is the one that says you were better than everyone else. I fear that you weren't held to a high enough standard, and so you have no remorse or cognizance about the things you do. The stories in the paper, whether true or purely fiction, reflect on you in the long term, and I would like to see you settle down a bit and take life seriously. If you need the name of some eligible women who are accomplished and have the family backing, I can get those to you; but please let this last bender be your last."
Before I could respond he left the room, with my father trailing behind. Dad hadn't said anything in my defense, and normally when grandfather has anything critical to say about our upbringing, he is the first to start a shouting match. He must think this too. But more than that, it sounds as though I have bigger problems. Why weren't these problems made known to me?
"Would you have done anything about them if you knew they existed?"
I must have asked that last question aloud. When I looked up, Jasper stood in the doorway after having answered my lingering question. He came over and sat in the space my grandfather had occupied and picked up the water bottle left unopened.
"You left your team to handle everything. I stepped in as much as I could, when I could, but I have been working on music lately."
"Did you know?"
"Know about that there were rumors? We all have. Alice noticed less attention to her actual designs and more attention placed on her brother's antics a while ago. She thought of asking you to stop, and for a while she thought you had. There were times she saw that you were lost, but she didn't want to nag you. It's been rough."
"I'm not sure what to do."
"Do you trust yourself?"
"What?"
"Edward, when you first started the business there were naysayers everywhere. You said you put your last name on the business because you knew it would be successful. You controlled everything. You micromanaged until all of those dreams weren't dreams anymore. All those naysayers shut up. And then you allowed yourself to stop caring. When you lost trust in women, you lost trust in yourself. You were scared. Because for a moment someone had done something you didn't see coming, and you stopped trusting yourself. So I ask you now, do you trust yourself? Because you'll never turn this all around with business or your personal life if you don't."
I watched, unblinking, as Jasper left the sofa and for the second time today, I was left sitting alone, wondering what had become of my life.
I went to the game with the family, but kept my head down as we walked with security past the reporters. There were cameras, and I made sure to smile, but all the while I was texting everyone on my team including legal. I needed to get a handle on the Integrity Channel situation before it all came crashing down.
Emmett played well, and Rose sat between Alice and the owner's wife, so I didn't have to deal with any questions from them. My parents were excited for Emmett, but gave me my space. Jasper didn't speak another word to me, but I saw the smile when I ordered a water instead of a beer.
Sleeping in my own bed felt amazing, and waking up knowing where I was and not having a headache was even better. I slept too late, but I would do better tomorrow. I wore one of my best suits, and had Jacob come for me exactly one hour after I awoke.
To say the office employees were shocked to see me would be an understatement. I saw Jessica, my first assistant looking at the morning news online and couldn't help the edge in my voice when I asked if that is what I paid her for. Quick on her feet, she finally said she was gathering information to see if there was any news on the company. It was a lie. I consider myself a great poker player, and I can tell you, most of the time she breathes, she lies. She knows too much though, and I always put off letting her go because of it.
"Jessica, Google and a PR Firm does that for us. Set up for a meeting in the Grand Conference Room."
"Do I need to clear my schedule?"
"No, this doesn't concern you." Nor will it. No one outside of my inner circle can know what is about to happen at this company. When I need something leaked, I'll be sure to invite her to the meeting and remind her of confidentiality.
I had sent emails to everyone on the way in, and everyone should be here within the hour.
When I walked into the room an hour later, the legal team had assembled. Accounting, Production, Agents, Scouts, PR, and Legal. I held their attention for more than two hours brainstorming as to how to counter the bad press, how to use the media to our advantage. How to safeguard our contracts and how to make sure no one could pull any contracts based on morale clauses. I had read the press about the company, had many tell me some of the things said about me, and I wanted to know only what I needed to. No one mentioned the break up, and other than thinking that no one mentioned it, I was happy that I hadn't even thought of her in days. When I did, the knife felt almost removed from my back and chest, but the wound was still there if I lingered too long on that subject.
For the first time in many months, I felt useful again. Sam had done a wonderful job running the company while I was away, but the icing on the cake came when he patted me on the back and said, "Nice to have you back, partner." He joked that his wife would be happy to have him home at a decent hour.
Sam Ulley breathed air into this company when I did not, and for that I would be forever grateful.
I noticed I had left my notes in the conference room, and as I stepped through the door I saw Cho Chang on her cellular phone. Her words pierced my heart a little, and I couldn't help but stop and stare as I heard her speak.
"Hermione, I'll be by later with the papers for you to sign. It's done. You're out for the semester. Do you need me to stop and bring you anything else before I come?"
