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I raise an eyebrow. "Really? What for? I can't imagine anything was out of date."
He shifts on his feet, surely debating his words, until he sighs. "Look, Hayden... I came to say I'm sorry for the derby—for everything." Surprise knocks the wind from my lungs when I catch the remorse in his eyes as he continues. "These past few months, I shouldn't have treated you how I did. I know you were only trying to help me."
As he looks away, his rare sniffles prompt forgiveness from me. "Elias, it's okay, I know—"
"No." I'm met with his hand. "It's not okay."
Oh, Elias. Stubborn, as always. I walk into his field of vision, holding back emotions when I see his teary eyes. "You're my brother. Of course, I forgive you." A shudder rattles through him, enough that I pull him in for a hug. He stiffens on contact, his arms loose at his sides. "Come on, Elias. It's a hug. Ever given one before? It's a two-way thing."
His wet chuckle sounds in my ear, followed by more sniffles, as he squeezes his arms around me. "Thank you," he murmurs. "For what you did yesterday. I never would've thought Dad would..." His sentence trails off.
"His work logs surprised me, too." I retreat, finding him more composed. "He should've never put so much pressure on you. The way he used you, made you pick up all his slack, it's sick and pushed you to do things I don't think you would've ever done."
Shame clouds his features as his gaze strays to the floor. "I know..." he whispers. "I want to stop. I'm going to get clean."
I let loose a breath, relief washing over me, but it can't extinguish the sliver of doubt I feel. Although his intentions may be truthful, getting clean—it's easier said than done, and now he's taken on an even more stressful position. There's no convincing him to let it go, not when he's prepared his whole life for it. And in a way... I don't want to convince him. He's meant to be here, at this company.
I place a palm on his arm. "I'll help any way I can."
"Thank you—I mean it."
When silence settles between us, I wave a hand casually, hoping it'll splice clean through the tension in the air. "As for yesterday, I just thought if you're going to work yourself to the bone, you might as well get all the credit, whether you're CEO or not."
"Actually, about that."
My jaw drops. "You're quitting?"
"What? No!" he barks, a laugh sputtering from his mouth. "Do you think I've lost my mind?"
There he is.
I match his cocky grin. "What, then?"
He looks around suspiciously, before patting me on the chest. "Get this..." He leans in, whispering in my ear. "Being CEO is easy." More laughter.
I roll my eyes, jerking from him. "Okay, now you're head's inflated like a balloon."
"I'm serious! I hardly have anything new to learn. Dad already had me doing all his work, things I didn't even realize weren't part of the Director of Finance's responsibilities. And now that we've elected Shonda as the new DOF, I'm walking on easy street! I have one job, not two."
I blink.
Elias. Fucking. Kingston.
Perhaps the only business professional in New York City who would equate being the Chief Executive Officer of a mega-corporation with strolling down easy street. Honestly, his words are a little disheartening, knowing the challenges he endured to develop such a strong work ethic, but...
They're also brimming with hope.
My heart thunders with anticipation, as I gesture to his dark office. "Is that why you're remodeling?"
He nods. "That's right. No more pull-out couch."
Tension falls off my shoulders in one big clump. But wait—"What about the closet?"
"Yes, that'll be gone, too."
"Oh, thank God." I slump over, dramatically. "Maybe you have a fighting chance, after all..." I wink. "If you dial back on those screaming phone calls. I mean, Doris can stomach how thin your walls are, but I don't think that's the case for the rest of the floor."
A curse shoots from his lips as his cheeks stain with embarrassment. "I really wish you didn't hear all that." He pinches the bridge of his nose. "Yes, yes, I'll work on that. No more scaring the employees."
