Chapter 28

Lionel’s POV

There was only one person who could piss me off before I even look at them...

My older brother, Joseph, smirked at my aggravated expression.

“What do you want?” I ask briskly. Dealing with Joseph is always headache inducing. And not just because he’s my older brother.

“Can’t I just stop by to check on my baby brother? Have you ever considered that I just missed you?” He wheedles out.

“No.” I say flatly. ‘I wonder how just how fast his lazy ass will hit the curb when I launch him out the door,’ I consider vaguely.

He must see my thinning patience. “Wait, wait wait. Don’t throw me out yet.”

“I did come over here for a reason.” He pulls out some paperwork. “I need you to look over these.”

He holds them out to me. I just stare at him without amusement. He shakes them slightly.

“You do know that this does not make me any more inclined to let you stay?” I ask. Giving me paperwork late at night in the first place is not an endearing endeavor.

I choose to ignore the fact that I intended to get to work just a few minutes ago. Joseph does not deserve my consideration. I grab the papers anyway.

He snorts. “You act like you wouldn’t be getting to the grind regardless. Let me remind you where we’re at right now.”

I throw him a dirty look but let it go. As I look over the papers, he chats on and on. I do my best to focus on the words written down.

It isn’t easy, but I’ve had a lot of practice. Joseph has a nasty habit of trying to trick me. One of his favorite strategies is the one he is using now.

‘Does he really think I don’t know what he’s doing?’ I ask myself. Joseph had perfected his ‘chatterbox’ strategy as a kid.

He would talk and talk about increasingly ridiculous things to draw attention away from the actual problem he had presented. Usually, he does this to try and slip things by his target. Unfortunately for him, I am his brother and all too aware of his little tricks.

Then I spotted the reason for his visit. “You want to shut down sector 28?” I am deeply unimpressed.

“It’s not doing too well, Lionel. We’re losing to much revenue. It’s not worth the expense to keep it.”

“I understand that we are losing money. However, you would be laying off a huge labor force. The backlash isn’t worth it.”

“Oh, come on Lionel. Don’t tell me you’ve turned into a bleeding heart. It makes sense to-”

I cut him off. “What was Dad’s first rule of business?” That is this the fastest way to shut him up.

Joseph glares. “…people are the backbone of industry.” I smirk condescendingly at him.

“Exactly.” I enjoy his growing frustration. But I benevolently decide to throw him a bone.

“Research some ideas. See what’s trending, and how other companies handled this issue. Then come back to me with a proposal.” Joseph is still irritated, but less so now. For all that my brother has a horrible personality, he is not actually a bad businessman. Just a bit shortsighted.

We sit there silently for a few moments before Joseph breaks. He says reluctantly, “Thanks, I hadn’t thought of that. Seems obvious now.”

I’m not one to kick family when they’re down. Not even Joseph. I answer him in a neutral way.

“No problem. Sometimes it takes an outside perspective to put things into focus.” The Joseph takes a deep breath,

“Look, that wasn’t the only reason I came over. I wanted to say sorry about before, about Nan.” I can’t help bristling a little.

Apology or not, I did not want Nan’s name on his mouth. “Just don’t pull that again. I won’t have you harassing my staff.”

At the time I did not see the dangerous curiosity in his thoughtful eyes. If I had, I might have seen the direction Joseph would take our conversation. It might have saved me and Nan a lot of future miscommunication and confusion.

“Boy scouts, honor. I promise to be on my best behavior. I’ll even apologize personally to her.”

I blurt out, “No, no. That’s not necessary. I’ll inform her myself.”

‘It will be a cold day in hell before I let you two meet again,’ I resolve. I’d be damned before Joseph set his slimy eyes on her again. No way.

Joseph studies me. “You say she’s your staff. But I’ve never seen you interact so friendly with any of your staff this way.”

I purse my lips. “So? What are you trying to say?”

Joseph does not take the bait. “Lionel, who is she? What’s the story there?”

“Why do you care? And there is no story there. Drop it.”

My defensiveness only makes him dig further. “And yet, you allow this stranger so close to your daughters? You defend her from our allies. But there is no story there.”

I am unsettled. “How did you get that information? Where-”

“People talk Lionel. Cora was in the wrong, but you didn’t think that entitled brat would not babble her injustice to her pack, did you? Plus, you made waves by pulling strings for a ‘nobody’ at one of our partnering companies.”

To my chagrin, I realize I had not thought about it further than handling each incident within the moment. I must be off my game. I briefly worry about what else I had not noticed.

“Don’t worry little brother. The PR team and I have been doing what we can do stop any rumors from becoming widespread. But now questions are being asked that I don’t have the answer for.”

This isn’t good. “If you’re really that worried, I won’t tell anybody else. I’ll just say what you want me too, I promise.”

I do not fully trust him. But his expression is earnest. And I sense no deceit in his scent.

So, I start my tale. “I met Nan one night as I was passing by an ally…” It takes nearly an hour to finish my explanation.

At the end, Joseph is quiet. Thinking. For once, I can’t read his expression.

I don’t like that. Joseph is always expressive, even when he shouldn’t be. I am weary.

Finally, he spoke. “That’s…something. I did not see that coming.”

I chuckled ruefully. “I don’t think anyone could have guessed the truth. It’s to insane.”

“Like a soap opera. The ones grams used to watch when we were sent there during the summers.” Joseph recalled.

“We? I was out training. You were the one who curled on the sofa with grams, crying your eyes our when a character died.”

Joseph smiles tightly. I wince. Sometimes I forget how resentful Joseph is.

If we’d been any lower on the status quo, he would have been the alpha by inheritance laws. But Joseph did not have the right affinity for being alpha of such a vast enterprise. Yet despite being the younger son, I did.

That fact burned at Joseph. Nearly every statement was a mocking criticism in Joseph’s mind. Even now, Joseph is still sensitive to anything he perceives as criticism.

I prepare myself for a sharp remark. Determined to remain calm. But Joseph only laughs it off.

“That’s true. Anyway, I’m glad you and Nan have that sorted out. Best to avoid further confusion.”

I don’t say anything. Logically, he is correct. But something in m etwitched in discomfort at the notion.

“Crazy though, right? If nothing else, Nan could stay if I made her family. I could put some puppies in her, give the girls some cousins.” Joseph laughed.

But I’m no longer listening. A red film has covered my eyes. Even the idea of Joseph anywhere near Nan enrages me beyond reason.

I snarl loudly. My fist meets Joseph’s face. I feel the soft flesh beneath give way.

Joseph is knocked back to the floor. I distantly hear his pained cry. But I cannot bring myself to care in the moment.

I do not apologize. I bare my now elongated fangs. Demanding submission.

Jospeh immediately complies, baring his neck to me. I am able to relax a little, fangs retreating.

But Joseph stares at me in horror. “Not even your beloved Katya made you lose your shit like this…. Lionel are you in love with her?”