Journey stared at the closed door, barely able to process the turn of events. Distantly, she was aware of her mother cursing, the legendary calm cracked beyond repair, but all she could focus on was how at peace Samara and Beckett had looked. There were no ghosts riding them, fear wasn’t making this choice for them. He’d faced down one of the scariest people Journey knew without flinching, and he’d walked out with a solid win.
I could learn a thing or two from Beckett King.
“This is unforgivable.”
She moved to the chair on the other side of the desk and sank into it, her legs not quite steady. Truth be told, they hadn’t been steady since Anderson arrived a few hours ago bringing warnings that Beckett was up to something. Bringing warnings to Journey. Not to their mother.
He stood against Lydia’s wrath, a solid pillar of stone, the one person who grounded their entire family no matter what the world tried to throw at them. Lydia moved as if to sweep everything off her desk, and Anderson caught her wrist. “That’s enough, Mother.”
Her expression went slack for the space of a breath, and then rearranged into rage. “You’re just going to roll over and let him do this. You’re going to sentence me to exile.”
“You did this.” He released her hand but didn’t move back. “You went after him clumsily and now you’re paying the price.” Anderson shook his head. “Now it’s up to me to clean up your mess. Again.”
Lydia sneered. “You’re not even attempting to pretend you’re unhappy about this turn of events. You’ve wanted me out of the way for years.”
Journey could almost see her mother working her way down the manipulation checklist. Hurt, check. Guilt, check. Anger, check. Journey would have cracked before now, but Anderson stood strong against the waves of emotion. “Sit down.”
“I will not.” Lydia turned on her heel and strode out of the office.
Anderson sighed and grabbed his phone. “Hey Jacob, I’m going to need you to guide my mother to the room on this floor…Yes, that one. Thank you.”
As if on cue, a screech sounded from farther down the hall. Journey twisted to look at him. “You just ordered our mother restrained.”
“If left to her own devices, she’d grab the first gun she came across and go hunt down Beckett to finish the job she ordered Walter Trissel to do.” Anderson checked his phone and nodded to himself. “She’s secure.” He turned those blue eyes, so like their father’s, on her. “How are you holding up?”
This was the brother she knew, not the cold bastard who’d stood there and dealt with Beckett. Journey gave him a wobbly smile. “About as well as can be expected.”
He walked over and crouched down next to her chair. “I’ll see us through this, Jo. I promise.”
Just like he’d promised so many things in the past. For the first time since her father called and her mother fired her best friend, Journey managed something resembling a smile. “I know you will.” She let the expression drop—it was too much effort to maintain. “You’re really going to do what he wants.”
“Yes.” He gave her a tight smile. “We should probably send our cousin a gift basket this Christmas for doing us the favor of removing our mother.”
Journey shook her head, because there was nothing to say to that. Dysfunctional parent-child relationships dominated the King family, and their branch was no exception. “What happens now?”
“Now, Jo…Now, we prepare for what comes next.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
You’re more than welcome to have your position within Kingdom Corp back. Barring that, I’m happy to write you a letter of recommendation.”
Samara studied Anderson King. She didn’t know him as well as Lydia or Journey, but what she did know would make him a man who’d be a strong leader for the company.
He just wasn’t the leader her heart wanted to follow.
“Thank you for the offer—to both—but I won’t be staying on with Kingdom Corp. I’d be happy for the letter of recommendation.”
Anderson sat back. “I don’t suppose there’s something I can offer you to stay? My sister values your relationship and it would mean a lot if you were still here. I’m prepared to offer a substantial raise.”
She was tempted. Lord, she was tempted. But if she stayed only to make Journey happy, that would be taking the safe option. She’d never considered her career safe before, but looking back, that’s exactly what it was. She’d thrown in her lot with Lydia and stubbornly clung to that path even when other options became available.
Samara wouldn’t make the same mistake again. She smiled. “Journey isn’t going to be rid of me that easily, but the next step for my career is in a different direction.” She’d risen as far as she could within the ranks of Kingdom Corp. The top positions were all held by the King children, and they’d continue to be for as long as there were King family members. There was nothing wrong with that, but Samara wanted something more.
“If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure.”
Anderson nodded. “In that case, I wish you the best.” He opened a drawer and pulled out a set of keys. “I was going to send this over via courier, but something tells me you’re headed for Morningstar Enterprise.” He passed over the keys. “My mother followed Beckett’s instructions and was on a plane Friday morning. It will take a little bit to untangle the paperwork fully, but Beckett should know we fully intend to ensure that Thistledown Villa stays his moving forward.” He motioned to the keys. “A token in good faith.”
Her heart swelled. “Thank you. That will mean the world to him.”
“It’s the least I can do to balance out the wrongs my mother committed.”
She agreed, but she didn’t say as much. Anderson wasn’t behind Lydia’s actions any more than Journey was. They were all pieces being moved around
