Chapter 34
The Place Where Paths Diverged
Damien
Jane's proposal weighed on my mind all through the day, even when I was driving back home.
The chance of going to manage her company wasn't a chance many would get. Harrington Enterprises had since become a renowned and well placed company in the business world.
Jane had steered away from publicity so not much was known about her, she was hardly even seen.
Her proposal would mean a fresh start for next but I couldn't shake off the feeling that accepting her proposal felt like I was surrendering.
What would Father say? I wondered, an image of Father's stoic face appeared in my head. He'd call me a coward I thought, sighing slowly.
I was absent minded when I got home, mechanically taking off my clothes and taking a shower before I changed into something more comfortable.
I'd just plopped down on a couch in the living room when my cell phone rang, breaking the silence.
"Hello?" I spoke slowly, my voice flat.
"Hello sir," a voice spoke over the line. I instantly recognized the voice, it was Jones. He was the butler back at home.
Why would he be calling me? I'd barely registered the thought before he continued speaking.
"Mr. Michael has returned," Jones explained. "He returned yesterday and he expects to see you at dinner later."
I felt a familiar coldness wrap around my heart, and my hand tightened around the cell phone.
"Father's back?" I repeated, surprise filling me. Wasn't he way too ahead of schedule? I wondered, my heart beating erratically in my chest.
"Yes sir," Jones answered patiently. "Dinner is by nine o'clock, you know how your father is with time," Jones kindly reminded before ending the call.
The call ended, leaving me stunned. Father had returned. My faint hope of salvaging the company before his arrival had evaporated.
Elena's continued disappearance felt like another nail in my coffin. I'd ended my partnership with Albert, though it was questionable if with the plummeting stock prices, the partnership would have stood.
I highly doubted it.
There was no escaping the reckoning now.
In an ideal world, the company stocks would be great, Elena would be my escort to this dinner and I could already imagine Father's reaction, he'd praise me and acknowledge my efforts.
But now?
I sighed, glancing at the clock. It was just a few minutes past six but I got to my feet, dragging myself upstairs to get what I'd wear ready.
If there was anything Father hated more than anything, it would be late coming. He absolutely detested it.
I glanced around at the empty silent house and I squared my shoulders, there was no avoiding this.
I arrived at the family estate just after eight, I was very early and in plenty of time for dinner.
Or so I thought.
To my dismay, dinner had already started when Jones ushered me into the dining room.
Had they started early? I wondered, stepping into the room.
Father was at the head of the table, he hadn't changed much since the last time I saw him. But of course that was Father.
Magaret sat beside him and then Victoria, I caught her gaze as she stared at me with a smug expression. The kind that said; You are in so much trouble.
"Father," I greeted, nodding my head, I gave Magaret a smile and I totally ignored Victoria, pulling out a chair and sitting down.
"You're late," Father's sharp voice pierced the air and he stared at me, his hands still holding his cutlery.
"I… I'm sorry," I forced myself to meet his gaze, after all these years and I still felt like a repentant child whenever Father stared at me.
"I was told dinner was by nine," I said, glancing around, hoping to find Jones who'd just ushered me in. My heart sank, he wasn't here.
"Dinner has always been by eight," Father said finally, not interested in my excuse.
"It's alright," I was surprised when Magaret intervened and she gently squeezed Father's hand.
"I'm sure Damien here didn't mean to be late. He must've been busy…" Magaret's eyes flashed with a malicious light.
"Running a company is no small job."
Something was up, my ears perked up and I could instantly smell something fishy.
I knew I was right when I noticed Father's gaze harden. "Don't defend the boy," he snapped, his gaze shifting to me. "A little company in shambles and he's done little to fix it."
"Father—" I began, but he cut me off.
"In months of my absence, what have you done?" Father glared at me, his eyes spitting fire. "This is your legacy, Damien," Father said, his voice deceptively soft. "Failure."
"I…" I paused, all the words I'd intended to say hooked in my throat, his one final syllable hit me like a punch to the gut.
"You're going to be stripped of your position," Father announced, getting to his feet. "You'll return back to the main company and assist your half-sister, you're to obey her orders."
"What!" I felt the world spin for a moment. The mere thought of me obeying Victoria's commands made me sick.
"But Father," I spoke up, trying to protest.
"I will hear nothing more of this matter," he cut me off. He didn't say another word before he turned and strode out, leaving a heavy silence in his wake.
"You're so pitiful," Victoria chuckled, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she glanced at me.
"That's enough, Victoria," Magaret cautioned her but she didn't glance at me, she looked like she was holding back a smile.
I didn't say a word, I got to my feet and walked out, going after Father.
I spotted him just about heading upstairs and my heart lurched. "Father, please listen. I—"
"I don't care, Damien," he snapped, turning to me. "You had months to get this right, but you messed it up. If you weren't my son I'd send you out of this house!" He thundered, his voice echoing in the hallway.
"I was trying—"
"Trying isn't enough!" Father lashed out, his words cutting me deeper than I expected.
With that, he walked away, leaving me standing alone in the dimly lit corridor.
The drive home was a blur, I simply drove mechanically, neither in my thoughts nor in spirit.
Father's words echoed in my ears like he'd said them some seconds ago. "This is your legacy, Damien…. Failure."
I suddenly felt like all the things I thought mattered were through my fingers. The company, Father's trust, even my belief.
Perhaps it was time I left.
As I parked in my driveway, I pulled out my phone and dialed Jane's number.
"Damien," she answered, her voice steady.
"I'll take the job," I said, my tone firm.
"Very good Damien," Jane said, sounding pleased. "You'll not regret this."
I didn't say anything as I ended the call.
Regret? I had enough regrets already, and now?
Now I'd make damn sure they'd regretted all they did. I'd make sure they knew that:
Damien Landon wasn't a failure.