“I have been avoiding taking up my responsibilities for years. I suppose the time has come when I cannot avoid it anymore.”
“Then I am coming home.”
“You don’t have to do that.” He protested.
“You know that I do. I will be there in a couple of days.”
Hanging up the phone, he had to admit that he felt much better with that assurance. He had been seeing Jayne Lancaster for the past three months, and their passion had been satisfactory. She was lovely and witty and accepted him for who he was. And she shared his love for partying.
She was the daughter of a famous actor who had been married three times already. Jayne had gotten bit parts in several movies but had confessed to him that her heart was not in it.
“I think it has to do with the fact that my father is who he is, and people expect me to live up to his legacy.”
Reginald could relate. William Tanner was one of the most successful investment bankers in the country. His father was from a long line of bankers, and ever since he was a child, he knew what was expected of him.
To step into his dad’s shoes and be able to perform his duties with the same enthusiasm and integrity as his ancestors, Reginald could not see himself sitting behind a desk crunching numbers every goddamn day.
Tossing back the rest of the drink, he put down the glass.
He would present himself first thing in the morning, and there would be hell to pay if that – that blasted woman gave him any lip.
*****
“You summoned?” He managed to keep his voice calm, even though he was boiling inside. He had been woken up out of a deep sleep by his father, telling him to present himself for breakfast at the manor at precisely seven this morning.
“Good to see you, son.” William Tanner eyed the young man striding into the informal breakfast room with a slight smile on his mouth. Jacinth had called to alert him that Reginald was on the warpath, which did not surprise him.
“Is it?” He reluctantly went around the table to greet his mother, who was sipping her coffee.
“Mother.”
“Darling.” Putting her cup down, Donna touched his cheek lightly, tawny gold eyes glinting in pleasure. “It’s good to have you home.”
“I was summoned to come home.”
“It’s been too long.” Her cultured voice was not perturbed, and her smile remained. “Pull up a chair and join us. Mary, please set another place for Reginald.”
“Yes, ma’am.” The maid beamed a smile at the young man she had known since he was a child and hurried to do her bidding.
“I am not hungry.” He knew he was being difficult but was not in the mood to be sociable. “I was going to meet you at the office.”
“I don’t have to go in until sometime in the afternoon, so I decided to meet with you here instead.” William’s gray eyes met his stormy, tawny gold ones steadily. “My secretary said you were looking for me.”
“Speaking of which-“ He nodded a curt thanks to Mary as the plate was set before him. “I would like you to fire her.”
Picking up his cup, William sipped the excellent coffee and eyed his son over the rim.
“I see. Any particular reason why I should?”
“She is rude and disrespectful.”
“You mean, you stormed in there and expected her to jump when you ordered her to. I am happy she is not that type of person. I hired her, or the most important reason is her ability to stand up to challenges.”
“Are you condoning her rudeness toward me?”
“Why don’t you tell me what she said to you.”
Reginald’s eyes flashed. “I don’t need you patronizing me, Dad.”
“Far from it. But Jacinth stays.” He was told imperturbably.
“I am assuming the reason I was unceremoniously dragged back here was so that I could take my ‘rightful’ place in the company. Am I right?”
“It’s time.” William nodded.
“Then I have conditions, and one of them is that you get rid of that woman.”
The silence around the table stretched into several minutes before it was broken by the maid coming back in with a fresh pot of coffee. Waiting until she had left the room, his father spoke. “I was going to wait until we finish breakfast before we begin this discussion, but I see you are ready for it now.”
Pouring some more coffee, he put the pot away. “Jacinth stays. You do not get to come back here and dictate terms. You are thirty, and living off your inheritance will no longer cut it. There is a place for you in what your company will be, and it’s time you start earning your keep. I have tolerated you zipping worldwide and living as you please, but it stops now.”
Reginald sat there rigid with anger, eyes flashing. “And if I refuse?”
“Then you will find that the money that has come so freely in the past will no longer be available. I am sixty years old, and the board members are questioning that my son is not interested in the company that has been in the family for several generations. You will present yourself in that office first thing on Monday morning. I am giving you the rest of the week to get used to working for a change and get yourself in gear. Am I clear?”
“As crystal,” he said icily. “Is that all? Or am I going to be asked to go to my room?”
“Your mother and I hoped you would sit with us and finish breakfast.”
Pushing back his chair, he rose and placed his napkin on the table. “As you mentioned, I am thirty years old and can do as I please in certain areas of my life. And I cannot stomach having breakfast when my future is mapped out. Mother.” With a curt nod, he strode from the room.
“You knew it would not be easy,” Donna murmured as she stared at her husband.
“I know.” Sighing softly, William picked up his cup and sipped coffee. “Wait until you realize that we will be sharing a secretary.”
“Oh, darling!” His wife gave a helpless laugh. “Do you think that’s wise?”