By His Vow: Chapter 48

“Good evening, Tatum,” Judith says with a wide smile as I spill out of the elevator long after everyone else in the building has left for the night.

“Hi. Isn’t it a little late for you to still be here? He’s not working you too hard, is he?”

“Miles?” she asks with a laugh. “Never. That boy is far too sweet for that.”

“Sweet? Are we talking about the same Miles?”

“I’ll be heading out in a few minutes—just finishing off a couple of things.” She pushes her keyboard aside, turning her whole focus on me. “How are you doing? Things have been a little…intense.”

I deflate under her caring gaze.

“You could say that,” I mutter. I’ve no idea how much she knows. We haven’t had much contact after the funeral plans were in place, but she’s been here for Miles no doubt in the way our mother should be, so something tells me that she’s aware of everything that’s going on in my life right now.

“You look exhausted,” she says softly.

I smile, trying to ignore just how true that statement is. “I’m okay,” I lie.

After the relaxing weekend we had, I should be refreshed and ready to take on the world. But yesterday ruined all the good gained from our little getaway.

I might have been wasted last night, but not even the tequila could help me switch off.

After stupidly falling back into Kingston’s trap in the bathroom, I took myself to bed and then just laid there, staring into the darkness.

Kingston fell into bed a few minutes later, and I swear he almost immediately started snoring.

Good to know that everything was all right in his world while mine felt like it was spinning out of control.

All I could think about was the woman he was with last night and the terms of the contract.

He’s allowed to see other women. He’s allowed to do more than touch the small of her back, a move that I didn’t realize I liked quite so much until I saw him do it to someone else. Nothing about what he did last night was wrong, no matter how it felt to me.

Hell, nothing I did was wrong either, but I’m aware of how it looks.

But surely, agreeing to marry Kingston shouldn’t mean I have to kiss goodbye to friendships with men.

Sure, Cory and I have been intimate a handful of times, but it was only a means to an end. There’s nothing between us romantically, and there never will be. We both friend-zoned each other a while ago. We just also enjoy the benefits when we’re both single and lonely. There is nothing wrong with that.

“Tatum, you need to look after yourself. That’s the most important thing,” Judith chastises.

“I am,” I lie again.

She stares at me, not believing a word of it. We never could pull the wool over her eyes.

“Is Miles still here?” I ask, changing the subject.

“Of course. I swear he’s barely left this building since your father passed. You’re not the only one feeling the pressure of all of this.”

Guilt knots up my insides that I haven’t been a better sister. I’m not the only one who’s had their world thrown into chaos.

“Things will get better,” I assure her.

“Everyone is worried about this merger,” she confesses.

“It’ll be okay. Kingston and Miles won’t do anything stupid.”

“I trust them. But a lot of people only know Kingston as the cut-throat COO at Callahan.”

“No one is going to lose their jobs because of this.” It’s not my place to promise anything. I’m merely one of the employees at Warner Group. Hell, my job could be on the line just as much as anyone else.

“Everything will work out as it should,” Judith says with a smile. “He’ll be pleased to see you,” she adds, her eyes drifting down the hallway toward where my brother is hiding out.

“He still hasn’t moved into Dad’s office?”

She shakes her head. “All the adjustments will take time,” she whispers.

I guess it’s easy to forget that Miles didn’t have the same kind of relationship with our father as I did.

I take a step back and look over my shoulder, wishing there was something I could do to make all of this easier on everyone.

“Enjoy your evening,” I say as I continue retreating.

“You too, sweetie. Get some rest, yes?”

“You got it.”

I let out a long sigh as I stand before Miles’s office door.

I know he can do this. Both he and Kingston are more than capable of taking over this business. I just wish he didn’t have to do it so suddenly, without our father here to lean on when he needed it.

Sure, he has Michael, but it’s not the same as the man who has lived everything Warner Group since the day he was born.

Miles wants to make our father, grandfather, and those who came before them proud. And he will—I have every confidence in him.

Lifting my hand, I knock three times and wait for him to call me in.

Pushing the door open, I poke my head inside the darkened room.

“Hey, it’s only me.”

It takes a couple of seconds for Miles to pull his eyes from his computer in favor of me, and the second I look into them, I gasp in shock.

I’ve never seen him so…stressed.

“Hey, stranger,” he says, forcing a smile onto his lips. “Come in.”

Closing the door behind me, I move toward his desk and take a seat.

“You want a drink?” he asks, pushing out of his chair and stalking toward his beverage cabinet.

I watch as he pulls out a bottle of whiskey and pours himself a generous measure.

“No, I’m fine. Thank you.” I had enough tequila last night to last me a good few days.

Lifting the glass, he swallows the contents without so much as a wince.

He immediately pours himself another. But this time, he doesn’t drink it straight away. Instead, he stares down into it like it might hold the answers to all his problems.

Finally, he lifts the glass to his lips, and he’s just taken a sip when I blurt, “Did you know I’m getting married next Saturday?”

He coughs, spraying top-shelf whiskey all over his walnut furniture.

“Shit. Sorry.”

Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he returns to his chair and places his drink on the desk.

His eyes meet mine, and I get my answer.

“Of course you knew. Is there anything else about my life that everyone else knows about but me?”

“Tate,” he breathes, tugging at the tie around his neck and undoing his top button.

“It’s okay.” It’s not. Nothing about this is okay, but I don’t want to put any more weight on his shoulders. “I’ll do what I need to do and then…”

“And then?” he asks when I trail off.

I shrug. “I guess I’ll figure that out at the time.”

“You mean there’s a chance you’re not going to go running straight to England to start over?” he asks hopefully.

It’s no secret that Miles doesn’t share or even understand my dream of leaving not only Chicago but also America to embark on a new life across the Atlantic.

For as long as I can remember, it’s been the location of all my dreams about the future. But suddenly, everything I always thought about isn’t quite so clear. Everything is a little fuzzy, my future unsure and unplanned for the first time in my life.

“Yeah, maybe. I don’t know. Everything is just⁠—”

“A mess?” he finishes for me.

“Yeah,” I agree sadly.

His eyes are ringed with dark shadows, and I’m sure he’s gained a wrinkle or two since I last saw him.

Questions about the company and what has him so stressed dance on the tip of my tongue, but while I’m trying not to put more weight on him, I also don’t want any more on me. And I fear that if I know the truth about what’s going on here, the potential mess that Dad left behind, then I won’t be able to forget about it.

Instead, I make a U-turn and focus on the other reason I came up here to see my big brother.

“Miles?” I ask once he’s drained his second glass and set it back on the table.

“Yeah, T.”

“Will you…” My eyes hold his tired ones. “Will you give me away next Saturday?”

He sucks in a sharp breath, and then I’m pretty sure he stops breathing altogether.

“Miles?” I whisper when he doesn’t respond.

He scrubs his hand across his face. “Shit, T. I don’t know what you expect me to say to that.”

“Well, yes would be nice.”

“Fuck, yeah. Yes. Of course I will.”

Pushing to his feet, he rushes around the desk, pulls me out of my seat, and crushes me against his chest.

He presses a kiss to the top of my head, making me feel like a little girl all over again while I fight the tears that threaten once more.

He releases me, allowing us both to retake our seats before he groans and slumps back.

“I can’t believe you’re getting married.”

“I—”

“To fucking Kingston,” he adds, cutting me off.

“Not by choice,” I mutter.

“Those photos of the two of you in Kohler…” He trails off, lost in thought before focusing on me again. “They looked very…real.”

My heart constricts.

There are only a couple of people in the world who would be able to see the truth in those photos. One of them is staring me dead in the eyes right now, and the other I met for lunch again this afternoon, although that was more so she could bitch about her shitty boss instead of dissecting my life. It was a refreshing change after the past few days.

I shrug, not wanting to confess to my brother just how real the weekend felt.

“Just doing what we’ve got to do.”

“Tate,” he starts before scratching his rough chin, then sitting forward and resting his arms on his desk. “You don’t have to do this.”

“Miles,” I warn.

“Let it all go. I’ll buy that cottage for you when it goes on the market. I’ll give you whatever you need. Fuck the will and the contract and⁠—”

“I’m not letting you do that.”

“But—”

“It’s a year. Twelve months. And honestly, he might be a jerk, but it could be a hell of a lot worse than Kingston. I mean, you’ve put up with him this long, so he can’t be all bad.”

It’s such bullshit. I know he’s not all bad. I’ve seen some of the good, and it’s really fucking good.

Shame it’s all an act for him to gain control of Warner Group.

Miles nods but doesn’t say anything.

“I’m going to need your measurements for your suit. You and King will be matching. Lori is my maid of honor and only bridesmaid.”

“Mom?”

“Can be as involved as she wants to be. Hopefully, this won’t be the only wedding of mine she gets to attend, but just in case it is…” I trail off as the thought of this being my only shot settles around me.

What if I’m destined to live the rest of my life as the woman who married and divorced the almighty Kingston Callahan and then die a spinster with my cats?

At least I’ll have my cottage, the roses, the English countryside.

Things could certainly be worse.

“I guess I should leave you to it. Invitations will be sent tomorrow, but I’m assuming you already know the time and place.”

He gives me a sad smile, confirming my suspicions.

“Well, if you think of anything else I should be aware of, please, call me, yeah?”

“I just want the best for you, you know that, right?”

“Yeah,” I agree before pressing a kiss on his cheek and letting myself out.

“Tate,” he calls before I get a chance to shut the door.

“Yeah?”

“You know, all you’ve got to do is say the word and you can be up here with me. Whatever job title, whatever salary, it can be yours.”

I smile at him.

To many, I’m sure it would mean the world and would be the opportunity they could only dream of.

But for me, not so much.

“Thank you. I appreciate it but⁠—”

“I love you, T. Enjoy your evening. Although not too much,” he adds quickly just before I close his door.

I let out a sigh as I move through the silent top floor of the building toward the elevator.

I’m not sure at what point my big brother learned to read me like a book, but he can.

He saw through those photographs, and it makes me wonder what else he can see when he looks at me.

Can he see the truth that I’m desperately trying to ignore?