“I don’t,” Travis said defensively. “If you want to do something else with your life, you can feel free to leave Harrison to me.”
Kade studied Travis, trying to read him, but it was almost impossible. Luckily, they were twins, and Kade sensed certain things about his brother. Right now, Travis was trying to set him free to do whatever he wanted to do because his elder brother had always taken up all the responsibilities at Harrison, allowing the rest of the siblings to pursue their dreams. Kade had never thought about the sacrifices Travis had made for his family, but now he asked, “Do you like being here? Do you like running Harrison? You could have been a hell of a race car driver if you’d stayed with that. But you couldn’t, could you? You were the only one left to run the company.” Kade’s gut twisted with guilt. “You were the only one who never felt free to do what you wanted. You were trapped here because Mia was pursuing her art and I was playing football.” Kade had never thought about the unfairness of that fact until now. He’d always just assumed that Travis was exactly where he wanted to be.
“It was fair,” Travis rumbled. “I wasn’t deprived. I was doing exactly what I wanted. I like racing, but it’s a hobby. I never felt the driving need to do it professionally. I wanted to be here. So don’t try to make me out to be some type of hero. I love this company and the way it challenges me.”
You like the way it takes up all your time and helps you forget. Kade knew that Travis buried himself in his work. But he was relieved that he hadn’t had a burning desire to do something else. “I want to be here, Travis. I just felt like you didn’t need me here because you had it all handled, had it all together.”
“I do,” Travis drawled arrogantly. “But I could use your help.”
Kade stifled a chuckle, knowing that he wasn’t going to get any more than that admission from Travis. But it was good enough for him. Admittedly, he felt needed here. Slowly, the duties that were weaknesses for Travis had been passed to him, and he found that he truly did excel at the things that Travis didn’t. The employees were starting to look to him for guidance in those areas, and he was starting to feel like the captain of his own football team. “I’m here. And I’m not going anywhere.”
“Good,” Travis answered briskly, standing and brushing imaginary wrinkles from his suit.
“But I’m not changing the way I dress unless it’s for a necessary function that requires I be boring,” Kade warned him, trying to keep the laughter from his voice.
“Agreed,” Travis replied reluctantly. Stopping with his hand on the doorknob and his back to Kade, he paused. “You know, sometimes it scares the hell out of me, but I’m actually starting to look forward to seeing your fluffy bunny shirts and dancing banana ties every day.”
“Well, damn,” Kade said under his breath. “I guess he did miss me.” His brother’s comment was the closest thing he’d ever heard to a confession that he wanted to be closer to Kade, see him more often.
Travis moved to leave, but turned around again. “Incidentally, we’ve uncovered some not-so-legal business practices of Asha’s ex-husband. He employs Indian students illegally and works them like dogs. Pays them almost nothing, but they’re desperate so they do it. Since they aren’t supposed to be working here on a student visa, they keep their mouths shut about it. Rumor has it that the women get the worst of it, but they can’t report him when he mistreats them or assaults them because they’re afraid they’ll be in trouble for working illegally.”
“Bastard,” Kade spat out with disgust.
“He’ll get what’s coming to him, Kade. Be patient. This will help more people than just Asha,” Travis said cautiously, drilling Kade with an intense stare.
Kade shook his head, trying to push down on the anger he felt every time he imagined someone hurting Asha. But now that he knew the ass**le was hurting others, he knew he had to find a way to control himself. After all, Asha was safe. “I’ll wait,” he answered in a clipped voice.
Travis’s phone started blasting an upbeat music ringtone, and he yanked the phone from his pocket, glaring at it like it was his worst enemy. “Goddamn it! How the hell did she get my phone this time?”
“Ms. Caldwell?” Kade asked, smirking at Travis’s phone.
“She’s a pain in my ass. She’s fired this time.” Travis stomped out of the office, the door closing behind him.
Kade chuckled, staring at the closed door, not the least bit afraid for Ally. Travis threatened to fire her at least once a day, and she was still here. His brother could snarl and get pissed off all he wanted…there was no way he’d get rid of Ally. He needed her too much. Honestly, Kade wasn’t sure what Travis would do without her anymore. She might irritate the hell out of him, but she kept him on his toes.
Glancing at the clock, he decided it was time to go home.
As he left the office, he grinned at his secretary, Karen, and she smiled right back, both of them hearing the heated exchange between Ally and Travis in the next office. Kade doubted anyone took it seriously anymore because it happened on a daily basis.
“Have a good night, Mr. Harrison,” Karen chirped.
“You, too,” he returned with a wave.
Every night had been good lately now that he had Asha. He didn’t expect tonight to be any different.
He drove home way faster than he should, anxious to get to his house and see Asha’s smiling face, wondering how he’d gotten so dependent on seeing her in such a short space of time. But he had, and having her in his life had changed the way he looked at everything now. His future was no longer bleak, and he was moving on with his life. Finally, he was starting to think less and less about the football career he had lost and more about what lay ahead in the future. He parked in front of his house with a smile on his face.
Kade was assaulted by the feeling of emptiness the moment he entered his house.
Asha’s not here.
It was odd, but he could always sense her presence. There was a feeling of lightness and joy in his home whenever Asha was present. When she wasn’t, it was vacant and oppressively lonely.
“Asha?” He called her name urgently as he checked the kitchen, only to find it empty. He bolted up the stairs, shedding his suit jacket as he went.
He immediately noticed the two large drawings on the bed, and he moved closer to study them.