Page 39 of Arrogant Heir

‘It seems like you sabotage yourself with this continuous bad behaviour. You’re single-handedly destroying the family reputation which I’ve spent my life building. It breaks my heart.’

I look at him and think he doesn’t look exactly broken hearted. He looks furious, and I wish I was anywhere but here beneath the withering gaze of his disapproval. I’ve been here countless times before, but I thought we’d got past this. I’ve been working so hard for the past few years I’ve barely allowed any time for fun, so this seems unfair, and I protest.

‘It was a one-off. I’ve been holed up here for ages because of the book and I needed to let off steam. I’m thirty-four. I can’t live like a monk.’

‘I understand you’re a young man with certain needs. My issue is with your lack of discretion and seeming disregard for the family.’

‘That’s unfair. This girl was clearly looking to score a rich husband and when I wasn’t interested in extending the relationship, the temptation to make a quick buck by spilling this pathetic attempt at astorywas obviously too much for her to resist.’

‘What of Jamie?’ Grandfather says. ‘She’s mixed up in this madness now. I doubt her fiancé is going to take it too kindly.’

I down the dregs of my coffee and as the cup hits the table surface, I snap, ‘Well, he’s got what’s coming to him. What kind of man doesn’t visit his fiancée? He doesn’t deserve her, anyway.’

Grandfather raises one eyebrow. The Rochester resemblance is striking, and his expression says more than any words.

‘After all that fuss when she arrived, you like her now, don’t you?’

‘Yes, she’s fabulous at her job,’ I say, looking away.

‘I wasn’t talking about her job,’ says Grandfather with his all-knowing eyes, which have always had a knack for reading my mind.

‘If this continues, we may need to skip to Sebastian and nominate him as the face of the British Rochesters. He gets on with things without causing a stir like you. The board will not like this.’

My head jerks up. ‘That old tune again! Seriously? You know I’m never going to let that happen.’

‘Well, in that case you must marry so you won’t have to seek your pleasures in dens of iniquity. Let’s find you a good woman and put an end to this carousing.’

‘I’m afraid that will not happen for a while yet.’

Since Steph, I give myself zero credit in the ability to keep a woman happy, stakes. She left a bitter taste of worthlessness in my mouth and the residue lingers.

‘Time is ticking, Damian. I’d like to see some of your children in the nursery before I go.’

I tut and shake my head. ‘You’re not going anywhere! What kind of talk is that?’ His words drive a spear like pain through my chest. He’s tough on me, but I idolise him and can’t imagine Greystone without my grandfather. Besides, he’s all we have left of father. His presence keeps him with me somehow.

‘I will not be around forever to keep saving you from yourself, you know.’

‘You don’t need to save me. I’m quite capable of running my own life, thank you.’

‘I’m going to ask Jamie to help us write a press release to calm this latest fiasco.’

I laugh but it’s a humourless sound. ‘We have a whole media department full of highly paid professionals to handle this kind of thing,’ I say. ‘Why do we need to get Jamie involved? Have you forgotten I’m the CEO of our media division?’

‘No. I think that’s part of the problem.’

Grandfather pauses and stares out the window at the giant oak tree swaying in the morning breeze. ‘Jamie is already involved, so who better? And she’s not intimidated by you.’

‘My staff are not intimidated by me,’ I huff. Running my hand through my hair, I admit defeat and let him have his way like he always does. ‘If you think it’s best.’

I head to the gym. My personal trainer doesn’t come in on Saturdays and for once, I’m relieved. I need some time alone to straighten my head. It’s been a long time since Grandfather threatened to pass over me in the inheritance line as the primary heir. Things must look even worse from the outside than I thought. Lord knows the inside is a shitshow.

What did he mean by she’s not intimidated by me?

CHAPTER26

Jamie

I wake up to missed calls and messages from my mum and Simon. It took me ages to fall asleep last night, so I’m blurry eyed and sleep deprived. My head’s banging, and I hunt for headache tablets and swallow them with a big glass of water.