One Step Closer(16)

His mind flashed to the conversation with his father. He remembered it all so clearly.

“You can’t divorce Veronica, Dad! What about Wren? You know what will happen to her!”

Edison was sitting on the front edge of his heavy mahogany desk, contemplating his son. He knew Caleb and Wren had gotten close, but he hadn’t expected this bombastic reaction from his son.

“You hate Veronica. I thought you’d be overjoyed at the prospect of my divorcing her.”

Caleb began pacing back and forth in front of his father; feeling like his world was about to implode again. Wren was the only person he cared about, and Veronica would hurt her. “I do. But Wren will be at her mercy. You know what happened before!”

Edison had remained calm, his eyes calculating. “Wren’s older now. She can take care of herself.”

But Caleb knew that wasn’t true, and he couldn’t bear the thought of Wren turning back into that introverted, frightened shell of a girl she was when they met.

Caleb stopped and turned to his father, his tone pleading. “Dad. Please. Not until she’s eighteen. Please, I’m begging you.” It was a bitter pill to swallow after Edison’s apparent disinterest in his life.

Edison was annoyed. “That’s almost three years from now, Caleb. I can’t put up with Veronica’s schemes for three more years. I can’t afford it. Not if you expect to inherit anything.” His tone was sarcastically amused, but lost on his son.

Caleb wasn’t worried about the money, but he knew his father’s company was sound. “Dad! Please.”

“Well,” Edison said slowly. “I might be persuaded; if you go to college. I don’t need a f*ck-up for a son. Though, God knows, you’ve tried hard enough to earn that title.”

Caleb felt like he’d been kicked in the gut, even though he’d heard the same thing numerous times. It didn’t matter. He’d gotten accepted to Colorado School of Mines a few days earlier. His last name alone would have ensured acceptance, his father’s Denver-based company was well known worldwide, but his grades were solid, too. “Yeah, I’m such a f*ck-up, I got into CSOM,” he shot back.

“I know.”

Caleb was stunned at his father’s easy answer. How in the hell did he know? He hadn’t said anything. “You do? How?”

“Come on, Caleb. I know everyone in Denver. My golfing buddy’s brother is the president of the school.”

“Fuuuuck,” Caleb huffed under his breath, pissed he hadn’t thought of that. Couldn’t he do anything without his father’s influence hovering over him? “In that case, I’m not going.”

Edison folded his arms over his chest arrogantly eyeing his son. “Don’t be stupid, Caleb. Of course, you’re going to college. You’re always insisting you don’t want my help, so make something of yourself on your own.”

“I’m trying, but you keep f*cking it up! Why can’t you stay out of my goddamned life?” Venom dripped from Caleb’s words.

Edison’s demeanor was stone cold. “I’ll stay out of it after you graduate, but you’re going to MIT, not the School of Mines.”

“You can’t force me to go to Boston! I didn’t even apply there!” He’d felt smug, thinking the conversation was over.

His father had simply huffed and turned away, going to the bar in his study to pour a stiff drink. “Oh, yes, I think I can, son. You obviously have initiative, and I admit, I’m pleasantly surprised, but if you want me to suffer that bitch for three more years, you’ll do as I ask. It’ll be MIT because it’s more widely known and will offer you more opportunities, later.”

“I don’t need your permission. I have a scholarship for part of it, and I’ve saved up some of my own money.”

“Stop it, Caleb. It’s MIT, or nothing. I can get that scholarship at CSOM yanked. You’ll do what I tell you and you’ll be happy about it. You’re lucky I’ll let you study engineering. I’d hoped you’d pursue a biochem degree. It would be more beneficial to Lux.”

Caleb had been furious, his blood rushing in his ears. “You are such an unbelievable bastard. Do you think I planned this to make you look good or help you out? I have plans of my own!”

“Caleb!” Edison shouted, finally losing control. Dressed in a black designer suit, he calmed himself then walked back to his desk. “It’s settled. All I have to do is make a call or two.”

“I hate you,” Caleb had seethed. “What about Wren? What happens to her while I’m gone?”

“She graduates. She continues dance classes.” At Caleb’s surprise, Edison continued. “Oh yes, I know you’ve been taking her and paying for them with your blood money.”

Anger exploded inside Caleb and he saw red and his fists clenched. It was all he could do not to beat the shit out of his own father. His teeth ground together. “You’re such a controlling prick. Can’t you let me have anything without invading it? Do you have me followed, or what? I f*cking hate you!”

Edison was cool and collected; calmly smoothing his tie down the front of his shirt. “Clearly, but it’s beside the point. I’ll help Wren get into Juilliard, if that’s what she wants; and I’ll pay for it. I’ll rein Veronica in, as well.”