If I Only Knew(63)

“We need to talk.”

This can’t be good. Callum doesn’t ring me when he feels like having a chat. I usually get an earful of his favourite names to call me and he hangs up before I can speak. Twat.

“There’s a problem in the London office.”

I stop dead in my tracks. “I’m sorry?”

“Edward quit.”

“Edward as in our cousin who you gave the office to instead of me?” I ask for clarification.

That’s the part that Callum always seems to gloss over. Not only did he move to America, taking most of the company there, but he left an office here to run the projects we were already working on. However, he knew my feelings on leaving London, but instead of asking me, his only brother, to take over this location, he gave it to our wanker of a cousin.

Which is why I vowed to loathe my brother ‘til eternity. Because he’s a bastard.

Once again, the Thor and Loki comparison is striking.

“Yes, that one.”

“Why are you telling me?”

He sighs. “Because I need you to take his spot. You’re there and you’re the only one I trust.”

My heart races the slightest bit. “You want me to take over the London office?”

“Do you want to be an assistant or be the Vice President of Dovetail and run that office?” Callum asks with anger.

“And once I do this for you, what job am I going to have, huh? Filing for you instead of my girlfriend? Or are you going to punish me further?”

I’m not playing his game. I want something in writing and to be paid what I’m worth.

“No, Milo. I want you to take over the position—permanently.”

I stand here, staring at the door of my flat, completely stunned. He wants me to become the Vice President of the company?

Permanently?

And why? And when? What is the sudden change of heart?

“Are you fucking with me?”

He chuckles once. “No, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about when we were at my house, but then we got the call about Mum.”

I don’t know what to say. This is completely unexpected. “I’m trying to wrap my head around this. You want me to move back to London?”

“No,” he sighs. “I don’t want that, but Mum needs one of us and I want you to take the position in the company you were meant for.”

I lean against the wall, feeling torn apart. “What about Danielle?”

“What about her, Milo? I’m happy you found her, but it’s not like you’ve been together long. You’re not exactly known for anything long term.”

“Fuck off!”

“You can be upset with me, but there are no other options.” Callum’s voice is filled with remorse for the first time. “I can’t move to London. I have the company here, Nicole has her company, and we have Colin. You’re single.”

“I’m not,” I correct.

I may not be married, but I’m in love for the first time in my life. There’s someone worth the effort and he’s going to take that away from me.

Fuck! Fucking hell.

“No, you’re not, but answer me this, when was the last time you had a serious relationship?”

I don’t have to answer him because we already know it.

“Exactly,” Callum answers. “I care very much about Danielle. She’s a very big part of our lives here, so hurting her isn’t what I want to do—or you, Milo. No matter what you may think of me, I do care about you. This is ultimately your choice, but the office is yours if you take it. And either way, you’re going to need to be there for Mum.”

My heart is being torn from my chest. “I need to think about this. I . . . I can’t give you an answer.”

Cal sighs. “I’ll give you a week to give me your decision about staying on, but I need you to go there tomorrow and fix the mess Edward made.”

I don’t need to do anything, but I’m not going to argue that fact. The truth is, this was what I wanted all along. This company was built by the two of us. I love Dovetail as much as Callum does, and now he wants to give me what I’ve worked my arse off to create. I don’t know that I can walk away. It was the whole damn reason I came to America.

“You’ll give me whatever time I require,” I reply.

“Don’t be a prick.”

“Don’t be a bastard.”

Callum grumbles. “I’ll hear from you in a week.”

“You’ll hear from me when I decide.” I smirk and hang up.

My phone pings again and it’s a text from my mum, asking where I am.

I’ll handle her first, then I have to call another woman I love and figure out what in the bloody hell I do about that.





Chapter Twenty-Nine





Danielle





“Have you heard from Milo lately?” Callum asks as he’s at the door in my kitchen.

“No, but I’m sure I will soon, why?”

He shakes his head. “Just curious.”

A niggling feeling in my gut says otherwise. Callum and I are friendly. I like him, think he’s a great guy, but he’s my boss. I always feel like I’m going to say something stupid and he’s going to fire my ass.