Series: Like Us Series by Krista Ritchie
Total pages in book: 241
Estimated words: 236417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1182(@200wpm)___ 946(@250wpm)___ 788(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1182(@200wpm)___ 946(@250wpm)___ 788(@300wpm)
“He’s too sensitive,” Charlie says to the board. “You hire him—you’re hiring a ticking bomb that will go off repeatedly.”
Ben winces. “Are we sure you aren’t the bomb?”
“You think you’d be good for this company?” Charlie says directly to his brother, the air tensing. “You’ll either destroy it or it’ll destroy you. You’re. Too. Soft.”
“Brothers,” Eliot interjects fast. “Cease and desist.”
Ben is grinding his teeth, unable to respond.
Xander’s eyes have widened like we just watched a slow-moving car crash. “Holy shit,” he mutters to me.
Yeah, that was bad.
I’m thinking Charlie and Ben just knocked each other out of contention.
Ms. Kapoor speaks to the rest of the board. “My daughter-in-law Layla knows Ben quite well from Fizzle events, and she’s always said how personable he is. I truly think this interaction is not a good reflection of what he can bring to the position.”
They whisper to one another before Mr. Wagner asks Ben, “How will you answer questions related to Charlie?”
“Not kindly,” Ben answers honestly.
Charlie says nothing.
Eliot puts a hand over his own mouth, trying to be quiet—or maybe he’s hiding how distraught he actually feels. All Eliot has ever wanted is for his brothers and sisters to be as thick-as-thieves, but Ben is the outlier. The odd peg that doesn’t always fit into the Cobalt Empire mold.
The black sheep among lions.
“Ben, how is your relationship with Xander?” Adaline asks. “There are rumors you two don’t get along.”
“We’re okay,” Ben says, taking a quick peek at Xander. “We’re just not as close as we used to be.” The strain is also now palpable. “I’d never say anything bad about him.”
“But me,” Charlie holds out a hand.
Ben speaks in French, and I instinctively lean into Eliot for a translation. His face has tightened, and he looks…sad.
But he whispers to me what Ben said, and my heart plummets.
You hated me long before I hated you.
Charlie, again, says nothing.
“Thank you,” Uncle Stokes tells Ben.
The last of the Fizzle Five takes center stage.
“Xander,” Uncle Stokes motions him forward.
My brother inhales measured breaths while he’s being assessed out in the open. I wouldn’t say the blood-red suit is wearing him, but he’s more unsure than Eliot. Less heated than Ben. Less unfriendly than Charlie.
Maybe more composed than me?
Once he’s back in his chair, Uncle Stokes says, “Xander, you’re the face of a generation. Would you be comfortable being in ads and campaigns for Fizzle?”
Xander nods.
He doesn’t even speak. He’s a little ashen. I wonder if he might puke.
All the Cobalts watch him intently, and their intensity might be more nerve-wracking for Xander than solely facing the board. I’m way more used to the Cobalt brothers than he is.
“Would you be willing to declare a business major in college?” Uncle Stokes asks.
Xander blinks. He applied to colleges as “undeclared” and told me he was going to figure it out Freshman year.
He nods.
For some reason, his silent answers are enough for the board. I have a sudden, sinking feeling in my gut that this is all for show. Do they already have a winner picked out?
No. No.
They wouldn’t waste their time with a mock panel, let alone four other planned engagements, if they did.
“That’s it,” Uncle Stokes tells us. “The board and I will discuss, and then I’ll send you all an email with your rankings.”
“Rankings?” I blurt out. We’re getting ranked?!
“It’s so you can see where you fall before the final presentations and you can make adjustments to improve. It’ll also be a good motivator to try harder, if this is something you really want.” At this, the board all resume their lunch and chitchat.
I scrape my chair back at the same time as Eliot. He’s already calling out for Ben, but Ben shrugs him off and leaves quickly.
“Did you have to go in on him that hard?” Eliot glares at Charlie.
Charlie pushes in his chair. “What do you think it’ll be like with men twice his age, Eliot? They don’t play nice in Fortune-500s. They’ll toy with him like he’s a mouse they’re trying to catch for shits and giggles.”
“He’ll be the CEO,” Eliot reasons. “He’ll have power.”
“Power is only valuable if you know how to wield it,” Charlie says. “Ben lets too much crawl under his skin.”
“Including you,” I mention like a factoid.
Charlie lowers his gaze on me. “Including me,” he agrees.
Bang!
I jump, and Charlie and Eliot push me and Xander behind them. Paparazzi are pressed up against the glass. Donnelly is speaking in comms. I think a camera lens must’ve made impact with the window. A few posters are also visible.
I love you, Xander Hale!!
XANDER! IT’S MY B-DAY! WILL YOU HUG ME??
My brother’s location leaked.
He must’ve been spotted getting out of the SUV. It’s the only real possibility. Xander slings his backpack on his shoulder, and he gives me a half-hearted smile. “This is what happens when the elusive cryptid makes a rare appearance.”