The Truth in the Margin

Theo pinches the bridge of his nose.

Fuck.

My father navigates the group toward a hidden entrance of the castle. He motions for Theo to use his keycard to open the door, and my brother complies while shooting me an apologetic look.

My father and Nakamura walk up the steps first, so I hang back with Theo as he shuts the door. I don’t want to leave my father alone with Nakamura longer than necessary, but I need to be fully informed before I can plan my attack.

“What is he doing?” I whisper as my father and Nakamura disappear around the first corner of the stairs.

“Showing him the hidden tower.”

“What hidden tower?”

Theo’s eyes dart toward the empty steps. “The one Grandpa had built for Grandma before she passed. Since she never got to see it, he never showed it to anyone else.”

Nakamura is a sucker for sad stories. All my father needs to do is capitalize on the story of how his mother never had a chance to see the park become what it is. Nakamura will eat it all up given his passion for developing a park he can enjoy with his family while he is still alive.

You’re fucked. “And you never thought to mention this story during the countless conversations we had about this place?”

“I didn’t think it mattered.”

“Obviously you were wrong, which seems to be a trend lately,” I snap.

I told myself I wouldn’t bring up his decision to move to Everland anymore, but I can’t help it. Anger makes me stupid and vile.

A nasty personality trait you picked up from the one man you can’t stand.

Theo frowns. “Don’t lash out at me because you’re pissed.”

“Pissed doesn’t begin to cover how I feel right now. You had one job to do. To think you gave up everything for this position and you can’t even do it right. What a fucking disgrace.”

It’s a shitty shot at him and his choice to stay here. I’m not proud of letting my anger get the best of me, but I can’t find it in me to stop. Not when I might lose out to my father of all people.

“Fuck you and fuck your walkthrough.” My brother slams his keycard against my chest before leaving out the door we came through. “Find your own way around the park, asshole.”

I tell myself that it is fine and how I don’t need him. That if I can’t secure a deal with Nakamura by myself, then I don’t deserve the position of CEO to begin with. Those thoughts are the ones that push me to take two steps at a time.

It’s time I prove to myself that I have what it takes to usurp my father. It might not be an even playing field, but that will only make my victory all the better.

I let my father have his moment. Just like I anticipated, Nakamura is moved by the story of my grandmother and her untimely passing before Everland ever opened its gates. My victory is slipping past my fingers with each of my father’s tugs on Nakamura’s heartstrings. He is good at telling people what they want to hear. While I picked up on the skill after watching him pull the same trick on every person in his path, his mastery over people’s emotions is unmatched.

My father gloats as we make our way out of the castle. I’m grateful he waits to rub it in my face until Nakamura excuses himself to use the restroom.

“You thought you could plan this impromptu trip without me finding out?”

“It’s not your deal.”

“I’m the CEO. Everything about the company is mine.”

I keep my balled-up fists hidden away in my pockets. “Except this one won’t start until I’m CEO.”

“Not if I can help it.” His smile is genuine, which is all the more infuriating. He thrives off my shortcomings.

“You didn’t even want this deal.”

“I didn’t until you thought you could blackmail me and get away with it. I’ll thoroughly enjoy ripping this project away from your fingertips, only to show you what a pathetic excuse for a CEO you would make.”

I was a fool for thinking I could make it through this process without Amara. There is no way I can manage my father’s manipulative strategies and Nakamura’s needs at the same time.

I’m quick to pull out my phone, but I hesitate over the call button.

Are you really going to ruin her day yet again?

I don’t have much of a choice. Without her, I might lose the deal.

But if you steal her away again, you might end up losing all the progress you’ve made.

Screw it. If there is one person I can count on to fix this, it’s her.

“Calling your wife for help?”

I completely ignore him as I hold my ringing phone up to my ear.

He chuckles to himself. “You’re a pathetic excuse of a man if you need your wife to help save the day.”

He tries to goad me, but I refuse to go for it. I’m no less of a man because I admit I need Amara’s help. She is the one who understands Nakamura best, and I’d be foolish to think otherwise. Even if it means stealing her away again.

She answers on the second ring. “Hey. I was just thinking of you while checking out a—”

“I need you.”

“What’s wrong?”

I instantly feel guilty for the worry in her voice. “Nakamura and my father stopped by ahead of schedule.”

“Oh.” Somehow one word carries more disappointment than an entire speech.

I consider telling her to forget about it, but she doesn’t let me get a sentence out.

“Send me your location and I’ll find you.”