Loving The Better Brother novel Chapter 14

Chapter 14 Battlefield

WILLOW

Rocco looked at me for a long second, then his lips twitched–just slightly.

“You know him, I suppose,” he said, sounding amused.

I didn’t bother pretending.

I nodded slowly. “Of course I do.”

Finished

How could I not know Tristan Hale when I was just in his bed the night before?

Heck, he was the man whose clothes I was still wearing. The man whose touch was still burned into my skin in places I tried very hard not to think about right now.

Rocco continued, unaware–or perhaps very aware–of the storm inside my head.

“Then you know,” he said, “that the Hales own Hale Enterprises. A major automobile company, as well as a significant portion of the city’s transport systems. Trains. Expressways. Logistics. Infrastructure.”

I nodded again.

I had lived in that shadow for years while I was married to Marcus. Hale this. Hale that.

Through all of it, I had always been the odd one out.

“I knew how big they were,” I said quietly. “I never… blended in.”

Rocco studied me for a moment.

“That is not uncommon,” he said. “Power circles are rarely welcoming to

outsiders.”

That was one way to put it. However, what truly surprised me wasn’t that Hale Enterprises was massive. It was Tristan’s presence in this folder.

12:32 pm

ppp.

Chapter 14 Battlefield

Finished

“I didn’t think Tristan had shares in other companies,” I admitted. “I thought he was focused only on their family business.”

“That is mostly true,” Rocco said. “He is deeply dedicated to Hale Enterprises. He played a major role in expanding their reach and modernizing their systems.”

I swallowed. I had heard things from Marcus as well as from business gossip.

“He’s only thirty–three,” Rocco continued, “but he has accomplished what many executives twice his age have not.”

That didn’t surprise me either. Tristan always carried himself like someone who was used to winning.

“He currently has the largest shares in Fiorane,” Rocco added, flipping the page slightly so I could see the number clearly, “except for you.”

I stared at it.

“That’s… a lot,” I said.

“Yes,” Rocco confirmed. “Seven percent.”

Seven percent in Fiorane meant Tristan Hale wasn’t just a random investor. He was a major player.

“He’s also very handsome,” Rocco added casually.

I snapped my head up to look at him.

My eyes widened.

“Rocco!”

He chuckled, clearly enjoying my reaction.

“Anyway,” he said, waving it off, “that is beside the point.”

I crossed my arms, heat creeping up my face.

Handsome. As if that wasn’t the understatement of the century.

12:32 pm Ppp

Chapter 14 Battlefield

Finished

I forced myself to refocus.

“So.” I said, “you brought me here so I could see all of this.”

“Yes,” Rocco said. “The reason why I allowed you to face them today–unprepared, in your current state–was intentional.”

That made me frown.

“Intentional?”

“Yes,” he said calmly. “So that you could have a better look at these people. Their expressions. Their reactions. Their attitudes toward you.”

My stomach dropped slightly.

“You used me as a test?” I asked.

He didn’t deny it.

“I would not use the word use,” he said gently. “More like… prepare.”

“For what?” I asked.

“For what is coming,” he replied.

I leaned back in my chair, suddenly feeling much less safe in my shiny new office. Rocco folded his hands in front of him.

“Before your father passed,” he said, “he had been in discussions for a major collaboration.”

“With who?” I asked.

“With several companies, specifically, the ones inside the room we were just in,” he said. “He had not yet decided. Hale Enterprises was one of them. So was King Modeling Group. And others represented in that room.”

My heart beat faster.

12:32 pm

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Chapter 14 Battlefield

“He never signed any of them?” I asked.

Finished

“No,” Rocco said. “He was careful. He wanted to review everything thoroughly. He wanted your opinion, actually.”

My chest tightened.

“My opinion?” I echoed.

“Yes,” Rocco said. “He intended for you to be involved. He simply did not get the chance.”

That knowledge hit me harder than I expected. Even when he was sick and his time was running out, my father somehow thought of me.

“So now,” I said slowly, “it’s left in my hands.”

Rocco nodded.

“Yes.”

“That’s a lot of pressure,” I admitted.

“Yes,” he agreed. “It is.”

I exhaled slowly.

“But,” Rocco continued, “that is not what they are after right now.”

I frowned.

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