Edward walked into his father’s office, barely knocking before interrupting his meeting with Claire. They had obviously been working on something for a while, given the paperwork strewn all over in front of them on his desk. She sat across from him, elegantly leaning forward as she explained what he was looking at.

Edward did not wait for a sentence to be finished or a glance to land his way. “I need to speak with you privately.”

Reese looked up at him, annoyed at the interruption. How dare you barge into my office and interrupt my meeting with my secretary, his stare said. He didn’t lean back or put the paper down. He didn’t say a word until Edward looked at Claire, wondering why she wasn’t moving. She didn’t get up until Reese nodded approval. Only then did she gather up the paperwork by her side and set it carefully on Reese’s desk before walking out.

“What is so important that it rendered such rudeness and interruption?” Reese asked, leaning back in his chair. He folded his hands together and propped his elbows on the arms, raising an eyebrow.

“I want to know what you are planning on doing with MWSA Cosmetics.” The mere mention of the company name put Mia Walker’s image back into Edward’s mind and a warm feeling back into his loins.

“Who says I have any plans for them at all?”

“The phone call I received yesterday, from Miss Walker herself.”

Edward’s news obviously touched a nerve as his father pursed his lips. “What did she say?”

“She had questions about your meeting with her company, mainly on the topic and why she wasn’t notified before then. I sort of have the same questions.”

“It’s none of your business what my plans are for that company or any other company, for that matter,” he said, switching his attention back to his paperwork as if the conversation was completed.

“I believe it is. I am a part of this company. I think I deserve a little more information than I’m getting. You keep bitching that I’m not more of a team player.”

“Why are you so interested in MWSA?”

“I have my reasons.”

“Oh, okay.” Reese got up and walked around his desk, picking up a small watering can and giving a drink to his large leafy tree in the corner. “So, I should divulge what I know, but you have your reasons.”

“I think we can do something better with it, instead of buying it and taking it apart.”

“Seems you know more than you let on.”

“Merge Inc. is always destroying companies. Why not invest and educate? Bring the company back and make it successful again?”

“And why would I do that?”

“For one, it will allow all of their employees to keep their jobs.”

“I’m not interested in that.”

“For another, it could offer continual income for Merge. Isn’t that better than selling it off piece by piece?”

“Not in my eyes. For someone who claims to know so little about my dealings, you seem to know a lot about this one.”

“I’ve been doing my research. I think we should try and help them.”

Reese walked toward Edward and stopped in front of him. “I am only going to tell you this once,” he said, leaning into him. “Keep your nose out of my business. Don’t make me regret keeping you employed here.”

“You won’t even give my idea a chance?”

“If you must know, they are already relying on a rather large investment project to pull them out of the hole, and I see it happening if they play their cards right.”

“And you are not going to let that happen, are you?”

“No, I’m not. The project will fail, and I thereby will obtain the company.”

“And take it apart and sell it.”

“You catch on quickly.”

“What about the people there? You don’t give a shit about them, do you?”

“Edward, it’s only business. You take things too personally. This is why you are where you are, and why I own several different and successful companies.”

“I’d rather be in the mail room and happy knowing the people around me respect me than in your position.”

Reese let out an exhausted sigh and went back to his seat. “I honestly don’t know why you are trying to play the hero here. I thought you despised Mia Walker.”

“I, I do,” he stammered. “I just think we would stand to make more if we helped the company survive. Allowing the employees to keep their jobs would be a bonus and make you look good for a change.”

“You have to learn to be a businessman and keep your dick out of it. Pretty women like Mia Walker will ruin you.”

Edward looked at his father with disgust. “Looks like keeping your heart out of it didn’t ruin you as a businessman, did it?”

Reese pursed his lips, catching on to Edward’s sarcasm. “Keep your head out of the clouds and learn from what I do, and maybe you’ll be worth something someday.”

“Why bother? You don’t give me a chance to do anything about it.”

“You are the CFO of Donovan Technologies! I’ve given you plenty of chances. You choose to turn your back.”

“My title may be CFO, but I’m just a paper pusher to you. But that’s how you like it, right, Dad? You have your investment company, all your other companies I’m not a part of, and you have Jack to run it all. You don’t need me.” Edward stormed toward the door, his anger building.

Before he reached the door, Reese had his hands on him, pulling him back around. “I’m warning you, Edward.”

“Are you?”

“How do you think I got where I am today? It isn’t by caring about other people’s feelings and their companies. Merge, Donovan Technologies, the others, they all happened because I’m smart. I know how to manipulate small companies. Find them failing, buy them up, and pick the sons-a-bitches apart. That is where the big money comes in. Those people will find other jobs. The economy is rich with them. Plenty to choose from. It’s not a big deal. Stop acting like Mia Walker is. I have big plans for MWSA. Do not get in my way.”

“It’s just another small company. Pick on someone else. Someone who isn’t struggling to keep a company they’ve worked so hard to build.”

“You heard what I said.” He tightened his grip on Edward’s shirt, keeping him close.

“I get it,” he said through clenched teeth. He pulled away from his father’s grasp, his nostrils flaring. “Are we done here?”

“For now. Only you can choose if this goes any further. You will not like the consequences if it does.”

Edward wanted to tell his father what he could do with his position in the company, but he thought better of it and stormed out the door.