My father is having a meeting with Nick and Jason when I burst into his office with the tape in my hand.

“I have something you have to listen to,” I say, ignoring my father when he snaps at me for interrupting them.

He frowns as I walk up to the radio in his office. “I’ve seen enough of your tapes,” he says sternly. “Your mother and I are still recovering from the last one. She’s removed all of the pineapples from our house after seeing you try to make a baby with one.”

“You’ll want to hear this,” I say, putting the tape in anyway.

“We’re very busy,” Nick says with a hint of panic in his voice. “We don’t have time for more of your lies.”

Dahlia is waiting in the lobby downstairs. She didn’t want to be here to remind my father of our own tape. Probably a smart move.

Nick jumps up and rushes over as I slip the tape in. “If you don’t leave, I’m going to have security escort you out,” he says, grabbing my arm.

“Nick,” Jason says, trying to calm the situation down. “Let him play the tape.”

Nick reaches for the tape, but I shrug him off and hit play. He freezes as his voice fills the room.

“How much did you take?”

“Millions. And I deserve every last penny.”

“You don’t deserve any of it. And you don’t dese—”

Nick hits stop and turns to my father with open arms. “Lies,” he says, shaking his head. “More horrible lies like the one about his marriage. I’m afraid we can’t trust Tyler at all anymore.”

My father looks at me with hard eyes. “Play it again. From the beginning.”

Nick lunges for the tape player, and I push him back, flashing him a warning with my eyes. He is my cousin and we are in my father’s office, but I would still take any excuse I can get to knock him out cold. Jason seems to sense that and jumps between us, pushing his older brother away from me as Nick’s voice fills the room once again from the beginning of our conversation.

My father listens attentively as we argue through his speakers.

“That’s cute. Didn’t you hear your father back there? This whole building and every office in it is mine now. You’re only here because I’m allowing you to be here. That is, until the papers are signed and the company is officially mine. Then you and your paid wife will be out on the streets.”

I keep my eyes on my father, watching as his stern face gets even sterner as the conversation goes on. When Nick admits to stealing millions, my father looks ready to put him through a wall.

His skin is turning an angry red as he glares at Nick, looking furious that he supported and trusted this man who is openly bragging on tape about stealing money from him.

“I’ve heard enough,” he says when the tape is almost finished.

I turn the tape off as Jason stands like a bouncer by the door in case his brother tries to leave. Jason would never betray my father. He’s proven his loyalty time and time again.

My father stands up from his desk and walks up to Nick with a high chin and a hard tightness in his eyes. “What do you have to say for yourself?”

“It’s all lies,” Nick says, trying to put the blame on me, but his body language is giving him away. His breathing is quicker, and he keeps shifting from foot to foot, darting his eyes around the room nervously. “He made that tape.”

“Dad,” I say, looking him dead in the eyes. “He’s stealing from the company. Look closely at the financials in his departments and you’ll see it too.”

“That’s not true!” Nick shouts defensively. “He had sex in his office. He shouldn’t even be allowed in this building.”

Jason steps forward. “I’ve seen the financials too, Mack. I think Tyler is right.”

Nick shoots an accusing look at his brother. “You’re going against your own family?” he spits out.

“Tyler and Uncle Mack are my family too,” Jason says, “and I’m not going to sit around while someone steals from them.”

“Even if it’s your brother?”

“Especially if it’s my brother,” he answers.

My father grabs the phone off of his desk and dials security. He asks them to come, and a few seconds later they come rushing through the door.

“Am I getting arrested?” Nick asks indignantly. “You can’t arrest me. I’m the head of this company!”

“Not anymore,” my father says, shaking his head. “You’ll never step foot in this building again.”

Nick starts to look panicked as the three security guards start closing in on him. “Uncle Mack,” he says, sounding desperate. “I’m sorry. I’ll give the money back. I promise.”

My father ignores him and turns to the security guards. “Put him in the holding room and call the police. I want to press charges.”

“No!” Nick shouts as he shakes his head in denial. His eyes are bulging, and his body is tense. “Please, don’t do this.”

He makes a desperate run for the exit, but I put out my foot and trip him. Before he even slams into the ground, the security guards are on him, cuffing his hands behind his back.

The whole top floor of the building is gathered in the main area, watching as he’s being dragged out.

“You should probably go with him, Jason,” my father says to my younger cousin. “Make sure he gets a lawyer. He’s going to need one.”

Jason nods and then joins his brother and the security guards by the elevators.

My father steps out into the main area where everybody is gathered. “Get back to work!” he shouts, and they all scatter like frightened mice.

He sighs. “I’m really going to miss doing that when I’m retired.” He turns to me with a tight expression on his face. “In my office. Now.”

He storms back into his office, and I follow him in, closing the door behind me. His eyes are locked on me like heat-seeking missiles as he sits behind his massive desk.

“I still can’t give you the company,” he says as I sit down in front of him. “Not after what you did.”

“I know,” I say, exhaling hard as I sink into the chair. “I don’t want it anymore. From now on, I’m putting my heart first.”

“With your fake wife?”

“With my real wife,” I say, staring him down. “I love Dahlia. More than anything. She’s the one for me, and we’re going to stay married.”

My father looks skeptical. “If this is another scam of yours to get me to sign over the compa—”

“It’s not a scam,” I say, interrupting him. “It’s true we didn’t know each other when we got married, but we know each other now, and she’s the most amazing woman I’ve ever met. She’s the one for me.”

His face softens, looking like he finally believes me. “I thought you two were good together,” he says, nodding. “I didn’t believe Nick when he told me it was all a sham. You two looked genuinely in love. Dahlia’s eyes always light up when she looks at you, and I’ve never seen you so focused on one girl before.”

“Is Mom really mad?”

“She’s upset,” he says, making me sigh. I really didn’t want to hurt her feelings or make her upset. “But she’ll be happy to know that you two are in it for real now.”

“I’ll talk to her.”

We sit in silence for a minute until my father exhales and leans back in his chair. “I really wanted to retire,” he says, staring up at the ceiling.

“You still can.”

“I can’t give you the company,” he says, looking sad as he looks at me.

“I told you, I don’t want it,” I say with a laugh. “I think you should put Jason in charge.”

“Jason?” he says, jerking his head back. “He never showed the slightest interest in having the position before.”

“He backed off because he knew that both Nick and I wanted it,” I explain. “He’s one of the smartest people in this building, and he’s completely trustworthy. He’ll make an excellent CEO. He has a level head, and he’ll always do what’s best for the company and the employees.”

“Jason,” my father whispers, nodding his head as he thinks about it. “He would make a fine choice.”

“You’ll be able to sit back and relax during your retirement with him at the helm of the ship. He’ll do you proud.”

My father seems to really like the idea, and I can tell that the wheels and cogs in his brain are turning.

“I think you’re right,” he says with a grin.

“I am right,” I answer, driving the point home. “He’s going to do great.”

“And what about you?” he asks. “What do you see as your future role in McMillan Worldwide Inc?”

I don’t see my future here at all anymore. I see it with Dahlia in the town that we both love.

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” I say, wringing my hands nervously. “I have something I want to ask you.”