Chapter 40
Luke
I meet with Tyson and Jeffrey to prep for my interview with Media Week. They have a canned response I’m supposed to memorize for when I’m asked about the takeover. Legal is nervous I’m doing the interview. But I’m not about to pass up an opportunity for some PR over their concerns. Let them do their job and I’ll do mine. That’s essentially what I told Tyson.
I’m sitting here reading the statement, which sounds like complete nonsense. Nothing I’d ever come close to saying. Who the fuck talks like this? I push it aside and try not to think about my meeting before they walked in last week. I can’t believe Lucy stormed in here. The look on Cynthia’s face was priceless. Had it been anyone else I would’ve called security. Seeing her again was torture. Gut wrenching. That’s exactly how I feel. Gutted. Like she reached in and took out everything inside me. Now all that’s left is an empty shell. I had to turn my back on her for fear I’d cave. But I didn’t. Because I reminded myself she let me down. Her of all people. That surprised me. But I guess it shouldn’t have. She already told me she chose Melanie. I just chose not to hear it. I was a goddamned fool to think what we shared could compete with a lifetime of friendship. I never would have asked that of her—to choose me over Melanie. But I have to remind myself she made the choice for me by not coming clean in the beginning. I should have trusted my gut and pushed her to tell the truth. Maybe then Melanie would’ve understood and it would never have come down to choosing sides.
I still love her. I don’t know how to turn that off. But she disappointed me. Like everyone else in my life. Maybe I could move past the disappointment, but not her lack of trust. It’s a non-negotiable point. She knew that. So why does she think she can be the one to change my mind? She can try all she wants, but she underestimates how ruthless I can be.
I look at my watch and realize it’s time to go. I catch a cab downtown and arrive ten minutes early for my interview. I’m not sure how word of the takeover got out, but there’s been a lot of speculation. After waiting in the lobby I’m greeted by Nikki Townsend. I did my research so I know what I’m in for. Nice legs with a face to match but a bit too made up for my taste. Maybe I should do her and get Lucy out of my head. But I know that won’t help—hers is the only face I see.
Nikki offers me water and reviews how the process will work. It’s not a live interview, so we can do retakes if needed. The crew takes a good hour getting the lighting and my makeup right. I protested, but they insisted. Thank God Patrick didn’t come—he’d never let me hear the end of it. I mentally review my answers and try to get my head in the game. Finally we’re ready to begin.
“I’m here with media mogul Luke Harrison. Luke is the Sales Director at Brampton Hardy Media. In the seven years since he joined the company, he’s brought in over twenty million in new accounts. He’s been called everything from brilliant to heartless. But whether you love or loathe him, he’s undoubtedly our generation’s Media King. Luke, how are you today?”
“Doing fine, thanks. That was quite an introduction.”
“How do you prefer to describe yourself?”
“Driven.”
“Tell me, where does your drive come from?”
“I’m a highly motivated individual. Let’s just say I want to be the best at what I do.”
“It seems to me you certainly are. What’s been the secret to your success?”
“Well if I told you, it wouldn’t be secret, now would it?”
She doesn’t seem deterred by my response. Instead she powers on.
“You recently struck a record-breaking deal with To Life Spirits to sponsor the Super Bowl. What was your strategy?”
“I like to push the envelope. Think outside the box. Everyone in the industry keeps doing the same thing but expects different results. We put together a comprehensive, cross-channel media plan that will have unprecedented reach. And we have the numbers to back that up because we created our plan with Google. No one else at the table thought to bring in a search partner. That’s all I can say for now.”
“Impressive. Speaking of, my sources tell me you’re close to taking over WH Media Holdings, your father’s company. That would make Brampton Hardy the biggest media conglomerate in the industry. As you can imagine, there’s a lot of unrest and questions about the deal. Namely, who would be CEO.”
“Let’s just say WH Media would be coming under our umbrella.”
“Ousting your own father and former mentor. That’s pretty harsh, even for you.”
“Is there a question in there?”
“Let me rephrase. What made you want to take over your father’s company, a place where you worked prior to coming to Brampton?”
“To show him that I’m better than him. And because I could.”
“Sounds as though there’s animosity there.”
“Your words. Not mine.”
“I imagine there’s a lot riding on this deal. Rumor has it seventy-five million dollars, to be exact. That would make you one of the most successful media executives in the country. The Media King, they’re calling you.”
“I’m aware of the nickname. And my reputation.”
“Does it bother you? Being considered heartless?”
“No. I only care about what those who are close to me think.”
“Is there someone close to you, outside of work?”
“I didn’t realize my personal life was relevant to this interview.”
“You are the subject of this interview. Everything is relevant.”
I fix her with a stare that tells her to back off. She has the sense to move on.
“One last question. Now that you’re at the top, what does the Media King have planned next?”
“I don’t know.” I look up, maybe hoping for some sort of divine intervention, and the intensity of the lights hurts my eyes. It’s as though I’m in the spotlight and every part of me is exposed, parts that I don’t want people to see. Because the truth is I feel lost. I should be on top of the world with this impending deal, but I feel nothing. Not even an ounce of satisfaction. So what’s next is a question I’ve been asking myself. And one I don’t have the answer to.
“You don’t know? What do you want your legacy to be?”
I think about that. I think about my dad who spent his whole life building me an empire. And the one that I’m now building. I also think about the one that fell apart with Lucy. Because that’s what it felt like we had: an empire. The whole world at our feet. I think about the family I’d one day like to have. And how I’d want my children to remember me. The lessons and values I’d teach them. I have my answer.
“Let’s rewind,” I tell Nikki. Can you ask me again what I have planned next?”
She nods. “One last question. Now that you’re at the top, what does the Media King have planned next?”
“That’s something I need to re-evaluate. The thing about being on top, is there’s only one way to go from there.”
She looks puzzled by my answer.
“And back to your question about why I wanted to take over my father’s company. The truth is that thought it would make me happy, taking it away from him. That was always the plan.”
“Was?”
I ignore her interruption. “Initially I wanted to show him I’m better than him. That I could rise to the top without him. But these past few months, I’ve realized that what I want is to be a better man. The kind of man who would make him proud.”
She tells the guys to stop rolling.
“Luke, I’m sensing there’s something you’re not telling me. Off the record, if I go to press with this story and it turns out not to be true, my job will be in jeopardy. The headline is about your takeover of your father’s company. That’s what people want to know about.”
“I thought you said that I’m the subject of this interview.”
“You are. In the context of the takeover. It’s like a soap opera. Son versus father in a hostile takeover that would oust one of the most legendary CEOs. That’s what sells. So tell me, should we continue with this interview?”
I look at her and can see the hunger in her eyes. She reminds me of myself. Before.
“You want a story?”
She leans in close and nods.
“Then I’ve got one for you.”
I tell her my plan. Her eyes widen and she looks at me in surprise.
“Well, well. It looks like the Media King has a heart after all.”
I decide to grab a workout instead of heading back to the office. Just as I settle into the backseat of a cab my phone rings. The sounds of “Viva la Vida” fill the air. I never could bring myself to change the ringtone after Lucy confessed it’s what made her agree to the bet. I glance at the caller ID and it’s Tyson, already checking in for an update. I ignore his call—I don’t want to deal with him just yet. It’s funny, Lucy said my ringtone was the reason she decided to go through with the bet. She took it as a sign. If only she knew the meaning behind the lyrics. Perhaps it was a sign that everything was destined to come undone. The words are about a man who once had it all. He was on top of the world without realizing how easily it could all come apart. In business or in life you can start with a strong foundation, but nothing is ever solid or guaranteed. My phone rings again. This time it’s Charles. I let it get to the verse where he discovers his majestic castles are built on pillars of sand before I turn it off. I know firsthand how you can try to hold on tight, but it doesn’t stop what you want most from slipping through your fingers.