The funeral home was packed with virtually everyone from Reese’s past and present. Edward assumed they all wanted a piece of the pie and figured their heartfelt presence would help change the decision somehow.

“How are you holding up?” Edward asked as Jack approached him.

“Fine. Were you expecting tears?” Jack responded with a slight smile.

“He was our father.”

“I prefer the term warden.”

“The least you could do is show a little sympathy, Jack.”

“I’ll work on that later. Right now, I have an empire to take care of. As soon as this little soiree is over, I’ll be heading back to the office. There is a lot to take care of. I could use your help.”

“Of course. I’ll do what I can.”

“Edward, I’m so sorry,” a teary-eyed Claire interrupted as she hugged Edward tightly. “Jack,” she said, rubbing his arm. “If there is anything you need, anything at all, please let me know.” She began to cry a little harder as she brought a tissue to her nose. “I can’t believe he’s gone. Who knew his heart was so weak?”

“We’re okay, Claire,” said Edward, hugging her back. “Thank you for being here.”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. As strong-minded as Reese was, he was nothing but good to me all these years. We were very close.”

“I find that hard to believe.” Jack stepped forward, almost pushing in between them. “My father wasn’t close to anyone or anything unless it involved making money, and no disrespect, but I doubt you made him any.”

“Jack,” spat Edward. “That’s enough.”

“I know your father had a difficult time showing love for you boys, but contrary to what you may believe,” Claire interrupted, not showing the slightest bit of upset, “he did have the best intentions in mind. He was very strict in his activities, and he only wanted the best for you boys.”

“It showed,” Jack said, crinkling his nose in sarcasm. “Reese Donovan, father of the fucking year. I love it. As soon as I’m officially the head of Donovan Technologies, I’ll be sure to make a special plaque in his honor.”

“Jack, stop it.” Edward realized Jack had been drinking.

“Don’t worry, little brother.” Jack slapped Edward’s shoulder, grabbing on and shaking him slightly. “I’m there for you, man.”

“I’m sure you are,” Edward said, looking at him with a disgusted eye.

Edward was affected by his father’s death more than he thought. He didn’t feel he was able to prove his worth to him or the company, and he had a difficult time keeping his emotions inside. Claire noticed and waited for Jack to move on to the next poor soul who had to deal with his rants.

“Edward,” Claire said, putting her hand on his arm. “Rest assured, my boy, your father took good care of you.”

“Thank you, Claire. I appreciate that.”

When the reading of the will was scheduled, Edward thought long and hard about whether he really wanted to be there or not. Regardless of the outcome, he knew there would be drama, and he wasn’t in the mood for any of it.

“I’m sorry, Edward,” said Claire. “Your presence is mandatory. If the requested parties are not present at the time of the reading, it will be postponed until everyone is there.”

“My father,” he snickered. “He always did get what he wanted. Okay, lead the way.” He got up and followed Claire out of the room and out the door.

Sitting around the long conference table, waiting for the lawyer to begin, was worse than going to the dentist. Edward sat next to Claire, across from Jack, and among a few others who were required to be there.

“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen,” the lawyer began promptly as he looked around the room. “Since we are all present, I believe we can begin. I am honored to read Mr. Reese Donovan’s last will and testament as it was documented and notarized.” Once he began reading, he didn’t look up from the document.

“I, Reese Witherow Donovan, being of sound mind and body, do hereby declare this to be my last will and testament.”

Edward looked around the room and studied each face present, as the lawyer’s words pushed on. He wished he could have made his father proud. He wished he had a stronger connection with him, but no matter what he had tried to do, no matter how hard he tried, it never happened. He took a deep breath and concentrated on Jack. Edward wondered why he always needed the upper hand. Ever since they were boys growing up, Jack was more a bully to him than he ever was a brother. The grin on his face as he listened to the lawyer give their father’s things away was proof that this was his only happiness. Like father, like son, he thought.

“To my son, Jack Donovan, I leave two hundred and fifty million dollars, my penthouse in Barcelona, Spain, as well as Chanye Incorporated, located in Beijing, China.”

Edward felt Claire’s hand on his arm as the lawyer glanced up at him. He looked at the lawyer, then at Jack, who had lost his grin and was staring a hole through him.

“To my son, Edward Donovan, I bequeath full control of Donovan Technologies and all related financial bank accounts and trusts, as well as my stock portfolio, as listed in the envelope marked with his name.”

Edward felt a weight press down on him as the lawyer passed a large manila envelope to him. He stared at it, shocked at his father’s final wishes.

“As for my investment company, Merge Incorporated, I have thought long and hard about this decision, and to be sure that my cold-hearted business sense is not passed on, I have decided that my ownership will be split evenly between the stockholders, giving a slight majority control to my trusted secretary and confidant, Claire Mulcahey.”

Heads turned and looked around the room. Edward never knew Claire’s last name until that moment. He looked at her and wondered just how influential she really was in his father’s life. A tear formed in her eye, and she looked away before it had a chance to fall.

Edward looked across the table at his brother and saw the glare being sent back. He knew this wasn’t going to end well.

After the end of the reading, the lawyer thanked everyone for their presence and offered his services the rest of the week for finalization of paperwork and other legal matters.

“Jack.” Edward stood up, and before he could say anything more, Jack stormed out of the room.

“Are you okay?” Claire stood beside him, her eyes disconcerting.

“Yeah. I’m letting the shock subside on what just happened.”

“You have a lot to go over,” she said, touching the envelope in his hands. “I loved your father very much, but he was strong minded and very set in his ways. I didn’t agree with everything he did. I wanted you to know that.” She patted his hand that held the envelope. “I know you will make the right decisions.”

He opened the envelope and pulled the contents, including controller documents for Donovan Technologies, a list of stocks now in Edward’s name, and the paperwork for the takeover that was still in the works at MWSA Cosmetics. He had the power in his hands to change the fate of everything.

“Claire?” He ran toward her before she got to the door. “Forgive me for asking, but how do you know so much about what’s going on? How close were you to my father? I have a hard time believing you were only his secretary.”

“We go way back, long before you and your brother were born.”

“Then, why don’t I know you better?”

“Perhaps you were too busy trying to get your father’s attention.” Her sincerity touched him. “He wasn’t good at showing his feelings, Edward, but he always had the best intentions for you. Donovan Technologies was always going to be yours.”

“Why didn’t he tell me?”

“He wanted you to give him the best that you had.”

“I did. I tried. He was never happy.”

“He was. Trust me. He was a hard man, but he loved you very much. He was so proud of you.”

Edward wanted to know more, but the door flew open just as he was about to ask. They both turned quickly as Jack walked straight toward Edward and Claire with a scowl on his face.

“What the hell happened? How did I have control of so much before his death, when now I have nothing!” He screamed in Claire’s face.

“Jack! Back off!” Edward pushed himself between them and shoved his chest against his brother’s.

“It was supposed to be mine! You don’t have a fucking clue how to run it!”

“Jack,” Claire said calmly. “You were a CEO underneath your father because of your strong sense of authority, but he was also able to keep a close eye on you and your activities within the company. He believed you weren’t equipped to control the company after his succession. This is why he willed it to Edward. It was his intention all along.”

“I don’t know what kind of influence you had over him, but you will regret this. Both of you.” He stood his ground and stared at Edward, fists clenched and chest puffed until a security officer walked toward them. He glanced at the officer and stepped back, wanting to throw a punch, but knowing the consequences if he did. “Mark my words,” he seethed before storming out of the room again.

“I knew he wasn’t going to take it well. I’m a little concerned with his behavior.”

“I’ll handle him.” Edward was as concerned, but he didn’t want Claire to worry. The truth was, he had no idea how he was going to fix it. He turned back to her. “How did you know my father so well?” He stayed fixed on her mouth, waiting for her to tell him more about the father he wished he had.

“He hired me several years ago, mostly to care for the house and such. I watched the women come into his life, love him then leave him when they knew they weren’t number one in his life, including your mother. When you and your brother came along, I took care of you as well.”

“That’s impossible. I know there were several staff members at the house, but I would have remembered you. How could I not know you if this were true?”

“He didn’t allow it. He had a certain image to uphold in the public eye. His wives gave a good woman on his arm. But, he needed a woman in his life to take care of him. Someone more stable, who understood that his business affairs came first. I was that woman. I was okay with staying behind the scenes. In the process, I grew to love him. It’s why I started working for him at Donovan Technologies. I could take care of him and spend time with him at the same time.”

With a heavy heart, he hugged her tightly, realizing he wasn’t the only one who lost a huge part of his life. “I’m so sorry. I wish I would have known.”

“It would have been detrimental if you did. It was better this way. Trust me.”