Chapter One
“Thank you, thank you, everyone," Riva Lennox said as thundering applause greeted the end of her speech. "And though we've already formalized everything with the board yesterday, let me take this moment to pass the baton to my son, the new CEO of Lennox Corporation, Matthew Everett Lennox." More applause. "Son, go ahead and stand up—no, Jason, not you." The crowd laughed. “Yes, my identical twin sons can usually fool everyone, even me, sometimes; but I know when they’re trying to pull a fast one on me. Jason always has that certain smile when he’s up to something.” More laughs. “Hopefully, you guys won't be pulling the old switcheroo since Jason will also be very busy running Lennox Foundation on his own."
Matthew Lennox looked up at his twin brother with a wry smile. His mother knew them so well.
“C’mon, dude,” Jason urged, grabbing him by the elbow. “It’s Mom and Dad’s retirement party.”
“Fine,” he grumbled. Matthew stood up, pasted a smile on his face, and faced the audience, waving his hand.
“That’s my boy,” Riva said. “Now, to everyone here—and I’m sure I speak for my husband as well—from the bottom of my heart, thank you. It has been a pleasure being your President and CEO for almost three decades. Many of you credit me with turning Lennox Corp into what it is today, but I have to humbly disagree, as I could not have done it without all of you.”
Matthew locked eyes with his father. Hank Lennox gave him a wink and then turned back to the stage, his eyes transfixed on his mate. Riva was perhaps too modest, as she did deserve most of the credit for turning what had been a dying family-run company into a large, multinational corporation. His mother was a brilliant businesswoman and not only ensured Lennox Corporation survived but also thrived. Though their primary product was still blackstone, the hardest substance on earth, his mother had broadened their portfolio into construction, transportation, and real estate. Despite her accomplishments, she still somehow managed to get home in time for dinner almost every night, plus never missed a recital, school play, or sports game in her children's lives. A lesser man might have been intimidated to take over for such a person, but, perhaps as his father had told him many times, Matthew was just as driven and business-minded as his mother, and having inherited his father’s dragon side, was fierce and determined as his shifter animal. His mother said that it was a good combination.
Matthew had Lennox Corp in his blood, and working there was something he’d always dreamed of. Indeed, some of his happiest memories were of playing under her desk at the Lennox Corp headquarters or visiting the blackstone mines with his father. He graduated top of his class in college and went to a direct-track MBA program in one of the most prestigious schools in the country, all the while working part-time at a stock-trading company. He'd been officially working at Lennox for four years, but he'd lived and breathed the company his whole life. When Riva announced she was retiring at the end of the year, it was no surprise she appointed Matthew as her successor.
Riva finished her speech and then stepped down from the stage. Hank stood up and gathered her in his arms for a long, sensuous kiss.
"Eww, Mom, Dad, get a room!" Sybil, their youngest and only sister, joked. Beside her, their adopted brother, Luke, merely shrugged.
“Did you slip her the tongue?” Jason asked. “Way to go Dad! Someone’s gonna get lucky …”
“You do realize that’s your mother you’re talking about,” Hank said when he pulled away. Riva’s face with flush, and she looked around her sheepishly.
Still, no one was surprised. His parents were not just husband and wife but also mates. Though most shifters believed dragons rarely found mates, his father had somehow lucked out. She was human, of course, as the only way dragons could have dragonlings was with another of their kind or with a non-shifter. They’d been together for almost thirty years, and it seemed their bond and their love for each other only grew stronger each year.
“So, Mom, Dad, you guys ready for your ‘round-the-world trip?” Jason asked.
“I think, after all these years, we deserve it,” Hank said.
“And we’re leaving everything in capable hands,” Riva said, her eyes twinkling.
“Finally, the old generation can have some fun while you young ones do all the hard work,” Hank added. He himself had retired from running the Lennox Foundation just six months before, handing over the reins to Jason. While some may say Matthew was the more serious and driven twin, Jason was not without his talents. His good nature and the fact that he was approachable and friendly made him a good match for the job. People naturally gravitated to his more affable twin.
“We’ll miss you, Daddy,” Sybil said, wrapping her arms around Hank. “But you guys will have fun, I’m sure.”
“Aunt Riva, Uncle Hank, congratulations.” Ben Walker, their cousin, held his arms out as he walked toward their table. He engulfed Riva in a big hug and then shook hands with Hank. “I’m sure Mom and Dad will be thrilled you’ll be joining them.”
Ben's parents had retired six months ago and were now on their own trip, traveling around the country in an RV with another couple, Clark and Martha Caldwell. The three couples were the best of friends, and it only made sense they wanted to spend their twilight years together, seeing as all their children were grown.
“They’re in Los Angeles, just waiting for us,” Hank said. “First stop on our trip is Tokyo.”
As more people came to their table to congratulate them, Matthew quietly slipped away from the ballroom of the Blackstone Grand Hotel where the party was taking place. He headed to the double doors leading out to the balcony. Once outside, he enjoyed the fresh mountain air. From out here in the valley, he could see the Blackstone Mountains. His home.
"Yo, bro, what are you doing out here alone?" Jason said as he walked up behind him. "Are you doing that broody shit again? I know the ladies dig it, but this is taking it too far. Come in and celebrate!"
“It’s not my party,” he said with a shrug.
Jason stood next to him on the balcony, then turned to him. Matthew was used to this, looking at another person and seeing his own face reflected back. They were the same, yet so different, his mother would often say.
"Maybe we'll have to plan a welcome party for you." Jason must have seen the distaste on his face because he laughed. "Or not. You know, the only person who hates other people more than you is Luke."
Matthew had to admit there was some truth to that. Their adopted brother was a solitary creature, in more ways than one. "I don't hate people," Matthew said. "I just don't like them as much as you do."
“Now that, I won’t deny.” Jason chuckled. “C’mon, I think Mom and Dad are ready to head to the airport.”
“I’ll be in in a minute.”
As the balcony doors closed, Matthew thought about his brother's words. He didn't exactly hate people. His father said he was an old soul, even when he was young. While Jason preferred to play outdoors (and, later, go out to bars and cause trouble with his best friend Nate), Matthew wanted nothing more than to stay home and read or study. He felt most comfortable surrounded by his books and computers, looking at stock prices or balance sheets. Not that he didn't go out. He was up for a beer with his friends every now and then, and he was never short of female company. But, lately, especially since his mother had announced she was going to retire, he felt the enormous pressure of preserving their family legacy.
It wasn't that his parents put that pressure on him. No, Riva and Hank would have been just as happy to hand over the reigns to someone else and support him in whatever he pursued. He put the pressure on himself, to not fuck up. He wanted to make Lennox Corp even bigger and better than before.
Matthew took one last look at the mountains and headed inside. There was already a small crowd of well-wishers by the lobby front door, and he jogged over to make sure he didn't miss saying goodbye to his folks.
“There you are,” Riva said when her eyes landed on him. She pulled him close for a hug. “Take care of everything, my sweet boy.”
“I’ll take care of the company, Mom,” he promised.
“No, I mean take care of yourself,” she reprimanded. “And try to get out more, please? No woman is going to want a workaholic for a husband.”
“Mom …”
“Aww, c’mon, is it too early to be asking for grandchildren?” she said.
“Maybe Jason’s got a few floating around we don’t know about,” Sybil quipped.
“Hey,” his brother protested. “I’m pretty sure we’d know if I did!”
“I just want the best for you,” Riva said, her eyes darting to Luke. “All of you.”
“Riva, we’ll be late,” Hank reminded her.
She took a deep breath. "Well, we're off! We'll call every day."
“Mom, just update your Facebook so we know you’re alive,” Sybil said, rolling her eyes. “Or text. No one calls these days. Unless you want to Facetime.”
"Fine," Riva said and put her arms around her daughter. "Stay safe, all of you."
“You do know all your children are shifters, right?” Jason joked and wrapped his mother in a hug and lifted her off her feet. “Bye Mom, Dad, have a great trip.”
“You deserve all of this, mom,” Matthew said when it was his turn to hug her.
When Matthew let go, she turned to Luke. “You take care of yourself, Luke,” she said, looking up at him. She put her arms around him in an awkward hug.
“I will, Riva.” He nodded.
Matthew noticed his mother’s expression falter for a second, then turn back into a bright smile, but she said nothing. It didn’t escape Jason’s attention either, and his brother clenched his fist and gritted his teeth. He put a hand on his twin’s shoulder and sent him a warning look. What happened was in the past, and Riva never had any hard feelings. Luke would always be her son, she said to them. Nothing would change that.
Hank tugged on Riva's hand, and she gave them one last smile as they climbed into the limo. All the well-wishers waved at them as they drove away.
“Well, this was fun, but I have to get home,” Sybil said. “Early meeting tomorrow. See you guys!”
“Drive carefully,” Matthew warned. “And let us know when you’re safe at home.”
“I will, Mom,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Bye!” She waved at them and then headed to the elevators.
“So, now that the parents are gone, what do you say we head out to The Den,” Jason said.
“We’re not fifteen, you know,” Matthew pointed out. “You can go to the bar anytime.”
Jason put his arm around his shoulders. “I said ‘we.’ You’re coming with us.”
Matthew shook his head. “No, I have too much—”
“Are we headed to the Den?” Nate Caldwell said as he popped up behind Matthew. The wolf shifter had a big grin on his face. “All right!”
“No, you guys are going to The Den,” Matthew said. “I’m going home.”
“Aww, c’mon,” Jason said. “Ben is coming.” He waved to their cousin, who was talking to some Lennox Corp employees across the room. He smiled back and gave them a thumbs up.
“And Luke too,” Nate added.
“Luke?” Matthew frowned. Looking around, he didn’t see a sign of his other brother. “You got Luke to come out with you?”
“Yeah, he’s bringing the car around. He’s gonna be our designated driver,” Nate said.
“How much do you plan to drink?” It took a hell of a lot of liquor to get a shifter drunk.
“I think he’s just looking out for us,” Nate replied.
"C'mon, Matthew. You've been working 80-hour weeks for months!" Jason exclaimed. "You deserve a break. You can work more when you start as CEO on Monday. But it's a Friday night, and you deserve some fun."
Matthew thought for a moment. “Fine. One drink.” Then he’d head back to Blackstone Castle. “And I’ll drive myself.”
“Great!” Jason and Nathan high-fived.
"There's a hot new bartender," Nathan said. "Saw her last night. She's smokin'. And new in town."
“So, you haven’t banged her yet?” Jason asked.
“And neither have you,” Nate retorted.
Matthew rolled his eyes. To say that Jason and Nate had a reputation around town was an understatement. Not that he could blame them. They were both single, young, good-looking and could charm the pants off any woman under ninety. And both his brother and his friend enjoyed every single minute of their bachelorhood. Personally, though, that wasn’t Matthew’s style.
“C’mon, let’s go.” The sooner they got to The Den, the sooner he’d be able to leave.