“I’m aware of what you know. Now, let me tell you what I know. I know that despite all the advantages you’ve been given in your life, you’ve done absolutely nothing with them. I know if I don’t do anything, you’ll continue to waste that life on frivolous nonsense. And I know if I were irresponsible enough to hand this company over to you, you’d squander it away as well. So now let me tell you something you don’t know.”
Luca sat in silence. He’d never seen his father like this before. Oh, there had been the lectures on his poor life choices. More than he could count. But never had his father had such a cold, determined anger about him. Anxiety took a leisurely stroll through Luca’s veins and set up camp somewhere in the vicinity of his sinking stomach.
“A meeting with the board has been scheduled for one month from now to announce the completion of our new locations in New York and Madrid. During that meeting, I am expected to formally give you control of our New York offices. I have no intention of doing so as things stand.”
“What?” Luca nearly jumped from his chair, his stomach bottoming out. “You can’t do that!”
His father’s frown deepened. “I can, and I will.” He sighed, his shoulders slumping a bit. “Luca, I did not come to this decision lightly. You are my son, but I will not allow you to destroy the company I spent my life building. I started from nothing and now I run one of the most successful international real estate firms in the world. The opening of our new offices could triple our holdings. New York is especially critical and with the right management should do very well, hopefully beyond our expectations, but not with you in charge. I can’t jeopardize the future of this company.”
“I wouldn’t do that. I can run New York. Well.”
“And why should I believe that? You’ve done nothing since your mother died but party and drink and whore around the Mediterranean with an ever-increasing string of gold-digging party girls. Getting your face plastered all over the damned tabloids, and for what? I don’t even know what it is you’re supposed to be famous for. Dating some actress? Partying with musicians? Throwing your money around to impress people who don’t care about you? If you want the fame, you should at least do something for it! Make something of yourself. Be successful at something other than managing to make a career out of being stalked by paparazzi.”
“I don’t encourage them. They just follow me.”
“They’d stop if you’d stop giving them dirt to smear. I know it’s too much to hope that you’ll find some nice girl somewhere who will tame your wild ways, but it would be good if you’d try to find someone who won’t make your mother roll over in her grave.”
Luca took a deep breath, anger burning through him with such intensity he couldn’t speak. Sitting there being reprimanded like a misbehaving child rankled worse than he’d thought possible, but beneath the anger, a thread of shame smoldered. He didn’t like what his father was saying, but he wasn’t wrong. And there was nothing worse than being called out on your shit when you knew you deserved it.
“I know I haven’t always made choices you agree with…” His father snorted but Luca ignored it. “But I’m your son. I’ve been preparing for this my whole life. I know I haven’t been around much lately, but I do keep up with things. I read all the reports, follow everything that’s going on. I know this business inside and out.”
His father sighed and walked back around his desk to slump into his chair. “Like I said, you’ve got one month to prove to me that it wouldn’t be a mistake to hand you my life’s work. I won’t stand by any longer and watch you drink yourself to death. I’ll fire you if I have to, if it means not financing your destructive lifestyle. You can live on your trust fund and whatever you’ve got left from your mother, for as long as that might last. You’re almost thirty years old. You either pull your life together, or the job will go to someone else, and so will the company when I’m gone. Now get out.”
Luca didn’t argue. He didn’t even open his mouth for fear of what he’d say. He simply stood and marched from the office, his father’s words ringing in his ears.
Joseph drove him home in silence, Luca’s mind too much in turmoil for conversation. When they arrived, Joseph opened his door. “You have a dinner tonight with Miss Lexington at eight o’clock and drinks and…entertainment following at Club Phoenix, then—”
Luca stalked into the house, waving him off. “Cancel everything. I’m staying in tonight.”