Jason eyed him warily. “I have no idea what the hell you’re talking about. I suppose you’ve gone soft, hmm? Your hot piece of ass has you good and pussy whipped, does she?”
Ian growled, shoving Jason up against the wall and holding him firmly in place with an elbow to the gut. “Shut your filthy fucking mouth. You don’t get to talk about Tessa – ever. How dare you speak about her like she’s one of your dirty whores? Just remember, Jason. I don’t actually have to break any bones to cause you pain – a great deal of it.”
Jason threw up his hands in surrender. “My apologies. So tell me, mate. Where are you shipping me off to this time? Wherever it is you won’t hear me complain because anything has to be better than where you’ve got me now.”
Ian released his grip on Jason, circling him in a calm, calculating manner, as though he were his prey. “You may want to reserve judgment on that, mate, until you’ve heard all the details. You’re quite right that your days at the Silicon Valley hotel are over. Apparently you’ve been up to your old ways again. Clearly, you don’t follow orders well and require much stricter supervision.”
Jason regarded him scornfully. “Orders? I should be the one giving orders, not having to take them. As Charlotte’s husband I ought to have equal authority as you and your brothers.”
Ian shook his head in disbelief. “My God, your stupidity is only exceeded by your arrogance. And your ego. You’re not family, despite your legal ties to my poor clueless cousin. But Uncle Richard tolerates you because Charlotte is still determined to have you. And speaking of my uncle, Charlotte will be overjoyed to learn she’ll be seeing a great deal more of him in the very near future. As will you.”
“What do you mean?” Jason’s tone was guarded.
Ian shrugged. “That’s where you’re being transferred, back to corporate headquarters in London. Oh, I know what you’re thinking – back to the big city, the head office, finally getting what you deserve. And you’re quite right on all three parts, especially the latter. You see, you’ll be working alongside your father-in-law. Very closely, I might add.”
Jason frowned. “How exactly do you mean?”
“I mean, you’ll be Richard’s fucking shadow,” replied Ian harshly. “Your office will be right across from his, where he or his staff can see exactly what you’re doing all day, every day. You’ll be accompanying him to every meeting, every appointment, every luncheon. You won’t have any free time of your own, every minute of your day accounted for. If you need to go take a piss in the loo you’ll have to clear it with him first.”
As realization began to dawn on Jason, his features took on a panicked expression. “You can’t do that. Come on, Ian, be a sport. You know the old bastard can barely tolerate me. He’s going to make my life a living hell.”
Ian smiled with great satisfaction. “Exactly, Jason. That’s why this solution is so much more satisfying than simply shattering your jaw. Your pain will go on for a long time. And don’t be hoping Uncle Richard will be retiring any time soon. He may be sixty-five but he’s fit and sharp and will probably go on working for at least another decade.”
Jason visibly paled, his eyes narrowing. “He can’t control me round the clock.”
“Ah, but then you haven’t heard all the good news, have you?” Ian leaned against the wall, crossing his arms leisurely, as though he were discussing the latest soccer scores. “Well, you know how expensive housing is in London, even more so than in San Francisco. And since Uncle Richard and Aunt Helen want only the best for Charlotte and your children, they’re insisting that all of you move in with them. After all, they’ve got that huge old place out in Surrey and it’s been a bit lonesome with just the two of them. So Aunt Helen is at present having the entire west wing readied for your arrival, and she’s probably the happiest woman in all of England right now.”
Jason looked as though someone had punched him in the gut – hard – and stared at Ian in horror. “You wouldn’t. I won’t stand for it, do you hear me?”
Ian chuckled. “Well, considering that even as we speak Richard is calling Charlotte to tell her all the good news, I’d say you have no choice in the matter at all. Done deal and all that. Oh, and Uncle Richard also said to tell you that you’ll be commuting with him to and from the office every day. Plenty of room in the Bentley for one more.”
Jason was seething. “This is an insult. I don’t need a fucking keeper. And you know what Richard is like.”