Falling For Dad’s College Rival by Flora Ferrari

Chapter Twenty

Trent

After an eventful first night at home, I decide it’s a better idea if we just lay low and do nothing on Sunday.

Brooke’s dad calls, and surprise, surprise he can’t talk long with her, just letting her know he’s been called away on work and might not be back until midweek. Maybe even later.

It’s a relief for Brooke, and for me to I guess. At least a few more days to ourselves without her fretting over what he’ll do or say.

The more time we spend together though, it’s pretty clear Brooke isn’t planning on going home. It’ll be an awkward thing when her dad finds out about us, but I’m actually looking forward to it.

Anything to make her happier, less worried is fine by me.

Monday rolls around too quickly. Once Sunday turns into breakfast lunch and then dinner in bed, I feel like I want this weekend to last forever.

And it can.

It will, I just have to make it so.

Early Monday, I let Brooke sleep in and call a meeting with my accountant and lawyer, asking them to come straight over.

The place is plenty big enough, and using one of the conference rooms on the floor below, I tell them both how I want things set up. How I want things to run from now on.

Parker, my lawyer is older. More cautious about change, whereas Nick Jones, my accountant manager is younger, more open-minded.

But even he raises his brows when I spell things out.

My instructions are met with a wall of silence from both of them.

“It’s pretty simple,” I explain, frustrated by them both already. “I want everything divided equally between Brooke and myself. If anything goes wrong god forbid, she won’t be left without security and if anything really goes wrong, the remainder of my estate goes to the college, as a scholarship fund.”

They smile silently and nod, letting my words echo back to me from the walls of the largely empty space we’re in.

Taking my seat, I wait for them to say something. To say anything.

I know it’s a bold move, and I know Parker would say it’s reckless. But it’s my business to deal with as I like.

“It’s rather sudden,” is all Parker says, mopping his brow and making Nick shift uneasily in his seat when I retort that I’d like to see a financial report and a list of all my holdings within twenty-four hours.

“You sure you feel okay, Trent?” Nick finally says, leaning forward, his elbows on the conference table.

I ignore his question, I want Brooke to have her own account, with money and cars, whatever she needs.

“And she’ll be partner or employee, whichever works out best for tax and all that sort of thing,” I add, waving my hand dismissively.

I figure this is what these guys get paid for, they should be nodding and taking notes by now, but they both sit there, looking like zombies.

It’s an older and seemingly wiser Parker who breaks the ice.

“Trent. I hear you, and I’ll do as you wish, but you need to appreciate… The legal contracts, leases, and mortgages, not to mention the numerous assets, shares, and cash holdings you have in your name. These aren’t just things that can be ‘divvied up’ overnight,” he says somberly.

I thought as much, but I won’t back down on my idea.

Nick agrees, reminding me that the cost in time, as well as possible tax headaches, could “…outweigh any real benefit you hope to transfer to… Brooke,” he adds, raising his brows again.

Both men are divorcees, and I can tell what they’re thinking as well as if they’d scratched it into the table in front of me.

Trent’s mid-life crisis. We knew it would come one day. Why doesn’t he just buy a yacht like everyone else, maybe get some Botox, and move on?

I sigh heavily, not wanting to play my next card but I mean every word of what I’ve said so far.

“How long have you guys worked with me?” I ask, answering for them both, “Over ten years. Ten years and I let you take your cut, trusting you’re doing the right thing by me. Trusting you with a lot of responsibilities, not just my money,” I remind them both.

They both look down, suddenly unable to meet my intense gaze.

“If you can’t or won’t do as I’ve asked, then I have to say thank you for your help up until now and wish you both all the best.

They both look up in unison, Parker starting to swell and puff up in disbelief.

“This is ridiculous, Trent. Listen to yourself! All I’m saying is give this some time. A week maybe a month at least,” he says firmly, trying to sound like a well-meaning old friend than my lawyer but it’s wasted on me.

“He’s right, Trent,” Nick echoes. “The accounts and cards, no sweat. We can have that this afternoon. But everything else? Just think about it for a while is all I’m saying,” he adds.

I take what they say on board, but it won’t change my mind.

Something happened that first time with Brooke. Something I just know and feel in my soul. Something that means I need to plan ahead for the future, whatever it holds.

“Look fellas,” I say calmly after a while, leaning back and watching them relax some too. “I’ve never had a family, you both know that. And all I’m saying is, I think… I know that Brooke is the one for me. I want her to be the mother of my kids.”

They both shift in their seats again, not uneasy anymore, almost looking understanding. I know both men have kids of their own, even though their marriages may not have worked, they have and love their kids.

“Now, I don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon, but if I fall off the perch tomorrow, or next week or in a year… twenty years? I want Brooke and our kids to be well cared for,” I explain, none of them even blinking when my voice breaks with some emotion.

Both men reflecting on their own situations too, I can tell as they slowly nod.

“Well, when you put it that way,” Parker reflects. Nick nods in agreement again when he tells himself out loud he needs to get his own affairs in order.

“Might need to set up a meeting with you, Parker,” he jokes but we all know he’s serious.

“I’m glad you see it my way, fellas. I’d hate to fire you and start over with new faces, and that would take weeks,” I admit.

“It’ll still take some time, Trent,” Parker says deeply, sounding grave again but it’s his favorite tone when he’s all business.

“But I think I speak for us both when I say we’d be honored as well as privileged to take care of things for you, and I’m sure Nick here can organize something more fluid in the cash stakes by this afternoon,” he says, half-smiling, as he stands, signaling his part in this meeting, is over.

He knows what he has to do so he wants to get to work.

That’s what I like about Parker, he doesn’t mess around with unnecessary talk.

“I’m on it, Trent,” Jack confirms, standing as well. And I guess that’s it.

Not as quick as I’d like, but nothing with law or accounts ever is.

As long as Brooke can have her own money and security, I can rest easy.

Not that I plan on going anywhere anytime soon. But just knowing she’ll be looked after. That our family will be looked after. It’s a huge relief for me.

I walk Nick and Parker out of the building, checking the time and figuring Brook should be getting up soon. If not, I can surprise her with breakfast in bed, again.

Seeing the two men off with instructions to secure her future as well as mine, I jog to the corner restaurant for our breakfast order.

“I’ll email that paperwork to you,” Nick calls out to me. He’s convinced me Brooke can be an employee starting today. That makes it easier all around until he finalizes everything else, which he and Parker say should realistically take until the end of the month.

I can live with that. I reason with myself, sprinting the last few hundred yards to the restaurant.

I’ve skipped my push-ups the past few days, something I’ve hardly ever missed.

Ironically, sweat pants and a hoodie are my new around the house attire, it was Brooke’s idea.

All she had to do is tell me I looked hot in them and it was my new dress code for home.

And it’s also way easier getting in and out of clothes when we both need to.

Walking back I can see our building from the street, and noticing the empty space around it, I wonder if it isn’t time to branch out a little more. Keep the views we have, but expand the property portfolio just a bit?

I’ve got all the reasons in the world now.

Brooke, and our family. The very idea of it makes me shiver with excitement. I pick up my pace, eager to get home. Eager to get back to her and to our day together.

Brooke’s just coming out of the bathroom when I get back, and I offer her food and coffee in bed, the kitchen still holding some bad memories for her so she agrees.

“You want to keep me in my pajamas, in bed every day so you can fatten me up, don’t you?” she teases me, and I make a face.

I don’t like it when she uses the ‘F’ word. It’s not how I see Brooke and I still can’t figure out how she can think of herself that way.

I don’t say a word though, and we both settle down to our breakfast, with Brooke loving the coffee especially.

“They’ll have to show me how to make it,” she says, and I look at her sideways. “Maybe not,” she concedes, and we both laugh.

I remind her they deliver and they’re only down the street.

“Which reminds me,” I tell her, fishing in my track pants for her key card. I tell her the code as well. “In case you lock yourself out.” Hoping she never will and also hoping she’ll never want to go anywhere without me, not for a while yet.

But she needs her own key to get in, and soon she’ll have her own cards and cash.

I can add her to the insurance on the cars too, I’ll do that myself.

She looks strangely at me though.

“What?” I ask, wondering if it’s too much too soon.

“I don’t plan on using your house like a hotel,” she says, huffing a little. “I thought you wanted it to be us?”

“It is us,” I remind her, leaning over to kiss her lips. It’s definitely all about us.

“I’m just a nerd for details, so I don’t worry about things when I watch you sleep,” I tell her jokingly.

Half-jokingly. I really could watch her all day and all night.