The Takeover (The Miles High Club #2)

by T.L. Swan

“Every girlfriend you have ever had has needed fixing . . . except Mary.” My nostrils flare at the mention of her name. Mary was my second girlfriend. I grieved her for years after we broke up.

“And to be honest, I’m glad I went, because it proved something to me . . . my mother’s got it all wrong.” He takes my face into his hands, and I stare up at him through tears. “You and the boys . . . are saving me. Not the other way around.”

“I have some of my stuff in the car. I was actually at home packing a suitcase.” He gestures out to the street, and I see a brand-new black Range Rover. “What is that car?” I frown. He shrugs casually. “I got us a new car.” I smile up at the beautiful man in front of me. “Are you sure about this . . . about us, Tris?” I whisper.

He's a good man savannah

“Tick . . . tock . . . Mrs. Henderson.”

I love this tick tock bit

But Tristan has assured me that there is more to this story than I realize. I’m pretty sure Mrs. Henderson is going to regret giving Harry such a low grade.

Oop

“What is this in regard to?” she asks. “Harrison Anderson.” “About?” Tristan glares at her. “Can you please just do your allocated job and book the appointment? This is a private matter.”

DAMNNNNHE ATE THAT

“I have every single test of Harrison’s right here, and I would like an independent grader.” “He’s rude, and he needs to repeat.” “He’s gifted and tired of being discriminated against. Tell me, Mrs. Henderson, have you ever had his IQ tested?” “No . . . but—” “Do you think it’s possible that you are intimidated by this child, and you purposely try and get him sent out of class so that he doesn’t activate your own inferiority complex?”

“On another topic, Mrs. Smithers, I would like a report on what you are doing to help Patrick Anderson.” Her eyes widen. “For what?” “He has dyslexia, and under state law your school receives special funding for extra help for him. Where is it?” Oh, he’s good.

“Do you want to go and say goodbye to your friends?” Tristan asks him. “Nah, my friends don’t even go here anymore.” Tristan frowns down at him. “Who do you hang around with now? Where are your friends from?” “Sports and the skate park.” “So . . . what about at school?” “I sit alone every day.” I stare at him . . . and my heart breaks. God, this is worse than I ever imagined.

Omg :((((

The boys all bounce in excitement on the couch, and Harry dials Tristan’s number. “You need to hurry!” he cries before hanging up.

Days of Tristan living with us have turned into weeks and then months. Seven wonderful months, to be exact.

He already does so much for me and the boys. He insists on paying for their private schooling. He drops them there every morning and has his driver pick them up every afternoon and bring them home. Never in a million years did I think my sons would be picked up from the most exclusive school in New York every day by a limo.

I begin to see red. Why is he showing me houses? I’m not fucking moving from Long Island. I own my house. I’m comfortable there . . . we’re comfortable there. It’s our home. It’s what Wade wanted.

“Get out of the car,” I snap. Patrick slowly gets out. Harry sits tight. “Get out of the car, Harrison.” “I’m going with Tristan.”

DAMNNNNN

I turn to the boys. Tears run down their faces as they glare at me. “I hate you,” Harry cries. “Make him come back.” He runs inside and slams the door. “You ruined everything, Mom!” Patrick yells. They turn and run inside after Harry. I close my eyes . . . fuck, how the hell did that escalate to this?

“You’re selfish, Claire.” His eyes fill with tears.

Exactly. I said it before

“Tristan is leaving,” he whispers. “What?” “He’s going to Paris.” “For how long?” “He just transferred my internship to Jameson.” I stand as my eyes widen. “What?” “He said he’s not coming back, Mom. You really did it,” he whispers angrily.

Damn

I never knew what it felt like to lose someone you loved. A heartbeat that once we shared, I can no longer hear. I lost four pieces of myself on the same day.

I want to talk to my boys . . . I want to kiss my girl. And then I remember the painful truth. That neither are mine—they will never be mine. They belong to him.

Damn

“Yeah, sure. When Harry called me—” “Harry called you?” I interrupt him. “Yeah, said he wanted to get away for the weekend with the boys.” I get a lump in my throat . . . he’s really missing Tris.

“What?” he cries as he screws up his face in disgust. “You think that you’re acting on behalf of Dad?” he scoffs. I put my hands on my hips. “What is that supposed to mean?” “Dad sent Tristan for us, Mom.” His eyes search mine. “Don’t you see?” he yells. “Dad was the one who found Tristan and sent him to us.” His eyes well with tears. “What the hell would a man like Tristan Miles want with us . . . if Dad hadn’t arranged it in heaven?” he cries.

Damn he ate

My face falls. Pain sears my heart. The thought of my beautiful Wade searching for a new dad for his children breaks my heart, because I know it is something that he would do. If he could

“You think your dad sent Tristan for us?” I whisper. “I know it, Mom. Harry and Patrick know it . . . why don’t you know it?” he whispers through tears. “How can’t you see it, Mom? When it’s all we can see.”

“Bonjour.” “Mr. Miles?” “Oui.” “Vous avez des visiteurs.” (Translation: You have some visitors.) I frown. “Qui est-ce?” (Translation: Who is it?) “Juste une minute.” (Translation: Just a minute.) He passes the phone to someone. “Tris?” I frown and screw up my face in confusion . . . what? “Harry?” “Come and get us.” My eyes nearly bulge from their sockets. “I’ll be right down.” I run to the door and hit the elevator button. They’re here.

Omg stop this is so cute

“We came to get you,” Patrick whispers into my shoulder. “We want you as our dad. We don’t care what Mom says. It’s up to us, anyway.”

How the hell did you get on a plane, anyway?” I ask. “With your credit card.” My mouth falls open. “You stole my credit card?” I gasp. “Oh my God. Harrison,” I scold him. “You are unbelievable.” “No, I borrowed it. It was in Mom’s drawer.” The credit card I had given to Claire for emergencies. The one she refused to use.

This is so funny but so sweet at the same time

“Why did you come here?” I ask as I look between them. “Because we love you,” Harry says. “And we’re staying with you until you come home . . . and you can’t make us leave. You’re our dad, and dads belong with their kids.” I pull them close and hold them tight. “I love you too,” I whisper into their hair.

“Where’s Fletch?” I ask as I lead them into the bathroom. “He wouldn’t leave Mom alone for the weekend.” I smile proudly. Always looking out for his mom. “That’s my boy.”

Then I see Claire, and my heart drops. She’s distraught, in tears, and pale. She looks like she’s lost a lot of weight.

I turn to Fletcher and pull him into my arms again. “Good boy for staying with your mother,” I whisper. I slap him on the back.

“Claire—” “I love you,” she cuts me off. Her eyes are filled with tears, the pain in them unbearable for me to look at. “Whatever you want me to do,” she whispers. “Wherever you want me to live. I’ll do it.” Her eyes search mine. “Just don’t leave me again.” She sobs. “I can’t stand it. I can’t do this without you, Tris.” Her chest heaves with tears, and it’s obvious she’s been crying a long time. “Please don’t leave me again,” she begs in a whisper.

This isn’t like our normal showers together. This isn’t about sex; it’s about love. My love . . . for her. “I love you,” I whisper.

The boys and I are looking for an engagement ring for Claire. We’re finally going to be a family.

“Let’s hope she says yes, eh?” I add. “She better,” Harry snaps as we walk. He takes my hand in his. “She’s going to ruin the entire trip if she doesn’t.” I chuckle. “Agreed. Two weeks’ skiing in Aspen is going to be very uncomfortable if she says no.”

Facts

“Can I help you, sir?” the man behind the counter asks. “Yes,” Fletcher interrupts. “We’re looking for an engagement ring.” I smile, proud that he now speaks so confidently to strangers.

“Boys,” I call. They all run to us and sit down, excited for what’s to come. “We have something for you.” I smile. Patrick puts his hand over his mouth so that he doesn’t blurt it out. Claire’s eyes come to me in question. I drop to my knee in front of her and hold out the ring. “Claire, will you marry me?”

I smile as I kiss her again, and then she takes my hand and puts it over her stomach. “You’re going to be a father.” My world stops. She smiles through tears. “I’m two months pregnant.”

WHAT THE FUCKKKKK no im so sosososo ecstatic

I’m about to do something I’ve never imagined in my wildest dreams.

“What’s this?” “My resignation.” “What?” His eyes hold mine. “Tell me you’re joking.” “I’m taking over as CEO of Anderson Media. Fletcher and I are going to run it together.”

OMFGGGGGGG

“You are leaving your family company to run someone else’s company? That’s madness.” I drop my head. “I can’t let you do this,” he stammers. “I’m going to run my sons’ company . . . for them. I can build it back up so that by the time they are old enough to take it over, it will be booming.” His eyes hold mine, and he gives me a slow smile. “You’re a good man, Tristan.” He pulls me into a hug and kisses my cheek.

He really is a good man

However, I’m well aware that this is the end of my time working with my brothers, and for that I truly am devastated.

“When will you be back?” he asks. I turn back to him. “When my boys are men.” The End