CHAPTER 2

THREE DAYS EARLIER

JAKOB’S POV

“For the last time, father, I am not interested in being CEO.” 

I have had this exact conversation with my father more times than I could count since I was old enough to take over. As the only child, he just wouldn't listen to me. 

I knew how my father was. He wanted a means to control me and getting me to become the CEO was one of them. 

Our relationship has been extremely rocky from the beginning. We had different views on everything in life. He was work-driven and while I loved to work, I didn't want to have to report to someone for most of my life. 

He hated when anyone disobeyed his orders and that was one of the things I took pride in doing. Several times, he had threatened to cut me off but he was too proud to let all of his assets go to charity. I told him that would be the best option for him but he seemed hell-bent on making me bend to his will. 

“You WILL be CEO, Jakob. I command it!” His voice made the words seem more powerful than they were. That was also another thing my father prided himself in, the ability to make people shake just because he spoke. 

I sighed. I had other things to do that didn't involve me spending half my morning arguing with my father. 

I stood up. “I guess I'll be seeing you, father. It was nice catching up with you.”

I could see him getting mad but that was the least of my problems. It was getting in here and it wasn't as a result of the temperature of the room. We were similar in temperament and I wouldn't want it to get to the point where we began to throw words. Things like that always manage to get to reporters and I can already see the headlines. 

“Sit down right this moment!” I shook my head with a laugh. It was a Friday morning and truly had other things to do that didn't involve him. 

“See you, father.” I exited his office, winking at the secretary who stared at me with wide eyes. She should be used to me walking out on him but she still couldn't believe anyone could openly disobey the “Almighty Mr. Kensington.” 

“Later, Claire,” I said with a smile as I got into the elevator. Once the doors closed, I dropped the smile. I might put up a façade in front of everyone else but it was becoming a headache dealing with my father. 

I didn't want to go home yet. Walking out on my father always had its consequences and going home would be me going to the consequences. 

I exited the elevator and headed to my car. Regardless of what time it was, it was still a Friday and the best day to unwind.

Are you up to meet me at The Club?

I shot a quick text to my friend. I knew no matter what he was doing, he would be down to meet up with me, and sure enough, his answer came almost immediately. 

I'm close by. I'll be there in twenty. 

The Club was an exclusive club open only to the wealthy and powerful. It was a strictly members-only club which provided a sense of privacy. My father's name had gotten me a membership as soon as I turned twenty-one. 

It had slowly become a place for unwinding and I was certain my father regretted getting me a membership in the first place. 

I spent most of my time there when I wasn't being “irresponsible” according to my father. 

I arrived in record time. Once my membership was confirmed, I headed straight for the bar. Dealing with my father always resulted in me needing a drink and I needed one as soon as possible. 

My phone beeped with a text. 

Almost there. 

I pocketed my phone since there was no need for a response. 

“You look like you've gone through hell and back.” I suppressed a smile. Daniel knew how to make an entrance. 

“I'm not your mirror, Daniel,” I said with laughter evident in my voice as he sat down beside me. He always knew how to make me laugh no matter how shitty I felt, which made him the perfect best friend. 

“You wish.” He said as he sat down beside me, signaling to the waiter. 

Like me, Daniel was the son of one of the most influential men in the country. The only difference between us was how quickly he had settled into the role of being the perfect son. He had been brought up to be the heir apparent and he did that with no complaints. 

I guess it helped that his father was not a control freak and treated his kid like an actual human. 

“It's too early to be out here drinking although I can't complain. I've had a hellish day too.” He said as he threw back a glass. I tried not to drink too much when I was with him. We were both competitive people and it wouldn't take anything for a glass to turn to several just so we could see who could drink the most without getting shit-faced drunk. 

“I had a meeting with my father,” I said as I finished the drink in my glass before signaling for another. 

“Ah.” That was all he needed to know just how my day went. He knew how strained my relationship with my father was. Everyone close to us did. 

“Exactly why I need a drink.” Or several drinks in this case as I drank the one placed in front of me in one gulp. 

“Is he still insisting on your being CEO?” I knew Daniel understood the pressure that came with being the kid that's supposed to take over from the well-known parent which was why I had told him everything. 

“Of course,” I said, glancing at my phone. It was only a few minutes past noon.

“Jake…” Daniel said in a voice that told me I wouldn't like what he was about to say next. 

“I don't want to hear it, Daniel.” I finally turned to him and he stared back at me, blue eyes glaring at brown ones. 

“Why don't you reconsider?” Daniel asked and I stopped glaring at him. I looked away from him, feeling as though I had wasted my time asking him to come over. 

Oftentimes, Daniel listened to me ranting without saying a word or saying something to make me feel better. This change in thoughts could only mean one thing…

“Did my father speak with you? Did he ask you to talk to me?” His face told me everything I needed to know. 

“That's beside the point, Jake. It's for your good too. There's nothing bad in being the CEO of your father's company. You have the qualifications, you're just being stubborn.” 

I tuned him out. I was getting pissed by the fact that not only had my father gotten to him, he came here trying to get me to change my mind about it. 

I asked the bartender for an entire bottle, suddenly feeling the need to get drunk on something. I felt Daniel glance at me in worry but thought nothing of it. 

“You can save your practiced speech. I have made my decision and that's final.” 

I got up from the barstool, feeling a little sway in my steps but wasn't bothered. I was fine enough to drive, all I wanted was to get home so I could sleep and forget about all of them. 

“Jake, wait.” I heard Daniel yell from behind me, causing a few heads to turn in my direction but I was determined to get away from him. I had called him over so we could have fun, yet he chose to be a spoilsport. 

I got into my car and started it but didn't move since he was banging on the window of the car. 

“You can't drive in this condition, Jake. Let me take you home and we'll pick up your car later.” His look of concern annoyed me. If he truly cared, he wouldn't have tried to get me to agree to my father's terms. 

“I can drive well enough. Thank you. I'm not even drunk.” My words were only a little slurred but that didn't mean I wasn't in the condition to drive. 

*You can't drive in this state, Jakob. Let me drive you.” Refusing to listen to his words anymore I put the car in drive. 

As I drove, I thought about what he had said. Was I truly being stubborn by not agreeing to my father's terms? I saw it as a way to protect myself but it was as though everyone saw me as selfish. 

I was too lost in my head to watch the road properly and it wasn't until I heard the frantic horns of an incoming truck before the alcohol and all thoughts cleared from my head. I had managed to veer off my lane into the oncoming traffic. 

I tried to swerve but it was too late. The last thing I saw before I felt the impact was a blinding light before everything turned completely black.