RESTLESS HEARTS

CHAPTER 36

•SHAWN•

I walked into Falcon Group the next morning, and there was an electric buzz in the air. People stared, talked, and smiled at me all at once. Trying to appear happy and normal at work, I couldn't help but feel my nerves on edge.

I wasn't here to dive back into work right away. I'd told my father last night that I needed a breather before jumping back into the usual business routine, especially since I'd just returned home yesterday.

My purpose today was to check on the upgrades the team had made during my absence and pay a visit to Shelby's office, which used to be mine. I felt no envy or annoyance that she had taken over as CEO while I was gone. I was genuinely pleased for her; it's what she'd always wanted. I had no desire to reclaim that seat, at least not for now.

As I made my way through the building, I exchanged greetings with familiar faces, including those in the elevator. Finally, I reached the 17th floor where Shelby's office was situated. I stepped off the elevator, and her secretary or assistant, a young man in his late twenties, rose from his desk and greeted me with a smile.

"Great to have you back, Mr. Falcon. Finally nice to meet you," he said.

"Thanks. And what's your name again?" I inquired.

"Adam. Adam Keller, sir," he replied enthusiastically.

"Pleasure, Adam. So, is my sister in? Is she available right now?" I asked.

Adam quickly checked his computer screen and then glanced behind him, where we could both see Shelby in her glass-walled office, engrossed in her laptop, and alone. He turned back to me with a smile.

"She's in. Feel free to go in and see her, Mr. Falcon." I gave him a grateful nod, thanked him, and headed toward her office door.

I gently tapped on the glass, and she looked up. I opened the door and entered, and she greeted me with a small smile as she stood from her desk.

"I wasn't expecting you to start work so soon," she remarked, walking over to the sofa in the middle of the room and gesturing for me to sit.

"I'm not here for work. Just thought I'd drop by and get acquainted with the place a bit before coming to see you," I replied after taking a seat.

She sat across from me, brows furrowing in confusion. "Oh," she said, sounding a bit uneasy about my visit.

"Relax, Shelby. There's no need to worry now that I'm back," I reassured her.

"Yeah, right. I've basically been running the place on your behalf. Now that you're back, it's only fair for me to hand the CEO position back to you," she said with a hint of resignation.

My heart sank at her passive tone. Leaning forward, I locked eyes with her. 

"I'm not taking anything back, and I don't want to. Right now, I just want to focus on getting my life back on track, trust me."

"But this company is your life, Shawn," she argued. "You've dedicated every moment to it, and your entire life revolves around work. Even if you're not ready to jump back into work, Dad will probably make that call without consulting any of us."

I took a deep breath and glanced at the small glass table between us. She was right; Dad might make decisions without our input, just as he used to. But now that I was back, things would have to change.

"I won't let that happen. He knows I'm in a fragile situation right now, and I won't let him jeopardize my chances of rebuilding my life. I promise."

She stared at me in silence for a solid minute, then sighed and finally smiled.

"Well, if you ever decide to return to work, I'd be more than happy to hand everything back to you and go back to being an Executive Director or even just an ordinary employee. It doesn't matter."

I smiled, feeling a bit confused. 

"Weren't you concerned about giving up the CEO role a minute ago?"

She chuckled and leaned back on the sofa, crossing her legs. 

"Well, upon reflection, I think it might do me some good to let you have your position back. Running this place on my own has been exhausting. I've missed out on spending time with my friends and the person I love. So, it's been an honor doing the work for you while you were M.I.A, but you can have it back. Thank you very much."

I laughed and shook my head in amusement. Shelby had indeed changed over the past year. I wondered how that had happened. I also noticed a sparkle in her eyes when she mentioned spending time with the person she loved – that piqued my interest.

I actually liked this new side of her. Seeing her happy and enthusiastic about her own life and happiness was a refreshing change.

A knock on the door interrupted our conversation, and Shelby's face lit up.

Wow, when was the last time I'd seen Shelby look this happy and smile like that? It was surprising because Shelby rarely smiled.

It took me a moment to understand the reason why. A man entered the room, standing at 5 ft 11, with blond hair that was slightly lighter than mine. He had a well-chiseled and handsome face and exuded a strong aura. He walked over to Shelby, who immediately stood up and greeted him with a kiss.

On the lips. Right in front of me.

The universe had more surprises in store for me than I had anticipated.

They exchanged greetings before sitting down. Shelby redirected her attention to me and smiled, glancing at the man beside her.

"Sorry, I had planned to introduce you two on a better day. I know everything has been overwhelming and shocking for you," she said.

I chuckled and shrugged. "I can handle it."

She smiled nervously and placed her hand on the man's arm.

"Anyway, Shawn, this is William. The person I've been seeing."

My eyes widened slightly in surprise, but I quickly masked it with a smile and turned to him. He smiled back, stood up, and offered his hand for a handshake. I rose to my feet, and we shook hands, eye to eye.

"William Fontane. A pleasure to finally meet you," he said with a perfect British accent, leaving me quite impressed.

"Likewise. If you don't mind me asking, what do you do for a living?" I inquired.

He raised an eyebrow in surprise at my question. 

"I'm a businessman, CEO of Elite Enterprises, and your current merger partner."

I immediately glanced at Shelby, surprised. "Our merger partner?"

"Yes, he is. The merger ceremony happened a few months ago, and we merged with William's company. Thanks to his hard work and his team, we are now the most successful international group company in the States," Shelby explained.

"Oh, I don't deserve all the credit. Your company contributed significantly as well," William added.

I grinned and looked back at him. "Impressive. You certainly know how to choose them, sis."

William returned the smile, and Shelby groaned, embarrassed by my playful comment.

It was good to see her stepping out of her comfort zone and allowing herself to enjoy life with new people. The girl used to be obsessed with work, to the point where I wondered if she even had a life or friends outside the office. She had been the most closed-off person in the family, and we never intruded into her private life.

But it was good that things had changed, and she was showing more of her true self when she wasn't consumed by work. I was genuinely happy for her and her relationship with William Fontane.

I might not have known him well, but I had a feeling he was the right one for her, someone who would treat her well and bring happiness into her life.