Hostile Takeover

Chapter Twenty-One

It was Monday morning and Gray had never felt so dusty in all his life. Well, that was a lie, he'd felt dusty a few times, like his twenty-first birthday, his thirtieth birthday, after the Alpha's won the grand final last season and again when they made it to the quarter-final last week. But it was just that today was important, he needed to have his full wits about him and he did not. His therapy session with Quinn was in half an hour, he knew because he'd been watching the minutes tick by since he walked into his office. He was determined not to miss it, which meant he would need to leave in exactly ten minutes if he was to get across town on time.

Gray tried to focus on his schedule for the day again, but his head clouded over. Not for the first time he felt frustrated with himself for getting so drunk yesterday. He was pretty sure he could remember Quinn surprising him by coming back home after her yoga session. He was certain that she'd been angry with him for getting so drunk even though she had said she wasn't. He would make it up to her today.

The phone on his desk rang, a grateful distraction from the screen in front of him that was now starting to hurt his eyes. He picked it up, noting it was Simon calling.

"Mr. Holloway, your brother is about to burst into your office right about ...now."

Sure enough, the door opened and in came Dylan. He really needed to lock his office door more often.

"I'd really appreciate it if you could give me some forewarning before you paid a visit, Dylan," he said, trying to remain patient, not an easy feat in his current state.

"I like the element of surprise," said Dylan.

"Look, I'm really not in the mood today. I have a cracker of a hangover and I've got a meeting across town that I need to leave for. So whatever you need to say, make it quick."

Dylan laughed. "Well, this won't take long at all. Surely you remember our discussion about the shares?"

Gray did his best to think clearly. "Yes."

"They're all yours if you prove your divorce to Quinn is final."

Gray's head started to pound now. He had the papers right here, the very top document in his in-tray. He hadn't signed them because he and Quinn had spent the last few days trying to save their marriage. He hadn't planned on signing them either, but if it meant Dylan would relinquish his shares and get off his back with the newspaper, then he could have everything. Dylan didn't need to know that he would rip them up the moment he was out of sight.

Gray smiled, reached across and picked up the papers from his in-tray. Unfolding them, he picked up a pen and scrawled his signature right next to Quinn's.

"Happy," he said, showing them to his brother.

"Very," Dylan said with a smirk that Gray could've wiped off with a punch to his face. But he wouldn't. Gray almost had everything if he could just keep a straight face. "I'll sign the shares over to your board of directors this afternoon," he said. "How about a drink to celebrate? Hair of the dog."

"Jesus, Dylan, you really need to ease up."

"You sound like Mum." Gray said nothing. Dylan made his way over to the bar fridge. "Dylan, I have to go, I have a meeting."

"I'll be alright here then on my own while I finish this... and maybe the bottle," he said.

"I don't think so."

"Worried I'll go through your office, plant some files on your laptop?" Dylan let out a laugh.

Gray checked the time. Shit, he was going to be late. "On your bike, now, Dylan," he said.