Page 230 of Titus

“Thank you, Jonathan,” I said. “It’s been a long couple of weeks for you. Please take the rest of this week off unless there are emergency meetings.”

“Yes, sir,” he said, reaching out to shake my hand. “Congratulations, sir.”

“Thank you,” I nodded as he gathered his belongings and left the room.

“Where are you going?” Wyatt asked as I stood and pushed in my seat. “If you think you’re going for drinks without us, you’re out of your damn mind.”

I adjusted my cuffs. “I’m going to see Christian.”

Both my brothers stood.

“We’ll go with you,” Colton said.

“Relax. I’m not going there to fight the son of a bitch. Let Jim and Spencer know what Jonathan said,” I told him, then looked at Wyatt. “And make sure Sebastian and Mark are there tonight. I must express my endless gratitude to Mark for what he’s done. He disappeared for how many years after he ran out on his wedding, only to show up with this bombshell. Who would’ve thought?”

“Well, if you were also forced into marriage by Margot Aster, you would’ve changed your whole identity just to escape,” Colton said with a laugh.

“I was just grateful when the wedding was canceled because I recall a lonely bridesmaid finding her way into my arms that night,” Wyatt answered with a laugh.

“Where has he been this whole time?” I asked. “It’s been something like four years, right?”

“I don’t know where he’s been the whole time, but recently, he’s been living in Mallorca,” Colton informed me.

I smiled. “Mallorca? What the hell has he been doing over there?”

“Living his best life, apparently,” Colton said with a laugh.

“No shit?”

“He said he bought an old stone villa overlooking the Mediterranean and spends half his time sailing around the islands,” Wyatt said. “Somehow, he stumbled into consulting work.”

“Consulting work?” I repeated.

“Yeah. Yacht marinas,” Wyatt said.

My lips tightened. “Yacht marinas?”

“As it turns out, Mark has a bizarre talent for spotting undervalued waterfront properties and for knowing exactly what wealthy yacht owners want,” Colton added. “He began working with investors to acquire marinas and private yacht clubs.”

I chuckled. “So you’re telling me Mark Aster accidentally became successful all on his own?”

“Papa Aster should be so proud,” Wyatt chuckled.

“That he found his wealth and way without the Aster family backing?” I laughed. “I would’ve loved to have been in the room for that reveal.”

“No more than us,” Wyatt said. “All right, we’ll get the guys together while you say your parting words to Christian.”

I nodded. “Make it the rooftop at Horizon,” I said. “Drinks are on me.”

“The least you can do for all of us after we busted our asses for you,” Colton said, standing and walking over. He clapped me on the shoulder before giving the back of my neck a quick squeeze. “Good to have you back for good, brother.”

Wyatt nodded and rose from his chair. “Same,” he said, pulling me into a brief one-armed embrace before stepping back.

“Don’t go soft on me,” I smirked at them. “I want updates on Crown Reserve first thing in the morning.”

“See you tonight, asshole,” Wyatt said, turning toward the doors and flipping me off from behind him.

I picked up my suit jacket and readjusted my tie. Just one more conversation before I could fully relax over drinks with a beautiful woman at my side.