Page 138 of Rhodes

"I can keep you here," he says finally.

"I know."

"I can move you somewhere else in the company, take you off systems, put you under somebody who'll actually supervise you. This is your birthright."

"Fucking listen to me, Ridge."

"I'm serious."

"So am I."

He rubs his thumb along the edge of the desk.

"What are you going to tell people?"

"The truth. I made a decision outside the scope of my job that created a conflict for Stone Intermodal, and I resigned."

"You know how that sounds."

"Yeah."

"You know what people will assume."

"Probably something close to what happened."

His lips press together. For once, neither of us has anything to hide behind.

Then he says, "Cain needs help."

I blink. "What?"

"His company. He's been complaining for six months that he can't find anybody he trusts to run field operations on the Gulf side."

"I'm not asking you to find me another job."

"I'm not finding you one." Ridge's voice goes dry. "I'm telling you our brother works for a large company and is looking for someone in the industry. What you do with that information is your business."

Of course he can't help himself. I almost smile. He looks at me for another second, then nods once. That's it. There's no speech, no handshake.

I stand and walk toward the door.

"Rhodes," he says, softer than the voice he usually uses.

I stop and turn back around.

"You don't have to leave."

"I know."

My phone buzzes against my leg before I reach the lobby. A reminder pops up letting me know Coop's flight lands in Charleston this afternoon.

The doors open in the lobby. I walk out through the glass into the heat, and for the first time since I was old enough to realize I was being paid for a job I wasn't doing, I'm not on Stone's books.

Cooper shows up Friday night with one duffel, a garment bag, and a six-pack tucked under his arm like he still lives three streets over instead of having a job waiting for him in Charleston Monday morning.

I get the door open before he knocks twice.

"Brother."