Promises Forgotten
Chapter 49

***Zachary’s POV***

Looking out the window, I stared out the side of the plane. It hurt to be flying away from them. The longer into the flight, the more I wanted to just request to go back. I knew I needed to help Adrian. The transition would probably not be a smooth as I would like. He had sent over the documentation with a few alterations while I was in LA, but now that it was signed and submitted. On Sunday at 11:59 p.m. my time as CEO of Anderson and A. Wright Group would end. It couldn’t be soon enough.

I also needed to tell Stacy and Jason. Adrian had requested for them to stay, and although I wanted to take Stacy with me to DV, I didn’t want to upend her life in New York. Plus, her work was exceptional enough for the Anderson Group. DV was small and seemed a little beneath her at this point.

There was a huge list of things I needed to get done and I had preset out a schedule for myself to do all of them in between helping Adrian. The worst would be the press conference and the family dinner. I also wanted to do something for Evie but didn’t know what. Building the library in the house was my gift to Elliot but Evie was a complete mystery. Now more than ever.

She fought me tooth and nail. Every step I would take towards her, she would take one back. I knew I had a chance. I knew she would give it to me at least for the sake of Elliot. But I worried too much damage had been done for her to look at me the same. Her eyes, those light brown eyes which viewed the world with a mischievous fascination, now held a pain and wariness that wasn’t there before. Closing my eyes, I leaned back in the seat.

If it was a fight, I was going to give it to her. Scrolling through some of the leading technicians in bionics, I knew at least I could start with this. She needed something that worked for her and didn’t break or f*****g hurt her. That would be one of my goals this week. I needed to get back as soon as I could. Prove to her that I was the man she married. Also, I needed to research Elliot’s new school and set up donations for it. Reading through the material that Evie had, as well as her personal notes in regard to the school, it seemed like a pretty good school. Obviously better than the one he was in now.

Getting off the plane, I didn’t need to wait for luggage, only having my carry-on bag. I had texted Jason that I arrived, and he said he was stuck in traffic. Walking down, I was greeted by flashing cameras and a ton of reporters. Chuckling, I smiled and walked up to them.

“Mr. Anderson!”

“Zachary!”

“Can we have a moment to ask a few questions?”

“Have you spoken to your fiancé yet?”

“What’s the next big thing for the Anderson and A. Wright group?”

I put my hands up. “Good morning, everyone. It seems everyone is raring to go.”

They looked a bit stunned that I walked up to the group and spoke to them.

“Why are you flying commercial instead of the private jet?” Was the first question called out after the bombardment.

“Because I missed you guys. I don’t see you anymore unless it’s a scandal.” I winked and the crowd of reporters laughed.

“Is it true that you broke off your engagement with Jennifer Sinclair?”

Sighing, I lifted up my sunglasses. “I will answer your question in two parts. One, I did break off our engagement. The reason for that was because I failed to see the benefit in a loveless marriage. It may seem silly to you, but some of us still want to be happy in our personal lives.”

Another chuckle. “What’s the second part?”

“I wonder, if Miss Sinclair was your little sister or your daughter, if you would be so willing to splash her face across the news.” A hush fell. “Without knowing our arrangement and our feelings, you decided to not only stalk, but to embarrass and humiliate a woman who has worked very hard in her life. Someone that your sisters, daughters and maybe even wives look up to. You ruined her in the name of your story search, and while she is a strong enough woman to bounce back, is your family member?”

It was so quiet; you could hear pin drop and it was almost unnerving in the New York airport.

“I understand you need to make a living and people eat up the personal lives of the rich and famous, but some of us want to start to settle down. I don’t want my family to be hounded by paparazzi or be scrutinized under a telescope when you could never possibly know the whole story.”

My fingers twisted my wedding band and I smiled. “You feel as though you have a right sometimes to our personal lives and I think it’s a shame. My grandfather built the company I now run and yes, I make a lot of money, but that doesn’t give someone the right to air our lives. Especially when dealing with children.”

A bright smile graced my face. “There is going to be a lot going on in the next week. I’m happy to answer any and all questions regarding work, but I ask that you keep my personal life just that. Personal. For the sake of my family. I will do my best to answer any and all questions I can for you.”

I saw a few cameras fall and I nodded. Knowing there were a few of the older reporters who understood where the line was when it came to personal lives.

“Were you taking a business trip to LA?”

“Partly, yes. DV Holdings, the other company I own, is out there. It had been a while since I had visited.”

“Are you moving to LA? Your penthouse in New York has already sold.”

“I bought a house in France and you didn’t ask me if I was moving to France. I visited LA for business and now you ask if I’m moving.” Winking, it earned a few laughs.

“You said there is going to be a lot of news, does this have to do with the scheduled press conference on Friday?”

“You guys are so smart! I’m sorry, I don’t have my gold star stickers on me.” Laughing, I was joined by the group.

“Your father has been seen going in and out of the company, does that have to do with it?”

Shaking my head, I held myself back from rolling my eyes. “It seems my father is as curious as you all are. But no, I called the press conference myself. The board will also be at the press conference, for the next steps and the direction Anderson and A Wright group is headed.”

“What is the press conference going to be about?”

“If I told you now, I wouldn’t need the press conference now, would I?” I smiled. “You’ll just have to wait to get your cookie. Now, if you don’t mind, I see my head of security and secretary waiting. If you have any more questions, please send them to the company, but I do suggest you wait for Friday.”

Bowing my head, for the first time, I was not met with flashes and people yelling after me. They let me walk through them to Stacy and Jason, who were staring at me.

“What the hell was that? You never talk to reporters. Let alone chastise them.” Stacy whispered as we walked out of the airport.

“I think it’s time they learn the line. I’m not willing to risk Evie or Elliot because some stupid reporter thinks he has a right to delve into my personal life.”

She looked at me stunned for a moment. Jason also looked back at me few times. Shaking my head, I climbed into the car after Stacy. The door closed and I felt better in the quiet.

“How was LA?”

“Fine. Had to do some adjusting at DV Holdings, but I think we are finally set up for the next week or so. I’ve got a list of things I need to do every day for this week. I’ll take Lisa and Hector for the week.”

I heard grumbles and protests from the two of them and I laughed. “I want you two to help Adrian.”

“What? Why?”

“He’s going to need it.”

I looked out the window. The feeling I had when I first landed in New York after my hiatus was so much worse. The feeling of being suffocated. I was homesick. Home sick for my wife and my boy. A few days of being with them was all it took.

We pulled up to the office and I got out with Stacy. Jason went to park the car and the two of us headed up. On the 52nd floor, it was quiet, and I took a deep breath. With the papers signed, tmy chapter with this company was over. The CEO office that I slept in, f****d in, and destroyed the shadows created by my father, was being passed to better hands.

Adrian stepped out of the CEO office and his face lit up. “Z! Thank god. I didn’t know if you were coming back.”

“I debated it. Even landing I was still thinking I could just turn right around. You would be fine.” Smiling, I clapped him on the back.

“Look at you. No tie, no jacket….I even caught your little impromptu press talk. Who the hell are you and what have you done with my brother?”

My eyes swept over the area; Stacy looked a little confused at our interaction. “I’m starting to think happiness might not be that far away. That maybe…just maybe…I can still reach it.”

His eyes went to my hand where I was absently spinning my wedding band. A habit I picked up in Greece, reminding me I was married. That the love of my life was with me and it wasn’t a dream. Now, more than ever, I needed the reassurance. I had found myself doing the motion without the ring before I took it back from Evie.

“Are you wearing a ring?” His brows shot up.

Shaking my head, I smiled at him. “No. I’m wearing my ring. It was Evie’s dad’s. It’s the ring we got married with and she’s held onto.”

“You’re just wearing that out in public now? The press is gonna…”

“Have to deal with seeing it and not knowing. My personal life is my business now. I will protect them, A. Protect them from everything that would darken their doorstep because of our family. If it means I step out of the limelight after this, then that’s it. Zachary Anderson will just be forgotten as the first son of the Anderson family. I would prefer it if it means I can live with them in peace.”

“Z…”

I ruffled his hair like I did when he was younger. “I want nothing more than to introduce you. For us to be a family like we used to, with Mom and Grandma and Grandpa.”

Adrian shook his head. “Seriously, who are you? Did the body snatchers come?”

Laughing, I shook my head as well. “You know Grandpa lost a bet when naming the company, right?”

Adrian furrowed his brow and Stacy sat on her desk, smiling. “Lost a bet? To who?”

“Grandma. Honestly, I don’t know what the bet was, and I don’t think Grandpa remembered either when he told me. But the bet he lost will forever be the legacy of this company.” I laughed a little more, thinking back to when I sat with Grandpa on the bench in his garden. Telling me stories of his younger days.

“It was going to be Anderson and Kincaid Group, Grandma’s maiden name, but she hated her family. Didn’t want the name on there. So she made him a bet. That if he lost, she could add whatever she wanted to the company name.”

Stacy chuckled. “Then why A. Wright? I mean, no one has that name. She didn’t change her name, did she?”

Shaking my head, my grin grew. “Because r-i-g-h-t was too obvious.”

Cocking his head to the side, Adrian looked at me, still confused. I barked out a laugh. “Anderson and Always Right became Anderson and A. Wright.”

Stacy burst out laughing, tears filling her eyes. Adrian’s smile spread across his face. “She must have lorded it over him so often.”

“She didn’t need to, A. He saw it every time he walked into the office. On his papers, his official documents. He had to sign, see and say that Grandma was always right.”

“What an absolute gem. Your grandma must have been a hell of a woman.” Stacy wiped her eyes, smiling brightly.

I nodded. “Evie reminds me a lot of her. She was a storm, Grandpa used to say. If you didn’t want to get wet or hated the weather, she would blow you away. But if you enjoyed stepping out in the rain, hearing the thunder, and be in awe of what the storm could do, you would be able to respect and love her as he did.”

“I don’t have a lot of memories of Grandma. I was young when she died, but I remember one time seeing her standing out in the rain in their garden. No umbrella, just standing there. I ran out to her and took her hand. She looked down at me and told me the rain was better than when the sun was out. Because it made the soil wet, the flowers grow and it washed away anything unpleasant.”

Grandma had loved the rain. I remember the fights my father would get in with her, calling her reckless and idiotic. He was so angry, and my grandpa would just stand there and smile. My father couldn’t understand the storm that was his mom. He decided his path in life and refused to bend. Even when he was wrong. Grandma had embraced Adrian and my mom before our dad even had. She loved our mom even though she was gentle and kind and the opposite of her. I always thought my mom understood Grandma and who she was and, like her, loved to quietly stand in the rain.

“Dad has been by. He knows something is up.”

“I know. He can wait till family dinner.”

Stacy looked at the two of us, her eyes narrowing. “I didn’t think you would actually go through with it, but you did, didn’t you Zach? What you said on the plane.”

Nodding, I smiled at Adrian. “That’s why I need you to help out. I’ll handle my side of things. Answer any questions you have. But I’ll be a ghost this week. Before leaving, hopefully, on Saturday. I’m closing on a house, and I would like to be there in person.”

“You bought a house?” Adrian and Stacy exclaimed at the same time.

Blinking back, I raised my hands up in defense. “Of course. What did you think I was going to do? It’s a four bedroom, four bath with an office and den. It’s nice. All windows and you can see the beach for miles. It’s close to Elliot’s new school and not a bad commute for Evie or I.”

They looked at me like I’d grown a second head.

“You have millions, maybe even billions to your name without the company or dad and you get a f*****g four bedroom? My house is small compared to Mom and Dad’s and we have ten…”

“I don’t need that much space. I don’t know why you think you do. You plan on having ten kids? I can introduce you to someone who has eight and I promise you, you will change your mind right quick. Honestly, throwing money around outside of that, just because you can, is going to make you lose it all.”

“Stace, I think the body snatchers got him.”

She nodded furiously with him. “This is not the Zach we know.”

“Hopefully, it’s a Zach you’ll at least love. I want you guys out. Go to the beach. Have a barbecue. Evie makes some amazing food. I’d love for you to meet them officially.”