6: The uncle’s authority

Finnick stared at his older brother, a look of cool, dark amusement playing in his eyes. “A kept woman…”

Jeffrey immediately straightened up, cold sweat breaking out across his forehead. “Ah?”

“…and a mistress,” Finnick continued smoothly, the faintest twitch of a smile tugging at his lips. “And another. And another. And another…”

Jeffrey was practically vibrating with panic, while Theo bit his lip so hard he was practically choking back his laughter at his father’s expense.

“Eh…” Jeffrey stuttered, his face pale. “Finn, d-don’t you believe a single word out of her mouth!”

“If you don’t believe me, Uncle,” Kimberly cut in, throwing her hands up with a dramatic, tragic pout, “I can provide you with their exact street addresses later! I’m sure a man as magnanimous as Father…” She drawled out the word with heavy sarcasm. “…while asking me to raise his illegitimate grandchild, is also planning to bring all of his other bastard children home so Mother can raise them all together?”

Finnick let out a low, weary sigh, looking at the two pathetic men sitting across from him.

“Why, then,” Kimberly declared with a grand flourish of her hand, “the Kruger family will be overflowing with heirs! A truly blissful, happy ending for everyone!”

“Kimberly Holland, shut your filthy mouth!!” Jeffrey roared, leaping up slightly. “Get out! Get out of my sight! Look at the way you’re acting! Have you no shame? No decency?!”

Kimberly let out a long, theatrical sigh. “Dad, don’t be in such a rush to kick me out. The matter between Vivian Holland and me hasn’t even begun to settle.”

“What more could you possibly want?! Ah?!” Jeffrey bellowed, his blood pressure spiking.

“It’s simple,” Kimberly sneered, resting her chin in her hand. “I have just one little condition. You want me to play mother to his bastard child? No problem. But you have to bring all your secret women home to live under the same roof too. All fair, all equal!”

Jeffrey exploded, springing fully to his feet and glaring daggers at her. “You insolent, unhinged brat!”

Kimberly shrugged carelessly. “Well, then we have a deadlock. Father refuses to cooperate.”

Feeling the secondhand embarrassment radiating through the room, Theo grabbed his father’s wrist and yanked him back down, burying his face in his hand to hide his burning cheeks.

Jeffrey sank back into the sofa, panting in aggravation.

Suddenly, Finnick’s deep voice shattered the noise.

“Get rid of it.”

Theo’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. “Uncle!”

Kimberly froze, staring at Finnick in genuine shock.

“Finn,” Jeffrey gasped, his voice trembling. “Is... is that really necessary?”

“The old Patriarch values family honor above all else.” Finnick cast a deadly, freezing glare over the pair. “If you refuse to handle it, wait until he returns from the nursing home to clean house himself. Personally, I have no interest in mediating your garbage.”

He stood up, towering over them as he buttoned his tailored suit jacket. “Get rid of the child. Or both of you will face consequences far worse.”

Jeffrey scrambled up in sheer terror. “Finn, please! Let’s talk about this! Father listens to you above anyone else. If you just plead my case to him…”

Finnick cut him off with a chilling look. “Don’t count on me. I find this entire incestuous affair thoroughly disgusting. It is utterly beyond me.”

Theo dropped his head, unable to meet his uncle’s eyes.

Jeffrey stood frozen, completely rendered speechless.

“That settles it,” Finnick declared, his tone terrifyingly casual. “No further discussion.”

Then he walked away.

Kimberly watched his receding back, her jaw practically on the floor.

“Finn! Finn!” Jeffrey shouted frantically, chasing after him before stomping his foot in helpless rage.

Kimberly’s eyes sparkled as she stared after Finnick.

‘Wow. Absolutely ruthless. Now THAT is a real, bona fide domineering CEO. Honestly... an ‘Uncle’ romance plotline doesn’t sound half bad right now.’

Giggling to herself, she excitedly darted after him.

Left behind, the father and son collapsed back onto the couch, looking like defeated, thoroughly traumatized souls.

Later that evening.

Finnick sat on a high leather stool in front of the villa’s marble bar counter.

He poured himself a glass of dark amber beer and took two slow, thoughtful gulps, staring into the liquid as he pondered the day’s absurdity.

Suddenly, a playful, rhythmic clicking sound echoed down the hallway.

“Uncle~!”

Finnick turned his head slightly.

Kimberly was sauntering toward him in a catwalk strut.

She was wearing a simple, floor-length white gown, running both hands lazily through her long, cascading black hair.

A radiant, mischievous grin lit up her face as she glided up to the bar and leaned across the marble counter, right into his space.

“My dear Uncle,” she purred, her voice dripping with playful seduction. “How about taking me on a date?”

Finnick simply averted his gaze, taking another calm sip of his beer.