Chapter 2

Damien had spent most of his life doing everything he could to earn his father’s approval.

He was disciplined, hardworking, and respected within the company. Unlike his younger brother, Damien understood the weight that came with being a Hayes.

Every morning, he arrived at the office before most of the employees. He believed that if he wanted to be taken seriously, he had to be willing to work harder than everyone else.

He rarely complained.

He rarely took a day off.

Whenever there was a problem within the company, Damien was usually one of the first people called to handle it.

A difficult decision needed to be made?

Damien was there.

A deal was falling apart?

Damien found a way to fix it.

An employee needed direction?

Damien handled it.

Over the years, he had become deeply involved in the running of Hayes Enterprises. He understood the business almost as well as his father did, and some employees had even begun looking to him as though he were already the man in charge.

Damien had always believed that was exactly where he was headed.

One day, his father would step aside.

And when that happened, Damien would take his place.

Not because he was the eldest.

Not simply because he was a Hayes.

But because he had earned it.

At least, that’s what he had always believed.

Now, sitting alone in his office, Damien stared through the large glass windows at the city below.

The memory of his father’s announcement from the previous day continued to replay in his mind.

Caleb will take over Hayes Enterprises.

His jaw tightened.

He looked down at the documents scattered across his desk.

For years, he had poured everything into this company.

Late nights.

Early mornings.

Sacrifices.

He had done everything he could to impress his father.

Every successful deal had been another attempt to prove his worth.

Every problem he solved had been another silent request for approval.

Look at me.

I’m capable.

I’m the son who deserves this.

But none of it had been enough.

His father had chosen Caleb.

The thought sent a bitter laugh escaping his lips.

“Fine.”

He leaned back in his chair.

If his father wanted Caleb to have the company, then so be it.

But Damien wasn’t going to stand by and watch his younger brother destroy everything he had spent years building.

He had spent too long working for something that he believed should have been his.

He was done asking.

Done waiting.

And most importantly, done trying to earn his father’s approval.

If his father wouldn’t give him what he deserved, Damien would take it himself.

His eyes hardened.

He would ruin Caleb’s chances of running the company.

He would tear down everything his brother had been handed so easily.

And when Caleb fell, Damien would be there to take what was left.

He didn’t care how far he had to go.

He didn’t care who got hurt.

He would take the company by force.

Unlike Damien, Caleb had never been the type to worry about responsibilities.

He lived for the moment.

His nights were spent at parties, surrounded by friends, alcohol, and everything else that came with the careless life he had chosen.

The company was usually the last thing on his mind.

While Damien was sitting in an office working late into the night, Caleb could be somewhere across London drinking until he could barely remember how the night had ended.

And perhaps that was what frustrated Damien the most.

Caleb had never had to fight for their father’s attention.

He didn’t have to spend years proving himself.

He didn’t have to work himself to exhaustion just to hear a word of approval.

Their father simply protected him.

Whenever Caleb made a mistake, there was always someone ready to clean up the mess.

Whenever he disappointed the family, their father found an excuse.

Damien had watched it happen countless times.

Caleb would make a mistake.

Their father would protect him.

Caleb would disappoint the family.

Their father would make excuses for him.

And Damien?

Damien was expected to understand.

To be responsible.

To be patient.

To keep proving himself.

That morning was no different.

Caleb woke up with a pounding headache.

His eyes remained closed for several seconds as he tried to remember how he had gotten back home the night before.

He groaned and turned onto his back.

The sunlight pouring through the curtains felt painfully bright.

“Damn it.”

He slowly reached for the glass of water sitting on his bedside table.

His hand shook slightly as he brought it to his lips and drank.

The cold water did little to ease the pounding in his head.

Caleb dropped the empty glass back onto the table and rubbed his face.

“Never drinking again,” he muttered.

It was a promise he had made many times before.

And broken just as many times.

He glanced at the clock.

His eyes widened.

“Shit.”

He sat up quickly.

For a moment, he remembered his father’s announcement.

Caleb will begin working directly under me tomorrow.

He stared ahead.

Unlike Damien, Caleb hadn’t spent years dreaming about taking over Hayes Enterprises.

He hadn’t prepared for it.

He hadn’t worked toward it.

He hadn’t even wanted it.

Yet somehow, their father had chosen him.

Caleb rubbed his temples.

He had no idea why his father had made that decision.

But he wasn’t about to complain.

For the first time, perhaps, Caleb realized that being his father’s favorite had given him something he hadn’t earned.

Something Damien had spent his entire life working toward.

And that realization didn’t stop him from accepting it.

Back in his office, Damien continued staring at the city.

His reflection stared back at him from the glass.

For years, he had believed his father’s approval was something he could earn.

Now he understood something different.

His father had already made his choice.

Caleb was the golden son.

And Damien was done trying to change that.

If Caleb wanted the company, Damien would let him have it.

For now.

But he would make sure Caleb couldn’t keep it.

A cold determination settled over him.

This wasn’t about asking his father to reconsider anymore.

It wasn’t about proving that he was the better son.

It was about taking back what Damien believed belonged to him.

And he was willing to do whatever it took.