C4 ACROSS THE RUBICON

JEFFREY'S POV

It shocked me when my father chose Dallas as our dinner venue, especially on a holiday without the rest of the family. The Mountain View restaurant, in the dry southern metropolitan area of Dallas, which boasted a sophisticated ambiance of its warm sunshine.

The place was renowned for being a hub of almost every recreational or social activity you could think of, where deals were made and broken among the city's elite billionaires. It wasn't my father's usual choice, and his request to meet there for dinner made me suspect that something was amiss.

Lately, my father had been gradually withdrawing his involvement in our family business, entrusting the reins to my brother, Mark. He had been groomed for this role since childhood, and I had gladly supported his ascendancy.

However, even though my father had taken a step back, he remained closely attuned to the company's affairs. That he invited me for dinner, without my mother, in the middle of the week, suggested that he wanted to discuss something significant.

But I found it difficult to concentrate on his words.

My mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Bethany and the anticipation of seeing her again. Months had passed since our chance encounter at a movie premier at Madison Square Garden, New York, an event I had intentionally attended, knowing that she was a member of the casting crew.

While my sister, Ashley, was more dedicated to philanthropic work, I gladly attend these events to represent our family and, of course, to see Bethany.

I shouldn't have been surprised to find her in Susan's office. I knew they were very close; Mark often mentioned their get-togethers. However, bumping into Bethany at Susan's office was a complete turnoff for me cause I never expected her to be present.

Not that it really mattered. I knew I was way too old to get romantically involved with her. Bethany was nearly fifteen years younger than me, and she had shown no romantic interest in me.

In her eyes, I was merely a mentor, someone who could guide her through her college years. I understood that if she were to be with someone, she would seek a younger and more adventurous youth rather than me. I lacked the charming power of my brother Mark, who aimed to excel in everything, or the humorous nature of my other brother, Kelvin.

I had done well in high school and made it through college. But that was the extent of it. Joining our family business was a natural choice; I couldn't imagine pursuing any other career. I thrived on the challenges and constant changes inherent in overseeing our public relations department.

I was the person who arrived at work before anyone else, went to bed early, and firmly believed in principles of right and wrong. In a word, I was orthodox, and I acknowledged it.

I had contemplated asking Bethany out, planning a dinner date or a drink, or even suggesting a visit to one of the movie theaters in Houston. But I never mustered the courage to do so. We had been friends for a while, and I knew we would always remain, even though I yearned for something more.

"What do you think about that?" my father's voice jolted me back to reality.

"Uh, I'm sure that will be fine," I responded absentmindedly.

"Good. I'm certain Ashley will be delighted to know she will inherit everything when your mother and I are no longer here," my father remarked.

"What? Wait. What are you talking about? Are you ill? Is Mom okay? I thought her condition had improved," I exclaimed, taken aback.

"Now I have your attention, splendid. It warms my heart to see that your first concern was for your mother and my well-being, not the disposition of our wealth," he commented.

"Money has never been a priority for me, or for my siblings. It's easy for me to say, given that we grew up in abundance. You and Mom instilled in us the values of family and commitment, and being good people, rather than the amount of money in our bank accounts. That will be the legacy you leave behind, not the money. Although I must admit, it facilitates our ability to uphold those values," I stated.

"It certainly doesn't hurt, but I'm relieved to know that money isn't your sole concern."

"Were you worried that it was?" I inquired.

"I'm concerned about where your mind is at, as it is evidently not here. What's bothering you?" he asked.

"Nothing. Sorry. What were you talking about?" I attempted to concentrate.

"I was discussing your sister and how well she and Ryan are doing, as well as Mark and Susan. I couldn't be happier and prouder as a father," he shared.

"Is that why you asked me to join you for dinner? To discuss my love life?" I understood the direction he was heading with his naïve comments.

"I'm content. I'm happy. I'm doing well.

There's no need for me or anyone else, including you, to complicate matters," I affirmed.

"Bringing love into your life wouldn't complicate things; it would enhance them. Your siblings would undoubtedly agree that having someone you love enriches every aspect of life," he bragged.

"Although one of your sons might argue that loving one person is unnecessary when you can love as many as you want,"

I said, referring to my middle brother, Kelvin, who had a medal for being a world-class player in the dating game.

"You haven't done that either. You're even less inclined to date than Mark," my father pointed out.

"I beg to differ. I have been the most responsible one among us, even more so than Ashley," I asserted.

I was feeling myself. But it was certainly a fact that I stood differently from my siblings. Being a rather quiet guy, I never got involved in any vices. Unlike Kelvin, who was the Lord of scandalous affairs.