Owned by the Ex

The storm had passed. The orchard was a sea of damp leaves and broken branches. Silas spent the morning hauling the debris to the burn pile. His body ached. His jaw was a deep shade of purple. He didn't mind the pain. Every muscle cramp felt like a badge of honor. He was finally learning the rhythm of the land.

He was finishing his third load of wood when he heard a sound that didn't belong. It was the high-pitched whine of a sports car engine. A silver Italian convertible roared up the gravel driveway. It kicked up a massive cloud of dust. The car stopped inches from the mud. The door opened. Julian Thorne stepped out.

Julian looked like he had been dropped in from another planet. He wore a white linen suit and loafers without socks. He held a silk handkerchief to his nose. He looked at the barn with disgust. He looked at Silas, who was covered in dirt and wood chips.

"Good god, Silas," Julian said. He tucked the handkerchief away. "You look like a common laborer. I knew things were bad, but this is a tragedy."

Silas dropped a heavy branch. It landed near Julian's expensive shoes. Julian jumped back. "What are you doing here, Julian? The board told you to stay in the city."

"The board is fickle," Julian said. He smoothed his jacket. "I am here as a friend. I brought the final papers. I figured I would help you close this deal so we can get you back to civilization. You are embarrassing the brand."

June walked out of the barn. She saw the silver car. She saw Julian. Her eyes turned to ice. She gripped a pitchfork in her hand. Bea was right behind her. She looked like she was ready to go to war.

"Who is this?" June asked. She stood next to Silas. She didn't move away.

"This is Julian," Silas said. "My COO. He was just leaving."

"I am not leaving until I get what I came for," Julian said. He looked at June. He gave her a fake, oily smile. "You must be the ex-wife. June, right? I have heard so much about you. Silas used to talk about how he escaped this place. I can see why he was so eager to leave."

June didn't flinch. She stepped forward. The tip of the pitchfork was inches from Julian's chest. "I don't care who you are. Get off my property."

Julian laughed. It was a cold, sharp sound. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a check. He held it out. "I did some research, June. I know about the debts. I know about the failing equipment. This check is for twenty million dollars. It is double what Silas offered. Sign the papers now. You can buy ten orchards. You can send Silas back to me. Everyone wins."

Silas felt a surge of rage. He stepped between Julian and June. "The deal is between me and June. Get in your car and get out."

"Is it?" Julian asked. He looked past Silas at June. "Did he tell you the truth, June? Did he tell you that if he doesn't get your signature by the end of the month, he loses everything? He isn't here because he loves the trees. He is here because he is desperate. He is using you to save his skin."

June looked at Silas. Her expression was unreadable. Silas felt his heart sink. He had been honest about the signature, but Julian was making it sound like a cold calculation.

"I know why he is here," June said. Her voice was steady. "I made the rules. He is following them."

Julian stepped closer to her. He ignored Silas. "But did he tell you about the Globex merger? Once he has your signature, he is selling the company. He is moving to London. He already has the penthouse picked out. He is just waiting to finish his chores so he can forget you exist all over again."

The silence that followed was heavy. Silas looked at June. He wanted to tell her it wasn't true. But part of it was. He had planned to move. He had planned to sell. He just hadn't thought about how it would sound to her now.

"Is that true, Silas?" June asked. Her voice was a whisper.

"The merger has been in the works for a year," Silas said. "But things have changed, June."

"Nothing has changed," Julian interrupted. "He is playing a part. He is a master of the long game. Don't be a fool, June. Take the money. Let him go."

Miller pulled up in his truck. He saw the tension. He saw the silver car. He jumped out and ran to June's side. "Is there a problem here?"

"No problem," Julian said. He looked at Miller's worn clothes. "Just a business discussion. Silas is deciding between his legacy and a lie."

June looked at the check in Julian's hand. She looked at Silas. She looked at the orchard. She took the check from Julian's fingers.

"June, don't," Silas said.

June ripped the check in half. Then she ripped it again. she threw the pieces in Julian's face. "I told you to get off my land. My signature isn't for sale. Not to you. Not ever."

Julian's face twisted in anger. The mask of the polished executive fell away. "You are a stupid girl. You are going to lose everything for a man who doesn't even want to be here."

Julian turned to Silas. "You are finished. I am going back to the city. I am telling the board that you are compromised. I am telling them you have gone rogue. Enjoy the mud, Silas. It is all you have left."

Julian got back into his car. He slammed the door. He peeled away, spraying gravel and mud all over Silas and Miller.

The orchard went quiet again. Miller looked at June. He looked like he wanted to say something, but he saw the look on her face. He patted her arm and walked toward the barn. Bea followed him. She gave Silas a look of pure pity before she disappeared.

Silas stood alone with June. The wind was picking up again.

"Was he right?" June asked. She didn't look at him. She looked at the pieces of the check on the ground. "Are you still planning to sell and move to London?"

"That was the plan," Silas said. He took a breath. "But that was before the harvest. That was before I remembered what it felt like to actually build something. I don't want to go to London, June."

"Then why didn't you tell me?" she asked. She finally looked at him. Her eyes were full of tears. "You let me think we were building something here. You let me think you were different."

"I am different," Silas said. He reached for her, but she stepped back.

"No," June said. "You are just a better liar than he is. You didn't want my help. You wanted my signature. Well, you're going to get it. I'm tired, Silas. I'm tired of waiting for the other shoe to drop."

June turned and walked toward the main house. She didn't look back.

Silas stood in the dirt. He had saved his company from Julian, but he had lost the only thing that mattered. He looked at the ruined orchard. He looked at his hands. He realized Julian was right about one thing. He was a man who lived in a glass castle. And he had just watched it shatter.