Haden sat on the sofa, his tablet in his hands as he played a game of combat against Aaron. He had won the past three levels, and he wasn’t willing to surrender just yet, despite the late hour. His father and the crew had retired to bed over an hour ago, leaving him alone to enjoy the silence. He was just about to execute a sneak attack on his enemy when the battery on his tablet died.

With an angry growl, he tossed the tablet to the coffee table and stood up. He had it made! But forgetting the damn charger to the device made his leisure time short, and now Aaron would be ten thousand ahead of him when he finally got back to it.

Walking to the bar, he pulled out a bottle of beer and removed the lid, glaring at the tablet as if it was the enemy he was just fighting. He glanced at the clock and sighed. It was twelve-thirty. He hadn’t turned in this early since his college years, and he wasn’t tired. If it wasn’t so late, he’d take the wave runner out, or go scuba diving.

Taking his drink and sitting back down on the sofa, he took a large swallow from the bottle and looked out the window. He couldn’t believe he was sitting alone on this boat, no woman in sight, and no one to talk to. He was growing frustrated when his phone began to buzz. He pulled it out of his pocket and pressed the button, seeing Aaron’s name pop up on the text.

- What happened, dude? I thought you had me.

- My damn battery died, and I forgot to pack the charger.

-How’s life with the old man? Any nagging about growing up and taking over the company yet?

-Not yet, but I know he’s got something up his sleeve. He said we need to talk before the weekend is over, so I’m sure it’s going to happen sooner or later.

-I wish you luck. Have you told him about Italy yet?

-No, and I’m not going to until the remodel is finished. I want everything to be perfect before I tell him.

-Has he told you how much he’s giving you this year for your birthday?

-No, but I hope it’s better than last year. A hundred and fifty grand didn’t last long once we got to Spain.

- It didn’t help that you spent half of it on sex toys and virgins.

-They weren’t virgins, they just never experienced anal sex before. We

-Got past that obstacle easy enough and they learned to enjoy a hard pounding.

-What do you say we find a couple more once you get back to shore, and have a real party, to celebrate your big two-six?

Sounds good to frigging horny could screw a monkey if there was one around. Two days with my father’s crew giving me dirty looks has been bad enough, but there isn’t a woman anywhere on this ocean. I swear, if there was a mermaid, I’d be the first one to jump her tail.

-You should take matters into your own hands, or wait until we find the right girls.

-There’s that too.

Haden disconnected the texting with a chuckle, then stood up and walked to his bedroom. Aaron was his best friend and they had done everything together for nearly twenty years. He may not have had the lifestyle Haden grew up with, but as an heir to his late father’s real estate company, he was privy to more than most men his age. At least he had the money to travel and enjoy playing.

Closing his door, he finished his drink and tossed the bottle in the trash can, knocking it over with the weight of the glass. Haden grunted but ignored the overturned can as he walked into the bathroom and began brushing his teeth. He looked up in the mirror and smiled.

The tan he’d been working on for the past year had darkened with the weekend’s events of fishing and playing in the ocean, even if they hadn’t caught anything. With his perfectly white smile and dark brown eyes, he looked a few levels more handsome than he had when he arrived back in California. There was no way a woman could ignore him now, even though he couldn’t remember the last time when one said no.

Heading back to the bedroom, he pulled his clothes off and stretched out across the bed. He removed the phone from his pocket before tossing his pants aside and scrolled through the many emails wishing him a happy birthday.

The weekend had been relaxing, if not frustrating, despite spending the time with his father. They talked about the places he’d been, the things he’d seen, and the research on multiple new drugs the company was working on. It was like he hadn’t left at all. Everything just seemed to fall into place and they laughed and joked and told stories until Ronald became too tired to stay up.

Tomorrow was his birthday and the last day before going back to shore. It was one thing to be born on the fourth of July, it was another to have fireworks shot off after every birthday since he was two. At least he’d get his money, spend some quality time with the old man, then back to the clubs with Aaron to find the right woman for a bit of kink and perverted sex.

What more could a man ask for?

Ronald paced the floor of the parlor, trying to figure out how to broach the subject with his son. Tonight would definitely be a surprise ending to his party, but it wasn’t the sort-of thing he knew Haden was expecting. Ronald had planned his son’s favorite lobster dinner followed by crème brûlée and champagne. Once the fireworks were finished, he would present him with his present, just like every year, then tomorrow they would head back to shore.

He had prewarned the crew to make certain everything was locked up then go to bed and allow the two a chance to speak in private. He also warned them that there would undoubtedly be a lot of shouting and anger on his son’s part.

Ronald drew a deep breath to relax his nerves. He could hope there wouldn’t be a scene, that Haden would prove him wrong and go along with his plans. Then again, he could hope the hand of Neptune reached up from the depths of the ocean and swallowed the ship before he had the chance to speak with his son.

“Good morning Dad,” Haden said with a deep yawn.

Ronald turned and looked at the man, frowning at his disheveled appearance. His hair was long overdue for cutting, his beard was much longer than normal, but his muscular firm build seemed to have hardened.

Memories of the boy’s youth came flooding back to him as he remembered how they would work out together. Ronald taught Haden to lift weights when he was thirteen, and as the years passed, his son developed an almost addiction to the sport. He would spend hours on end lifting weights, running on the treadmill, and playing tennis.

“Dad are you okay?” Haden asked with a concerned expression as he laid a hand on the man’s shoulder.

“I was just thinking…it’s more afternoon than morning,” Ronald lied, forcing the happy memories aside for now.

“Sorry,” Haden chuckled, walking to the bar and pulling a bottle of beer out of the fridge. “I’m not used to getting up before twelve.”

“That is all going to change very soon,” Ronald said under his breath, but Haden hadn’t missed the comment.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked with a frown.

“I’m not ready to get into this right now. I asked Sigmund to unlock the wave runners and I want to spend our last day together playing in the water like we used to do.”

“I’m not taking over your company,” Haden said, ignoring his father’s plans for his birthday. “I don’t know the first thing about pharmaceuticals and the only drugs I know about, I avoid at all costs.”

“You have no idea how much that relieves your old man’s heart,” Ronald said, forcing a smile and a chuckle from his large frame. “Lunch will be ready in ten minutes. Why don’t you go get showered and I’ll meet you on deck?”

“What are you up to, old man?” Haden asked a suspicious narrowing of his eyes glared at his father.

“I’m hungry. Is there anything wrong with that?”

Ronald turned before Haden had the chance to question him any further. He had this day planned, and he was determined to make sure it went his way and not his son’s.

Haden watched his father walk out of the room before drawing an exaggerated sigh. He took his drink and returned to his room, closing the door behind him. He was growing tired of this argument. Every year it was the same thing. He had hoped that by going to college his father would stop nagging him to take over the business when he became to infirmed to handle it. But it hadn’t.

Since graduation last year, Ronald Valentini had increased his degree of nagging. He would send emails asking where he was and if he was ready to stop playing and come home. The few times he returned, he left with a hug and a kiss, but the days leading up to it was a constant argument that never seemed to end. But today was his birthday. He had hoped to avoid the subject for one visit at least.

Removing his clothes, he took another drink from his bottle, then walked into the bathroom. It was hard enough to be without a woman for three days, but now this…it was getting out of hand. No matter how much he told his father no, he still insisted he learning the family business.

He turned on the shower and stepped beneath the jets. Maybe a day of playing would burn the ideas out of his father’s head. He knew he was getting older and it was only natural that he would worry about his company and employees, but he was looking at the wrong man to take over.

Washing the frustration from his hair, Haden finished his shower and dried off. He went to his sink and quickly divested his chin off the extra hair, then brushed his teeth. Twenty minutes later, he was back up on deck in a pair of black and red striped swim trunks, his tan canvas shoes, and a black tank top that did little to hide his massive chest muscles.

He walked to the table that had been set up with their lunch and nearly groaned. His chair had two balloons tied to it, and there was a party hat sitting next to his champagne cocktail.

“Happy birthday, son,” Ronald said, watching Haden walk to his chair and sit down, moving the pointed party hat away from his plate.

“Thank you, Dad, but I’m a bit too old for balloons and hats.”

“Nonsense. You’re never too old to celebrate your birthday with a smile.”

“I suppose, but I’ve outgrown pony rides and bouncy houses.”

“Good thing I left the horse back at the mansion,” Ronald chuckled. “Eat up and we’ll take the runners out. I’ve planned a special supper with fireworks and champagne.”

“I feel like you’re trying to prepare me for slaughter.”

“It’s never that bad, and you know it. I do, however, have a special surprise for your gift.”

“Let me guess,” Haden sighed, dipping is fork into the salmon. “A clown and acrobats, or a baton twirler?”

Ronald laughed as he filled his mouth full of the grilled fish he’d been eating. He was going to let his son wonder about his gift as long as possible. He was eager to have the argument over, but he wasn’t very anxious to start the conversation.

Thirty minutes later, the cook arrived on deck with Sigmund, bringing slices of strawberry pie for the men, and removing their lunch plates. Sigmund glanced to Ronald as he refilled his glass, who seemed to exchange curious expressions with the man, making Haden’s frustrations grow. Not only was he going to have to endure his father’s insistence, but he also took over the business. Now the ship’s crew was involved. He could only imagine how the evening was going to play out.

The afternoon was spent just as Ronald wanted. The two men played on the wave runners and even went scuba diving. By twilight, they were exhausted and burned from the sun, but relaxed and comfortable with each other once again. Haden had been successful in avoiding his friend’s texts, wanting to know if he had gotten his money and how much it was for. The day had turned out much more pleasant than he had anticipated when he woke up, and he wasn’t in the mood to change the atmosphere.

Ronald sat across from his son at the dining room table, a large lobster in front of both, along with garlic butter asparagus, berry and wine salad, and champagne. He kept his son’s glass filled, hoping to take the edge off when the time came to talk. They chatted about past events, happy memories of Haden’s birthdays, and the lavish parties they used to have at the mansion.

In a way, Ronald wanted those days again. He missed the laughter, the humor, the fun, and gaiety. Despite his money, he always seemed to manage some honest fun with his son. He remembered the ballgames on the south lawn, the scavenger hunts in the large mansion, and the first time Haden learned to play tennis. By the time the crème brûlée was served, their faces were sore from laughing, and the mood had dramatically improved.

They took their glasses up on deck and watched the many fireworks from the shore, as well as those the crew shot off in honor of Haden’s birthday. Celebrating the day he was born, with a national holiday, had its perks as well as its downfalls, but Ronald always made certain his son knew how much he was loved.

Once the fireworks ended, Haden could feel the tension form between his father and him. The crew informed them that there was chilled champagne in the parlor, then excused themselves and went to bed. Sigmund told Ronald he had locked down the ship and would see him in the morning, then exchanged knowing glances once more with the old man before disappearing down to his cabin.

The two men went back into the parlor as Haden’s phone buzzed again. Aaron was a millionaire in his own right, but money was important to him, and he enjoyed using Haden’s over his own.

Haden sent a quick text back saying he would let him know what his father gave him in the morning, but they hadn’t had their annual disagreement yet, and it was nearly midnight. He had a feeling neither he nor his father would be getting to bed very early tonight.

“I’d like to propose a toast,” Ronald told his son, filling their glasses once again. “You have always been more of my friend then my son, and I love you. Here’s to many more happy memories.”

Haden raised his glass, feeling very much the same as his father. Despite having to be a strict parent, he was a loyal friend. Perhaps that was why he loved the man so much. He had been the father he needed and the buddy he wanted.

“So, what’s going on between you and the crew?” Haden asked, sitting at the opposite end of the sofa, across from his father. “I’ve seen the way you and Sigmund have been glancing at each other all night. It’s as if you have a deep dark secret.”

“I suppose, in a way, we do. I’ve asked the crew to give us space, so we can talk.”

“Dad, please, before you start, let me tell you again, I’m not interested in taking over your business. I know it’s a great company, and I know you’re worried about what will happen to it when you’re gone, but it’s not the type of life I want.”

“What about your degree? Do you have plans on doing anything with that?”

“Maybe, someday, but for now I’m happy with the way my life is going. I’m young and free and enjoying it. Maybe in a few years, I’ll decide to start a career, but I’m only twenty-six. I still have a few good years left before my looks go and my body starts deteriorating.”

Ronald drew a deep breath and stood up, walking back to the bottle of champagne. He hadn’t realized he had drunk the entire thing until he stood up, but it was a good distraction before the real fireworks began.

“I know you’re curious about your birthday present,” he began, his back still toward his son. “I probably shouldn’t have spoiled you so much by giving you money every year, but I wanted you to be happy.”

“I am happy, Dad.”

“I’m afraid you won’t be when you hear what I’ve decided to do for this year’s present.”

Ronald turned around and walked to the chair across from his son. He didn’t fear a physical reaction from the man, and he knew he was strong enough to fight him off if he ever did try to strike him, but it was his verbal reaction he was worried about.

“What’s going on, Dad?” Haden asked with a stern, angry expression.

“I’m cutting you off, son,” Ronald said boldly. “I’ve already canceled your credit cards and frozen your bank account as well as your trust fund.”

“What the hell…” Haden asked with wide eyes.

“You’re twenty-six years old, Haden, and I’ve overlooked your playboy attitude for ten years. Despite thinking that you’ll never grow old, you will. I don’t care if you want my business or not. When the time comes, and I decide to retire, I can sell it for twice what it’s currently worth. But your lifestyle needs to change. You are a very intelligent man, and you have a lot going for you, besides your looks. That’s why I’ve decided to get you a place of your own and I’ve arranged a job for you with a friend of mine. It’s time you learned what real work is like and appreciate the things that have been given to you.”

“If you don’t want me to take over for you, then what are your plans for my life?”

“I’ve rented you an apartment, and I know it will be a struggle for you to pay for it at first, so I’ll pay half of the rent and utilities until you’re more established on your job. I’ve even furnished it for you, so you won’t have to worry about that, and I’ll allow you to take your clothes from the mansion.”

“Damn nice of you,” Haden said sarcastically.

“Son, I’m not doing this to punish you, and I don’t expect you to be happy about it. Regardless of how you feel right now, I love you very much, and I don’t want to see you waste your life. I’m giving you one year to prove to me that you can support yourself without my help. After that…well, we’ll discuss the future when it gets here.”

“Why do I have a feeling I’m going to be cleaning toilets for the next year?”

“It’s nothing that bad,” Ronald said with a frown.

“Then what is it? What kind of job have you arranged for me?”

“You’ll be working at Uptown Centers in Encino as a stocker. You’ll work a full forty-hour week, with the weekends off.”

“You expect me to be a box boy?” Haden asked with wide eyes as he stood from the sofa and paced his way to the bar. “I have a master’s degree. If you want me to hold down a job, I’ll get one in my own field.”

“You’ve had your chance to do that, and you’ve refused. Now, I’ve arranged your new career.”

“I can’t believe you expect me to work at a grocery store.”

“It’s more than groceries,” Ronald said with a deep sigh. “They have clothing, electronics, automotive, even pet supplies, and a gardening shop.”

“So, you want me to work at a Walmart knock-off? Thanks a lot, Dad. What was the point in wasting so many years at Harvard if you expected me to earn minimum wage?”

“You’ll be making $14.50 an hour to start with, and if you do a good enough job, you’ll receive a raise in three to six months.”

“Gee, thanks a lot. How am I supposed to support myself on twenty-three hundred dollars a month?”

“I’ve already told you, I’ll pay half your rent and utilities.”

“I’m your son, not some homeless urchin you picked up off the street corner in hopes of rehabilitating.”

“It’s either this, Haden, or I’ll have no choice but to disinherit you from my will.”

Haden stared at his father, his mouth open, and his eyes wide. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. There were so many things racing through his mind, yet he couldn’t grasp onto anything to say.

“I’m not trying to punish you,” Ronald said again. “And I know this was far from the kind of present you were expecting for your birthday, but you’ve given me no other choice.”

“I’d rather have had the clown,” Haden said, setting his champagne glass down and opening the fridge.

“In the past eleven months, you have spent five and a half million dollars on women and booze,” Ronald told him, anger filling his aging voice. “If I don’t clip your wings now, I’m afraid I’ll find out you’ve killed yourself with your own lifestyle.”

“I am your only child, the son of a billionaire, and you expect me to have to work as a boxcutter to prove I’m worthy of my own father’s love,” Haden grumbled as he removed a bottle of beer from the fridge.

“You have my love, unconditionally. What you have to prove, is that you’re the man I know you can be. I don’t expect you to be happy about this, but there’s no other choice. I’ve made up my mind and I’m not backing down.”

Haden opened the top of the bottle and downed nearly half of it in one swallow. He knew his father was upset that he didn’t want his company, but to do this was…obscene.

“Don’t you think people will be a bit curious when they find out I’m the son of Ronald Valentini?” Haden asked with a narrowed expression.

“You won’t be working under my name. I’ve submitted an application for you under your mother’s maiden name. As far as your coworkers will know, you are Haden Dalton.”

“You’ve already filled out an application for me? I suppose I’m to pretend that I’m a high school drop out with two kids and a pregnant wife?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Ronald scolded him.

“Ridiculous? I’m being ridiculous?”

“I suggest you retire for the night,” Ronald said as he stood and walked to the entrance of the hallway. “Tomorrow’s a busy day for you. You have an interview at eleven o’clock with the manager of the Encino store, and you’ll want to be ready for it.”

“I thought you said you arranged for the job? Why do I have to interview?”

“Because my friend wants you to prove yourself to the manager of the store.”

“And if he doesn’t like me? What then?”

“Don’t get your hopes up. There are a few conditions to this new life of yours, but we’ll go over all of that in the morning. I’m exhausted and I have a headache. I suggest you finish your drink and get to bed. I’ve ordered Sigmund to return to shore at seven o’clock. You’ll need to check out your apartment and change before your interview.”

Ronald watched the anger cross his son’s face and drew another deep breath. He walked to the younger man’s side and kissed his cheek.

“I know you’re angry, but I love you and this is the best thing to set your life back on the right track. One day, you’ll thank me for this.”

“I highly doubt it,” Haden grumbled, watching his father leave the room before opening the fridge again.

He took out two more bottles of beer. If he had to meet with his prospective boss, he may as well enjoy his last night as the son of a billionaire