[Later that day—Reid Mansion]
Benjamin sat on his desk with hands resting on either side of the chair while Jack leaned against the door frame with his arms crossed with his eyes burning with barely-contained anger.
"Sit down, Jack," Benjamin said calmly, swirling his drink.
"I am not sitting, Dad. You called me here so just tell me what it is and get over with it," Jack snapped. He was still annoyed with how things had gone with Alexander in the morning. And now when his dad had summoned him, he knew it wasn't something positive.
Benjamin didn't flinch. "I have spoken with Gregory Carter. After everything that has happened, it is clear things have ended between you and Evelyn."
Jack rolled his eyes and scoffed, "Why are you and Gregory so invested in this? It's between Evelyn and me, I will handle it."
"No, you won't—" Benjamin took a sip of his drink. "You will stay away from Evelyn starting this very second."
"What—"
Before Jack could retort, Benjamin added, "You will not interfere in her business, you will not text or call her. If you happen to bump with her in the future, you will stay at least a hundred steps away from her."
Jack's jaw tightened, his voice rising. "You can't be serious! I care about her—"
Benjamin's gaze snapped up, sharp enough to cut through the air. "Care?" he repeated in a tone dripping with mockery. "You don't care about anyone but yourself. You have embarrassed this family enough with your recklessness. Evelyn Carter deserves better than being your next scandal headline."
Jack's fists clenched at his sides. "You think I wanted that to happen? I made a mistake, alright? I just want to make it right."
Benjamin set his glass down with a quiet thud. His patience was clearly running thin. "You don't make things right, Jack, you destroy them. Every time you touch something, it turns into a goddamn circus."
Jack took a step forward. With his tone trembling with anger, he said, "You are acting like she doesn't matter—"
"She doesn't," Benjamin cut in. "Not to you. You have plenty of other girls to play with, don't you? Go entertain yourself with one of them and stay out of this."
Jack froze. He could not believe what he had heard. "Unbelievable," he muttered. "You talk about her like she's just—"
Benjamin's stare hardened. "Enough." His tone was like steel. "You will stay away from her or I will make sure you aren't around to make things more difficult than it already is. Do I make myself clear?"
Jack was furious and humiliated. He wanted to yell, he wanted to argue but Benjamin's tone left no room for defiance. "This isn't right, I am being wronged here."
"Wrong was what you did to that girl," Benjamin slammed his hands on the table. "How could you treat a woman that way, especially, Evelyn? Weren't you aware we were planning an alliance with the Carters?"
Jack wanted to retort but Benjamin snapped at him again. "Not only did you jeopardise our business plans, you also humiliated a woman in public. And both things are unacceptable."
"I did not do it on purpose," Jack snapped. "And I am telling you I can fix it."
"You will do nothing," Benjamin ordered, leaving no room for negotiation. "Alexander is already doing everything possible to make things right and you will do nothing to ruin it again."
Jack helplessly shook his head and scoffed, "It's always Alexander for you, is it not? Your obedient, capable elder son, who always does what is right." His tone was lathered with jealousy, anger and pent up frustration.
"Stay away from Evelyn and don't start any other scandal—" Benjamin stated. "Am I clear?"
Finally, he bit out, "Crystal."
"Good." Benjamin leaned back in his chair, retrieving his glass once more. "Now leave before I lose my temper."
Jack turned on his heel and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
For a long moment, Benjamin sat still in the silence.
His face was calm but there was something calculating behind his eyes because in truth, Evelyn Carter wasn't out of his plans at all.
Just not for Jack.
....