Chapter 35
**Tom**
I cracked a few eggs into a bowl, perhaps with more force than necessary. "Nope, still flying solo. Why? Did Mom put you up to this?"
"Come on, give me some credit," Leo protested. "I'm just looking out for my big bro."
I focused on whisking the eggs. "Right, because nothing says 'brotherly love' like prying into my love life."
Leo leaned against the counter, swirling his wine glass. "I'm just making sure you're not still pining over Josephine. That ship sailed long ago, bro."
I froze mid-whisk, the name hitting me like a sucker punch. Josephine. My ex.
"Leo," I warned, my voice tight. "Don't."
But my dear brother, ever the tactful one, plowed on. "Look, I know it sucked, but you can't keep dwelling on the past. There are plenty of fish in the sea and all that crap."
I remained silent, pouring the eggs into the pan with perhaps more force than necessary. The sizzle of the eggs hitting the hot surface filled the awkward silence.
Leo, apparently taking my lack of response as an invitation to continue, leaned in conspiratorially. "Hey, this isn't some... performance issue, is it? I mean, everything's still working down there, right?"
I nearly dropped the spatula. "For fuck's sake, Leo! My 'equipment' is functioning just fine, thank you very much."
"Just checking," he said, hands raised in mock surrender. "Can't have the Blackwood name tarnished by any... shortcomings."
I groaned, wondering if it was too late to pretend I wasn't home. "You're impossible, you know that?"
"It's part of my charm," Leo grinned, then softened his expression. "Seriously, though, Tom, you can't keep living in the past. It's time to focus on the future."
I sighed, plating our gourmet meal of slightly overcooked scrambled eggs. "And what future might that be? More lectures to bored undergrads? Grading papers until my eyes bleed?"
Leo's eyes lit up. "Actually, I have a proposition for you. Why don't you reconsider joining the family business?"
I snorted, handing him a plate. "Right, because I'd fit right in with the cutthroat world of corporate takeovers and boardroom politics." I pictured myself in a stuffy suit, surrounded by sharks in human form. "I can barely manage my wardrobe, let alone navigate the treacherous waters of big business. Besides, you know how I feel about that whole scene."
"Are you kidding? You'd be perfect!" Leo exclaimed, gesturing wildly with his fork. "You've got the brains, the education, and let's face it, you look damn good in a suit. You could be CEO material."
"CEO? Have you lost your mind?"
"Think about it," Leo pressed. "You'd be amazing at running the company. Your finance background, your people skills... plus, you've got that whole 'distinguished professor' vibe going on. The board would eat it up."
I shook my head, trying to process this sudden career pivot. "Leo, I appreciate the vote of confidence, but I'm a teacher, not a business tycoon."
"But you could be both!" Leo insisted, his enthusiasm growing by the second. "Imagine it - Professor Thomas Blackwood, CEO of Blackwood Industries. You could guest lecture at Harvard Business School, write books on corporate strategy... hell, you could probably buy the university if you wanted to."
"Right, because that's exactly what I want - to be the poster boy for nepotism and corporate greed."
"Oh, come on. It's not like that, and you know it. We do good work, Tom. We employ thousands of people and contribute to charities."
"And charge obscene amounts for handbags made by underpaid workers in developing countries," I countered.
"We're working on improving our labor practices," Leo defended. "And think about it - we could do even more good with you at the helm. You could steer the company in a more ethical direction."
I had to admit, it was an intriguing thought. The power to make real change, to use the family's resources for something more than just lining our pockets...
But then I thought of my students, of Sara, and of the life I'd built for myself outside of the Blackwood legacy.
"I appreciate the offer, Leo," I said finally. "But I think I'll stick to corrupting young minds in the classroom for now."
Leo shrugged, but I could see the disappointment in his eyes. "Can't blame a guy for trying. But the offer stands, you know. Anytime you want to trade in your tweed jacket for a corner office, just say the word."
I smiled, raising my wine glass in a mock toast. "I'll keep that in mind. Now, how about we talk about something other than my love life or career choices? Like, oh, I don't know, your European adventures?"
Leo grinned, launching into a tale of his latest business and personal conquests. As I listened, I couldn't help but wonder what my life would be like if I had taken him up on his offer. CEO Thomas Blackwood... it had a certain ring to it.
But then I thought of Sara's face in class earlier that week, the spark of understanding in her eyes as she grasped a particularly complex concept. No, I decided. For all its complications and frustrations, this was where I belonged.
At least for now.
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