“It’s not that simple. The girls are too sensitive at the moment. They would have to trust someone new, and I already know all the details of their cases. They need me.” It was a good excuse.
“I’m sure something could be done. You’re allowed to have your own life.”
He was genuinely concerned for her and she didn’t want to mislead him. Taking a deep breath, she told him the truth. “I wasn’t great at school,” she admitted. “Plus the hours are too much and it’s expensive.”
“Wouldn’t Carly help pay?”
She frowned. “I can’t keep running to Carly every time I need money. It’s not fair on her.”
“She’s a billionaire, Zita. She’s got the cash.”
He didn’t get it. “So I’m to be even more reliant on her than I already am? I don’t think so.” She shook her head. Her chest ached. Both her sisters were so successful. If she failed, she’d be the loser of her family. She couldn’t bear the pity. She shifted in her seat. Enough talking about herself. She wanted to learn about him. “What about you? The other day you didn’t sound all that enthusiastic about taking over Dionysus.”
“It’s always been assumed that I would.”
She smiled. “Do you want to?”
He was silent a moment. “I’m proud of the company my family has built.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
He ran a hand through his hair. “Hell, I don’t know what I’d do if I wasn’t working at Dionysus.”
“There must be plenty of accounting jobs out there.”
He grimaced. “I never really enjoyed crunching numbers.”
“I can understand that,” Zita said. “So what do you enjoy?”
He shrugged. “I helped my friend Garth set up his business and worked on a strategic plan for Colin. That was fun.”
She knew very little about that kind of thing. “Could you make that into a business – setting up companies and helping them improve?”
“Probably, but it’s too late now.”
“Why?”
“Dad’s considering going into politics.”
“How will that affect you?”
“I’ve got to take over as CEO. There’s always been a Randall in charge at Dionysus.”
She frowned. “Do you have any siblings who would like to take over?”
He shook his head. “Grant’s happy in maintenance and Lorelei has never been interested in the business.”
“But that doesn’t mean you should forgo what you want to do. It’s your life, not your father’s.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Like you’re standing up to your mother to become a lawyer?”
“Touché.” It was far easier to help others than herself.
He stretched his arm over the backrest. “Will you talk to Carly? Ask if the charity can afford to hire another caregiver?”
Zita tensed. “It’s fine. I’ve made a New Year’s resolution to do something. So I’ve got all year.”
“What are your target dates?”
