My shoulders stiffen.
He holds up his hand. “Hear me out. I know you don’t want anything to do with the day-to-day running of the company, but I would like to give it to you all the same. You won’t have to do much except attend the odd board meeting. It would take up a couple of hours a month. That’s all.”
“Who would run it?” I ask.
“I was hoping Emory would.”
Emory widens his eyes. “Excuse me?”
“You’re brilliant. You have passion and vision, and you’re my son’s partner. I can’t think of anyone I would trust more with my business.”
Emory opens and closes his mouth. “I’m flattered, but there are people with more experience and seniority than me.”
“I know. But the business belongs to you. All of you.”
Casey tilts his head.
“Don’t worry. I didn’t intend to leave you out. Auggie would be the main shareholder, with the two of you having equal shares. Casey, you could decide if you want to be a silent partner or be on the board with Auggie. You’d all be set up for life as long as Emory doesn’t run it into the ground.”
“I wouldn’t,” Emory stutters.
Dad laughs. “Relax. I’m joking.”
Emory’s face flushes red. He’s never stopped blushing at pretty much everything, and he’s as adorable as ever.
“I would shadow you for the next twelve months. What do you say?” Dad asks.
“Wow.” What other response is there? He’s giving us a huge gift.
Dad hasn’t mentioned leaving the business to me in years. I’d stupidly believed he’d given up on the idea altogether. But this is a solution that could work. I’d be in charge in name only, while Emory would be the real mastermind. The fact Dad has included Casey in his plan proves that he is okay with the three of us being together. That he believes we’re going to be together for the long haul. After sixteen years, he should.
“I’m flattered,” Emory says.
“Is that a yes?”
Emory, Casey, and I exchange glances. I can’t ignore the wariness in their eyes.
“Can we have some time to think about it?” I ask.
“Of course. Take all the time you need. I know this is out of the blue.”
How long has he been thinking about it? As much as Dad has tried to change over the years, he still sometimes blindsides me with things like this, expecting me to get swept up in his excitement and toe the line. But this is too big a commitment to say yes without discussing it with my men. We all need to agree to make Dad’s business our future.
We chat about inconsequential things for the rest of the meal and then part ways, Mum and Dad to spend the night at a five-star hotel as our birthday present to him.
Once we’re home, we snuggle on the sofa.
“I wasn’t expecting your dad to offer us the business,” Emory says.
“Nor was I. What do you think? Should we accept?”
“Would it change much?” Casey asks.
“It would be more responsibility for Emory.”
“A lot more,” Emory says.
“Are you up for it, Em?”
