Chapter 23
Cici
“Thanks,Cici,”UncleParkersmiles as he tucks the paper back into a folder on his desk.He sits back in his chair and watches me carefully.“How are you doing?”
There’s a twinkle in his eyes, something that says he knows about Covey.Of course he does.I'm sure Dad ran to tell him and Uncle Luke right away.That man wouldn’t know how to keep an ounce of information to himself if you paid him.
“Ugh, are we really going to discuss my dating life?”I throw myself back into the chair and stare up at the ceiling.
“No, we’re discussing you.”I don’t need to look at Uncle Luke to know he’s grinning.
“You really told your dad you’d encourage Covey to sue him if he fired your boyfriend?”Uncle Parker arches a brow, but there’s amusement in his tone.
I narrow my eyes on him, but he isn’t intimidated in the least.He’s not afraid of anything and we both know it.
“My favorite was how she told Owen she’d never speak to him again and Cord would have to pick between them.”
I glance over at Uncle Luke to find a smug grin on his face.I swear, sometimes I hate working with my uncles.They can be so annoying.
“I’m glad the two of you find so much amusement in this.I was angry and I stand by everything I said.He doesn’t get to make any decisions where my dating life is concerned.If I want to date Covey, he needs to step aside and let it happen.I'm not letting someone else dictate my future.”
I fold my arms over my chest and glare at both of them.Uncle Luke chuckles softly, but Uncle Parker’s watching me with… Is that pride?
“I'm proud of you, Cici,” he says softly.
“What?Why?”
“I'm not going to lie, I wasn’t sure you’d be able to handle your place in this company.”
“Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence.Am I really doing that bad of a job?”My scowl deepens.I can’t believe he had no faith in me.
“Just listen to me.”He leans forward and rests his elbows on the desk.He steeples his fingers, letting his chin rest on the top of them.“I had no doubt you could do the job.You’re smart and driven, you can definitely handle the workload.I didn’t think you could handle being a boss.You don’t like to be mean to people or put them in their place.”
“Why is it so bad I want to be a boss people are comfortable around?”
“It’s not… I guess.But it’s important for people to fear and respect you as well.”
“And you don’t think I can do that?”
“I didn’t… Until I heard how you put Owen in his place.You threatened his relationship with his entire family.You made him realize you weren’t messing around and he couldn’t take advantage of the situation because you put clear boundaries in place.You were the boss in the situation and he knows it.He either needed to obey, or he was done.That’s what you need to do here.”
“I didn’t boss him around,” I grumble under my breath.
“Oh, please!You practically sucker punched that man, and then came back for more.He called us right after and told us he wasn’t sure who he was even dealing with.He had never seen that sort of fight and stubbornness in you.”
“I'm sure he loved it.”I roll my eyes.Sometimes I hate how close dad is to Uncle Parker and Uncle Luke.They always know everything Cord and I did or said.It’s almost like having three dads.
“He did,” Uncle Parker murmurs softly.My attention snaps to him and I stare at him with furrowed brows.“He was so incredibly proud of you for fighting for something you wanted.For fighting for a relationship you believed in.For making sure you put your dreams and wants above what other people want.”
“Why?”
“I think one of our biggest fears is that our kids won't stand up for themselves and go after everything they want in life.We want to know they can overcome every obstacle in their way and get their dream life.It might’ve hurt, but you did that and he knows it.”
“So, I should keep putting him in his place?”I grin.
“Nope.Please don’t,” Uncle Luke murmurs.
“Yes,” Uncle Parker says at the same time.“I swear you’re the only person that can and he doesn’t fight back… as hard.You’re his little girl.He still sees you as the little five-year-old with pigtails and tears streaming down your face because you skinned your knee.He could make your life turn around with just a hug and a kiss on your scrape.Now, he’s trying to figure out how to be the dad of a full-grown woman.One who has her own dreams and aspirations.One who will eventually make him come second in her life.”
