“No,” she snapped.
He looked surprised by her reaction. “Kathleen?—”
“It’s Kat, dad. You know I like to go by Kat.”
His lips pursed.
“Are you telling me that I won’t get the company if I don’t marry him? Is that what you’re saying?”
There wasn’t a single twitch in his facial features that gave away what he was thinking.
“Because I won’t. I refuse. Go ahead. Give him the company. I’m not going to bow down to such a ridiculous notion.”
“Now who’s overacting?” he grumbled.
Kat scoffed. “I’m not overreacting. I’m the only level-headed one in this room. I can’t believe you’d suggest such a thing. There has to be another way I can show you that I’m capable to take over.”
Her father sighed then he swiveled his focus to the framed picture of her mother on his desk. He picked it up and studied the image and released another pent-up breath. “I suppose you’re right. I can’t ask you to make that sort of sacrifice without giving you another option.”
She couldn’t believe she was still standing here. She felt like an idiot—like she was still having to prove she was worth something to her father.
And yet, nothing could have ripped her feet from where they were planted.
He scrubbed his jaw before placing the picture back on the desk. “That charity we’ve signed a contract with. The one in Montana.”
She nodded, unable to form the words that rattled in her brain.
“I want you to spearhead it. Oversee the meetings and make sure everything goes off without a hitch. You’ll be responsible for everything. The finances. The contractors. You’ll be expected to make visits to the site.”
Slowly, her hope returned. “I can do that.”
He nodded.
Kat’s whole body thrummed with a new sort of anticipation. “And if everything goes according to plan. The company is mine? If I do everything you ask.”
Her father nodded again. “You make this work, show me you’re willing to make the sacrifices, and the company is yours.”
If she could, she would have jumped up and down right then and there.
But that wouldn’t be professional. She still had an image to uphold with her father. The last thing he needed to see was another outburst. Kat cleared her throat. “Thank you, daddy.”
He flashed her a smile. “I am proud of you. You know that, right?”
She nodded, fighting the prickling sensation behind her eyes. “I know.”
His eyes shifted to the door and she almost expected to hear Chaz come into the office. She didn’t know what her father would have to tell Chaz—or if he’d tell him anything at all. It didn’t matter.
Nothing mattered right now besides the fact that she’d been given the chance to get her dream. Unlike her mother, she wouldn’t put anything or anyone above her ambitions. One way or another, she’d be the CEO of her father’s business. She’d do it right and she’d get everything she wanted.
Who needed a man? She was a strong, capable woman and she was determined to prove it to anyone who had the misfortune of doubting her.
CHAPTER TWO
Not for thefirst time in Leo’s life was he surprised by the fact that he had a billionaire for a cousin. Sheesh. The plane his cousin owned was the sort one would see in the movies. It didn’t have traditional seats by a long shot. In the back there was a bedroom. He’d seen the bed. The bathroom was full-size, too. And in the general seating area were lounge chairs and couches. Sure, some of the chairs were adjacent to tables so those who used the plane could do work, but this plane looked more like a luxury hotel room than an aircraft.
His eyes shifted to Reese where he fidgeted. His eyes were glued to something outside the window. Out of the four passengers on this plane, Reese was decidedly the one who was the most miserable.
Leo smirked. His brother had gotten attached to a widow who was staying with Noah, and the woman wasn’t interested in anything serious. Heck, she probably wasn’t interested in anything at all when it came to dating. She had two small kids and she was just visiting for the summer. Reese couldn’t have picked someone harder to get than Serenity.
