Olivia steps inside with a smile on her face. “How about we go get some lunch, and I’ll answer all of your questions?”
My stomach chooses that moment to let me know that it’s been far too long since I’ve eaten anything.
“Sounds like a plan. Is Mason here? Are we inviting him and Max?”
“Max and Mason have their own plans. It’s just us for the day, and before you say anything, Chad already cleared your calendar. You are free to hang with us, if you want to.”
“Of course I do.” I look down at Ari. “Are you hungry?”
“Starving,” she says dramatically, making her mother and me laugh.
“We can’t have that, now can we?” I tease as she slides off my lap.
Leaning down, I open the bottom drawer of my desk and grab my purse. Quickly I shut everything down.
“Okay, ready. Do you guys have anywhere you want to go for lunch?” I ask as I stand.
“Nope. You choose,” Olivia says as she shakes her head.
“I want a milkshake. A chocolate one,” Ari tells me.
I nod. “I think I can make that happen.”
Thirty minutes later, we are sitting in a little hole-in-the-wall place that’s located between my place and the office.
“Okay, so tell me everything. What spurred this trip on?” I ask Olivia after we’ve placed our order.
“Mason wanted to come up and see Max. They are working on something, and he thought it would be easier if they were in person. So Ari and I decided to tag along and make a trip out of it,” she says as she looks down at her daughter with a smile.
Olivia is a rock star of a mom and has come so far since I’ve known her. Love and happiness look good on her.
“Do you know what they are working on?” I ask.
Olivia shakes her head. “No, honestly, I never asked. Do you have an idea?”
“He says he is surveying everyone to see how to make the workplace somewhere people want to be. I even offered him my own ideas. Now I’m wondering if that’s true. Why would Mason need to be involved?”
“Mason was the CEO for a long time. Maybe he wants his opinion on how to bring it up to the board. You know they can’t make any decisions without approval from them. I’m sure he is just asking for his advice,” she reassures me.
“True. I hadn’t thought of it like that.” I feel relief at her words.
“I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about. You know how Max gets sometimes.”
“I’m sure you’re right,” I murmur even though I wish he was consulting me a little bit more.
That comes from being his right hand for so long, though. I know that Mason has more experience than me. It would make sense that he is going to his brother. While I have helped him manage a hotel for a decade, managing a Fortune 500 company is different.
Still, I am a little hurt that I am not more involved.
“Look at my star, Aunt Iris,” Ari says, showing me her drawing.
“Wow, that’s so good,” I praise her.
Sure, it’s a little lopsided, but it’s a better star than I can do.
“Do you guys have any plans while you are in town?” I ask Olivia.
“I want to try and seeSixbefore we head home tomorrow, but tickets seem hard to come by. It’s fine though, that just means we have to come back soon and plan in advance.”
