“I will make my decision by Friday. No sooner than, no later than,” my dad says. “Rest assured, this is not a competition.” He looks at me. “This is not a job you simply do.” His words are serious. I note Garrett’s harsh gaze, Chris’s tense shoulders. “This position is a commitment. A marriage.” He looks at George, then at Chris. Then at the man in my lap. “I have asked each one of you here for a reason. Because you embody one ofthe three principles ofEvermore.”He glances at Chris, pursing his lips. “Innovation.”
Chris stiffens as he grasps his drink, meeting my father‘s gaze. Then he turns his attention to Garrett. “Creativity,” he says with a smirk. Garett smiles smugly. George looks at him with a smile of warmth he doesn’t deserve. Then my father glares at me. “And ambition.”
Something in the way he says the word is like it’s equally balanced pride and arrogance.
“ButEvermoreis more than just one thing. Just as you all are more than one thing. Which is why this week, instead of going over sales and profits and projectability, I’m assigning you each one day to show me why I should investEvermore’s future with you.”
What? What the hell is he talking about?
My father points his gaze at Garrett. “This isn’t a chance to show me how much money you can spend,” he says pointedly, then looks at Chris. “Nor is it something you can half-ass your way out of.” Chris lets out a heavy sigh. My father looks at me, then to Jacob in my lap, twisting his lips.
“Your day should include a breakfast or lunch, dinner and an activity. I would prefer the meals be planned and prepared, not catered, so I will be taking that into consideration.”
Garrett curses as Chris groans and I tense beneath Jacob.
“You mean you want us to… like… cook shit?” Chris asks, dumbfounded.
My father chuckles. “Yes, Christopher. I want you to show me how hospitable you can be as a host. Catering is allowed, but I may deduct points for that.”
“For fuck’s sakes.” Garrett shakes his head.
“You will be given a budget of five thousand dollars for your event, and I expect receipts to be submitted. If I find you havecheated and spent your own money for this event—” He looks at all of us intently. “It is immediate grounds for rejection.”
He’s insane. My father has clearly lost his damn mind. There’s no other explanation.
“How the hell are we supposed to plan an event and feed twelve people twice, plus schedule anactivityon five grand?” Garrett bites.
My dad smiles smugly. “I don’t know, Garrett. That’s for you to figure out.”
I catch the smile on Robert’s face and Uncle Travis’s. They knew about this.
They are in on it. Together.
What the fuck?
My dad glances at Jacob and then at George. “Your partners can help you, of course. Those of youwitha partner.”
Chris scoffs. “That’s an unfair advantage, don’t you think?”
My father shakes his head. “No, I don’t think it is. It’s only unfair, Chris, if you do not think you can do the job yourself. In which case, you are more than welcome to quit right now and take yourself out of the running.”
Chris seethes and shakes his head.
But he doesn’t say no. Instead, he looks at me and then Jacob.
“That’s what I thought,” my father says.
“I have already chosen your days. Chris, your event will be Tuesday.”
“That’s two days!” Chris yells. My father doesn’t blink. “That’s barely any time at all to plan!”
“It’s more than enough time. Garrett, your event will be Wednesday.”
“Unfair, he has more time to plan than I do.” Chris crosses his arms.
“Aaron, your event will be Thursday. I will deliberate and announce my choice Saturday.”
“Un-fucking believable,” I mutter.
