“I think you owe it to yourself—and us—to get the truth.” I leaned forward, placing a hand on his knee. “And whatever happens, we’ll figure it out.”
He studied me for a moment, then nodded. “Alright.”
He picked up his phone and called Ryan. I stayed close, offering silent support as the line connected.
“Connor, thanks for calling me back,” Ryan said, his tone earnest. “I wanted to update you personally.”
“I’m listening,” Connor replied, his tone guarded.
“First off, I’m relieved Laney is doing better. We were all worried,” Ryan began.
“She’s fine, thanks,” Connor said curtly. “Now tell me what’s going on.”
“We had an emergency board meeting this morning,” Ryan continued. “Jen told us everything—how Dennis orchestrated the breach. It was a calculated move to undermine you and secure the chief operating officer position for his nephew. He thought if the company looked unstable, we’d turn to him for leadership.”
Connor stiffened, his jaw tightening. “And my dad? Was he involved?”
“No,” Ryan said firmly. “That’s actually something I wanted to clear up. Your father wasn’t part of this, Connor. In fact, he came to us last week to express concerns about Dennis’s behavior. He was advocating for you.”
Connor froze, his wide eyes meeting mine. “What?”
“Your dad’s been in your corner this whole time,” Ryan said. “I know your relationship has been strained, but he had your back. Dennis, on the other hand, has been removed from the board and is under investigation. He won’t interfere with the company—or you—again.”
The weight of Ryan’s words settled over us. Connor’s hand gripped the armrest, his knuckles white. He let out a slow breath before speaking. “I appreciate the clarification. I have conditions if I’m staying.”
“Name them,” Ryan replied without hesitation.
Connor leaned forward, his tone measured but resolute. “I’ll stay for six months, working remotely most of the time. I’ll help transition Petra into her leadership role.”
There was a brief pause before Ryan responded, “Done. We should’ve given you that flexibility from the start. Thank you for staying on.”
Connor’s jaw tightened as he considered Ryan’s words. “I’m agreeing to six months, Ryan. That’s it. After that, I make no promises. I need to prioritize my family and where my life is headed.”
“I understand,” Ryan said quickly, his tone conciliatory. “You’ve more than earned the right to dictate your terms. We’ll take it one step at a time.”
Connor nodded, but his expression remained distant. His mind was clearly elsewhere. “I’ll touch base after the holidays. I want these next few weeks to be about my wife and our plans. No interruptions.”
“Absolutely,” Ryan assured him. “Take all the time you need. Merry Christmas to you and Laney.”
“Merry Christmas,” Connor replied curtly before ending the call.
He set the phone down and exhaled, his shoulders sagging. I moved closer, resting my hand on his knee. “Six months?” I asked gently.
“That’s all I can give them,” he said, his voice low but firm. “I don’t know what happens after that. Maybe I’ll stay as a consultant, maybe I won’t.” He ran a hand over his face, sighing before meeting my gaze. His voice was quiet, almost disbelieving. “I was wrong about him. My dad wasn’t working against me.”
I reached for his hand, squeezing it gently. I could hardly believe it myself. “That’s a lot to take in.”
“It is,” Connor admitted, his voice thick with emotion. “I’ve spent so much time assuming he was trying to control me, that he didn’t even believe in me. But all this time, he secretly had my back. I don’t get it.”
I smiled softly, rubbing my thumb across his knuckles. “Maybe this is a chance to start fresh.”
While I didn’t love how his father treated us, with his grandchild on the way, maybe it was time to bridge the divide.
“Maybe,” he said slowly, though his focus began to shift. He stood up, the tension in his body easing as he paced the living room. “But my future isn’t with the company long term. It’s here, in Cherrywood. I’ve been thinking… this town needs leadership. The businesses here are struggling, and I think I can bring everyone together.”
I felt my chest swell with pride. “You want to help save the town?”
Connor’s eyes were bright with determination as he spoke,and I couldn’t help but smile at his enthusiasm. But I wanted to understand more—what this meant for him, for us, and for the town.
