I didn’t want to be like him. He was too stuffy and too conceited. When he walked down the halls at the office, everyone was afraid of him. Or at the very least, they talked about him behind his back. Most of the people we worked with enjoyed spending time with me. The women always had a smile, and the guys a fist bump. What I wasn’t sure they had for me was respect.
Gage had tried to explain it to me in the past. But no one liked to listen to their big brother, especially when he was your boss. My father made it clear Gage was the higher-up when he handed the company over, and my brother hasn’t stopped rubbing it in my face.
“Nice of you to join me,” Gage said once he hung up the phone.
“Yeah, I was otherwise occupied, had a meeting that went over.”
He only shook his head at me. Simon briefed me on this meeting yesterday, but to be honest, I couldn’t remember what it was about. Gage threw some files toward me on his desk and started babbling about some shit.
I knew I should be listening. I was trying. There was a lot to learn from him, I was willing to admit that.
“Are you even listening, Chase?” Gage asked.
Well, I said I was going to try. Never said it would happen. What I was really thinking about was where his assistant was. I wanted her to be in on our meeting.
“Where’s Maryellen?”
That stopped him in his tracks as he looked up from the papers he was shuffling through and stared me dead in the eye. He was working hard to figure out my angle, but I kept my face blank.
“Why?” he asked.
I leaned back against the chair I was in, attempting to look nonchalant. She wasn’t at her desk when I came to his office, which was an utter disappointment. Seeing her before having to walk into this meeting would have made it a bit more bearable.
“I thought she sat in on these, that’s all. No reason.”
All he did was shake his head at me as he returned his attention to the paperwork we both should be addressing.
“So, as we spoke about a few months ago, I’d like to move you over to our sales department, put you in charge eventually. I don’t think doing it right off the bat would be in anyone’s best interest, do you?”
My feet thudded on the floor as I shot up from the chair. My hands landed on the edge of his desk as I stood waiting for him to look at me.
He didn’t.
“What are you saying, Gage? Am I being demoted? Are you making me a salesman for our own company?” I paced across the room and my loud footsteps echoed against the walls of his office. “I know Dad put you in charge, but fuck, man, this company isours. I get a say, Gage. It’s not just you.”
He sat smugly in his chair, leaning back and finally watching me.
“Are you done?” he asked.
Once I came to a stop with my hands on my hips, I gave him a curt nod. I couldn’t even look his way as I tried to control my breathing.
“Have you ever stepped foot on the sales floor?” He sat waiting for my response. When he got nothing from me, he continued. “Listen, Chase. We discussed this. It shouldn’t come as a surprise. We both think this is the place for you, but you need to learn the department first. It won’t take long, I do believe it’s where you should be. I think it’ll click. Don’t forget it includes a ton of travel, but I also think it will be good for you, keep you from getting bored.”
I turned my back on him and looked out the floor to ceiling windows of his office, contemplating his words.
Thiswaswhat I wanted, or so I thought. Why was I giving him such a hard time? He’s been going through a rough patch lately, I knew I should be cutting him some slack. He literally lost his best friend only a couple months ago. He and Harper dealt with their own injuries in the car accident that took Jared’s life and were left mourning a dear friend who had worked here.
Gage was right, I didn’t know much about the department other than reading the monthly reports.
“You’ll have a nice office, don’t worry about that,” he continued, a soft chuckle in his voice.
As I should. I’d never say that aloud to him. He wouldn’t agree, not until I proved myself worthy.
“Hey…” Gage’s voice was closer than I expected, and I jumped a little. “You OK, Chase?”
He made his way to the windows without me realizing. Him worrying about me made me feel guilty. I should be the one concerned about him. Shit, the entire staff was still fucked up from losing Jared.
“Uh, yeah, I’m fine.”
