And yet, a tiny, foolish part of me grasped onto that sliver of possibility like it was a lifeline.
You ask too much and don’t negotiate enough.
If you walk away without even trying, you’re not the man I thought you were.
Margaux and Maya’s voices swam in my head.
Fuck that. I’d been playing softball with my father, but I was already in too deep. If I was going to go out in flames, I might as well make it the biggest damn explosion possible.
I owed that much to myself.
“I want it in writing,” I said.
My father frowned. “Excuse me?”
“You said we’ll revisit what my future looks like if I pull off this launch. I want that in writing with the following amendment: if I succeed, I’ll transition from CMO of the Laurent Restaurant Group to full-time chef at a restaurant of my choosing. I also want the contract to outline your terms, your criteria for success, and a transition timeline. Send it to me, and I’ll have my lawyers review it.”
He barked out a laugh. “That’s not happening. I said wemightrevisit it. We’re not involving our lawyers. That’s ridiculous.”
I shrugged. “Then theremightbe a chance you won’t get the launch you’re hoping for.”
My father’s smile vanished. The temperature in his office dropped a dozen degrees, but I held my ground.
Screw him for stringing me along all this time, and screw myself for letting him.
Maya’s reprimand earlier that month had been a wake-up call. I’d been drowning in fear and self-pity for so long that I’d forgotten how to fight back, but dammit, it felt good.
Seeing the angry astonishment on my father’s face felt even better.
“That’s yourjob, Sebastian,” he said through gritted teeth. “You wouldn’t tank your own project—yourfamily’sproject—to prove a point.”
“Sure, but there are different levels of effort at every job,” I said casually. “I’ll still do enough to save face. Maybe I’ll coordinate an online interview in a supermarket, showcasing the foods. Or maybe I’ll send some PR packages to influencers. I’m sure they’ll love it.”
My father glared at me. That wasn’t the type of “full-court press” he was talking about, and we both knew it.
“If you don’t like my ideas, fire me,” I added coolly. “I’m sure that’ll look good after the Derek situation.”
“You’re bluffing.”
“Then call my bluff.”
A muscle ticked in his jaw before his expression relaxed. “You’re forgetting the other part of the equation. We still have Maya. If you don’t get it done, she will.”
“Maybe. She’s good, but she’s only one person. She’s already overworked with both of us on the project. Do you want to risk her burning out and dropping the ball before the launch?”
The ensuing silence was so heavy it felt like a physical weight.
My father wasn’t used to losing arguments, and his displeasure radiated so intensely that the hairs on my neck stood on end.
Still, I didn’t break eye contact, and after a long, fraught moment, he looked away at his computer.
“My lawyer will send the documents over next week,” he said curtly. “You’re dismissed.”
I walked out with a smile.
One point for Team Sebastian.
My father sent over the documents as promised. My lawyers reviewed them, and within a week, our deal was signed and sealed.
