I can’t feel my legs.
“I’d hoped giving you time to breathe and re-prioritize your life would help. I don’t want you making the same mistakes I did. Corrine and I have had some rocky times because I focus too hard on proving myself to a dead man.”
His father, I realize. The one who sounded so much like my own when Russel would sometimes tell me stories about him.
“But you changed,” he says. Not to me, but to Taylor. “That’s when I knew Conner was a smart man too. He knows when to stay and when to go.”
“Dad. What are you talking about?”
Yeah, Russ. What the hell are you talking about?
“Do you love her?” he asks.
“Yes. She’s my… my whole world. Everything I’ve done and will do is for her.”
He swallows hard. “Do you love him?”
“Yes,” Taylor whispers with glassy eyes.
Russ nods and lets out another shaky breath. “I knew you two finally got where you belonged when you came to the hospital. I saw it on your faces. Something had changed between you too.” He taps his heart. “And the pain in my chest was gone as fast as it came. My anxiety has nothing to do with work, and everything to do with two of the most important people in my life finally understanding what everyone in Bear Creek has known for damn near two decades.”
The air rushes from my lungs. I don’t know if I should be relieved, flattered, or guilty.
“You two belong together. And I was scared shitless it was never going to happen. Especially when you were ready to walk out on the job, Conner.” His brow pinches. “You have big dreams, son, and I shot them down. I’m sorry for holding you back.”
“Sir, there’s nothing to apologize for.”
“Yes, there is, and you know it. It wasn’t personal about you, it was personal about me. I don’t like stepping out of my comfort zone or trying new things. I’ve run this company into a wall because of it.”
“This is a very successful business, Russ.”
“Yeah, but if I stay, that’s not progress. Imagine the possibilities if Igo.” He stands up and clears his throat again. “I’d like to offer you a deal. I’ll sell you the company and all the equipment, clients, and property comes with it, but I have some conditions.”
“Dad,” Taylor growls. “You can’t keep controlling—”
He holds his hand up. “Conner has every right to reject them all and turn this deal away. No hard feelings. But at least hear me out.”
I grip the side of the desk with both hands. “I’m listening.”
“Nothing stays the same. You can’t run it like I did.”
My teeth clench as I swallow the lump in my throat.
“Go electronic and streamline as best you can. Work smarter, not harder, okay? I could never work computers like you kids do, so I was a lost cause. Do better than me. And you have big service and product expansion ideas, which I’d like to see you implement because you’re onto something with those aquatic designs and all. It’s why I let you get your certifications and paid for them.”
I’m going to pass the fuck out.
Russel folds his arms across his chest. “And you’ll have to keep Gems-n-Stems under the company umbrella unless Taylor says otherwise.”
“Anything else?” Taylor fusses with her hands on her hips. She sounds mad and I don’t get why… or maybe I do.
Russel is one, still trying to be in control even after he’s out of here, and two, acting like I have any hope of getting a loan big enough to afford thisendeavor. Which is yet another reason I was too scared to build my own company from scratch. I don’t have the money.
A small business loan wouldn’t be enough to make my dream business happen anytime soon, which means I’ll be slow to grow and working myself into the ground to get there.
Just. Like. Russel.
A smart man knows when to stay and when to go.
