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“All you have to do is ask.”
He tosses the bread in the skillet. Slathers it with cheese. Adds some spices. All while I watch him work. Sipping my beer. Enjoying comfortable silence with a man I never thought I’d enjoy comfortable silence with.
“Eat first. Then we can talk.” He sets a plate in front of me.
He cooked me a grilled cheese sandwich.
I would cry if I wasn’t so damn hungry.
Within minutes, I have devoured the entire thing. “That was delicious.”
“I know.”
I grin at the cocky man. Surprisingly, he grins back. And like Jake, he is stunningly handsome when he smiles.
“So you want the truth…why? What does it matter?” I ask, propping my elbow on the counter and getting comfortable.
“It doesn’t matter. Jake is a grown man. He can do whatever he wants. I’m just curious. And I can’t get answers from him, so I’m asking you.”
I take a swig of my beer. With it, I find a little courage. “Can I be frank with you, Mr. Swagger?”
“I’d very much appreciate it if you were.”
“You’re full of shit.”
His brow lifts. Before he can say anything, I continue.
“You didn’t seek me out to make me a sandwich. Just like you didn’t leave your guests just to satiate your curiosity. The truth matters to you. And if you want me to be the one to give it to you, then I’m going to need to know the real reason why.”
He curls his lips in a lopsided grin. “Perceptive little thing, aren’t you?”
“No. I’m just really nosey.”
He says nothing for several moments. Then, as if he’s decided to not give a damn, he loosens his tie and leans back in his chair. “Jake never acts on a whim. His strategy is to be three steps ahead at all times. He’s meticulous like that. Always has been. I know my grandson well enough to know that you were never part of his plan. He acts as if he had no choice but to bring you here. And I need to know why the man I’m about to give my company to is acting so out of character.”
“Wow. Yeah. That’s a good question. Wonder why he wouldn’t just tell you the truth instead of risk you doubting his ability to run your company?”
“Probably because he doesn’t know I’m leaving it to him.”
I nearly fall off my stool. “What? He doesn’t know?”
“No. And I’d appreciate it if you kept it between us.”
Why must he burden me with such a huge secret? It’ll nearly kill me to hold this in. Like, literally take all my willpower not to chant, “I know something you don’t know.”
“So if he doesn’t know you’re giving him the company, what does he think will happen when you retire?”
“He assumes I’ll remain sole owner after and leave the board to run the company for me. But the only way for me to fully retire is to walk away completely. So I plan to give him sole ownership and he can decide whether he wants to appoint a board, run it himself or merge his company with mine.”
“Wait. Y’all don’t work together?”
“We are two separate enterprises. He invests in people’s ideas. I buyout entire corporations. His passion is helping people. Mine is money. I’ve worked hard my whole life so that one day I could enjoy the fruits of my labor. But I don’t want to watch everything I’ve worked for fail without my leadership. I don’t see Jake giving up his company to run mine, but I have no doubt that he will make sure the company continues to thrive under his ownership and the direction of the appointed board. He won’t fail. He doesn’t know how.
“But what if he says no? That he doesn’t want the company?”
He chuckles at that. “Power is a very addictive thing, Penelope. Jakes possesses it now, but with my company, he’ll define it. And he’ll have my company and everything that goes along with it. Nothing you say will change my mind about that. But it will satiate my curiosity. And though you doubt that’s my reason for being here, I can assure you it’s not. I just want to know the story behind my grandson’s unusual behavior.”
I sigh. Why couldn’t I have been born into a wealthy family? Jake is so damn lucky. He’s going to be a gazillionaire. Thanks to me. And I’ll get nothing.
Story of my life.
“Okay, Pee Paw. I’ll tell you.” I point my finger at him. “But if I do, then you owe me one.”
He nods once. “Fair enough, Miss Hart.
“Well…I guess I should start from the beginning. So you should get comfortable. And probably have another beer.”“In my head, I’m thinking robots. And when I think robots, I think Transformers, right? So with a straight face, I asked…” I pause to stifle another giggle and then tilt my head to the side and narrow my eyes. “Are y’all gonna like, turn into a Camaro or something?”
