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In fatherly fashion, he patted my shoulder before saying quietly, “Being the underdog isn’t a bad thing. You can use it to your advantage.”
“How?” I was feeling more than discouraged and confused. I had to think about what was best for everyone. And to be quite honest, I wasn’t sure I was it.
“The less people expect from you, the easier it is to impress them. And once you impress them, it forces them to take a closer look at you. Question any preconceived notions. Even question their own judgment.”
“Are you saying the board expects me to fail?”
“You won’t.” He hadn’t answered my question, telling me all I needed to know.
I sat back down in my chair, feeling defeated. I should have known better. I’d known the odds were against me.
Auggie sighed, as if he didn’t know what to do. He looked around the crowded room. “Let’s take a walk.”
I blinked a few times, making sure I’d heard him right. When he held out his hand to me, I knew I had; and even though I was more than depressed, his offer made me feel inexplicably happy. I took it and immediately gazed at our clasped hands. His large one engulfed my delicate one. Almost as if he were protecting it. Protecting me. I wasn’t used to it, but I found great comfort in it.
He squeezed my hand and helped me up. Together, we walked past the crowd surrounding Kane. I caught a glimpse of Kane amid his fans. He was in his element—all smiles and laughter. But also giving sincere thanks for all his well-wishes. They were well deserved. I found myself wondering if I would even enjoy that kind of attention.
Kane caught me staring, and for a brief moment, time stood still as our eyes locked. His gaze sent its usual message, “I see you.” I knew that he did. He gave me a small wave before going back to being adored.
Auggie and I walked out into the hall, heading toward the restaurant at a snail’s pace.
“No final decision has been made,” Auggie pierced the silence. “But, yes, you have an uphill battle. One I know you’re up for.”
I looked up at Auggie. “How do you know?”
He let out a deep breath and stopped for a moment. “Because I see your mother in you. A quiet fire lived within her. If she put her mind to it, there wasn’t anything she couldn’t accomplish. She learned to play some of the most difficult piano pieces flawlessly, including Stravinsky’s Trois Mouvements de Petrouchka.”
“Really?” I hardly knew anything about music, but Ethan was well acquainted with a concert pianist and I remember them discussing this piece over dinner one night and how it eluded him.
“Yes.” Auggie smiled. “I see that same fire in you.”
I bit my lip, worried that what burned inside of me wasn’t hot enough to become CEO. Or . . . that perhaps the fire he felt coming from me was meant for other dreams. I opened my mouth to say something, but then he rested his hand on my cheek. He had never showed me this type of affection before. I leaned into his hand, feeling so loved.
“If only Callie could see you now.” He rarely said her name. “To see you take on what we started together so many years ago. She would be so proud. As am I.” His hand dropped.
I stared wide eyed at him. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. “Did she see me taking over for you?”
“She called you the boss. You always got your way. Always,” his voice trailed off. His pain apparent.
A light went on for me. “Did you avoid me because I reminded you of her?”
At first his eyes narrowed and his face turned red; then his thoughts seemed to shift while he ran a hand through his hair. “I didn’t mean to,” he said, barely above a whisper.
I could hear the remorse in his voice. I went to reach for him, but it was as if every person decided to leave the conference room at the same time. A herd of people rushed our way in search of sustenance. Auggie was swept up in them, though not before giving me a look that said how sorry he was. I didn’t fault him for leaving me. It wasn’t the best place to have a meaningful conversation. Besides, everyone wanted the ear of the CEO.
I stood back, not really hungry, which was saying something. Food was my first true love and by far the most loyal. I leaned against the wall, contemplating my life and what I was doing. I thought about my mother, who had sacrificed so much to make Armstrong Labs a reality. I thought of some of the pictures in my photo album of the company’s first building and how proudly my parents stood in front of it. Or the one of Auggie holding me at his desk. My mother’s caption: Like father, like daughter.
