Page 72 of The Other Half

“I didn’t do what he thinks I did, Eleanor. I swear. I was so happy up there.”

“I believe you, Cassandra.” She squeezed me tighter. “I can already tell that you’ve changed.”

“I have changed, Eleanor. So much. But Grandpa doesn’t believe me. I really need to see him. Is he in his office?”

Nodding, she gestured to his office door.

“Does he know I’m coming?”

She shook her head.

“Thank you for getting me home. Can you watch Poppy while I talk to him?”

With a nod, she took the sleepy bundle from my arms and held her tight. “Good luck.”

The soft warning in her eyes didn’t deter me. Heaving another breath, I marched down the hallway and knocked.

“Enter!” he called.

Pushing open the door, I peeked inside. His head was down, staring at paperwork.

“Grandpa, it’s me.”

Slowly, his gaze rose until it settled on me. It wasn’t my sweet Grandpa staring back at me. It was the powerful man who single-handedly created a billion-dollar company. A man who commanded respect in any room he entered. It was the look I was certain his adversaries had been on the receiving end of more times than not. This time, it was directed at me.

“Cassandra. I’m surprised to see you here.” He steepled his fingers while he leaned forward on his desk.

“The conversation we need to have is better face to face.”

“Is that so?” he asked, arching a brow.

“It is.” I strode in with confidence I didn’t yet have, but hoped I radiated.

“Then please sit.” He gestured to the chair. His surprise at my formal behavior didn’t go unnoticed.

“Thank you,” I said, sliding into the leather chair.

“What can I do for you, Cassandra? Need some money?” An accusatory stare met mine.

“Not at all. I was doing just fine on my own, without your money or their money.”

“Is that so?”

“It is. And you should know I didn’t invite them, nor did I reveal my location. It seems they used a tracking app on my phone to find me. I sent them away and told them I didn’t want to see them again.”

He scoffed. I didn’t blame him for not believing me. Years of my lies and excuses had laid a path that led him to the easiest conclusion... I was lying again.

“I want to make you proposition.”

“And what on earth is it you want to propose?”

“Let me run the company for six months, under your guidance. If in six months you don’t think I can do it, then sell it to Garvey.”

“It’s too late.”

“It’s not too late. I know you don’t believe me, but I swear to you I was fine on my own up there. I made my own money, friends, and I learned so much about how hard people need to work. You and father have been training me on the business side of running Davenport Industries since I was in diapers, you know I can do that part. What you didn’t know was if I still had it in me. I do. I swear I do.”

“Cassandra, it’s—”