Page 88 of The Other Half

“That’s awful! I’m so glad you stopped him, grandpa. What are you going to do?”

“What I should have done in the first place. Give you the company.”

My mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water while I struggled for words. “What? You want me to take over Davenport Industries?”

“Yes. You have the skills, the desire, it seems the instincts, and now I know without a doubt you have the work ethic. I would be honored to have you take it over.”

Jake peeked out the door and furrowed his brow at my shocked expression. “You okay?” he mouthed.

Nodding, I turned my attention back to the call.

“When can you come back to New York?” Grandpa asked.

New York? Suddenly the thing I’d wanted most was the farthest thing from my mind. I didn’t want to go to New York. My life was here now. With Jake.

“Grandpa. I’m honored you are choosing me, and I want you to understand that I do want this. But if I’m going to do this, I need to find a way to run this company from Door County. I can’t move back to New York.”

Silence hung between us while I waited.

“I see.”

“I’ve been considering this issue a lot, before I even came back to visit you. How to juggle things. With technology these days, there’s no reason I can’t work remotely. We have virtual conference calls, the phone, email... it will practically be like I’m there. We have offices in Chicago I can take a helicopter to as needed, and a couple times a month I can come to New York for briefings. But the rest of the time, I work from right here. In Door County.”

More silence on his end.

“Grandpa. I want this company. I can run this company. But my life is here now. And I won’t trade it for all the money in the world.”

I waited, breath held fast in my chest, for his response.

“Then consider me even prouder of you than I already was before this phone call.”

“What?” Even though I knew I could run Davenport Industries primarily from Door County, I’d expected more resistance from him.

“You have chosen happiness over money. And you’ve shown me you are capable of problem-solving. I see no reason why we can’t figure out how to run things remotely. In fact, we can even open a small remote office in Door County where you can hire some key staff to help you. Why don’t we see if Eleanor wants to visit you for a while and help you get up and running? We’ll make it work.”

“Are you serious, Grandpa? You’re giving me the company? And I can stay here?”

“Nothing would make me happier.”

Just when I’d thought I had everything, even more dropped into my lap. Taking up my family’s legacy was a dream I would now realize. And I was going to do it right here with Jake.

“I can start after Labor Day weekend. I have a commitment to bartend up here until then. I’m not leaving Jo in a lurch.”

“Even prouder still, Cassie. You finally understand the meaning of hard work and the importance of keeping your word.”

Jake peeked out again, this time I waved him out. “Grandpa. I love you. And I can’t wait to tell you all the ideas I have for Davenport Industries. I promise I’m going to make you proud. But right now, I have to eat these eggs before they get cold.”

“Are they as good as Nancy’s?” he asked.

I looked at Jake’s ripped body sitting across from me. “Even better. Jake made them.”

“You re-caught your fisherman? Good for you.” I could hear the smile in his voice.

“Indeed, I did. I can’t wait for you to meet him.”

Jake arched a brow and my smile grew.

“I look forward to it. I love you, Cassandra. We’ll talk soon. Enjoy your breakfast.”