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“That's my job,” I interrupted. “I'm the one who handles all the marketing.”
“Oh boy, this is awkward,” Adam sighed.
He clasped his hands in front of him, that familiar smirk back on his face. I knew I wasn't going to like what he had to say next and I could see that Adam was relishing it. He was trying to keep from smirking, but he couldn't quite pull it off. He was just twisting the knife a little deeper – and enjoying it.
“Dad asked me to take some of it off your plate,” he said. “He thought it would be good for me to learn this side of the business. He's finally ready to pull me out of customer service and put me into a real position, I suppose.”
Adam's eyes sparkled as he spoke. He was taunting me and loving every minute of it. We both knew what he was getting at. If I failed, and he succeeded, he'd be the new CEO of Crane Enterprises. He'd control everything.
He'd have my job.
Calm down, Malcolm, I told myself. He's just trying to get under your skin. Yeah, he was a goddamn expert at that. I gritted my teeth and tried to remain pleasant and professional.
“Sure. I'll have my assistant compile everything and send it over later today.”
“Great, thanks, brother,” he said, standing up. “I'm excited to get started.”
Adam left my office, and my blood was boiling, I called my dad on his cell phone. He answered on the first ring.
“Yes, Malcolm?” he answered, as if he'd been expecting my call.
“So you're giving my work to Adam now, I see,” I fumed. “Ready to write me off already, are you?”
I shouldn't speak to him that way, I knew. But, my anger was out of control. The stress and anxiety of this whole stupid contest he was putting us through was really getting to me, and I was lashing out. Dad, of course, didn't appreciate it.
“Malcolm, easy now. No need to get defensive,” he said. “I think it's good for Adam to experience more of what we do. Regardless of who takes over the company, I'd like both of my sons to work together and be partners.”
“I've worked hard for this company, Dad,” I said. “I gave up everything – football, dating, being a normal teenager – with the promise that one day, it would pay off. This whole exercise you're putting us through, pitting us against each other the way you are, is quite frankly, a big load of bullshit.”
“Malcolm,” my dad's voice rose higher. “Nothing in life is ever free. You worked hard, but Adam didn't even have the opportunity to learn. If you think it's so wrong of me to give him a chance to prove himself, maybe I raised you wrong. Maybe, I made things too easy for you.”
“Too easy?” I snapped. “Like having another child in less than a year?”
“You have Danielle,” he said. “Settle down and marry her. Start a family. It's the right thing to do and it's been long enough.”
I hadn't told him about what had happened with Danielle. Apparently, nobody had. I'd held off on telling him because I didn't want him to think I might fail this task. But, maybe it was time to confess it all and admit that I was starting from scratch and had no prospects lined up.
“About that, dad, we need to –”
My phone buzzed with a text message, and I pulled it away from my ear far enough that I could check it.
Hey Malcolm. This is Casey. Can we talk?
Maybe I wasn't as far off as I thought after all. Maybe, after having a night to sleep on it, Casey had a change of heart.
“Malcolm?” my father asked. “Are you still there?”
“Yes, dad. Listen, I have to go. We'll talk later,” I said.
I hung up before he had a chance to answer and texted Casey back. I’d nearly forgotten that I’d given her my number before leaving the diner that night.
Of course. Give me a time and a place, I'll be there.
She responded almost right away.
I'm at The Grove right now. Think you can meet me here?
I was out of my seat, cell phone in hand, before I even had a chance to respond. The Grove wasn't too far from our offices, I could walk there. That wouldn't be a problem at all. My heart raced as I typed out my message to her.
