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Of course, he’d know.
“Did your father talk to you?”
“It’s your mother,” he said with a chuckle. “She’s been talking to everyone she can, trying to get us on her side.
“I’ve had it with her,” I said, my voice shaking with anger. “This is my personal life; it’s got nothing to do with her or the company!”
“It is a family business, as I don’t need to remind you!” he said, rather lightly.
“Jesus, Will. I have heard nothing but the family business all my life. Every conversation, my entire life. I’m sick of it!”
I knew I shouldn’t be talking like this to the company VP, but Will was also a friend. We’d play softball together when we were younger, gone to a few games together. He was engaged to a girl from the city. No great beauty, as my mother put it, but she had seemed nice to me when we met.
“I get it,” Will said. “You need a break. You haven’t had a few days since I don’t know when. What’ll you do?”
“Maybe go up to the cabin. Get away from the air conditioning, the carpeted corridors.”
“Sounds like a good idea. And you know, Matthew?”
“Yeah?”
“We’ve got your back. The board won’t force you to do anything.”
“How do you know?”
“My dad told me. He said he raised the issue as a courtesy to your mother, but if she really wants to take it further, there will be no support from the board. Geraldine may try something, but they will be outvoted.”
“Good.”
“Take a few days, I’ll hold the fort.”
I ended the call and thought about what he’d said. I wondered if Will was looking forward to stepping up as acting CEO, if he had designs on my job. It wouldn’t have surprised me. All the talk of it being a family business and family values didn’t fool me for a minute. There was a lot of money at stake and if Albert could get his son in the driving seat, I was sure he would support such a move.
I drove to my hotel to pack a few things.
My phone pinged. It was Lauren, sending me a picture of herself on her father’s farm.
Missing you x
I saw Lauren smiling at me, a natural glow on her cheeks, a big smile on her face. The little kiss at the end of her message was an afterthought. But it was this gesture, this little bit of sweetness that made me change my mind.
About everything.
Instead of heading north, I got a cab and asked to be taken to the airport.
Chapter 21
Lauren
After a few days in Colorado, I was beginning to feel that it was time to go.
John had been very welcoming, but he needed to get back to work and I didn’t like spending all day alone at home on the farm. However, I wasn’t ready to go back to the city yet.
I wanted to have a solution to my situation or at least an idea of how to approach the future. But nothing presented itself. I wanted to be with Matthew, and he wanted to be with me, but his mother was a dark presence overshadowing us.
I mentioned this to my mother over the phone.
“You’re being paranoid!” my mother said to me over the phone. “Come back! I don’t want you having that baby in Colorado!”
