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“Sure, no problem,” he replies—and I breathe a quick “thanks” and “bye,” before I hang up.
And it’s a good thing I did, because the call is in fact from Mr. Hailey.
Chapter 11
Madison
I promised my uncle that we would sit down and talk about what happened, now that I’ve had some time to calm down from our encounter.
I doubt that it will be enough, though. Things have not become easier since the introduction of a potential buyer who keeps turning my head. I haven’t seen or talked to Chase since that day, but his presence inside my mind has been uncomfortably loud nevertheless.
It’s ten o’clock in the morning and I’m waiting for Walter in my office. I told him that this is where I would see and talk to him. A total power move, I know. It’s something a man would do, intimidating his counterpart by inviting them to his own territory. This used to be his office, which he shared with my father when he was still alive and working. He got all buddy-buddy with Dad, even though they had never been close before.
My uncle makes his own power move by showing up late. It’s almost ten minutes past our agreed meeting time when his face appears in my open door.
“Sorry,” he starts, barely looking at me as he hurries to the seat opposite me. “Traffic was insane, you know how it is.”
He looks every bit the successful businessman, dressed in a tailored suit with an air of authority that always manages to unnerve me.
I take a deep breath and gather the strength to say the things I have to say.
“Uncle Walter,” I begin, my voice steady but cautious. “I wanted to apologize for my behavior the other day. I shouldn’t have lost my temper and yelled at you like that. It was unprofessional and disrespectful.”
He leans back in his chair, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He seems pleased by my apology, but I won’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me cower.
“I appreciate your apology, Madison,” he replies, his tone measured. “It’s important to control your emotions in a professional setting. Your impulsiveness really is a weakness you need to address.”
I nod, acknowledging his words without revealing the internal struggle that led to my outburst. But I don’t want this conversation to be about me or my behavior, so I decide to change the topic before he continues lecturing me.
My fingers clench around the armrest of my chair, but I maintain my composure.
“I promise it won’t happen again,” I assure. The smug smile that emerges on his face challenges me to keep my promise. “But we have to talk about this. And you have to listen to me—”
“Oh, I have to listen to you?” he interrupts. “So my seat on the board and my shares mean nothing? Is that what you’re trying to say?”
“That’s not what I’m saying,” I say through gritted teeth. I know he’s just trying to rile me up again. He wants me to explode and make me look like a hysterical bitch.
I’m not going to give him that satisfaction.
“But you have been fighting me on every step along the road, ever since we took over.” I pause, before I correct myself. “Before I took over.”
He shakes his head as if I just suggested turning the entire operation into a Barbie theme park.
“Innovation is not foolishness, Uncle Walter. It’s necessary for our growth and competitiveness. We can’t stay stagnant while the world moves forward,” I lecture him. “Adapting 3D printing technology for our prostheses is the right step for—”
“How do you even know if it’s done right?” He cuts me off again. “Do you even understand what you want us to invest in?”
I can feel my heart beat with urgency, and I notice the slight tremble of agitation in my fingers when I lift my hands from the armrest of my chair.
Don’t let him get to you.
He leans forward, his eyes narrowing. “Do you even understand the risk? We’re already big enough to sell and make a handsome profit.”
“It’s not about the money for me,” I assert, my voice unwavering. “It’s about Dad’s legacy. He worked hard to build this company, and I won’t let it stagnate or be sold off like a commodity.”
My uncle rolls his eyes, a dismissive gesture that lights a fire in my chest. I can feel anger boiling up inside me, fueled by years of being belittled and undermined.
“Madison, don’t be naïve,” he sighs, a condescending tone creeping into his voice. “You’re still just a girl. You don’t understand the complexities of running a company like this.”
